Advice needed - Sub - v- sub-alike
Discussion
Ranger 6 said:
Buy a £300 Steinhart and tomorrow it's worth £350 on eBay 
Seriously though, I bought a Steinhart as at the time I couldn't justify £3500 on a s/h Sub from Watchfinder. I no longer have the desire to spend on a Rolex because it's a Rolex. I'm quite happy with my Ocean 1 Vintage Red, it 'feels' like a quality product and shows decent accuracy. If I want to wear a 'brand' watch with a heritage I get out my Speed Master.
I bought an Ocean Vintage Military for £300 direct and new/nearly new ones actually are going for £350+ on eBay. The last one I followed went for £360 with postage for a Mk1! Crazy.Seriously though, I bought a Steinhart as at the time I couldn't justify £3500 on a s/h Sub from Watchfinder. I no longer have the desire to spend on a Rolex because it's a Rolex. I'm quite happy with my Ocean 1 Vintage Red, it 'feels' like a quality product and shows decent accuracy. If I want to wear a 'brand' watch with a heritage I get out my Speed Master.
I love the watch but I chose it because I loved the watch and the quality impressed me rather than wanting something that looked like a Rolex. Sounds like the OP is more worried about what other people think about a homage so if that's the case maybe saving up for the Rolex is the way to go.
Nigel_O said:
just sent a certain Mr H an inordinate (for me) amount of money, in exchange for something to tell the time with.....
next question for the hardened collectors on here - how does one effectively and convincingly explain to SWMBO that its not really what it looks like?
her boss wears a Rolex, so she's fully aware of what they are and what they cost - can I claim its a "damn good replica"?
Tell her it's an homage to a Steinhart next question for the hardened collectors on here - how does one effectively and convincingly explain to SWMBO that its not really what it looks like?
her boss wears a Rolex, so she's fully aware of what they are and what they cost - can I claim its a "damn good replica"?
toon10 said:
Sounds like the OP is more worried about what other people think
That's a tired, sad line trotted out to justify the purchase you made yourself. He wants a Rolex, you wanted something that co-incidentally looks like Rolex.
Almost all watches are homages to an original anyway. To some, having the original matters.
If you have a hankering after a Rolex you won't be disappointed. I bought my Submariner 'Kermit' after originally thinking of one 10 years ago. The interest never waned, it just got better. I didn't care what other people thought, it's a personal thing at the end of the day. If you can afford it, go for it. I'm lucky that SWMBO encouraged me, even though she's not into watches. She is, however, into bags and shoes
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
73 Duchess said:
If you have a hankering after a Rolex you won't be disappointed. I bought my Submariner 'Kermit' after originally thinking of one 10 years ago. The interest never waned, it just got better. I didn't care what other people thought, it's a personal thing at the end of the day. If you can afford it, go for it. I'm lucky that SWMBO encouraged me, even though she's not into watches. She is, however, into bags and shoes
Best of luck.
This.Best of luck.
Get it bought. Buy second hand from Hackett Watches (Dom H) on here. It's as good as money in the bank which you can realise instantly.
I bought a new SubDate three years ago for list price £4610, and they're now £5600 (IIRC). I've had the pleasure of wearing it and lost virtually nil even if I ever have to bail out of it to get the cash.
Do it.
I can't deny that the money could easily have been spent on other deserving stuff, like a new bathroom, refurb kitchen, new front door etc
I just didn't want to go through the "you spent HOW MUCH on a watch....." discussion
However, I guess the only way to avoid this would have been to buy a Steinhart, but then I wouldn't have the nice warm glow that I'm hoping I'll get with a Sub on my wrist.
There's a slim chance she won't even notice - I shaved my beard off a week ago and she hasn't noticed yet.....
I just didn't want to go through the "you spent HOW MUCH on a watch....." discussion
However, I guess the only way to avoid this would have been to buy a Steinhart, but then I wouldn't have the nice warm glow that I'm hoping I'll get with a Sub on my wrist.
There's a slim chance she won't even notice - I shaved my beard off a week ago and she hasn't noticed yet.....
Nigel_O said:
just sent a certain Mr H an inordinate (for me) amount of money, in exchange for something to tell the time with.....
next question for the hardened collectors on here - how does one effectively and convincingly explain to SWMBO that its not really what it looks like?
her boss wears a Rolex, so she's fully aware of what they are and what they cost - can I claim its a "damn good replica"?
Don't lie to her - loads of risks with that.next question for the hardened collectors on here - how does one effectively and convincingly explain to SWMBO that its not really what it looks like?
her boss wears a Rolex, so she's fully aware of what they are and what they cost - can I claim its a "damn good replica"?
If u tell her it's a 300 quid replica .... What if someone offered her 500 for it while u weren't around and sold it for '200 profit'
"Hey honey - I got rid of that silly replica and made you some money you could put towards a real watch !"
alfaman said:
... Obviously not into 'diving' then - or she would have noticed ;-)
Found the level.... 
TBH, the only watch she ever notices is my birth-year gold Smiths, and that's only because it ticks really loudly
If I say nothing, I might just get away with it
OGR4M said:
That's what kids are for...
remember, I've got just as much on you, as you have on me - truce? I remember when I bought my Seamaster Planet Ocean, it cost just under three months worth of my pay. I was 18 (three and a bit years ago now) and my mum and I had gone to the shopping centre to get some bits for a family birthday. She already knew about the purchase and was pretty understanding about the whole thing. We went and picked it up from the jewellers after doing the rest of the shopping and went home.
When we got back it was the usual "get everything you need?"
"Yeah, got this that and the other. Oh and CB bought a watch for nearly £3000"
The look on my dads face was a picture. Although he was very understanding as well and actually admired it when I showed him.
I think he respected the fact that it was my money that I'd earned, and he said that as long as I could keep paying any bills I needed to, that's no problem at all.
Do I miss the £2800 now? No.
Do I enjoy having a lovely timepiece which I'll probably keep for a very very long time? Definitely.
When we got back it was the usual "get everything you need?"
"Yeah, got this that and the other. Oh and CB bought a watch for nearly £3000"
The look on my dads face was a picture. Although he was very understanding as well and actually admired it when I showed him.
I think he respected the fact that it was my money that I'd earned, and he said that as long as I could keep paying any bills I needed to, that's no problem at all.
Do I miss the £2800 now? No.
Do I enjoy having a lovely timepiece which I'll probably keep for a very very long time? Definitely.
Some very stereotypical Rolex owners views on here.
I have an old 1680 and have only recently bought a Steinhart ocean one vintage military. To those that say if you had a sub you'd never wear a Steinhart you are wrong. I never wear my sub but the Steinhart hasn't been off since I bought it. It's not a case of keeping my sub good as it's far from perfect as is, the Steinhart is just a more substantial watch in a lot of ways. In saying that I am under no illusion as to which is the better or rather perceived better watch. Perhaps better investment may be a more accurate term although a wise man (my father) told me that watches are a terrible investment. When bought the sub cost less than £1000 and is now worth a hell of a lot more. The Steinhart cost roughly £300. For some bizarre reason they seem to fetch a small premium on eBay so i dare say i could sell it for a very small profit. If it were the case that it went in the bin in 5 years time (which i very much doubt it will) i really wouldn't be bothered as the whole exercise will have cost around the same as 1 service.
The Sub gives me no more of a warm fuzzy glow inside than the Steinhart does. It just represents something different. By that i mean the sub will stay with me and hopefully pass to my son. It has sentimental value as well as it's ever increasing monetary value. The Steinhart is the kind of watch you can buy, enjoy (easily as much as a £5k sub) then flip without any remorse or great loss and enjoy something else for a while. It's a different ownership experience.
Anyway, enjoy your new watch OP.
I have an old 1680 and have only recently bought a Steinhart ocean one vintage military. To those that say if you had a sub you'd never wear a Steinhart you are wrong. I never wear my sub but the Steinhart hasn't been off since I bought it. It's not a case of keeping my sub good as it's far from perfect as is, the Steinhart is just a more substantial watch in a lot of ways. In saying that I am under no illusion as to which is the better or rather perceived better watch. Perhaps better investment may be a more accurate term although a wise man (my father) told me that watches are a terrible investment. When bought the sub cost less than £1000 and is now worth a hell of a lot more. The Steinhart cost roughly £300. For some bizarre reason they seem to fetch a small premium on eBay so i dare say i could sell it for a very small profit. If it were the case that it went in the bin in 5 years time (which i very much doubt it will) i really wouldn't be bothered as the whole exercise will have cost around the same as 1 service.
The Sub gives me no more of a warm fuzzy glow inside than the Steinhart does. It just represents something different. By that i mean the sub will stay with me and hopefully pass to my son. It has sentimental value as well as it's ever increasing monetary value. The Steinhart is the kind of watch you can buy, enjoy (easily as much as a £5k sub) then flip without any remorse or great loss and enjoy something else for a while. It's a different ownership experience.
Anyway, enjoy your new watch OP.
nunpuncher said:
To those that say if you had a sub you'd never wear a Steinhart you are wrong.
To add some perspective, I had Steinhart (Ocean Vintghe) and SD/Sub. I wore the Steinhart once on a trip to Cape Town, came home and sold it. It made me sad. Not that it wasn't a lovely watch, substantial, beautifully made and so on, I just looked at it and thought I wished I had my Rolex on. Irrational, but factual.So actually, you're wrong as you fail to understand that people are different. You might wear it, you might not.
yeti said:
toon10 said:
Sounds like the OP is more worried about what other people think
That's a tired, sad line trotted out to justify the purchase you made yourself. He wants a Rolex, you wanted something that co-incidentally looks like Rolex.
Almost all watches are homages to an original anyway. To some, having the original matters.
"...I also be worried that others would look at an homage and think "couldn't afford the real thing then...."
it sounded like he is worried about others think. Tired, sad line but one that holds water.
toon10 said:
it sounded like he is worried about others think. Tired, sad line but one that holds water.
i wouldn't say "worried" - more like "aware"I really don't give a damn if someone thinks I'm a flash git - what I spend my money on is my business. I work bloody hard for it and I don't see why I shouldn't treat myself. In any event, I wear a business shirt all day, so most people will never actually get to see it. Can't remember the last time someone noticed my daily-wear Skagen
However, I was wondering what people would think if they saw a watch that was trying to be a Sub, but clearly wasn't actually a Sub - I understand the homage v fake argument, and I wouldn't ever wear a replica (even though I think I'd struggle to know the difference for some of the better ETA fake Subs)
ultimately, I really like the look and feel of the Sub - I like the fact that its an engineering masterpiece that is regarded (by some) as one of the best that money can buy. I like the fact that there's a fair chance I could sell it for close to what I paid for it, if the need arose. I like the fact that there's a chance that in ten, twenty or more years, it could be worth more than I paid for it.
Quite simply - I like it
Still waiting for the postie to turn up at the office though....
ETA - I rather wondered about all of the gushing praise for Dominic Hackett - my experience is that its well-deserved and hard-won. I've been chuffed with the service, pleased with the price and the "proper gentleman" tag is very accurate. I would have preferred to meet face-to-face, but that wasn't possible - maybe next time....
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