Help me pick my next watch
Discussion
I am in the privileged position of having some cash from an inheritance to add another to my watch collection. I have done the sensible bit and made myself completely debt free and whist I don’t have the powerfully built director status of some of the PistonHeads collective I have a good job that pays well and is secure, so I want to spend some of the money my gran left me on another watch, chosen wisely it should last for years and be a good reminder of her and how she has helped me since a young age. All the watches I like are not inexpensive but I have the funds to make a purchase if I find what I am looking for without regret that I should have invested it more wisely or less selfishly.
I already have a Rolex LV Sub & Air King. A daylight Chrono & GMT Panerai, Tag Monaco & a Breitling Super Ocean. I try to wear them all but favour the Sub & the Panerai watches. The Air King hardly gets a look in these days.
The watches below are on my wish list , any comments for and against welcome as is anything else interesting I might be missing out on. If I was young(er) and single and didn't need my kidneys I would be in for a PP Aquanaut but I'm not nor can I afford a divorce if the Mrs clocked I spent 40k+ on something I wore on my wrist!
It was always my intention to add a Rolex Daytona to my collection. Prices of the 2016 onward models are now too expensive I simply can’t justify spending the current asking prices. There are older variants typically steel & gold with white face for about 12K. My concern is many of these don’t have boxes or papers and whilst buying from a trusted dealer should mean the watch is authentic, if I am investing in an expensive time piece, I want to ensure it retains its value or even grows like I have seen with my other Rolex watches.
Ulysee Nardin Macho Paladium 950. Much easier on the wallet, don’t have anything similar, not overly bling and I doubt I would get my arm chopped off for it. Not sure if it will continue to depreciate, hold its value or climb. Struggling to find a reasonably priced one that has all its papers & box in the UK/EU. Plenty in the US but I am not out there again until next summer.
Vacheron Constantine 56 day/date. Just under 11K new if you shop about. Like the UN, don’t have anything similar, not overly bling and I doubt I would get my arm chopped off for it. Very understated but a beautiful time piece. I am a little concerned about resale value if I can already get 5-6k off list compared to if you went to somewhere like Watches of Switzerland selling at full retail.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. Always been intrigued with the AP watches, never really had enough cash to buy one. My only concern here is those watches in the 11-12k bracket where I am comfortable spending, tend to be in the 11-12yrs of age bracket. Should this be a worry? I would guess not if well maintained.
I already have a Rolex LV Sub & Air King. A daylight Chrono & GMT Panerai, Tag Monaco & a Breitling Super Ocean. I try to wear them all but favour the Sub & the Panerai watches. The Air King hardly gets a look in these days.
The watches below are on my wish list , any comments for and against welcome as is anything else interesting I might be missing out on. If I was young(er) and single and didn't need my kidneys I would be in for a PP Aquanaut but I'm not nor can I afford a divorce if the Mrs clocked I spent 40k+ on something I wore on my wrist!
It was always my intention to add a Rolex Daytona to my collection. Prices of the 2016 onward models are now too expensive I simply can’t justify spending the current asking prices. There are older variants typically steel & gold with white face for about 12K. My concern is many of these don’t have boxes or papers and whilst buying from a trusted dealer should mean the watch is authentic, if I am investing in an expensive time piece, I want to ensure it retains its value or even grows like I have seen with my other Rolex watches.
Ulysee Nardin Macho Paladium 950. Much easier on the wallet, don’t have anything similar, not overly bling and I doubt I would get my arm chopped off for it. Not sure if it will continue to depreciate, hold its value or climb. Struggling to find a reasonably priced one that has all its papers & box in the UK/EU. Plenty in the US but I am not out there again until next summer.
Vacheron Constantine 56 day/date. Just under 11K new if you shop about. Like the UN, don’t have anything similar, not overly bling and I doubt I would get my arm chopped off for it. Very understated but a beautiful time piece. I am a little concerned about resale value if I can already get 5-6k off list compared to if you went to somewhere like Watches of Switzerland selling at full retail.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. Always been intrigued with the AP watches, never really had enough cash to buy one. My only concern here is those watches in the 11-12k bracket where I am comfortable spending, tend to be in the 11-12yrs of age bracket. Should this be a worry? I would guess not if well maintained.
Thanks for all your input. I still haven't made a purchase yet. The AP I was considering that Dom had for sale has gone 
I can't find a Daytona that I can fall in love with steel & gold are fairly plentiful at the lower end of the Datona spectrum but I really like the steel with black face bezel but the price is crazy too much for me to stomach.
I was with a client last week who had a Sky Dweller on his wrist he lent it to me for a couple of days & I found it rather quite nice! not too bling and a bit more subtle than a Daytona.
I am out in Dusseldorf for a couple of days this week and their is a dealer about 5kms from the airport that has a 2018yr example in oystersteel & gold with a white face for £12,200, I am going to make time to go and look at. I really wanted oystersteel with the blue face but from the enquiries I have made so far there is no chance unless I want to pay a big premium which I am not prepared to do.
I need to make the right choice as I don't really have the funds to go for another piece if its at the top end of what I am comfortable paying for a watch but I will get there in the end. The search goes on!
I can't find a Daytona that I can fall in love with steel & gold are fairly plentiful at the lower end of the Datona spectrum but I really like the steel with black face bezel but the price is crazy too much for me to stomach.
I was with a client last week who had a Sky Dweller on his wrist he lent it to me for a couple of days & I found it rather quite nice! not too bling and a bit more subtle than a Daytona.
I am out in Dusseldorf for a couple of days this week and their is a dealer about 5kms from the airport that has a 2018yr example in oystersteel & gold with a white face for £12,200, I am going to make time to go and look at. I really wanted oystersteel with the blue face but from the enquiries I have made so far there is no chance unless I want to pay a big premium which I am not prepared to do.
I need to make the right choice as I don't really have the funds to go for another piece if its at the top end of what I am comfortable paying for a watch but I will get there in the end. The search goes on!
Hang On said:
It is all subjective at the end of the day but, to me, this would be a no-brainer. I would add a smidge to my budget and buy a brand new tt Daytona 116503 from an AD. RRP is £13k and, despite the £2k overs demanded by the Del-boy/watchfinder types, the waitlist is only around 3 months. I have the black dial version which tends towards the dressy side. The white dial version is a bit more versatile imo. Either way you can’t go wrong. It is the value sweet spot in the Rolex range and if I were forced to keep only one watch, this would be the one. If you haven’t tried one on your wrist, you should.
So over the weekend going into London to look at a few watches. Starting with the two I like most, an Oystersteel/gold Daytona with white face. Not new but 2018 in immaculate condition with all its papers/box. A shade under 13k unless they will negotiate a little. Same dealer also has a Sky dweller in oystersteel/gold that has the champagne colour face. The SD is new unworn and 1K more expensive. I have given up on an SS Daytona in blk/white simply not worth the premium they appear to command in my opinion.I am not too bothered about 'unworn' either, as these seem to carry a premium and the watch will inevitably pick up a few light marks on the bracelet as it gets worn, once I pull the stickers off it, although I will try to remember not to wash the cars or work in the garden wearing it.
Also have an AP RO Offshore to view but not sure if I should look at all three then decide or if I like the Rolex stop faffing about & pony up the cash and wear it home.
Edited by shep1001 on Friday 29th November 18:02
Hang On said:
Stunning. Both of them. That would be a tough choice.
Went with the Sky Dweller in the end. I Put the Daytona on and was really disappointed it felt so underwhelming, not at all what I expected from the pictures. No way would I part with 20k for the steel black version, if they were at list price then yes I might have one to add to the collection.
Anyway 2 months old, unworn for a smidge over the list price so I am happy
Gerradi said:
Congratulations Shep, thats a very good price! May i ask the contact details of the dealer you bought the Sky Dweller from & would you know whether he has another one ?
Or pop me an email please if you'd rather not say on forum.
Sure I purchased it from Charles Fish. Sadly they only had the one in oystersteel & gold, they have another in a different colour combo but it is £18k. You might want to try Goldsmiths in Meadowhall I think they had a new one due in as I was on their wait list Or pop me an email please if you'd rather not say on forum.
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