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TimeTechTalk.com > Time Tech Talk > Time Talk > What you guys do before you spend big $$$ on your high end watches? |
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TimeTechTalk.com > Time Tech Talk > Time Talk > What you guys do before you spend big $$$ on your high end watches? |
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Hamilton 3T WIS
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Here is what I do before I spend my $$$. Name on the dial - I know many of us don’t like to hear this, but the name on the dial makes a huge difference when it comes to value. You pay more for the name on the dial, but you got high quality for every penny you spend on it, and if you buy a Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe for example they keep the value of their timepieces. Some companies out there (as we all know) want their watches to cost as much as a Rolex. The problem is that they don’t have the same reputation or quality control. They claim their watches will go up in value but it never happens and those who dared to believe their claim end up hurt. (BTW, Ken how is your Invictas COSC’s? :P) Design - I like big, heavy nice looking watches. Case - Round case is my favor. I like big case with exhibition back. The exhibition back is a must if I'm buying a watch with the 7750 movement. Dial and hands - If it doesn't get my eyes attention most likely I'll not buy it. Bracelet - I like solid heavy thick bracelet and clasp, with triple folding clasp. If I’m buying a watch with strap, I prefer alligator’s strap in black. Material - I prefer 316L SS. Movement – The most important thing in a watch for me. My first choice is automatics then hand-wound mechanical. I don’t like quartz but, I do own a few of them. I also love complication, the more the better. Now, if I like the brand, design, case, bracelet, material, movement the next thing I do is look for reviews. I read as much as I can about the watch and also I save all the pictures I can find. Then, I go to Tourneau to look at the watch in person (They always believe I’ll buy it from them ) I also wait at least 8 months before I buy the watch, just to make sure I’ll not regret buying it (I can’t afford to make mistakes). If after all that I’m sure I want the watch, I’ll then find a dealer who is willing to give me a discount. I’ll not buy a watch unless I know I’m getting a good discount and also I don’t pay taxes for it, so I never buy watches from a local store. Another reason I don’t buy watches from a local dealer like Tourneau for example, is because of the fact that their watches have been touched by a few hundreds before you. Have you notice they always have a cloth to clean the watches before they hand it over to you? If I’m paying a lot of money for a watch I want to make sure that my watch doesn’t have fingerprints. Now, I only go through all this trouble for high-end watches like Rolex, Omega for example. If the watch cost just a couple of hundred dollars it is not worth to go through all this. Now I would like to hear from you guys. Last edited on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 11:49 pm by Hamilton |
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jclevoy 3T WIS
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I have 17 Doxas that I have bought since January 2007. I have bought all of them sight-unseen, some used, and some new. I typically buy one on a whim. I guess to each his own. I think you have a great systematic approach. I just don't have your kind of self-control I guess that some people wouldn't consider a Doxa a high-end watch though. I love them and can't get enough of them. I do think if you are smart, you can buy watches that will hold their value. If I choose to ever sell any of my watches, I don't think I will lose money. I guess that remains to be seen though......... |
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Scuba Steve 3T WIS 
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I look for the underdog, under-valued small guy watch company watches. These companies normally offer great customer service and under price their watches to get their foot in the door. When they get full of themselves and raise their prices to the level of the big boys, I normally move on to another new guy. I buy my watches for the style they present to me and the fun-ability of wearing them. I don't really know what to consider a "high end" watch. I don't consider a Rolex a high end watch. They are very durable (at least the Submariner and Seadweller) watches that IMHO are worth the price point and take a hell of a beating. It is a hard lump to swallow to get one serviced by them but you do get a new looking watch back usually. I will only buy one new ("high end") from a local AD though. This only applies to highly counterfeited watches though. I got burnt once on a very high quality fake Submariner a few years back on the Internet and won't let it happen again. All others are bought on-line. I did have an Omega Seadweller everyone raves about and was hugely disappointed with it. It just didn't have any appeal to me. I traded it for an Enzo and didn't think twice or look back. The Enzo was a better watch IMHO. In regards to the type of watches I buy it is divers and nothing else anymore. I prefer a stainless bracelet or a rubber strap. Don't care much for leather at all. Lume is a big deal to me and prefer C-3 that glows like a torch. I prefer 42mm or bigger and the chunkier the better. I did prefer a watch with a lot of weight like the Enzo's but after getting a couple Ti watches I am liking them as well. I prefer a brushed or bead blasted finish and prefer to not have anything polished. I do not like exhibition case backs and prefer a solid, engraved case back. My favorite brands are Ocean7 and Doxa. The style and type of watches they produce are what fits my lifestyle, catch my eye and are just plain fun to wear. |
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jclevoy 3T WIS
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Steve, our tastes in watches are very, very similar. Right now, I just have Doxas. My first more expensive watch was a Breitling Super Avenger. I felt that it was a poser even though it was advertised as a diver. Sold it and started buying Doxas. I have a 3T Angler coming (VERY EXCITED!!). It will be my first "branching out" since buying Doxas. I have really contemplated an Ocean7, but just haven't pulled the trigger yet. Guess I need to investigate some of the other diver brands you mentioned. Polished, brushed, Ti, whatever. I just look at the whole package. A friend had a Sinn U1. I didn't like it at all and would never buy one (glad he took the plunge to help me avoid it). It seemed to be very well built, and sturdy and I absolutely love the hands. Just didn't like the watch overall. I will say though that I am a bracelet guy. I really don't care for any type of strap, just the SS bracelet. I absolutely love the Doxa GMT Bracelet. BTW-- I totally agree about the Caseback. The cooler the engraving, the more I like it. Here is one that I really kinda liked the caseback, just didn't care for the watch http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170144534076&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007 Last edited on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 08:13 am by jclevoy |
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KenC Admin 
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Ham......while my Lupah collection of 1 ($100) Classic is still at 1, it is only because I dislike the watch and detest the company. Other than that, I have no hard feeling about it....I think I hang to it, simply to remind me that impulse buying can lead to bad things...now I take at least 2 minutes before deciding on a watch. At over $500, I do hesitate, especially on my DOXA, because of all the negative publicity generated by the "madman' they had hired. I always liked the ORSA, but they had only produced quartz until slightly before they offered the 3T....Once I got it, I realized that it was a solid, well balanced watch, well worth the price...and then some. I guess there is no set of rules that I really follow other than I really like the watch and I must perceive the value is there. Omega, for example, has never turned me on. I occasionally see a piece that attracts me...but it doesn't last. Although I am in the minority on this, I personally don't perceive that the value is there in an Omega. As to style, I am usually attracted to pilot/military and dive style watches. In addition , I perceive no added value to COSC. Many of the watches I have, run to those specs "off the shelf". My Rolex and Breitling...never did! It is a standard set before the movement is ever cased, and there is much that can happen before the cased movement ever gets into the customer's hands. That said, why would anybody ever believe Invicta when they say one of their watches is COSC? |
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Hamilton 3T WIS
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"That said, why would anybody ever believe Invicta when they say one of their watches is COSC?" I don't think they know the meaning of the word "truth".  |
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Eeeb 3T WIS 
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KenC wrote: ... Some vendors never rate their watches with COSC. It is not cheap and if a watch flunks, they don't get a discount the second time. Some only rate those they intend to market in a high end case. But for me COSC indicates that individual movement, at least once in it's lifetime, met the standard and could be adjusted/regulated again to meet it again if it doesn't now. If a watch doesn't have the certificate, you can't be sure. One example of the value of COSC is the same ETA movement can come in four grades. If the watch has a COSC certificate, you can be pretty sure you got the high end versions. Those have better long term viability and value even if you can't see it visually. Of course, Invicta may not be referring to the Swiss organization when they claim a watch was a Casual OffShore Creation But, back to the point of the thread, I weigh how a watch fits into my collection. If it fills a hole, I'll rate the seller and the condition of the watch and judge the value to me relative to the selling price. Sometimes I pass up watches I want due to that rating. Sometimes I'll get watches I wasn't looking for because I like the condition, seller and value. But generally I'm looking for specific watches and waiting until they meet my price/value point. |
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KenC Admin
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Eeeb wrote: KenC wrote:... Classic....simply classic!!!! perfect.gif |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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What do I think about... how much I wanna stay married!!! |
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KenC Admin
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Paxman wrote: What do I think about... how much I wanna stay married!!! Now that you bring it up...I was thinking that flipping you O7 GMT at a very low price to me would help stabilize your marriage!  |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS 
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KenC wrote: Paxman wrote:What do I think about... how much I wanna stay married!!! LMAO yea right you know he would want to give that kind of deal to a Dawg hehehehe  |
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Paxman 3T WIS
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But fellas...as Ken so ably pointed out some time ago... that's one of my masterworks. I used the purchase of a Rolex to justify another purchase... the O7. Believe me... I had to finesse that one!! That puppy is a keeper. |
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Hamilton 3T WIS
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Be careful with Ken's point of view. He has turned good normal people into uncontrollable watch collectors. Ask Jack, the poor man even changed his name to Watchboy. (Ok Ken, go ahead and defend you against this allegation. BTW, I know you love me) Paxman wrote: But fellas...as Ken so ably pointed out some time ago... that's one of my masterworks. I used the purchase of a Rolex to justify another purchase... the O7. Believe me... I had to finesse that one!! That puppy is a keeper. |
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