Watches - another OCD problem
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There's an annual auction event for charity called "Only Watch", for which watch makers produce unique pieces. Most of the watches for the 2023 event can now be viewed on the site. Those are clearly beyond my means but it's fun to see what makers can do. Some just do minor variations on existing models (looking at you, Laurent Ferrier), others come up with insane contraptions (see Jacobs & Co.).
https://www.onlywatch.com/2023collection
What are your favorite? I'd completely go for the L. U. Chopard. (Image link doesn't seem to work for some reason...)
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@Nocturama very interesting read, much appreciated mate! and thank you for the well wishes man
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Hey watch lovers! Question: anyone have experience with nice quality alligator straps? I'm wondering how they break in over time. How soft and comfy do they get, etc?
Jack-foster.com has a nice looking one in navy blue I am sort of interested in. I have a couple other straps from him that I really love. Very high quality work he does!! -
@Mizmazzle i have had a couple alligator straps. I had them custom made for two of my watches by this guy. https://www.aaronbespoke.com/ He makes great stuff. They wear very nicely. I guess the only problem is I can’t say how much it changes over time because I have the straps on watches I wear for special occasions and they don’t get tons of wear. But it is a great material and I really like the look.
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@Mizmazzle heres a photo of my alligator strap. It’s on a 1943 RCAF pilots watch. The olive strap goes great with the green in the numbers.
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@deanclean hell yea man!! It’s amazing what the right strap combo will do for a watch. Thanks a ton for your feedback. I’m getting my lady a Seiko Cocktail Time for her birthday. Want to upgrade the strap for her too.
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@WhiskeySandwich said in Watches - another OCD problem:
@Cole I love this thing, the Seikos are so comfortable on the wrist. The black hands are luminous, but you’re right, it really ain’t worth a shit lol. I love the subtle hints to the character. The shadow possession jutsu on the indices which are shaped like shogi game pieces - that gets me.
Got the watch today. God, the hour hands are shit. Can't make out the time in bad lighting.
Maybe I see if I can get them replaced with white ones in the future and get a saphire in, instead of the hardex glass.
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@Cole that would be a good upgrade for sure. I’d be psyched to see it if you get it done. I might have to do the same.
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@JDelage I saw a preproduction LUC XPS 1860 in Amsterdam on Monday, and it's a lovely piece. It's pretty small, with a 36 mm diameter, but the finishing is probably up there with a Patek. I'd be tempted by one over most of the Calatrava range.
I don't know if I'd go for the 1860 over everything else in the Only Watch auction. The F.P. Journe is really nice.
Last year Chopard put their 8 Hz movement in the Alpine Eagle, albeit in a titanium case. That had a monochrome grey dial and case. They've brought out a new version, this time with a black dial and orange second hand. I didn't like it in the press photos, but when I got to see one in the metal, I preferred it to the original.
Incidentally, the XPS 1860 movement has been put into the Alpine Eagle, which will be a lovely piece. Unfortunately, the Chopard boutique didn't have one in stock.
I dropped by the IWC boutique a couple of doors down and took a look at the Inginieur. It's a nice watch and the case feels solid, in a similar way that a Rolex does.
The issue for me is that in titanium it costs about €16K, whilst the Alpine Eagle Cadence is €22K. The Chopard is better finished and has a more interesting movement, so it'd be worth stumping up the extra for it unless the Gerard Genta connection is important to you.
Lastly, I took a look in the Seiko boutique and found a Grand Seiko SBGJ229. That's a big, blue titanium and ceramic GMT from 2018 or 2019. I thought that they would have sold out years ago.
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75th Anni Seamaster, almost walked out with it on my wrist….
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That Seamaster looks pretty @Anesthetist. If you get one, I think it'd be great on the steel mesh strap that Omega now offer.
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@Vintagedenim Nice 126715 CHNR. Did you have to wait long?
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@goosehd thank you. Three years. But we’ll worth it in the end.
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@Graeme I didn't buy it from the boutique but did put in an order through an out of state AD to save a little money and skip the taxes.
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@Anesthetist glad to hear you're getting one. Taxes were one of the reasons I didn't snap up the CK 859 a few weeks ago.
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Love the greens on that Submariner! A beauty
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