Risso Posted May 23, 2014 Author Share Posted May 23, 2014 (edited) What about Breguet? I see they are now owned by Swatch, and so I kind of think that maybe they aren't quite as good a make as when Dr Maturin owned one. Swatch as a group own a large amount of high end brands, including Breguet, Omega, Glashutte Original, Blancpain and Jacquet Droz etc. They also own the largest movement manufacturer, ETA. It's just a shame that the group name is still the same as the plastic fashion tat they peddle. It's no different in my eyes than Bentley being owned by VW for example. Edited May 23, 2014 by Risso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted May 23, 2014 Author Share Posted May 23, 2014 Tag Heuer is basically a Louis Vuitton watch. Marketing by getting Tiger Woods and DiCaprio to do adverts. It's just a fashion brand now, pretending to have some legacy because of Heuer. Rolex have marketing, but they have a bedrock of legacy and inhouse movements. When they couldn't mass make a chronograph of good enough quality they bought the movement from Zenith and never pretended to not do that. We've the Zenith Daytona. Rolex legacy is as a tool watch. Pan Am asked rolex to make a dual time watch for their pilots and we've the GMT. Divers created the Submariner. Etc.. Heuer was famous for chronographs like the Carerra but that thread of legacy is far too sullied now. Some of the "fashion brands" like Luis Vuitton and Lacroix make some nice watches, but honestly, what self respecting WIS would ever in a million years consider buying one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Opinions on Audemars Piguet Royal Oak? I want 3 pieces that can be worn to work with a suit. I've my Calatrava, I got my Daytona and while I can wear the Submariner with I'm not feeling the bigger case size. It's less comfortable than the other two (also less attractive) and so gets worn less. When it comes to weekend I have my big case down with my Navitimer. So I'm thinking of offloading the Submariner and upgrading to one of the 39mm Royal Oaks, blue face maybe. There is no comparison, AP are one of the big three and this is their classic piece. But is it attractive enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GarethRDR Posted May 28, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted May 28, 2014 Bloody hell chaps, and to think I considered £10 on this to be the height of opulence... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hycus-flange Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 expensive watches are IMO a waste of money, you can have a £5 market special on your wrist or a £25000 Rolex, the result is the same every time you look at it, what you see is the passing of time or put another way it shows you that you have so many minutes/hours less to live than the last time you looked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 You could say much the same thing about clothes, shoes, cars, food or anything else where there is a wide spectrum of prices for a product. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hycus-flange Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 You could say much the same thing about clothes, shoes, cars, food or anything else where there is a wide spectrum of prices for a product. but clothes, shoes or food doesn't show you that you are getting closer to your demise when you look at them, a car can as they all have clocks in them, tick tock tick tock, a bit nearer to death we all are. My earlier point was that you could spend loads on a watch and all it would do is point out that every time you look at it it reminds you that you are a little bit closer to popping your clogs, the same as if you bought a market special, only you would have a bit more spends left to have fun with, but then again, if you can afford to blow a fortune on an expensive timepiece then i guess you would have the funds for a massive jolly on a regular basis too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 You could say much the same thing about clothes, shoes, cars, food or anything else where there is a wide spectrum of prices for a product. Exactly, art is another one. Antiques. Then you have people pouring money into decorating their home. I've heard crazy prices my friends wife wants to spend on curtains!! I love history and that's why I've slid into being a Watch Idiot Savant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 You could say much the same thing about clothes, shoes, cars, food or anything else where there is a wide spectrum of prices for a product. but clothes, shoes or food doesn't show you that you are getting closer to your demise when you look at them, a car can as they all have clocks in them, tick tock tick tock, a bit nearer to death we all are. My earlier point was that you could spend loads on a watch and all it would do is point out that every time you look at it it reminds you that you are a little bit closer to popping your clogs, the same as if you bought a market special, only you would have a bit more spends left to have fun with, but then again, if you can afford to blow a fortune on an expensive timepiece then i guess you would have the funds for a massive jolly on a regular basis too. I check the time all the time, I kinda have to because of my job. I don't think it has ever made me think I am going to die. If that is what you think every time you look at a clock then maybe you should go see a shrink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Here's my now 4 watch collection. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted May 28, 2014 Moderator Share Posted May 28, 2014 So I'm thinking of offloading the Submariner and upgrading to one of the 39mm Royal Oaks, blue face maybe. There is no comparison, AP are one of the big three and this is their classic piece. But is it attractive enough? Personally speaking? No I don't think it is. If I'm entirely honest, I don't like it. It just isn't aesthetically pleasing to me, I might feel differently if I say it in real life I've had that before with watches. I wouldn't have given negative feedback if you'd not asked for feedback but I kind of get the impression you already know the answer. I think you can get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Opinions on Audemars Piguet Royal Oak? I want 3 pieces that can be worn to work with a suit. I've my Calatrava, I got my Daytona and while I can wear the Submariner with I'm not feeling the bigger case size. It's less comfortable than the other two (also less attractive) and so gets worn less. When it comes to weekend I have my big case down with my Navitimer. So I'm thinking of offloading the Submariner and upgrading to one of the 39mm Royal Oaks, blue face maybe. There is no comparison, AP are one of the big three and this is their classic piece. But is it attractive enough? That looks like it was carved from the hull of a navy ship. I bit too industrial looking for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 So I'm thinking of offloading the Submariner and upgrading to one of the 39mm Royal Oaks, blue face maybe. There is no comparison, AP are one of the big three and this is their classic piece. But is it attractive enough? Personally speaking? No I don't think it is. If I'm entirely honest, I don't like it. It just isn't aesthetically pleasing to me, I might feel differently if I say it in real life I've had that before with watches. I wouldn't have given negative feedback if you'd not asked for feedback but I kind of get the impression you already know the answer. I think you can get better. Well my dilemma is I need something smaller than the Submariner that's got the dive watch down. But that is versatile, can be worn with a suit as well as shorts and t shirt. I need something that will retain essentially all its value too. The only other option that fits the same bill as the Royal Oak is the Aquanaut and do I want another Patek, they are very expensive especially given it's on a rubber strap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanBalaban Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 So I'm thinking of offloading the Submariner and upgrading to one of the 39mm Royal Oaks, blue face maybe. There is no comparison, AP are one of the big three and this is their classic piece. But is it attractive enough? Personally speaking? No I don't think it is. If I'm entirely honest, I don't like it. It just isn't aesthetically pleasing to me, I might feel differently if I say it in real life I've had that before with watches. I wouldn't have given negative feedback if you'd not asked for feedback but I kind of get the impression you already know the answer. I think you can get better. Well my dilemma is I need something smaller than the Submariner that's got the dive watch down. But that is versatile, can be worn with a suit as well as shorts and t shirt. I need something that will retain essentially all its value too. The only other option that fits the same bill as the Royal Oak is the Aquanaut and do I want another Patek, they are very expensive especially given it's on a rubber strap. I bought the Hublot for that crossover purpose and still love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanBalaban Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Love this one too: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I'm not a fan of these modern sprung up brands. I'm a history buff and one of the most important things for me is heritage. Also, for me Hublot is just all style over substance, I mean at the prices they charge for a Big Bang you get an ETA Valijoux movement in there, which is as bog standard an automatic as you can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted May 28, 2014 Moderator Share Posted May 28, 2014 Not a Hublot fan myself but different strokes for different folks. Maqroll hit the nail on the head, that AP is just too industrial looking for my tastes I prefer things a little more refined. I much much much prefer your alternative the Aquanaut. I would also suggest that it is more likely to stand the test of tide and taste which is important if you need/want it to retain value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I don't want to end up with a collection of Pateks and Rolexs. AP are one of the 2 remaining family owned Swiss watch making houses along with PP. I think the Royal Oak looks superb in this review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrees Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Love this one too: The 118 watch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 I'm not a big fan of Hublot either I'm afraid. The movements are just bog standard ETA (although I think they're starting to do some in house stuff) surrounded by overly flashy cases. I do quite like that Royal Oak, although I prefer the white face on them. Funnily enough, I think my Breguet Maine fits the versatile brief, as I often wear it to work, but it looks just as good as a casual piece. Like that Patek, it has a rubber strap, and the combination of that and the silver face makes for a versatile watch. I'm in London at the moment, and had a wonder down Old Bond Street. Absolute watch porn that area! Anyway, any opinions on the IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater? It's an absolute grail watch of mine, and in my humble opinion one of the most stunning looking watches there is: http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/images2/watch_images_pages/watches2_chopard_ebel_gp_gucci_iwc_pages/iwc_platinum_minute_repeater.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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