What Would Be Your Perfect Two (2) Watch Collection?

[dom9]

Ok guys, no rule breaking here - must be two watches! If we can also keep them around a total budget of £12k, that would be good...

Pics and links to for sale ads welcome and they don't have to be new

I'm currently sitting on:

- Rolex GMT 2 (Coke - 2002)
- Rolex 16600 SD (1998)
- Zenith EP Original 1969 (38mm - new model)
- 2 x Seiko Autos
- 2 x Tag F1s Chronographs (originals - mint)

At the moment very few get worn as I can't seem to get past the GMT, which fits me beautifully and the GMT is functional as I live abroad or am always travelling.

Seeing as I'm always away, I don't carry my watches (just have the GMT at the moment) with me and I only have a two watch winder in the US. If I was to sell everything, what would I replace those 7 watches with?

My view has always been I need something for 'everyday' and something for 'the evening'. However, I also tend to feel that one of those watches must be a chronograph, which is how I ended up with the Zenith as it goes under a shirt cuff.

However, the Zenith is a bit small (on me) for wearing with anything other than a suit and there seems to be a lot of overlap for day-to-day with the GMT and SD. The others don't get a look in, sadly!

If Rolex release a Coke GMT ceramic at Basel and a 42mm Daytona with a date... I'm thinking those two might be 'perfect' and possibly land around (man-maths) the 'worth' of the other 7 watches.

I also feel keeping my Coke GMT (if a new one isn't released) and having a clear-out of the rest to put a rose/gold JLC Master of some description in the winder might be an idea...

I'm not an Omega man but I guess some people would see a Seamaster and Speedmaster as a good 2-watch set, so all views/ opinions welcome!

What say you WIS of PH?

[Craikeybaby]

My GShock 5600 Solar atomic would stay (not wearing it today and can't remember model number) as is it such a good every day watch.

Then something smart enough to wear with a suit, but not too dressy, so a Speedmaster maybe.

[yeti]

Realistic two watch set for me would be Nautilus 5980 and Doumetre chrono... however for 12k, hmm

I think I'd keep my Deepsea and wear that for daily, holidays etc and also my Reverso Grande Reserve - the two of those cost me a smidge over 12k and I can't think of two better watches. Shame there's no chrono, but such is life!




Alternatively my old Omega PO Chrono 9300 Ti/LM was a great watch at 4k, leaving me 8k for the dressy option... Probably a gold JLC Mater Geographic or Reserve de Marche at that price

[yeti]

Craikeybaby said:

My GShock 5600 Solar atomic would stay (not wearing it today and can't remember model number) as is it such a good every day watch.

Then something smart enough to wear with a suit, but not too dressy, so a Speedmaster maybe.

For £12k? That's an expensive Casio

[mikeveal]

Own only two watches?
Does not compute.

[andy tims]

Today's choice

Posh / best - Lange & Sohne 1815 Up & Down
Everything else - 16600 SD, which I've always said would be my "one watch" if push came to shove.

[dom9]

Good suggestions so far, chaps!

mikeveal said:

Own only two watches?
Does not compute.

Oh, I hear you and I am sure that situation wouldn't last long but... I'm really 'odd' in that I hate owning lots of 'stuff'. I'm used to moving to different countries with two suitcases. And a dog.

andy tims said:

Today's choice

Posh / best - Lange & Sohne 1815 Up & Down
Everything else - 16600 SD, which I've always said would be my "one watch" if push came to shove.

I'm liking that A L&S... More than an equivalent-ish JLC? Not sure...

I always believed the 16600 SD to be my perfect/ grail watch. Bought one and loved it - much better 'fit' than my DSSD. Then, for some reason, picked up the GMT, which sits even better on my wrist... Now, what to do with the SD?

The GMT would slip under a suit (just), I suspect... So, SD and GMT for the win? I still feel something more dressy and a chrono/ interesting complication would be good though! And maybe gold... Hmmmm...

[chris5150]

No questions in my mind, if its only 2 want chalk & cheese...the latest Nadal RM with the movement suspended by wires, love the case etc as well. Then for my classical side must be a ALS Tourbograph, stunning...that's my million spent then!!

[chris5150]

oops sorry just spotted the value limit...ignore my post then!

[CardShark]

Keep the GMT and add a GO PanoMaticLunar, or replace the GMT with a PAM329 and add the GO.

As for my own ideal 2 watches.... Something sporty on a bracelet and something smart/casual on a strap is about as close as I can narrow it down to!

[Craikeybaby]

yeti said:

Craikeybaby said:

My GShock 5600 Solar atomic would stay (not wearing it today and can't remember model number) as is it such a good every day watch.

Then something smart enough to wear with a suit, but not too dressy, so a Speedmaster maybe.

For £12k? That's an expensive Casio

It would leave plenty of budget for the second watch though!

[MX51ROD]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-TIMEX-WALT-DISNE...

http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/products/breitling-ch...

[yeti]

dom9 said:

So, SD and GMT for the win?

Too similar - as others have said, you want a couple of polar opposites, not two stainless sports watches wuith black dials from the same brand!

You really do seem to prefer the GMT of the two, and that makes the decision for you. That leaves with 8k for a nice rose gold Jaeger-LeCoultre from the Master series

[toon10]

Breitling Navitimer with black dial and metal strap for day use
Breitling Navitimer with black dial and black leather strap for Sunday best

[Snubs]

I'd be thinking JLC Reverso and for a day to day with chronograph a Grand Seiko like this:




It also has second hour hand if you're abroad a lot. I don't know too much about that particular GS. My guess is it's not cheap, maybe £8k ?

[PandaEyes]

I'd go for two that I don't (yet) own

Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch for everyday use and IWC Portugese for when I want to be a bit smarter although both could be interchangeable.

[mrdemon]

keep it simple

Omega SMPc black face
Rolex Explorer 2 polar

cost 2nd hand £6k for 2 mint examples bargin at half your 12k spend.

the build on the new SMPc is 2nd to none and looks stunning
then pick a white face Rolex, Exlporer 2 gen 1 or date ajust or some thing.

Edited by mrdemon on Wednesday 5th March 17:10

[dom9]

chris5150 said:

oops sorry just spotted the value limit...ignore my post then!

Those were appreciated... Can't afford them but nice to look!

CardShark said:

Keep the GMT and add a GO PanoMaticLunar, or replace the GMT with a PAM329 and add the GO.

As for my own ideal 2 watches.... Something sporty on a bracelet and something smart/casual on a strap is about as close as I can narrow it down to!

I'm not a Panerai man but I think you're right about one on a bracelet and one on a strap!

yeti said:

Too similar - as others have said, you want a couple of polar opposites, not two stainless sports watches wuith black dials from the same brand!

You really do seem to prefer the GMT of the two, and that makes the decision for you. That leaves with 8k for a nice rose gold Jaeger-LeCoultre from the Master series

I think this may be the way forward (as if part of me didn't know already )

Snubs said:

I'd be thinking JLC Reverso and for a day to day with chronograph a Grand Seiko like this:




It also has second hour hand if you're abroad a lot. I don't know too much about that particular GS. My guess is it's not cheap, maybe £8k ?

I'm not a Reverso guy, would have to be a Master of some description for me but that GS is rather lovely!

PandaEyes said:

I'd go for two that I don't (yet) own

Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch for everyday use and IWC Portugese for when I want to be a bit smarter although both could be interchangeable.

I've never got into Speedmasters, though I am tempted by how cheap the 'reduced' ones seem to be on the 2nd hand market. I'm also 'off' IWCs after my Spitfire Chrono proved unreliable, requiring two repairs in the first year. However, perhaps it is time to revisit them as the Portugese range has always looked good...

mrdemon said:

keep it simple

Omega SMPc black face
Rolex Explorer 2 polar

cost 2nd hand £6k for 2 mint examples bargin at half your 12k spend.

the build on the new SMPc is 2nd to nonce and looks stunning
then pick a white face Rolex, Exlporer 2 gen 1 or date ajust or some thing.

Something you want to tell us, MrD?

Too similar again... I'm not a fan of the Explorer 2 (I liked the 1 but it was too small) and I'd prefer the SD to the SMP.

I'm not a Panerai/ Omega/ IWC/ Reverso fan, generally, but this thread is throwing up some interesting options!

I think my heart may already be set on the GMT II & JLC Master combo though but keep them coming!

How much Vacheron Constantin Overseas could you get in budget?

[chris56]

Hmm two watches for a budget of £12k.
I think :

for daily use 16600 SeaDweller.
for evening wear/dinner etc - JLC Master Geographic
You should be able to source these two watches for just under 12K and have some funds left over for a G Shock for when you are out in dodgy areas/locations etc

[yeti]

dom9 said:

How much Vacheron Constantin Overseas could you get in budget?

Steel 3-hander is a very reasonable, 3-4k, the older 40mm chronograph can be had for 5k in Europe. The newer 42mm chrono with the funky Maltese Cross bracelet is closer to 8k but a thing of beauty. Old slim F. Piguet movement as used in the Blacncpain chronos but only 21600vph. Big date function is nice though.