30th Birthday present to myself

[7184c]

traffman said:

5 thousand will get you one of these ,

The Submariner No date , ceramic bezel.

+1. You could wear every day for 30 years, give to your son and he could wear it every day for the next 30 and it would still look this good if serviced every 10yrs as per Rolex guidelines.

The same could not be said for some of the other suggestions above. They are nice watches but it's a nice touch if you can pass something on so he can wear every day and think of you every time he puts it on/looks at it which won't happen with a dress watch jaeger, Patek, GP etc.

[bunglesprout]

Ecksloon said:

What is peoples opinion on Panerai watches? I have seen lots of suggestions but not Panerai, just wondering if there is something wrong with them thats all?

Matt

Panerai have history and they are always linked with Rolex as early Panerai models used Rolex movements. They are big though. Ive had three Panerai and two of them needed attention. I had a 1950s Case 3 Day Automatic and a movement mounting screw came undone. I couldn't wear it under a shirt cuff because the case was so big, beautiful watch though and I loved the sandwich dial. I had a 'destro' Luminor and had a problem with the winding stem. The Radiomir I had was faultless, but all of them I found prone to scuffs and scratches because the bezels are so highly polished. Resale value is pretty crap too.

[Porsche911R]

Just buy a Omega SMPC it is the best value built watch for £2.3k after discount from £2.7k and will hold value no issue.
Less in your face than a Rolex but a watch just as good if not better for 1/2 the price.

I have 2 SS Rolex's but seem to wear my smpc all the time esp on the oem rubber as I only wear jeans and the rubber looks cool and most people keep the braclet on.

Rolex are a look at me brand, people will comment, it may help you test drive a car etc etc, I always wear my blnr when car buying and it works as a tool to get you a test drive in a £100k car with out any questions. Rolex = money to non watch people !

Again meals out with people drop the Rolex on and it will admire comments good and bad, but you will always get a comment.

I sort of love/hate the Brand and really an Omega fan boy at heart.

I think the less well known brands while may seem cool are daft to look after not as well built and will cost you triple to service and drop 1/2 the price.

My dad had his Omega when he was 21 he is 87 now and it's faultless, Omega make top end watches IMO built to last and cheap in this day and age.

Surprised no one has said Omega really, and if you want ltd buy a moon watch ltd Ed, time less cool and work on leather as well as braclet.

1st real watch buy an Omega. Or be dull and buy a non date sub ! The default buy for the £5k spend and still the city bankers watch !

Other cool option is a Tag Monaco, IMO these are cool as rare to be seen out and basic movement easy to look after and keep perfect time. Older models with plexi are best and of course blue face is the iconic look.

While people seem to dislike Tag they are up there now, use oem movements and all inhouse stuff a great unloved brand IMO.

Edited by Porsche911R on Saturday 1st October 11:50

[olliete]

I would say - buy a classic design, to me this is a most likely a steel sports Rolex, I would steer clear of Panerai personally.

These days ceramic bezels are worth a serious look as they are so robust and will look new in 30 years if taken care of - I too owned a Ceramic Omega Seamaster and it was awesome, but given your budget I'd be looking at a new submariner or GMT.

[Sy1441]

I'd go Rolex if you're not a real enthusiast. Watches like the submariner, sea dweller and gmt would BT my go to and are my everyday wearers, they're all well within budget and are have the best residual value of any watch on the market. Ive found panerai and ap to be fashion statements, I love my ones but they don't get anywhere as much wrist times as the much more reasonably priced rolex's. Also if it's to be handed down it would be nice to have your name on the papers so I'd defo buy new, I've not bought a single one of my watches new but I would do in this instance.

[Porsche911R]

They are all fashion statements ! Hence Rolex is the default buy at £5k as it's the most well known name.

[warren182]

If you want to pass it down, you want something that will stand the test of time. A panerai won't.

[InductionRoar]

Sy1441 said:

I'd go Rolex if you're not a real enthusiast. Watches like the submariner, sea dweller and gmt would BT my go to and are my everyday wearers, they're all well within budget and are have the best residual value of any watch on the market. Ive found panerai and ap to be fashion statements, I love my ones but they don't get anywhere as much wrist times as the much more reasonably priced rolex's. Also if it's to be handed down it would be nice to have your name on the papers so I'd defo buy new, I've not bought a single one of my watches new but I would do in this instance.

It's a shame AP are seen as fashion watches these days. IMO they did themselves no favours with the various special edition off shores which attract a certain type of buyer.

[Moods]

I have an Omega De Ville Hour Vision Orbis Edition. A truely beautiful watch given to me by my fiancée.

I prefer a leather strap and find it goes well with smart and casual.

http://www.uhrmageriet.com/uhrgfx/new/omega/431334...

https://www.bernardwatch.com/image/OMG2700R.JPG

[davek_964]

Moods said:

I have an Omega De Ville Hour Vision Orbis Edition. A truely beautiful watch given to me by my fiancée.

I prefer a leather strap and find it goes well with smart and casual.

http://www.uhrmageriet.com/uhrgfx/new/omega/431334...

https://www.bernardwatch.com/image/OMG2700R.JPG

I love these and have tried them on a couple of times (although I'd probably go different color since the blue looks very similar to my Breguet). Just never quite managed to complete the deal - my sensible side kicks in before I get my wallet out!

[Ecksloon]

Thanks for this Porsche911R,

Never thought Omega were up there in the "Luxury" watch bracket, but some very nice pieces indeed.

Lots to think about I guess - And thank you all for the comments! Really helps hearing peoples opinions that genuinely have a passion for watches.

Matt

Porsche911R said:

Just buy a Omega SMPC it is the best value built watch for £2.3k after discount from £2.7k and will hold value no issue.
Less in your face than a Rolex but a watch just as good if not better for 1/2 the price.

I have 2 SS Rolex's but seem to wear my smpc all the time esp on the oem rubber as I only wear jeans and the rubber looks cool and most people keep the braclet on.

Rolex are a look at me brand, people will comment, it may help you test drive a car etc etc, I always wear my blnr when car buying and it works as a tool to get you a test drive in a £100k car with out any questions. Rolex = money to non watch people !

Again meals out with people drop the Rolex on and it will admire comments good and bad, but you will always get a comment.

I sort of love/hate the Brand and really an Omega fan boy at heart.

I think the less well known brands while may seem cool are daft to look after not as well built and will cost you triple to service and drop 1/2 the price.

My dad had his Omega when he was 21 he is 87 now and it's faultless, Omega make top end watches IMO built to last and cheap in this day and age.

Surprised no one has said Omega really, and if you want ltd buy a moon watch ltd Ed, time less cool and work on leather as well as braclet.

1st real watch buy an Omega. Or be dull and buy a non date sub ! The default buy for the £5k spend and still the city bankers watch !

Other cool option is a Tag Monaco, IMO these are cool as rare to be seen out and basic movement easy to look after and keep perfect time. Older models with plexi are best and of course blue face is the iconic look.

While people seem to dislike Tag they are up there now, use oem movements and all inhouse stuff a great unloved brand IMO.

Edited by Porsche911R on Saturday 1st October 11:50

[andy_s]

Porsche911R said:

Rolex are a look at me brand, people will comment, it may help you test drive a car etc etc, I always wear my blnr when car buying and it works as a tool to get you a test drive in a £100k car with out any questions. Rolex = money to non watch people !

Without getting into the old brand argument, I would say people buy different things for different reasons. Mine's worth more than it was when new 17 years ago, it's worked very well with one service in that time and most people don't know (nor frankly care) what it is.
Omega also make good watches, the prices are lower than Rolex but if you open the 'value for money for a monopolised Veblen mass produced item' can of worms you're not going to end up with either...

[yetra]

Ecksloon said:

Thanks for this Porsche911R,

Never thought Omega were up there in the "Luxury" watch bracket, but some very nice pieces indeed.

Lots to think about I guess - And thank you all for the comments! Really helps hearing peoples opinions that genuinely have a passion for watches.

Matt

Without going into a pointless debate, can I suggest you do a proper research and whatever you do don't waste your money on a fashion brand. Go to youtube and watch a couple of video reviews. Do a bit of forum research - on different forums, not necessarily car related ones - but avoid relying on people who clearly favour one brand and loath another, only because of what others think about it. And because their father bought an Omega back in the day when Omega was above Rolex quality wise so that means that Omega is still great.

I've been through a similar journey to yours and with your budget, if you want to indulge yourself and dive into quality watchmaking Rolex is your starting point. I now own multiple watches, including Omega. Rolex Sub will always be part of collection. Omega is cool too, don't get me wrong, but as a second/third/tenth watch.

Here's one example video https://youtu.be/UmwG7h-mOec

[Porsche911R]

Omega should be every ones 1st watch ;-), it's a very high level build for the price.

Omega beats the Tudor in ever way build wise and is COSA certified.

OF course Omega is a Luxury watch brand. I tried a Black bar for about a month, it was not that impressive.

And lets not forget the black SMPc has the best date wheel on any watch, with that deep dial, the amazing AR coating, and the build, it's a bargain.

Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 6th October 18:47

[yetra]

Porsche911R said:

Omega should be every ones 1st watch ;-), it's a very high level build for the price.

Omega beats the Tudor in ever way build wise and is COSA certified.

OF course Omega is a Luxury watch brand. I tried a Black bar for about a month, it was not that impressive.

Current Black Bay lineup with in house technically a Rolex movement is also COSC. If you need date Pelagos is your friend. Plus chances are that Tudor similar to Rolex won't release a new version replacing and devaluing previous version every quarter like Omega does. Also the Coaxial thing is a fad that nobody wants and needs, it makes all their watches fat, chronographs are also huge in diameter. Stick with the known, tried and robust... Rolex.

Porsche911R said:

And lets not forget the black SMPc has the best date wheel on any watch

That's heavy, I can tell you love Omega. LOL.

Either way, he wants to spend between 5-10k so neither SMPc nor Tudor watches fit the bill.

Rolex my friend, go Rolex. You can thank us from saving you from Omega and TAG later.

[davek_964]

Interesting comments. When I said I'd failed to pull the trigger on the Omega I like, I must admit the reason is because it just seems a bit expensive for "an Omega". I have no science to it - I am not enough of a watch expert to know whether Omega really deserves the price - or even whether the Rolex and Breguet I bought do - but the prices don't match the value in my head for whatever reason.

The ones I was looking at seemed to be in the £3.5k - £4.3k (albeit from high street dealers, maybe cheaper from somewhere like Dom H) and that just seemed a tad too much to me. For ~£2.5K I probably would have done it - if I found the model I want for that sort of price used, I probably would.

[Ecksloon]

Davek_964,

This is exactly my feelings too! I have no logic behind it, I just think 4k is very pricey for an Omega, but 4k for a Rolex is reasonable.... How I come to that conclusion is anyone guess.

davek_964 said:

Interesting comments. When I said I'd failed to pull the trigger on the Omega I like, I must admit the reason is because it just seems a bit expensive for "an Omega". I have no science to it - I am not enough of a watch expert to know whether Omega really deserves the price - or even whether the Rolex and Breguet I bought do - but the prices don't match the value in my head for whatever reason.

The ones I was looking at seemed to be in the £3.5k - £4.3k (albeit from high street dealers, maybe cheaper from somewhere like Dom H) and that just seemed a tad too much to me. For ~£2.5K I probably would have done it - if I found the model I want for that sort of price used, I probably would.

[yetra]

davek_964 said:

Interesting comments. When I said I'd failed to pull the trigger on the Omega I like, I must admit the reason is because it just seems a bit expensive for "an Omega". I have no science to it - I am not enough of a watch expert to know whether Omega really deserves the price - or even whether the Rolex and Breguet I bought do - but the prices don't match the value in my head for whatever reason.

The ones I was looking at seemed to be in the £3.5k - £4.3k (albeit from high street dealers, maybe cheaper from somewhere like Dom H) and that just seemed a tad too much to me. For ~£2.5K I probably would have done it - if I found the model I want for that sort of price used, I probably would.

Most Swiss watches are overpriced, they've been especially going mental with RRP's over the last 6 years. Omega aspires to be on the same level as Rolex pricewise but market value shows that they are dreaming. Not to say that Rolex isn't asking too much, they were and still are the best at playing the market through engineered hype like supply restrictions. But what Rolex does well is making sure their watches don't lose value by not creating insane amount of special versions and replacing models making the old ones obsolete and worth less like Omega. And when Rolex do replace/update a model there's always a chance that the older generation will gain in value due to it being special in some way.

[Sy1441]

They were selling Omega in H Samuel not to many years ago, that didn't do much for the brand,

[mikees]

I'm biased but a used non ceramic sea dweller. I've had mine for years. Well 15 to be precise. Others have come and gone, jlc, speedy, explorer II, explorer, GMT, Pam and its now my only real watch with the exception of a birth year dj and a sub that my late wife bought me as a w3dding present that will live in the safe until my son is 25 when he can have it.

It's a Rolex but not the normal one so is different but the same.

However, ignore all the above. This sounds a bit WIS but try on loads and buy the one that speaks to you.