30th birthday watch
Discussion
I have my 30th birthday coming up and would like to spend some money on a decent watch. My budget is around £5000 and can stretch for more if I feel its worth it. Mind you this is going to be my first watch since I got a cheap Jaques Lemans in my teens. After that the iPhone replaced my wrist watches.
My preferences:
Sporty but not too sporty, reliable, stainless steel, can be worn every day, not too "in your face", no horrific depreciation, preferably around 40mm.
Potential candidates:
Rolex GMT Master birth date 16750 ('85 - gloss dial, plexi crystal, gives me the option to swap between black, coke and pepsi bezel)
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph 49140 (preowned, black dial, saw one for around £5000 on chrono24 in excellent condition with box and papers from a reputable dealer)
Rolex Milgauss 116400GV (green crystal)
Other watches I like but can't afford/wouldn't wear:
Blancpain Fifty fathoms Chronograph Flyback Quantième (price.
love the looks on pictures but 45mm is potentially too big)
IWC Fliegeruhr 3717/3777 (lovely looking but too busy, I don't think I could wear it every day)
I don't like Omega, Breitling or Panerai (no offense!).
I was offered a Rolex 16750 in my birth year, full box and all papers, not polished to death and with a recent service at Rolex Geneva:
This watch is going to be my default choice if I can't find anything more "exciting". On the plus side it's a Rolex (low depreciation, decent quality and reliability) but on the down side it's a Rolex (looks a bit ordinary, highly recognised but marmite brand, everybody seems to have one, this particular model might be riding the asset price bubble because it cost half the price 1 1/2 years ago).
Thoughts?
My preferences:
Sporty but not too sporty, reliable, stainless steel, can be worn every day, not too "in your face", no horrific depreciation, preferably around 40mm.
Potential candidates:
Rolex GMT Master birth date 16750 ('85 - gloss dial, plexi crystal, gives me the option to swap between black, coke and pepsi bezel)
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph 49140 (preowned, black dial, saw one for around £5000 on chrono24 in excellent condition with box and papers from a reputable dealer)
Rolex Milgauss 116400GV (green crystal)
Other watches I like but can't afford/wouldn't wear:
Blancpain Fifty fathoms Chronograph Flyback Quantième (price.
love the looks on pictures but 45mm is potentially too big)IWC Fliegeruhr 3717/3777 (lovely looking but too busy, I don't think I could wear it every day)
I don't like Omega, Breitling or Panerai (no offense!).
I was offered a Rolex 16750 in my birth year, full box and all papers, not polished to death and with a recent service at Rolex Geneva:
This watch is going to be my default choice if I can't find anything more "exciting". On the plus side it's a Rolex (low depreciation, decent quality and reliability) but on the down side it's a Rolex (looks a bit ordinary, highly recognised but marmite brand, everybody seems to have one, this particular model might be riding the asset price bubble because it cost half the price 1 1/2 years ago).
Thoughts?
Sounds like your after a diver and divers ain't my thang.
It also sounds like you've done your research impeccably and don't need much more from the collective PH watch brain than permission.
The usual caveat applies, do not think about your watch as an investment. It isn't. If you want to invest, get an ISA, if you want a watch, get a watch. Depreciation is to be expected, and if you don't suffer it, consider that a pleasant surprise.
There are a few watches that appreciate. Rolexes are renowned for it. But you should never assume that your 10 year old daily wearer complete with bumps and scuffs will be more than you paid for it. You'll be lucky to get what you paid, ignoring inflation and that doesn't cover servicing costs.
Rarely people do make money on watches. RARELY.
Here are a couple of alternatives for you to rule out:
Omega. Yeah, I know you said you don't like Omega. Here are a couple of their less well known models. I give you the flightmaster:
And the mark II Speedmaster:
Here's a Jaeger Deep Sea Chrono a master compressor and a dressier Master Control Chrono:
I don't like Brietling either, but these things are gorgeous and a fraction of your budget:
Decent vintage TopTimes can be picked up between £400 and £1200, In my opinion they are under priced for what they are.
Have you looked at an El Primero, or a Elite Diver from Zenith?
Lastly, asking for permission to purchase here is folly. We never say "no".
It also sounds like you've done your research impeccably and don't need much more from the collective PH watch brain than permission.
The usual caveat applies, do not think about your watch as an investment. It isn't. If you want to invest, get an ISA, if you want a watch, get a watch. Depreciation is to be expected, and if you don't suffer it, consider that a pleasant surprise.
There are a few watches that appreciate. Rolexes are renowned for it. But you should never assume that your 10 year old daily wearer complete with bumps and scuffs will be more than you paid for it. You'll be lucky to get what you paid, ignoring inflation and that doesn't cover servicing costs.
Rarely people do make money on watches. RARELY.
Here are a couple of alternatives for you to rule out:
Omega. Yeah, I know you said you don't like Omega. Here are a couple of their less well known models. I give you the flightmaster:
And the mark II Speedmaster:
Here's a Jaeger Deep Sea Chrono a master compressor and a dressier Master Control Chrono:
I don't like Brietling either, but these things are gorgeous and a fraction of your budget:
Decent vintage TopTimes can be picked up between £400 and £1200, In my opinion they are under priced for what they are.
Have you looked at an El Primero, or a Elite Diver from Zenith?
Lastly, asking for permission to purchase here is folly. We never say "no".
hamish88 said:
That breitling is lovely but where can you get them at between 400-1200 pounds?
I've looked at chrono24 and they start from 1200...
Thanks
I'm sure mikeveal will explain where there are shed loads of nice Top Times for £400, but it does seem remarkably cheap.I've looked at chrono24 and they start from 1200...
Thanks
I'm not saying you can't get lucky and find one at that sort of price, but it's a bargain if you do and they're usually at least £800-1000.
M.
TYeah, you just need to get lucky. And at £400 it won't be mint. EBay,fellows or the like. Chrono24 watches tend not to sell at low prices because of the nature of the site.
Lowest I've seen for a TT was about 440. It was a runner, but had a fairly manky dial.
ETA
Just re read my first post. I said "decent", maybe "running" would have been more accurate, sorry.
Lowest I've seen for a TT was about 440. It was a runner, but had a fairly manky dial.
ETA
Just re read my first post. I said "decent", maybe "running" would have been more accurate, sorry.
Edited by mikeveal on Saturday 30th May 09:41
I had a similar dilemma when I wanted a 40th birthday watch, although I was looking at new rather than birth year. My budget was the same (at first 
).
I wanted a watch that wouldn't depreciate much until someone pointed out that I'd said I wanted a watch for life, in which case depreciation isn't an issue. How long do you plan to keep this important watch?
).I wanted a watch that wouldn't depreciate much until someone pointed out that I'd said I wanted a watch for life, in which case depreciation isn't an issue. How long do you plan to keep this important watch?
toohangry said:
Not sure why you're recommending a £400 Breitling when the budget is 5k and he doesn't like them!
Because the OP has come on a watch forum asking for advice in the guise of a newbie and expressed an opinion about Breitling (and others) without saying why he has that opinion. It could be brand snobbery, it could be that he doesn't like what he's seen of Breitling.Because a Top Time fits the brief at a fraction of the budget and because it's not what most people expect from Brightbling. Most of their modern stuff is god awful in my opinion, but these are quite understated and classy.
But mostly because by throwing in some curve balls from manufacturers that the OP has already discounted, he'll either look at them and think "Hmmn, I like that maybe I was wrong about..." or he'll discount them and that will strengthen his resolve. Read the OP's post again. He already knows what he wants, he's just looking for affirmation.
Bit academic as the OP's done a runner anyway.
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