Tag Heuer watches vs. Rolex etc. - Young buyer

Tag Heuer watches vs. Rolex etc. - Young buyer

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DJMC

Original Poster:

3,431 posts

102 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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My son recently qualified as an Optometrist ("better one, or better two?") and fancies buying a decent watch now he's earning well.

He fancies one of these: https://www.tagheuer.com/en-gb/watches/link-calibr...

Best new price £2575. Used, around £1,750 - £2,000. The Tag looks good on his wrist but I guess will become worthless over time. Bought pre-owned it's still a lot of money to throw away, even if enjoyed. I guess it's much like the depreciation we suffer with a car.

He tried on a bi-metal Rolex Datejust today but he's 6' 4" and well built and so it looked a little "dainty" on his wrist.

I'm a Rolex fan, as the right one bought carefully pre-owned will hold its value in real terms. It can also be easily traded up for another.

Apart from the Datejust, what other Rolex or other brand and model will hold its value as well AND has a similar look to the Tag above? He's 23 and has £1,500 saved toward the watch. The Datejust today was £3,000 but he doesn't want to borrow from us so he'd need to wait a few months for a more expensive watch. Breitling springs to mind. Not keen on Omega as his grandad has one so it must be for "really old people" (like James Bond?).

I'm just trying to pass on my experience of buying "cheap" watches at his age and throwing them away five years down the line rather than buying with half an eye on holding on to value as well as enjoying the "look" of the thing.

Put yourself in the position of a 23 year old (if you're not), but with a more mature head. What's are the "sensible" buys out there.
Pre-owned a definite as even a Rolex will drop like a stone out of the showroom!

Oh... and automatic, SS bracelet. He liked the Tag "Link" bracelet better than the standard "block" type.

Edited by DJMC on Tuesday 10th January 19:04

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Rolex do a 42mm Explorer II which is nice and looks good with an after market Rubber B strap and they look quite chunky on the wrist and wear bigger than the 42mm suggests in the same way an Omega PO 45.5mm wears smaller than you'd imagine.

But they are around 5k (secondhand)


Chad_Hugo

649 posts

177 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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There is a 41 mm Date Just II- it wears a touch bigger than that too so size wise would be no problem at all for your son.

It would be quite a bit over the budget you mention, but is a beautiful and iconic watch.

13m

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Chad_Hugo said:
There is a 41 mm Date Just II- it wears a touch bigger than that too so size wise would be no problem at all for your son.

It would be quite a bit over the budget you mention, but is a beautiful and iconic watch.
Is it?

I'd say the standard Datejust is the iconic watch, the DJ2 just panders to the market for bling.

Jag_NE

2,949 posts

99 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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for the sake of a couple of grand I would suggest letting him buy what he likes best and let him enjoy it. pushing him into something that he may like less for the sake of it being worth a few hundred quid more in 10 years time is false economy.

13m

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
Jag_NE said:
for the sake of a couple of grand I would suggest letting him buy what he likes best and let him enjoy it. pushing him into something that he may like less for the sake of it being worth a few hundred quid more in 10 years time is false economy.
It's a fair point.

In 1992 I was mates with one of Rolex's wachmakers and he implored me not to buy a Tag. I ignored him and bought an SEL - one of the forerunners to the one in the OP. I enjoyed wearing it for many years and still have it upstairs. If it were a Rolex it would be worth thousands more, but I probably would not have liked it as much when I was young.


battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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I destroyed every watch I owned in my 20s by using them for outdoor sports. I'm glad I didn't have anything collectable. In addition tastes change, if he's only 23 then what he buys today will be traded in or in a drawer in 10 yrs time.

BaronVonVaderham

2,316 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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13m said:
Jag_NE said:
for the sake of a couple of grand I would suggest letting him buy what he likes best and let him enjoy it. pushing him into something that he may like less for the sake of it being worth a few hundred quid more in 10 years time is false economy.
It's a fair point.

In 1992 I was mates with one of Rolex's wachmakers and he implored me not to buy a Tag. I ignored him and bought an SEL - one of the forerunners to the one in the OP. I enjoyed wearing it for many years and still have it upstairs. If it were a Rolex it would be worth thousands more, but I probably would not have liked it as much when I was young.
It is indeed a good point.

About 10 years ago I was in a similar boat age and price wise and bought an Aquaracer chronograph new for about £1200 with part of my first bonus. It's probably worth buttons now but I love it and still wear it regularly. Each mark tells a tale and it's value is irrelevant as I'd never sell it. It's even quartz (the horror!) as at the time I didn't really think I'd be able to get a decent automatic and second hand watches have never appealed to me. My spec at the time was for a SS divers chronograph and Tag ticked those boxes and looked fantastic to me.

nikaiyo2

4,672 posts

194 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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How about the watch he likes best? Is that not the only thing worthy of consideration?

I must admit, as someone in their mid 30s I would consider myself not old enough to wear a non S/S sports Rolex.

It's a watch, an item of man jewellery, it's NOT an investment, IMHO you will have to hold on to any DJ, Airking etc for an age to break even on a dealer purchased watch, even 2nd hand.

A TAG is not disposable, I have just bought a 20 year old one that keeps much better time than my similar aged Airking and to be honest is much better constructed and finished.

The obvious alternative is Tudor, Rolex but less tarnished image wise.


Edited by nikaiyo2 on Wednesday 11th January 00:07


Edited by nikaiyo2 on Wednesday 11th January 00:08

Chad_Hugo

649 posts

177 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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13m said:
Chad_Hugo said:
There is a 41 mm Date Just II- it wears a touch bigger than that too so size wise would be no problem at all for your son.

It would be quite a bit over the budget you mention, but is a beautiful and iconic watch.
Is it?

I'd say the standard Datejust is the iconic watch, the DJ2 just panders to the market for bling.
The 36 mm, even for a small or average size wrist is just tiny- tried it on many times, on my average size wrist it just looked feminine and a bit silly/outdated. I suppose if you want something very traditional it's an option. 41 mm is a far better size for this type of watch.

warren182

1,088 posts

209 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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I'd be looking at a tudor personally. A pelagos would fit nicely. Lovely watch, hard wearing, but subtle enough to be worn at work.
I'd avoid anything like a date just if he actually wants to wear it while in practice, appearing too flash won't endear him to patients or staff!

moleamol

15,887 posts

262 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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I almost bought one of those Tags in perfect condition (second hand, £1600 from a jeweller) because they are actually really nice in the metal, much nicer (and probably a lot rarer) than the Rolex. I didn't even consider resale value or it being an investment I just liked it, but it had sold when I went back. Why make him buy a watch he won't like so he doesn't lose money? He's 23, just let the lad get what he wants. He can think about 'investment watches' when he's old.

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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If he's under 50 and not into impressing other tubby men at the golf club then I'm not surprised he doesn't want a Rolex.

The best advice is for him to buy something he likes.

warren182

1,088 posts

209 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
quotequote all
moleamol said:
I almost bought one of those Tags in perfect condition (second hand, £1600 from a jeweller) because they are actually really nice in the metal, much nicer (and probably a lot rarer) than the Rolex. I didn't even consider resale value or it being an investment I just liked it, but it had sold when I went back. Why make him buy a watch he won't like so he doesn't lose money? He's 23, just let the lad get what he wants. He can think about 'investment watches' when he's old.
It's worth looking at other options to see if anything takes his fancy that will actually retain some value. It's not a question of buying something he doesn't like purely for the retained value.
But when spending a decent sum, why not consider all the available options?

moleamol

15,887 posts

262 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
quotequote all
warren182 said:
moleamol said:
I almost bought one of those Tags in perfect condition (second hand, £1600 from a jeweller) because they are actually really nice in the metal, much nicer (and probably a lot rarer) than the Rolex. I didn't even consider resale value or it being an investment I just liked it, but it had sold when I went back. Why make him buy a watch he won't like so he doesn't lose money? He's 23, just let the lad get what he wants. He can think about 'investment watches' when he's old.
It's worth looking at other options to see if anything takes his fancy that will actually retain some value. It's not a question of buying something he doesn't like purely for the retained value.
But when spending a decent sum, why not consider all the available options?
Who's to say it won't retain some value? People that aren't on PH buy watches too.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
quotequote all
sjg said:
If he's under 50 and not into impressing other tubby men at the golf club then I'm not surprised he doesn't want a Rolex.

The best advice is for him to buy something he likes.
This.

There's no way I would have wanted a Rolex at 23. They were the height of bad taste and showily naffness. These things all go in cycles.

Just get what he likes.

13m

26,271 posts

221 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
quotequote all
Chad_Hugo said:
13m said:
Chad_Hugo said:
There is a 41 mm Date Just II- it wears a touch bigger than that too so size wise would be no problem at all for your son.

It would be quite a bit over the budget you mention, but is a beautiful and iconic watch.
Is it?

I'd say the standard Datejust is the iconic watch, the DJ2 just panders to the market for bling.
The 36 mm, even for a small or average size wrist is just tiny- tried it on many times, on my average size wrist it just looked feminine and a bit silly/outdated. I suppose if you want something very traditional it's an option. 41 mm is a far better size for this type of watch.
It might look tiny to someone who prefers big watches. But I don't think it looks outdated or feminine.

I am a stocky fella and wear one when smartly dressed. I wear 40mm steel Rolexes the rest of the time. People tend not to notice watches, but the DJ is one that has been noticed and complimented. The bigger ones never get a mention.

To be fair, I tried the standard DJ on several times over several years and decided that I didn't like it. But now I own and wear one it might actually be my favourite.






mikeveal

4,559 posts

249 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
quotequote all
battered said:
I destroyed every watch I owned in my 20s by using them for outdoor sports. I'm glad I didn't have anything collectable. In addition tastes change, if he's only 23 then what he buys today will be traded in or in a drawer in 10 yrs time.
Me too. Watches lasted closer to 5 months than the OP's 5 years. Until I spent ten times more and bought a Titanium Tissot T660.

The advice I'd give is, buy what he likes, not what you like AND don't consider investment potential, it's a watch not a bond. Jewelery of all kinds is a terrible investment.
If he needs to invest, get an investment. If you have spare cash to piss away, then why not blow it on a nice watch?

Take a gander at Chrono24 to see what's available used, but don't believe any of the "trusted" malarkey they peddle.

EmilA

1,511 posts

156 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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I'm 29, and have a Tag Carrera (brown leather strap) and a Rolex GMT II BLNR. Neither have been brought as investments and both are worn regularly. Got an Apple watch for daily wear in the office/gym etc.

I don't think my personal taste has changed much, and there is nothing wrong IMO with marking such an event with a nice watch as if you buy it right/look after it, it will last forever and can be passed onto future generations and they will know why it was brought.

I would say he should buy the one he likes within his budget. If his budget isn't enough and he has to save, is the option of 0% finance from say Watches of Switzerland an option that can be considered? And what he could save each month for the watch is just spent on paying the finance off?

scherzkeks

4,460 posts

133 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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If he is worried about having an old man's watch, Rolex is probably about as old-manish as it gets. New Expl. II is nice, but the rest of the range is a bit dusty.

Out of the "big 3" brands, I'd look at an Expl. II, a Chronomat 44, or Chronoliner.