Recommend me a watch for up to £15k
Recommend me a watch for up to £15k
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A1Diego

Original Poster:

105 posts

128 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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Hey guys,

Avid lurker. I’ve been doing research and general procrastination about getting a luxury watch. Procrastination mostly driven by a natural inclination to liking watches over my budget!

As an example, APs, precious metal Daytona on oysterflex etc.

Totally happy with buying second hand and keen for the watch to be an every day watch - I do like a watch with a rubber strap but do also like an AP on a bracelet, as an example. I also would like to avoid a Rolex because (no offence to anyone with one) personally, it’s a bit of an obvious choice for a luxury watch, pretty common in my circle and I don’t like following the crowd.

Current ones I’m considering are AP offshore diver (I think it’s the only AP in my budget but didn’t sing to me when I tried it on and I think it’s because I’d like a chrono but not totally ruled it out) and a Vacheron Overseas Dual Date.

Be keen to hear anyone that has experience of any of the above pieces or one that they think I should add to the mix.

Many thanks!

NDA

24,457 posts

247 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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There may be an Omega model or two which might suit?

I agree on Rolex, however I did buy my first Rolex not long ago - the Sky Dweller in steel with a blue dial. It does look like a Rolex, which is not a benefit (!), but it is a very clever mechanism, which is why I bought it. Very good for an every day watch with complications.

WhisperingWasp

1,728 posts

159 months

Ninjin

1,348 posts

97 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
quotequote all
A1Diego said:
Hey guys,

Avid lurker. I’ve been doing research and general procrastination about getting a luxury watch. Procrastination mostly driven by a natural inclination to liking watches over my budget!

As an example, APs, precious metal Daytona on oysterflex etc.

Totally happy with buying second hand and keen for the watch to be an every day watch - I do like a watch with a rubber strap but do also like an AP on a bracelet, as an example. I also would like to avoid a Rolex because (no offence to anyone with one) personally, it’s a bit of an obvious choice for a luxury watch, pretty common in my circle and I don’t like following the crowd.

Current ones I’m considering are AP offshore diver (I think it’s the only AP in my budget but didn’t sing to me when I tried it on and I think it’s because I’d like a chrono but not totally ruled it out) and a Vacheron Overseas Dual Date.

Be keen to hear anyone that has experience of any of the above pieces or one that they think I should add to the mix.

Many thanks!
10years ago the AP Offshore was the watch to be seen with. It basically held the postion of a hot model Rolex today (Hulk, Pepsi, Daytona etc). Only difference was that if you had the dosh, the AP was widely available.

Myself, I bought a Hublot in 2011 which annoyingly become so famous from 2012 onwards due to the world cup (sponsoring substitution boards). It was under the radar until then and after the worldcup I didn't wear it much. You can tell how well known a watch is by the amount of Fakes of it....

I think in 2021 it is safe again to wear it, without anyone asking if it is a real or fake as the social media trends have moved on.

Before you ask, yes it does look like an AP and I did consider an AP but the AP just didn't gel with me. I just fell for the skeleton design of the watch. Got to see it in the flesh to appreciate the way light gets refracted around the dial.

Here's a couple of pics of it for anyone that is interested.





At the end of the day, it has depreciated to below what I paid for it (even taken into the discounted price at the time of purchase), the AP or even another Rolex would have made much better financial sense but ultimately I bought what my heart wanted and not what social media wanted me to buy...

So in summary, you can't control trends so just buy what you like (deep down) and you hopefully will always like it, irrelevant of whether it is super trending, forgottten or worthless.



Edited by Ninjin on Sunday 13th December 18:19

Arranguez

394 posts

95 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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You could buy a Ulysse Nardin Freak X for that sort of money at Heathrow. You won’t see these on too many wrists.

gregs656

12,044 posts

203 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
quotequote all
Ninjin said:
Before you ask, yes it does look like an AP and I did consider an AP but the AP just didn't gel with me. I just fell for the skeleton design of the watch. Got to see it in the flesh to appreciate the way light gets refracted around the dial.
The talking watches with JCB covers the similarity thing. Worth watching.

nikaiyo2

5,670 posts

217 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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Arranguez said:
You could buy a Ulysse Nardin Freak X for that sort of money at Heathrow. You won’t see these on too many wrists.
Really??? I always thought the Freaks were way more than that like £30-50k.

Op these, imho not quite in the same league as AP but I think I would also include (Also can you get RO chronograph for £15k still?)

Zenith?

Girard-Perregaux ?

Blancpain ?

Bulgari Octo?


Salted_Peanut

1,788 posts

76 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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If you're uncertain which watch you want, then why would you spend £15k on it? That's a heck of a lot of money to have strapped on your wrist (theft magnet?), and this expenditure ought to be for something that you know you love.

A1Diego

Original Poster:

105 posts

128 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
quotequote all
Salted_Peanut said:
If you're uncertain which watch you want, then why would you spend £15k on it? That's a heck of a lot of money to have strapped on your wrist (theft magnet?), and this expenditure ought to be for something that you know you love.
Hey. Certain I want a decent watch as I do appreciate a watch on others and would like the same for myself. Just want to make sure I make the right choice and I’m considering all good options based on the criteria I communicated.

A1Diego

Original Poster:

105 posts

128 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
quotequote all
WhisperingWasp said:
That’s a great shout!! Do you think that’s a good price though as VCs tend to take a bit more of a hit on resale vs Rolex/AP etc.

mikeh501

799 posts

203 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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Blancpain fifty fathoms
Vacheron Constantin Overseas


Mosdef

1,833 posts

249 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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mikeh501 said:
Blancpain fifty fathoms
Vacheron Constantin Overseas
Those are my two favourites. I recently bought a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment 1, very, very pleased with it but I had doubts when it first arrived. The VC is on my shopping list, but I need a good reason to buy one given it’s £23k or so.

OP - The other one to look at is Breguet XXI or even the titanium version. I suspect the ROO would get boring after a while.

WhisperingWasp

1,728 posts

159 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
quotequote all
A1Diego said:
That’s a great shout!! Do you think that’s a good price though as VCs tend to take a bit more of a hit on resale vs Rolex/AP etc.
Not my area of expertise I'm afraid. However, it does look great value when a Hulk will run you the same from WF nowadays!

gregs656

12,044 posts

203 months

Sunday 13th December 2020
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nikaiyo2 said:
Bulgari Octo?
I really like the Octo.

Three hand one on watch finder for about 5k.


Rob_R

2,452 posts

267 months

Monday 14th December 2020
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Zenth Defy El Primero 21, perhaps? They can be had well within your budget and can be had on a rubber strap as well.

A movement that absolutely obliterates pretty much everything else in this segment. Very rare as well.

z4RRSchris

12,282 posts

201 months

Monday 14th December 2020
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get the AP. banging watch

i have a royal oak chrono, i would like an offshore soon.

A1Diego

Original Poster:

105 posts

128 months

Monday 14th December 2020
quotequote all
z4RRSchris said:
get the AP. banging watch

i have a royal oak chrono, i would like an offshore soon.
For an every day watch? Shame the only AP in my price bracket is the diver. I didn’t fall in love with it but perhaps needs another try. Also read they are much more delicate than a VC.

z4RRSchris

12,282 posts

201 months

Monday 14th December 2020
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i wear it most days, alternate with a sub usually every few months.

i would like the below:

https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Audemars%20Piguet/Ro...

DanCup

144 posts

241 months

Monday 14th December 2020
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I'm a big fan of the new top end JLC Polaris

https://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/eu/en/watches/jae...

However, if you can find one (and they are probably £5k cheaper than the above) I prefer the 2020 ltd edition model

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/jaegerlecoultre/jaeger-...

The Big G

1,001 posts

190 months

Monday 14th December 2020
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More than a little over budget, but when doesn’t man maths help things work out!

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/audemarspiguet/audemars...

I’m a huge fan of the original offshore, but this is titanium so won’t be so heavy on the wrist. It’s also a slightly darker shade which I also think really suits it.

But as I said, it’s over budget wink

ETA - I already have a oysterquartz day date and either my recommendation above, or a ap 25807 is next on my list, well, or a aquanaut if my name ever makes it to the top of the list. It’s sitting as a favourite on my Chrono24 list at the moment. I know what you mean about Rolex though! Mine doesn’t come out anywhere near as regularly as it used to.

Edited by The Big G on Monday 14th December 21:12