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29 May 2023, 11:02 PM | #1 |
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Signature 1
Saw this beautiful rose gold Signature 1 at an AD, tried it on and was impressed. The only problem for me is the U$210k price tag - do I like it so much to buy this watch over 2 Vingt-8, 2 Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor, 2 Sylvain Pinaud Origine, 3 Chronomètre Artisans or 1.5 RRCCII? Anyone has thoughts or feedback on this watch and the pricing?
IMG_20230529_205800_(800_x_1080_pixel).jpg The hand-finishing on the big balance wheel is beautiful though. At 41mm, it is one of the only 2 GF I can wear on my wrist. |
30 May 2023, 12:56 AM | #2 |
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Looks gorgeous on your wrist. And this is also the only GF which interests me for the reason due to the case size.
And only you can answer if it is worth 2x of a KV or RG. :-) But you are in that territory that 1% improvement may cost 2x the price so logic does not apply anymore. (After all, there is no logic in our hobby. ) One note though. GF resale is usually not good compares to other brands so maybe some price negotiation is possible. A friend of mine got a Balancier S2 last year and was able to get some deal from the AD. |
30 May 2023, 01:07 AM | #3 |
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I definitely would not buy a GF brand new. Like llngdoc said, they will drop in value. Just set up an alert and grab one used when it pops up. You'll probably save quite a bit.
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30 May 2023, 02:02 AM | #4 |
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The issue is I can't see the 1% improvement where finishing is concerned, or am I missing something? I will definitely be a buyer at half the price.
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30 May 2023, 02:04 AM | #5 |
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I saw 1 listing from HK and Watchbox respectively. They are in different metals and they are indeed priced lower than retail price. I do like the rose gold though.
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30 May 2023, 02:05 AM | #6 |
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30 May 2023, 02:09 AM | #7 | |
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For me personally, the incremental 5% is not worth 2x the price. Not huge on GF design either, like you guys, their regular pieces are too big for my wrists. With that said, if I was a billionaire I'd probably own an S2 lol. Like you, I'd prefer to have a Logical 1 and a Voutillainen for the same money. |
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30 May 2023, 02:16 AM | #8 | |
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I think you are onto something. For the same money, a Logical Two plus a Voutilainen Inverse will be the same money and definitely 2x enjoyment with the same design language. The only problem is when you can get those. |
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30 May 2023, 02:40 AM | #9 |
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30 May 2023, 03:09 AM | #10 |
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30 May 2023, 03:14 AM | #11 |
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30 May 2023, 03:19 AM | #12 | |
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I wish I have more funds for these watches. It's a great feeling to walk out of a store with a new Signature 1 on wrist. |
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30 May 2023, 03:38 AM | #13 |
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30 May 2023, 03:44 AM | #14 | |
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I really want to love these pieces due to the level of workmanship but I have to say I struggle with their eclectic dial layouts and of course on most the size is not for me. |
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30 May 2023, 03:57 AM | #15 | ||
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30 May 2023, 05:34 AM | #16 | |
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The workmanship is definitely top notch. Even the box and the loupe are impressive. Only problem is indeed that the watch is also plus size like the box. My AD is actually dissuading me from Voutilainen now since the wait is too long and also delay is expected. I was inquiring to add a 28 SC and he told me I should be good with my incomings and avoided my interest to add. |
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30 May 2023, 10:42 AM | #17 |
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I'm a fan, do it! A stainless steel GF S1 has been my daily driver ever since I started going back to the office last year. No one will mistake it for any popular sports watch and try to rob me for it on the subway, it is thin and slips under any sleeve, and wound every day it is super accurate. The winding sound is super satisfying, the watch is loud for not being a tourbillon, the balance wheel is so perfectly finished it creates a rainbow like reflection in certain lights. I never intended for the S1 to be a daily driver, more a special occasion watch, but I've enjoyed the daily winding ritual, the depth, the finish, the size, everything so much I'm okay with the extra scratches.
Is it worth it? I think that gets real subjective real fast as the price climbs and there is absolutely a point of diminishing returns and this is way out there so it has to make sense for you. Is a 911 worth 2 BMW M2s? Is an 812 worth 2 911s? Are 2 dry aged tomahawks worth 1 A5 wagyu strip? I think the it's less a question of volume and more a question of what do you get from the S1 different from any other watch and is that difference worth it? I like a good deal and as crazy as it sounds, I think the S1 is actually a great value. I know it sounds nuts. Not saying x is better than y, I'm a few years into my KV wait and I think his watches are great value too, but when you really look at some of the other watches mentioned I think the S1 as a package merits it's price. Gold chatons for every jewel, every wheel spoke is angled and polished, anglage is more than twice as thick as the last Ferdinand Berthoud I saw, black polish is truly mirror like, no orange peel, jewel like screw heads, etc etc. The quality of execution is up there with some of the best, ever, and considering the prices we've seen for Dufour, RR, etc. heck, even Journe which honestly doesn't even play in this league, the S1 is a bargain. That said, I would still try to pay under msrp |
30 May 2023, 10:48 AM | #18 |
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Sick watch but is that Microsoft teams in the background? I would trade 5 signature ones to never use MS Teams
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30 May 2023, 11:03 AM | #19 |
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30 May 2023, 11:49 AM | #20 | |
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30 May 2023, 11:53 AM | #21 | |
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This is gorgeous and you got me thinking now. A steel S1 seems to be a perfect entry into GF.
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30 May 2023, 01:44 PM | #22 |
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Beautiful watch. Not my first choice but as part of a collection the appeal is there. I would personally prefer a balancier s2.
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30 May 2023, 02:26 PM | #23 | |
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- S1 is the only GF with Geneva stripes. Didier worked for Dufour prior to going to GF and plans for the striped bridge were seen at Dufour's workshop. The stripes were done by hand by Didier in the Dufour method which yields those soft almost cloud like stripes where it's almost impossible to see the transition from stripe to stripe at the edge of the bridge. Also note in the plans even the underside of the bridge which no one can see has been specced with pearlage. - This was the first non-tourbillon from GF. GF is not precious about making everything in house and does get components like balances from suppliers for their complex multi-axis tourbillons. The S1 was new ground for GF to go down to the basics and make their own balance wheels in house, bend their own overcoils, etc. They actually said it was hard to make a watch this cheap which sounds totally obnoxious out of context but I think Stephen meant it with sincerity. - Supposedly only 66 S1s in total making it rarer than a Simplicity. Something I really like about pre-Calce GF is that the watches received proper numbers, not this 1 of XX baloney on the current GF sports models. - While there was a team behind the S1, Didier did a lot of the work himself. He cut and finished all the wheels, striped all the bridges, etc. so there really was an individuality to the S1 even within the GF. - The dial markers are actually engraved, then enamel filled, then fired. The the most simple thing that anyone else would have just pad printed GF took to the absolute extreme. |
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30 May 2023, 02:48 PM | #24 |
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30 May 2023, 03:24 PM | #25 | |
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You should be the spokesperson for S1.
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30 May 2023, 06:26 PM | #26 |
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30 May 2023, 08:43 PM | #27 |
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But, don't you already have all the other watches you mentioned?
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31 May 2023, 12:26 AM | #28 | |
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I'm drawn to hand-finished watches and looking to add them to my collection. The S1 fits my wrist and I quite like the long balance bridge that is mounted diagonally. I have seen several WB videos presented by Tim and when I saw it at the AD, I stared at it and tried it on for a long time. This is a cool watch. |
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31 May 2023, 12:27 AM | #29 | |
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So you also use the Tim’s test to gauge if the watch fits. |
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31 May 2023, 02:29 AM | #30 | |
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Thanks for sharing, very interesting discussion! |
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