Video for Patek Philippe with Vintage Speedster

and I found a similar watch on Amazon, although it's not eligible for prime shipping, rest assured that shipping is free.

Love it. (The car that is) ����

oooh. free shipping AND 2-year Amazon warranty! 

OK, snark: why do these guys always look like either Tom Cruise (Breitling, Rolex, etc.) or a young Mitt Romney? Like does someone call Central Casting and just order up a "rich guy?"

In related news, I again endorse the Orient Star Classic as the watch to have if you want to look rich but actually aren't insufferably ostentatious.

I kind of like the commercial.  My dad bought a Rolex the year I was born and I wear it every day.  One of my sons will wear it one day.  

I gave up on watches when I got a smart phone. 

Bought the wife a nice Rolex a number of years ago. Looks brand new, but keeps terrible time. Time to send it in for a tune up and oil change.

Honestly I never wore a watch until my dad passed a few years ago.  I check time on my phone.  It and my wedding ring are just male jewelry.  I actually bought my daughter a Cellini (electric Rolex) for a graduation present thinking she would probably never wear it.  She wears it every day.  Never checks time on it.

Phil, wearing an heirloom watch from your dad seems an entirely different thing, I think. I hope you get pleasure from that bond  and good memories every time you look at it. Good for you!

edsnova posted:

oooh. free shipping AND 2-year Amazon warranty! 

OK, snark: why do these guys always look like either Tom Cruise (Breitling, Rolex, etc.) or a young Mitt Romney? Like does someone call Central Casting and just order up a "rich guy?"

In related news, I again endorse the Orient Star Classic as the watch to have if you want to look rich but actually aren't insufferably ostentatious.

That is a very nice looking watch.

I love the look of the Rolex Cellini. Very classic looking watch and certainly not over the top. I can't afford a real one at $15,000. I did happen to find a nice reproduction made with the movement from a Citizen watch and it was under $400.00. It keeps excellent time, very nice case, and a quality leather strap. I bought it because it has a very classic look and it's an unobtrusive watch. It's not like you're wearing Big Ben on your wrist like some of these new watches that have come out. I have several watches and I wear one almost every day. I have a rugged Luminox for work and three vintage looking watches for the other times. A stainless steel Citizen, a gold Citizen with a black leather strap, and a polished chrome Rolex Cellini tribute watch. I read some posts on here from several years ago about whether or not SOC members would wear a tribute watch. It did lead me to finding the watch I bought. LOL

Patek Philippe makes some handsome watches and the Grand Complications line is nice. Too expensive for me, but nice watches anyway.

                                                  My Rolex is the cheapest money can buy. All stainless. It loses about 2 minutes a week but it's bullet proof. Dad probably paid about a grand for it in 1960. Bought my daughter's Cellini used. Used is the way to buy an expensive watch. My wife's new Rolex cost me out the a$$. But momma don't do used. 

"But momma don't do used."

Ok, Phil, that was funny!

My late Dad had a Rolex Oyster that was originally my mother's cousin's.  I think it dates back into the 50's or earlier.  Now my son has it and wears it a lot.

I remember seeing some pretty exotic wrist watches while still at EMC during our growth heyday, especially on the Sales and Marketing guys (a LOT of Patek-Phillippes there, but the engineers weren't really big on watches).

After I finished a particularly taxing product introduction I treated myself to the watch I really liked that, I thought, said a lot about me.... A really nice, wafer-thin Seiko that I still wear, on odd occasions.  It's my "go-to" watch:

I have a collection of at least 20 replica watches, including Patek Philippe, several Rolexs, Breitlings, Panerais and several more.  They all look like and tell time just like the real ones and none of them cost me more than a couple of hundred dollars.  I also had a real Rolex Submariner for several years and finally decided to sell it for several thousand dollars.  I'm also planning to sell all my replicas since I never wear any of them any longer.  Just like Bob, I rely on my cell phone for the time.

Troy Sloan posted:

I have a collection of at least 20 replica watches, including Patek Philippe, several Rolexs, Breitlings, Panerais and several more.  They all look like and tell time just like the real ones and none of them cost me more than a couple of hundred dollars.  I also had a real Rolex Submariner for several years and finally decided to sell it for several thousand dollars.  I'm also planning to sell all my replicas since I never wear any of them any longer.  Just like Bob, I rely on my cell phone for the time.

Next time we get together I'd like to have at look at some of them Troy. The vintage looking ones with leather straps would be my top picks.

I remember going on a "Wide Watch Chase" in Tokyo years back, trying to find a very particular Citizen watch for my son.  Had a heck of a time finding the place I wanted to go to because all I had was a 3-D-style map of downtown (near Shinjuku Station) given to me by the hotel concierge with an "X" on it for the store I needed.

Unfortunately, ALL the signs you could see were in Japanese and I couldn't read them - at all.  I finally Ended up at "Kobiachi Camera" after showing my map to two traffic cops and they, speaking no English, would point me in the right direction by gesturing a lot.  

At the designated store, I walked in and found one of the helpful greeters (they wear a prominent store vest) and asked, "Where are the wrist watches?"   I get this totally blank stare for a few seconds and then, with copius gesturing, the young man says: "solly....No Engrish!"

So I point at my watch and say "Wrist Watch?"  This time he gets the meaning, brightens right up, says; "Ah!  Rist Vwatch", makes a sweeping gesture around, shakes his head and says: "noooo...noooo.....", then takes me gently by the elbow, leads me out of the store while gesturing for me to follow, takes me down the street two blocks to another Kobiachi Camera store (I found out later that I had walked into the appliance store by mistake - there are five different stores in the same area).  He walks me into the new store and into the elevator, up three floors to the "Rist Vwatch" department and delivers me to the counter guys, none of who speak English.  I thank my young friend, give him the appropriate bow (I am an American, after all, and am not supposed to know their courtesies, but I try my best to be polite) and after he gives me a big smile, he leaves me to the next guys.  I start the spiel over again, but this time I pull out a photo my son sent to me of the watch in question.  Massive consternation breaks out behind the counter, with one, then two, then four or five guys all trying to figure out what the hell this nutty tourist wants.

Eventually, Sales guy 1 (SG1) touches my arm and then holds up a finger, then runs off, returning with yet another guy, but this guy speaks a very small amount of English - I'll call him English Guy 1 (EG1), and I explain that I'm looking for this particular model of a Citizen watch. He looks at the photo, says a few things to SGs1-4 who all become animated with a lot of head shaking, gesturing to other counter SGs and get a small crowd coming and going, trying to help out.  It doesn't look good, but I'm actually having a lot of fun with these guys as we all try to make ourselves understood.

Finally, after maybe ten minutes of talking and gesturing, with still other SGs coming and going from all around the floor, EG1 turns to me, gestures around, points to the photo and then to the floor and says; "Nooo.....No here.....  Solly....Export Onry......No sell here."

Time to give up on the "Wild Watch Chase", I surmised.....

So I thanked all of the SG's with a comfortable bow, thanked the EG with both a bow and then held out my hand (which he hesitatingly took for a gentle shake) and I said one of the few things my Tokyo business counterparts had taught me:  "Arigatou gozaimasu" (Polite version of Thank you very much ).  Instantly, they ALL brightened up and we all exchanged polite bows and they all waved as I left.

What a cool country!

I'll save another time for a similar story of four American "business men" trying to get from Shinjuku station (like New York's "Grand Central Station", only 5X more crowded) out to Kawasaki via the commuter trains at 7:30 am - especially since one of the guys stood 6'4" (that, alone, makes a lot of Japanese people stop and stare) and we were going against the flow of people traffic........

Shinjuku is fun, but you should know that in New York Cityit is known as Grand Central Terminal -- says so right on the building.

As to watches, I REALLY do not understand the vastly expensive ones as discussed here. Clearly, it is not about knowing the time.  It is all about: look at me I am stupid enough and rich enough to pay a year's salary (or more) for this thing to wear on my wrist and make you feel small.  Or something like that.  Not saying some are not beautiful, but REALLY??  And truth be told, some of them are exceedingly ugly, IMHO.

I inherited my dad's Omega Seamaster when he passed away, and I wore it M-F everyday, more or less, for years.  Was given to him by his destroyer squadron crew upon change of command back in the 50's.  Is engraved w/ his name on the back, C. L. FRAZER CAPT USN.  Being essentially retired, it has not been on my wrist for quite a while.  I find I wear it now and then more as an item of jewelry. Will go to my eldest son one day, who also, not entirely by coincidence, is C.L. Frazer, although he never was nor will he ever be in the Navy, and his given names are not the same as his grandfather, whom he never had a chance to meet. Yes, all of that is way TMI.

I own a number of watches ( Chronometers), however only one replica. A Chopard "Mille Miglia". I love the tire tread watch band.

I have my grandfather's seamaster.

Watches look great on men, especially when you get dressed up.   Here's a pic of my Bulova marine star dive watch .   It matches the football we toss around the office :-)

Troy Sloan posted:

I have a collection of at least 20 replica watches, including Patek Philippe, several Rolexs, Breitlings, Panerais and several more.  They all look like and tell time just like the real ones and none of them cost me more than a couple of hundred dollars.  I also had a real Rolex Submariner for several years and finally decided to sell it for several thousand dollars.  I'm also planning to sell all my replicas since I never wear any of them any longer.  Just like Bob, I rely on my cell phone for the time.

If you've got a Navitimer replica, we should talk.

I must be missing a gene.

My 'good' watches are a few $300 Tag Heuer's, which I never wear because I'd scratch the tick out of them.

So, I alternate between my Timex and Casio collections. But it looks like most of the folks who 'shop' for Patek Phillippe do the same:

(Click the photo to read fine type)

I agree with Phil. Have two TAG Heuer Formula 1 watches I bought recently. I appreciate the sportiness of them.  I bristle a bit when a friend was told that if he expected his Rolex to keep perfect he'd be better off with a TIMEX.  Yikes.

And considering they're using a plastic replica car for this snooty ad, shouldn't the tag line at the end read more like this?

I recall a fellow employee ( Bob)  retired after 28 years of driving big truck, at the end of his last work day the company Manager gave him a $100 watch as he punched out for the last time. The guys all headed out for a few beers with Bob, the watering home was just the other side of a huge sound barrier wall along Interstate Rt 80 in NJ . . As we gathered in the parking Bob say's: "Has anyone seen time actually fly?"                           With all the effort Bob could muscle up,  he throws the watch up over the wall and onto RT 81 .... " Now let's have that beer ".  

He could have just gave it to good will. 

I'm actually not making this up.

We also got little schlocky anniversary date 'employee appreciation' gifts to show just how much the company thought of our years of dedicated service.

After 20 years, I was up for this crummy little desk clock. To show what a quality item it was, commensurate with our years of service, they insisted on engraving our initials into the pot metal case. But on the order form, you could enter any three initials - they didn't check them against your name.

To this day, I proudly display the heirloom timepiece on my desk with this engraved across the top:

S.O.L

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HenZ4Z7w0qM

My "good" watch: a Seiko chronograph my wife paid $300 for back when we had nothing.

My work-watches: either Timex or Casio $60 chronographs. I like the Timexs better because they have "indiglow".

I've never understood $8000 mechanical watches. Quartz is where it's at.

Where are you finding $300 Tag Heuers?

They're about $500 Stan and are quartz movements.

Stan Galat, '05 IM, 2276, Nowhere, USA posted:

 

...Where are you finding $300 Tag Heuers?

In my memory, I guess.

Just checked, and they haven't made this in years, although it was a standard item in their catalog for a long time. I wore it a few times, 30 years ago, and decided it was too nice to eff up. And so, the Timex and Casio collections started growing.

Now, I see the used prices on eBay are twice what it was new, and anything made as well today is triple what this cost. I've finally managed to keep something long enough that it has increased in value.

Funny this should come up here. Does anyone see any parallels with the cars we drive? We're afraid to ding up the old, valuable original, so we find something that gets the job done just as well and looks close enough that we don't really care. Then we use the hell out of it and don't look back.

The only people who get bent out of shape if we're not sporting the original pretty much aren't worth bothering with anyway.

Stan, I can't believe a Luddite like you wrote:

"I've never understood $8000 mechanical watches. Quartz is where it's at."

I love the  mechanical and automatic watches.   Just like the air cooled motors that you are in love with; they need a little attention .  I also like  the fact that they are like wearing  a beautiful old school clock on your wrist.   Here is my current favorite.   And early 60s Aero Neuchatel Swiss pocket watch conversation.  It sports a German ostrich band with white stitching.  

Under $500.  

Quartz obviously needs electricity to keep excellent time.  That's why a $20 battery powered Timex will always keep better time than a mechanical watch.  But all I have to do is wear my watch every day and it winds itself.  I kind of like that.  I will say that my wife's 2001 Rolex keeps excellent time.  Even Rolex improves their technology with time. HA!  I did a pun.

One of my partners told me it was time to buy an "adult watch" a few years back. I was cruising the watch counter at a fancy jewelry store while my wife was picking up some jewelry she was having repaired. I don't particularly like real shiny things so my eye was drawn to a brand new dull finish titanium Omega Seamaster.  In addition to looking cool it was amazingly light for an all metal watch. I asked, "how much?" The clerk blinked her eyes repeatedly and stared at the computer. "I'm sorry I think it's $450, but that has to be a mistake!" A quick google revealed that online it was $3600. After the manager, incredulously confirmed the $450 sale price, I walked away with my adult watch. I hate to admit that I love it. Despite its chronometer status it loses a minute a month.  I wear it all the time and have done so for about 9 years. My kids fight over who will get it one day.

It has been a gateway watch and I have found myself looking at other adult watches. I should just do what I did with the speedster and get a replica. Hell, I should probably buy one of Troy's refurbs. If he puts up a video of it on eBay I probably can't resist.

BTW the Patek Phillipe museum in Geneva is a good place to go on a rainy day. My wife dragged me to it, but I'll admit I had an interesting hour checking it out.

Jared, Awesome story! The watch must have been hot:-)

My vintage Rolex fits my Vintage Speedster quite nicely. I bought it for $250 in '72 at Ton Son Nhut in the Republic of VN. Just cost me $800 to have serviced at Rolex yet service on my Speedster just cost me $175. Both run great !

Craig

I see a pattern here, guys that like cool cars like watches, no?

Marty wrote about his watch: " It sports a German ostrich band with white stitching."

Hang on to that one, Marty - German ostriches are VERY rare (and getting rarer...)  

Yeah, how do U see the watch with EYEtalian driving gloves on

Vitman:

That hour  was actually 58 minutes, your watch was running fast........just kidding.