Another what watch ? , 40th birthday.

[Lemanandbeyond]

Hi all,

I will be hitting the big 40 soon and I would like a special watch to celebrate. My nan sadly passed away a few months ago and left me some money, which I would like to add in so I have a budget of up to £10K.

This is quite a lot of money to me so I want to make the right decision and I am looking for a few ideas from people in the know. As I live outside the EU I can either buy VAT free ish from London or from Heathrow as I am a regular traveller.

I have a IWC Portofino chronograph and a Omega skyfall 007. I would like something a little different to these but also to hold its value as much as possible.

The ones I have seen so far that I liked are -

Hublot big bang steel blue or black magic

Jaeger master geographic (like the watch but very similar look to IWC)

Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronograph 43 MM

Thanks in advance.

[seadragon]

Get a nice Grand Seiko, collectable/limited edition one. Beautiful watches and there is a good fan base for those into GS and Seiko.

SBGH269
SBGJ021
SBGJ227 (peacock, very sought after)

Many many others to choose from too, if you look wisely.

The new Godzilla is £11,250k, but sure to hold its value and probably appreciate after a few years.

https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/watches-c2/mens-c... has some for sale, or check on chrono24.

[Bobajobbob]

Not sure this will squeeze in below budget but you can't go wrong with an AP Royal Oak.

[mcpiston]

Rolex explorer 1, that's what I did

[Lemanandbeyond]

seadragon said:

Get a nice Grand Seiko, collectable/limited edition one. Beautiful watches and there is a good fan base for those into GS and Seiko.

Well that shows how little I know, I thought Seiko were relatively cheap

Its not for me but appreciate your thoughts.

[Lemanandbeyond]

Bobajobbob said:

Not sure this will squeeze in below budget but you can't go wrong with an AP Royal Oak.

Love these, if I could get one in budget.

[Lemanandbeyond]

mcpiston said:

Rolex explorer 1, that's what I did

Personally I am not a massive fan of Rolex, absolutely nothing wrong they are nice watches its just not a make that I would go for.

[So]

Lemanandbeyond said:

Bobajobbob said:

Not sure this will squeeze in below budget but you can't go wrong with an AP Royal Oak.

Love these, if I could get one in budget.

I want to love them, but I don't love octagons.

[MechMovement]

Lemanandbeyond said:

Love these, if I could get one in budget.

If you trade in your current watches + the cash you would be pretty close i'd imagine.
Are you a one watch guy though?

Personally:
IWC (Top Gun etc... one of their more sporty watches as you already have a Portfoino)
Omega Aqua Terra
Cartier Drive collection

You'll be okay value wise with the above but if value retention is important at £10k i'd go Rolex... Explorer 2

[Lemanandbeyond]

MechMovement said:

If you trade in your current watches + the cash you would be pretty close i'd imagine.
Are you a one watch guy though?

Personally:
IWC (Top Gun etc... one of their more sporty watches as you already have a Portfoino)
Omega Aqua Terra
Cartier Drive collection

You'll be okay value wise with the above but if value retention is important at £10k i'd go Rolex... Explorer 2

Not a one watch guy, for sentimental reasons I wouldn't part with either of them.

The IWC is nice, I like that and its quite a bit below budget !

[lostkiwi]

Zenith El Primero in whatever style takes your fancy.
JLC?
Dornblüth?

[critical mass]

JLC Master Réserve de Marche?

[Arranguez]

How many of those in your list have you tried on? The UNs are great in the flesh. I think Hublot don’t feel/look so great in person. T5 has shed loads of Hublot in WoS if you wanted loads in one place, but given you travel you probably know that!

[Lemanandbeyond]

Arranguez said:

How many of those in your list have you tried on? The UNs are great in the flesh. I think Hublot don’t feel/look so great in person. T5 has shed loads of Hublot in WoS if you wanted loads in one place, but given you travel you probably know that!

I have tried the UN and the Jaeger but not the Hublot. I am in London next week so I will pop by a couple of stores, I am more inclined to go for the UN or the Hublot but the IWC pilot is a contender also. So basically completely undecided lol.

[Dicky Knee]

This would be my choice:

https://www.hackettwatches.com/hw/items/JPRYBBBL9K

I love the Arabic numerals.

And you won't take a bath on it if you decide to sell in the future.

[Lemanandbeyond]

That Zenith is a lovely piece ! very elegant.

[The Big G]

I’d be thinking of a bulgari octo finissimo, either titanium on a bracelet or a skeleton on leather. Both lovely things and a bit different to what you already have. Beautiful things I’d love to own. Been trying to persuade my wife it’s a good idea but to no avail yet.

[T6 vanman]

Have you considered Blancpain?

Sporty Fifty Fathoms or more classical models

[Lemanandbeyond]

Good morning all,

I thought I would update this, after saying I am not a Rolex fan one of the dealers convinced me to try one on, I loved it and a deal was done.

I tried on lots and lots of makes & models but this is different to my others and loved the fit on the wrist.

[Tony1963]

Well done for going with something that you’ve tried on, and liked. Internet pics, magazines and shop windows mean nothing until you try one on your own wrist.

Enjoy!