4k Which Watch?

[retrored]

I am in the process of selling my IWC Pilot Feligerchronograph (3107), Omega Speedmaster (3550.11), and an old Movado.

This should net me around 4k, maybe slightly more.

I am wondering whether anyone here has any suggestions for what to get.

1st Choice: New IWC Aquatimer Chronograph (stainless steel from Lucky # Slevin, or Titanium)

2nd Choice: Used IWC Portuguese

3rd Choice: Used Panerai 104 Automatic. I already have a Historic, and can't justify something so similar.

4th: Bell & Ross BR-01. Problem with BR is that they don't retain ther value as well.

5th: Omega Planet Ocean 45mm Chronograph

6th: Plasmir Mil-Graph and Tag Carrera. Love both watches, but they don't carry the sort of prestige as the other pieces.

All opinions welcome.

[beacons_home]

I love watches too! I am looking at Zenith watches. But even at a 4k budget, some of the Zenith watches are hard to get. But, the Dior watches I believe are made by Zenith and they are pretty nice. I would like to know which one you buy once you make your decision. Be sure that the watch you choose is the right one, because a 4k investment is a lot of money but have fun looking!

[Guest Chocodove2]

Get the Portugeuse...timeless design and IWC just rocks. Tough call between that and the B&R.

[calatrava]

man, the speedmaster (moon watch version) and IWC fliegerchronograph are my grail watches.

but to answer your question, what are you really looking for?

Dress watch

sports watch

simple, or complication

Swiss made, or not etc

4k is a bit, and there have been many brands coming up that offer you great choices for that price range

[retrored]

I would keep the Speedmaster if it was the "moon" it's actually the 39mm version. My pilot is from 2002 and thus is the 39mm, not the new 42 pilot.

I am not trying to look for anything in particular. I am leaning toward a used Portuguese. I might just blow it all on a motocycle if I can't find the right watch.

Oh, Zenith is not an option because all I want is the Defy Extreme editions, and they cost too much.

The Primero is a nice one, but maybe too nice for my age.

[mikesduc]

Buy used and get more watch for the money. I have bought and sold many watches from Bob Wingate at tic-tock.com and have always been more than pleased. What about G-P or Jaeger. You may need to go a little over 4K but not by much.

[MAC SMALLS]

Omega PO...so versatile

[Analyst]

I think it depends on if you're looking at getting a sport watch or a dress watch. The watches you list fall into both categories. Also, how are you looking to complement your current collection? You mentioned that you already have a historic Panerai. So unless you really love Japanese Plasmir watches with Chinese movements that were created as a hommage to Panerai, I think that the Plasmir just doesn't seem to fit into the picture.

I've never been a fan of Omegas or watches that can be purchased a duty free counter in airports (i.e., Tag, Omega, Movado, Gucci, etc.) and usually tend to stay from them. Just my opinion, but I just feel that it takes away from the watch's prestige and history. Plus, having Tiger Woods, Pierce Brosnan, Cindy Crawford, Anna Kournikova endorse your watch on the pages of GQ and Business Week just doesn't really resonate with me.

Out of your list, the IWC Portuguese stands out. Are you looking at a used 5001? I would go with the Portuguese based on the movement and history alone (proprietary Pellaton with 7 day reserve). I suspect that finding one at 4K in an acceptable condition may prove to be difficult. But if you can find it, I would definitely go for it.

I don't think you can really compare the Portuguese with the Bell and Ross or the IWC Aquatimer. The Br-01's design is starting to grow on me and kinda reminds of a WWII-era military pilot's watch. The Aquatimer is also a great sport/diving watch.

If you're interested in IWC/Bell and Ross, I know a great authorized dealer in NYC for these two brands that is a better alternative to the customer-unfriendly Tourneau or Wempe watch houses. I purchased a IWC Fliegerchrono there a few years ago and got an IWC leather Underwood winding box thrown in with an exceptional discount off of the retail price. Plus, when I used to visit the store while in NYC every few months for work, the dealer would always give me complimentary watch magazines for my flight back home. Kinda what the watch buying experience should be like Cheers!

[misterpretender]

definitely any IWC stuff...don't get the bell & ross...very very very low resale value...

I am in the process of selling my IWC Pilot Feligerchronograph (3107), Omega Speedmaster (3550.11), and an old Movado.

This should net me around 4k, maybe slightly more.

I am wondering whether anyone here has any suggestions for what to get.

1st Choice: New IWC Aquatimer Chronograph (stainless steel from Lucky # Slevin, or Titanium)

2nd Choice: Used IWC Portuguese

3rd Choice: Used Panerai 104 Automatic. I already have a Historic, and can't justify something so similar.

4th: Bell & Ross BR-01. Problem with BR is that they don't retain ther value as well.

5th: Omega Planet Ocean 45mm Chronograph

6th: Plasmir Mil-Graph and Tag Carrera. Love both watches, but they don't carry the sort of prestige as the other pieces.

All opinions welcome.

[thelion1856]

ayn gots the most perfect looking watch ive ever seen. i tried to buy one off a dude from a watch forum but the fucker descided to keep it.

[retrored]

Analyst - Plasmir or RXW now uses Swiss movements, but I believe the Marina Militare they made also used Swiss (6497 eta), but you are right about Omega. It loses a lot of the cache (spelled wrong) when you find the item at a duty free. How much of a discount did you get at that New York spot. There is Michael's Watches in the Jewelry District here in LA that can get 35% off IWC, basically discounts on everything except PAM. Getting a nice watch winder on discount is always nice.

I am going to do what mikesduc and misterpretender suggested and go with another IWC. I am just going to lurk around until I either find a IWC Aquatimer Chrono w/ bracelet for 4k, or just get a IWC Portuguese.

Current watch collection looks like this:

PAM 111H

PAM 028 (not real, replica with genuine movement, data font and cyclops modded. Once I get a genuine PVD crown this watch will be indistinguishable from the 13k genuine)

And like I mentioned everything else is being sold to fund the new purchase. I was also fortunate enough to have owned. IWC Spitfire Chrono (same as pilot, with different dial), and Rolex Datejust w/ Jubilee bracelet.

[Analyst]

Wow, you're getting an excellent discount at your AD. The NYC place on 5th Ave is giving 30%. It's a small shop but they carry IWC, Bell and Ross and Audemars Piguet.

Most places won't give any discount on Panerai. The ADs in Thailand are completely sold out of any Panerais that one would want. You have to get on a 6-8 month waiting list for anything you order. I did pick up a PAM 164 last year from an independent dealer. Here the watch trade is mostly done through someone one's uncle's friend. You basically never know what will pop up. I had been looking for a PAM 164 for a long time so decided to snatch it up right away. Got it at an 18% discount.

One of the fun things about Panerai are the myriad of straps available for the watch. You can basically remake the watch with a new strap. Been wanting to find some thick Dirk straps with an pre-Vendome PVD or brushed steel buckles. But they a little difficult to come by.

No new watch purchases on the horizon but I suspect the next one will be the 5001 Portuguese. Blue croc on stainless steel. But if I can find an old IWC Mark XV on buffalo strap, I would definitely go for it. Have you seen any at Michaels in LA?

[edmond]

is the pam 00005 a good watch my mind is set on getting that this august... err or any other suggeston?

[retrored]

Analyst - Michael's is not an AD. T hey have back door deals with Lee Ching Hwa and Chong Hing. Basically these Chinese ADs get watches for about 50% of retail, and they mark it up about 10% to sell to Michael's and Michael's sells to the consumer with another 5% markup.

Micheal's moves watches and they only take cash if you want the discount.

Yeah, PAM is near impossible to get a discount unless used. 164 is a good pickup, especially with a 20% discount.

Michael's is offering the IWC Aquatimer Chrono (rubber, no bracelet) for 3200 cash. And portuguese for 4200 cash. I think it's between these two.

Oh, Thailand is the shit for watches. Gen and reps. My cousin got a few rep Rollies that are impossible to spot, Swiss Eta and sweeping hands.

Edmond - PAM 0005 is an excellent Base PAM. You just need to decide whether you want a sausage or sandwich dial. I think everything after the H series is sandwich.

I got a 111H because they are quite plentiful. Stay vigilent. I got mine from a Panerisiti in San Diego for about 3K. However, I did a lot of research before making my purchasel. I recommend you do the same. A PAM is an investment, and should not be treated lightly.

And like Analyst says the strap combinations are endless. I got my 111 on a Strap Culture Legend. Just stunning!

[bloodthornniners]

Hublot Big Bang very nice, look into it

[Analyst]

Michael's is offering the IWC Aquatimer Chrono (rubber, no bracelet) for 3200 cash. And portuguese for 4200 cash. I think it's between these two.

Oh, Thailand is the shit for watches. Gen and reps. My cousin got a few rep Rollies that are impossible to spot, Swiss Eta and sweeping hands.

4200 for a Portuguese is pretty good. Is it a recent year?

Thailand is home to a ton of copied watches. I've seen some grade A Rolex Submariners that were near impossible to detect, except for some minute details on the dial fonts. There are also a few Patek Aquanauts at MBK that are very convincing except for only the pendulum.

[retrored]

Analyst - The Portuguese would either be old new stock (if I am lucky), but that's about how much I was expecting to pay for it used.

Bloodthorniers - Hublot Big Bang is 10k, and the waiting list for the Black Ceramic (the one I want) is two years.