Ferrari and Porsche have been playing that game with their customers for yonks. Just as crass, reprehensible and to be avoided. The products are undoubtedly fantastic, it’s the people between you and the products where the problem rests!
Peter
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I do not like the price but the design is an exemplar of clarity - looks great.
Peter
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Many top tier watch manufacturers don’t bother with COSC certification. I believe Patek is one them. AP & VC as well.
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Doesn’t cosc certification stop as soon as a watch is serviced/ repaired?
And if you want to buy one from a boutique you have to demonstrate you have bought 2 other Patak watches…So the real price is v high
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I’m fortunate to have a few decent watches. But, a bit like hi-fi, sometimes you realise wanting better is not always better. There is a sweet spot.
For me, if anybody were to ask about a decent watch for life, and something that can be maintained for their lifetime, I’d push them towards Omega or Tudor. Both make fine watches and mechanisms. Yes, they cost in the £1000s, but there is little reason to go above £5k.
Right now, my Swatch Blancpain in black is getting the most wrist time.
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Up to 1968 there were the Neuchatel and Geneva Observatories competitions. Generally, Swiss manufacturers produced one off entries. However, Seiko started entering mechanical watches with batches of watches which would then be sold to the public in the following years. In 1968 Seiko swept the board with the most accurate watches. Perhaps it is no surprise that the Swiss cancelled indefinitely the Observatory competitions after 1968.
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^This.
Strange a year or two back I had a bit of spare cash and thought about adding a PP to my collection, on discussing my options at the store I was told exactly the same by my PP sales assistant. It didn’t matter what I enquired about I was told that I had to buy a Calatrava to get me on a wait list for anything else.
As I don’t want a Calatrava I told the SA in the store that I would spend my money else where. So I did, I bought a car.
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Good for you. It is a bizarre business model, and turns me off the brand a bit, if I’m being honest.
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Grand Seiko have been on my radar for quite a number of years now.
I nearly pulled the trigger a few months ago but didn’t in the end. Fantastic watch house imo.
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Excellent watches and maybe my next time piece purchase.
None of the weirdo Swiss purchase obstacle courses.
Such a turnoff.
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Exactly. When I went to buy my daughter a watch for her graduation, I was asked by Goldsmiths about my purchase history. I told them to look at their own records, then they graciously put me on their waiting list.
Meanwhile, I walked into a nice dealer in the center of Sheffield (where she was graduating from) and purchased the watch for her.
It gave me great pleasure some six months later when Goldsmiths called, that I didn’t need their watch as I had found someone else to do business with. I only wish it had been the Goldsmiths manager, as he is a complete a#@e.
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In Canterbury?
Good guess.
That figures.
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Not just me then?
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I am becoming obsessive with my DT Rolex. Set the time now as it was 30 seconds fast. I want to see how accurate it is.
And yes, I have my eye on an Omega Seamaster 2024 but used. Any thoughts guys?
Watches are becoming more interesting than hifi right now 
And just as expensive 
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