ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
14 January 2023, 02:12 PM | #1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 55
|
Hi Guys, longtime lurker new poster
Hey guys,
I’ve been interested in watches since late high school, I’m 40 now. I cut out a picture of a Movado Eliro and put it on the wall of my bedroom. Makes me cringe now, but anyway. In college I found someone on a watch forum and took him out to lunch at Buddakan in Philly in exchange for him brining his watch (IWC Aquatimer 3536 SS) for me to check out. Worth every penny. Nice guy, don’t remember much of the lunch other than the watch. Was probably 12ish years later when I finally got one for myself (second “real watch” purchase). I still love it, wear it regularly, and rate it as the most slept on high-end beater in watches. As time progressed and I started making more money around the height of the market in 2006-7 I bought my first “real” watch with a friend. It was between a Rolex Sub, Panerai Luminor, and Glashutte Navigator (no date). At one point I, along with my best friend, flipped a coin at a dealer. If it landed heads I would have bought the Panerai. It was tails and I moved on. Eventually decided on the GO. I went to Philly to buy it from Tourneau in NYC and I needed my friend to charge it on his credit card, cause my limit was less than the $3,500 or so. Obviously would have been better financially to go with the Sub. All three were around $3,500 at the time. Next watch was a Panerai 422 (47mm) as a push gift to myself when my second daughter was born. As a big guy I was always drawn to bigger watches as I felt they were more appropriate for my size. I was always drawn towards the more “horology” leaning pieces. Several years later I got the IWC 3536 just for bucket list reasons. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time watching Tim Mosso’s reviews, Roman Sharf from Luxury Bizarre, etc. Approx two years ago I got the bug and took the plunge buying a JLC Duometre Chronograph WG from an online watch trader. Love that thing. Unfortunately, I wound up wearing it less often than I expected because it’s a little formal, not particularly water friendly (mostly because of the strap) and a little bit delicate. I mean, maybe it’s not, but I know If I damaged it, a lot could go wrong. Did I mention it was kind of expensive. I was doing very well at the time so it’s not like I couldn’t afford it, but it was like the first time I dropped kind crazy (in the real world) money on something like this. My wife made me promise not to buy another watch for two years. Went on vacation to Stockholm after this, in the midst of Covid. Not many tourists for a long time, the Rolex dealer we went to there actually had watches. I wasn’t really ready to pull the trigger on anything but they had a few used/vintage pieces my wife really liked a Rolex Oysterquartz1700 (white dial, romans) and I thought it was very cool with the integrated bracelet. After confirming that this purchase would not push back my 2 year hiatus, I bought it. Never had a piece sub 42mm but after a while I got used to it. I don’t really have a large wrist (prob a tad over 7”) so on the wrist it looks fine, but I am a larger guy. Fast forward another year or so, the 2 year ban has ended. Having two daughters (7 and 2) my priorities have shifted somewhat in my preference for fine, delicate things towards wanting something more robust. I hadn’t ever really strongly considered a Rolex before because I thought it reeked of gauche vibes and I could find better high horology value elsewhere. But after a while I started to really understand better their value proposition (read: wife is more comfortable with me dropping money a Rolex than something she’s never heard of). With Rolex prices coming back down to earth somewhat, I was starting to strongly consider them. I was officially on the hunt. I decided my next watch would be a PM Rolex: Smurf, WG/YG/Pt Daytona, or DD. Any of these would be amazing. Can’t easily try any of these on. Even though I was rocking the “36mm” (actually 37mm) Oysterquartz most days I was still concerned about size. I wrote off the YG Daytona for this reason (apparently true size is closer to 38.6mm or something) and the Pt Daytona wasn’t really realistic for me since the price hasn’t come down a ton and while I like it I’m not hugely a Daytona guy. I already have a Chrono. So it was really Smurf, WG Daytona, DD. Yada Yada Yada, then I went to the Diamond District to help narrow things down. I will post the story of this trip, in excruciating detail (including yada yada yada) to the “WatchOut!!!” section of the forum shortly. Nice to meet you all. |
14 January 2023, 08:40 PM | #2 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: In denial
Watch: It's complicated
Posts: 1,610
|
Welcome, formally.
I like the story, I've actually been looking at the Duometre chronograph myself for a while, but haven't really seen anyone else wear it or see pictures anywhere except for a few reviews here and there. I never tried it on, but maybe one day. |
15 January 2023, 11:19 AM | #3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Real Name: Allan
Location: Little Red Dot
Watch: Still Looking....!
Posts: 3,855
|
Welcome!
|
15 January 2023, 12:57 PM | #4 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 55
|
Quote:
Re the JLC -- there are several really great videos on it by Tim Mosso of Watchbox Review: Newer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSxfRZrgsEQ Older (fawning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HECTJFNeKb4 Compared: Duometre vs Datograph "Clash of Titans" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LShvAo9DbGo I really like it on a gray matte alligator strap, dressing it down a bit (I found the black alligator glossy sttap a bit formal for my lifestyle) . Some inspiration below (pics/watches not mine): |
|
16 January 2023, 12:23 AM | #5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Watch: Me now
Posts: 19,164
|
Welcome
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
16 January 2023, 03:38 AM | #6 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 73,115
|
Welcome
|
14 March 2023, 12:11 PM | #7 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: US
Posts: 75
|
I had a chance to look at the RG 40mm duometre lunaire in person. It's a nice time piece with very good finishing. I would probably prefer the 42mm
Know what you know today. Would you still buy this watch? Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk |
14 March 2023, 12:33 PM | #8 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 55
|
The Duometre? Absolutely I'd buy it again. It's a great mix of both high horology and something that wouldn't be crazy to wear every day. I really do prefer watches with bracelets and I'll probably wind up wearing my Plat DD2 more often but I'd definitely sell that before the Duometre.
|
14 March 2023, 09:37 PM | #9 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 44,325
|
Welcome.
|
16 March 2023, 11:13 AM | #10 |
Banned
Join Date: May 2012
Real Name: CJ
Location: Kashyyyk
Watch: Kessel Run Chrono
Posts: 21,113
|
Hi
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
*Banners
Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.