The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[am55]

No worries. I appreciate your reply. It’s the sort of put down that TheFoo wishes he had the ability to do. A lot more subtle than “you’re a ******* idiot.” That’s the difference between old world Euro snobbery and new world wannabe finance tycoon. But you both take the same tact in any disagreement—“I am holier than thou.”

"The end justified the means. Now I am absolutely convinced that the means are the ends. You cannot separate a certain purpose from a certain method." - Alberto Franceschini (would have preferred a F-91W)

 

[FibroblastsMakeLeather]

Looks great! Congrats and enjoy it!!!

thank you!

 

[Keith T]

I enjoy the decision making process of watches and travel. Even before Covid, I never took more than a single watch on trips. I'll always own a beefy diver for that reason, it just works everywhere including an outdoor vacation.

I remember white water rafting in ME years ago and wearing my old Seamaster 225450 on a NATO. The guide was fascinated that anyone would wear a nice watch rafting. He was also interested in watches so we got to chatting about the benefits of a NATO over water. In addition to a nice tip (for potentially saving my wife from drowning) I sent him a handful of Nato straps and a Bergeon spring bar tool when I got home. He was saving for a Sub. Wonder if he ever got it.

Nice gesture! Spreading the watch love

And I really do hope that he got that Sub before the stainless Rolex market went truly bonkers.

 

[ronscuba]

They seem very "look at me", to me at least. My parents are old (and Italian) enough that to them "Bulgari" just meant "a very well known expensive and creative jeweller on Via Condotti". But now Bulgari is trying to become Cartier, and it doesn't work. Rome at the beginning of the 21stC in not like Paris at the turn of the 20th. And so Bulgari ends up on the wrists of banksters, the Russian mob, and minor Gulf oil parasites--whereas back in the day Cartier ended up on the wrists of Santos-Dumont, assorted aristocrats, and by extension the likes of Andy Warhol. Which isn't to say that most of Cartier's current production isn't questionable as well, but then that would get us into the issue of what Richemont & co do to luxury makers, and that's a whole 'nother story.

Edit: here's another way of putting it. Even in its heyday, Bulgari wanted to make the jewels that Roman princesses would wear, but more often than not ended up making the jewels that Roman princes would give to their mistresses.

I own a Bulgari Bulgari and other watches you would probably describe as flashy/look at me. In a broad overview, I tend to see watches in 2 categories. Generic/plain or stylish. I guess you could say flashy/look at me instead of stylish.

Patek, AP, Breguet. I find Patek generally more generic/plain in comparison. I find Rolex generally generic/plain. My Santos vs my Bulgari. The Bulgari is more flashy.

We all have different tastes. I find that cool and interesting. How boring would it be if everyone had the same taste and the same brand, model of watch, clothes, shoes, etc..

 

[venessian]

That's what I was driving at.

Well, you know what they say:
"Minds that think alike...think alike."

 

[radicaldog]

We all have different tastes. I find that cool and interesting. How boring would it be if everyone had the same taste and the same brand, model of watch, clothes, shoes, etc..

I don't know man.

 

[ronscuba]

I don't know man.

View attachment 1613395

Your hair and tie seems very much "look at me, I am different".

 

[radicaldog]

Your hair and tie seems very much "look at me, I am different".

Yes. Sometimes that's how humour works in my head.

To be clear, it's a random cartoon from a newspaper, and a feeble attempt at humorously indicating that we're in no danger of being made to wear identical Mao suits.

 

[9thsymph]

Who else chooses their watch for the day by matching it to the beer they envision having...?

(also...the true marker of success isn’t the watch you wear, it’s how often you can day drink comfortably...)

 

[Neville Southall]

 

[9thsymph]

I thought you were from Chicago. I'll just leave this here for you:

Chicago Meet Up

I was having a conversation with @heldentenor about getting together in Chicago in the new, post-pandemic world, since its a convenient meeting place between our two cities. That segued into talking about doing a styleforum meet up, which I think would be a lot of fun. So, the plan is to do a...

www.styleforum.net

(Responded to that thread...thanks!)

 

[Drek Galloche]

Not a fan of homages/replicas or whatever one calls them...to me its just a fake. If I can't afford the real thing, then I'll gladly admire images of real ones in magazines or social medial. Even if made from a real Rolex, it's designed to be something it isn't, or to fool some people. I would find it the same was wearing a George Armani suit, or a kit car that is supposed to turn an old Pontiac Fiero or C4 Corvette into Lamborghini or Ferrari. Maybe some people would be fooled into believing it's the real deal, but I would always know it was fake and I would get no enjoyment from owning it.

It is a modified Rolex watch. Not a Bulova made to look like Rolex. So proper analogy would be to say I would hate to see brand new Ferrari modified to look vintage. You might feel strongly about such modification while others take consumption of mass produced goods with less devotion.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Yay or nay?

 

[9thsymph]

Yay or nay?

Two thumbs down from me for the reasons expressed earlier...

 

[Keith T]

Same.