Go big with 1 watch or split budget across 2?

[tggilder]

Hi everyone -

First off, I haven’t posted in several years but I’ve admired this forum from afar for a long time. Spent probably a hundred hours researching what to buy (thanks in big part to this amazing community) and I’m finally ready to take this question to the street. My question is: is it best to spend my full budget on 1 killer watch or diversify with 2?

A little about my situation. Budget is $20k. I only have 2 lower end watches in my collection which are a dive watch and a chrono (Damasko and Steinhart - don’t judge haha). I wear business casual to work (office job where I travel on a plane every week). I don’t bang up my watches. So I’m ready to spend real $$ and don’t have a super fancy collection.

My thinking is either AP RO 15400 (full budget on 1 amazing daily wearer) or buy both a GMT Master ii for daily wear and a Reverso for dressier occasions for weddings and when I occasionally wear a suit.

I love to RO and think it’s perfect. Heart is set on blue dial and it will take a while to get from Boutique. Not willing to pay premium for gray market. GMT also hard to get but love the gmt function given all my travel. Reverso is a thing of beauty but would only wear 2-3x a month. I don’t want a ton of watches in a collection - want a few super versatile / classic watches that will never go out of style. I would plan on keeping for a long time but resale value is still important to me.

What do you guys think makes sense? What other factors should I be considering to make a decision? What would you do?

Thanks so much!

[Easy E]

GMT & Reverso, by a mile (to me).

E-

[Finslayer83]

Sky dweller

Or

GMT Master and a datejust

[Nikrnic]

You should be able to get a GMT LN at an AD with a little patience, they do pop up frequently or possibly order one and have it in a matter of weeks. My AD had one (msrp +tax) sitting on display for a week before it sold. I opted for a Polar instead, 7.5% discount, no tax (or tax incl.) Just got a DJ41 15% off, saved tax as well. Ordered that one cash up front, took 3 weeks. Anyway happy choosing...

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[Largoshark]

I agree with Easy E - GMT and Reverso would be my pick.

Having sais that, how long are you prepared to wait? Don't know much about how AP wait list works, but from what I've gathered, the blue dial RO is at least on par with the most desirable Rolex watches in terms of wait times. Assuming you don't have history with the dealer, we're talking years here. The new SS Pepsi GMT is commanding more than twice its list price on the grey market, and most AD's have already stopped taking names (and quote wait times up to 10 years - ridiculous I know.)

I see that this is your first post, but I'm hoping you've done your research and have already anticipated this because I would hate to be the one to break this to you. It's a rough time to get into this hobby.

Maybe consider getting the Reverso with the BLNR or LN GMT rather than the Pepsi. LN shouldnt take too long to source, but the BLNR would take a while - still no where close to the Pepsi.

[tggilder]

Thanks everyone. Well aware the RO would take years - was at boutique in NYC a few weeks ago and they said they aren’t taking names for wait list until 2019. Waiting that long is not ideal.

Didn’t realize the GMT LN is that easy to get. All the AD’s are so quick to say that it’s a long wait even for that. But clearly it’s not years. I wouldn’t bother waiting for Pepsi or BLNR right now.

I think splitting budget across 2 very different watches makes a lot of sense for 1) diversifying and 2) ease to get. So thank you for the input!

[supersam80]

LN GMT plus a fluted DJ on jubilee for me. The DJ, whilst not a dress watch in the strictest sense, is still quite dressy in that config imo

And if you bundle the purchase you might have a very short wait

[BrazenC5]

I would go with the one high value watch. You can wear the AP 15400 for any occasion.


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[subprimero]

Gmt or Sub and a Reverso. An easy to get Datejust and a Reverso would work too and leave money for your next watch.

[peterpl]

If I only had $20k I would buy a 2 SS Rolex's

1) GMT because you travel
2) DJ41 for a dressier look.

$20k should be just enough for both.

[imgook]

Ap ro!

[Cesarmsi]

Originally Posted by peterpl

If I only had $20k I would buy a 2 SS Rolex's

1) GMT because you travel
2) DJ41 for a dressier look.

$20k should be just enough for both.

What he said.......

[N&M]

Originally Posted by BrazenC5

I would go with the one high value watch. You can wear the AP 15400 for any occasion.

It is absolutely certain that AP15400 is not a watch for daily wear, especially with weekly flights.

So my advice is to get only one Rolex now, save some money and get AP for special events

[dddrees]

What makes sense is what works best for you. If it's the AP you want worst I would tend to go that way first and then maybe get something later. Sorry but I go with what my heart wants because when I don't I end up going back later and having to make a correction that often cost me more.

[Muxi]

Another thing to consider is brand reliability. I have always wanted to try a different brand but knowing that I have Rolex references from the early 1990s working perfectly and unserviced to date is simply a factor I cannot ignore.

[Rodolfo_4]

First you have to walk

Then run

Get the gmt and another model, you need at least 2 watches,

Just get 2 SS or TT Pieces that you really like, dont settle

The AP Ro will come later on, but i would go for the ROC instead

[arguetaoscar]

Yes, definitely a GMT and a Reverso.
And if you want to push it, I would get a Tudor BB GMT, a Sub no date and a Reverso. I think you can pull it off with 20K...




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[MARGARITATIME]

Get a GMT Rolex SS model I or II. Get from trusted seller if not Direct. Enjoy it daily and decide on second piece. My take would be to get a Sub, DJ41, or Daytona as tpur second watch. When your other watch becomes available trade the second one, but you wont want too.

[cda555]

I say get the GMT. Then put your name on the list for the AP. By the time you get one you will have probably saved up the original $20k budget again.


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[zack777es]

Since I got it two years ago, I find that the AP RO 15400 is on my wrist often (regular rotation at least 3 days a week).

It's surprisingly versatile and if you decide to go with one watch, AP RO 15400 would be the one.

[nikesupremedunk]

I’d also go for a gmt since you travel a lot (LN is fine BLNR if you can find one), and a DJ would make a perfect 2 watch collection. Then save for a AP down the road.

[jimcarver]

Not sure why you need to spend the whole 20k now. Just buy a GMT and then see how you feel later on. You may wish you had bought the AP, in which case you can save the remainder and buy it further down the line.

[Ichiran]

How about an AP dual time? You will have the aesthetic of the RO with the travel time function.

[Justindo]

I don't like Royal Oaks, so for me it's an easy choice. Personally, I like a mix of both quality and quantity and I would rather have one sport watch and one dress watch instead of one dressy sport watch. I don't think one could go wrong with a BLNR (they aren't that hard to get, even for someone with no purchase history) and a Reverso. With these two watches, you've got both bases covered and have two icons. For $20,000 you should be able to get a BLNR and a simple gold Reverso. That's what I'd do.

[Tower7]

Have you tried them all on? You should know after that which to pick. I’d go with the GMT/Reverso combo.

[Likestheshiny]

I'd personally go for one watch over two. You only have one wrist. But the GMT and Reverso are hardly a bad choice.

How large is your wrist? The RO is bigger than the other two and wears really large on top of that because of the case shape. Unless your wrist solidly over seven inches, you might want to look for an older 39mm RO instead. Not that a big watch is a bad thing, but as your only watch it might not be ideal.

(Obviously you actually have two wrists, but you get my point.)

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by N&M

It is absolutely certain that AP15400 is not a watch for daily wear, especially with weekly flights.

So my advice is to get only one Rolex now, save some money and get AP for special events

AP RO/ROO in any flavour is a daily wearer. You should have zero concerns about that. I wear my 15710 with the same 3120 movement for flights all the time and everything else bar the gym (but not for fear of damage, just don’t want it in the way)

I think get whichever option will make you happy and remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

[danwang0520]

GMT + dress watch

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by Easy E

GMT & Reverso, by a mile (to me).

E-

This

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[jonathan17]

I suggest going with the AP royal oak 15400.. with the blue dial you wouldnt lose much when you seel and change your mind. The reverso, well you would lose a large sum.