Three Watches - Non-Rolex

[bhas]

If you could have any three watches meeting the following criteria, what would they be?

1. All under $10,000 USD.
2. Must be brand new.
3. One for everyday wear.
4. One must be a chronograph.
5. One must pass for a "modern" dress watch and must be on a leather strap.

I say modern as the definition of a dress watch has changed over time. Rules are a bit more lax these days.

[56scooter]

Here are my three

Dress watch on a strap, JLC Master Control Date

Chronograph, Breitling B01 Naivitimer on a bracelet

Glashütte Original PanoMaticLunar

All are available under $10,000 and a worthy addition to any collection!!

[2001jesper]

anOrdain Model 1 Plum Fumé $2,500
Omega Speedmaster Professional 3861, Sapphire, Steel on Steel, $7,150 (maybe a Chronoscope instead)
Turdor Pelagos FXD $3,900

[greeneyedguy]

Three I have in my collection.

Everyday Omega Seamaster 300 Blue on blue strap

Chrono Breitling Aerospace Eva not an original chrono but you get the idea

Dress Grand Seiko Omiwatari

Versatile.

[dannyp]

Must be available for under $10k, or must retail for under $10k?

If the former:

GP Laureato stainless 38mm
Zenith Chronomaster Original
JLC Reverso Classic Medium Small Seconds

If the latter, swap the GP for an Omega Railmaster 1957 or Tudor BB36.

I do wish I could include a Rolex, not because "it's a Rolex" but because I really do prefer a 36mm for everyday.

[Racecar001]

I’d have to say the three following

-JLC master thin moonphase in steel
-Omega speed master with the crystal sandwich
-this is either a JLC Polaris on rubber or a Glashutte Original Diver.

Lots of great options but steel JLCs at that price are hard to beat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RLROCK]

Here are my three, with the Breitling being my newest purchase a few weeks ago. I would love to add the Blanpain and upgrade my Panerai (PAM392) to the French hobnail GMT.

- Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Blue Dial (5000-1140-O52A)

- Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 (AB0118221G1P1)

- Panerai Luminor GMT 42 (PAM01535)

[Justindo]

I recently posted this in the $30,000 collection thread with similar criteria:

A $30k budget is healthy for a nice collection, although I would personally be looking at a 4-7 watch collection with a variety of brands, types, and price points.

Keeping to 3 pieces is more challenging but doable, although I wouldn't want to have fewer pieces. For me, a 3 watch collection means 3 versatile watches, one of which is a diver on a bracelet and two dressier watches, one on a black strap and the other on a tan strap, with at least one of them being a chronograph (my favorite complication).

What is most challenging about your question is the equal price allocation, as I would go for 1-2 more expensive watches (e.g., ALS, VC, or a complicated JLC) with the small balance going toward some less expensive watches (e.g., Tudor, Longines, Rado, Hamilton, Seiko, and Casio) with that budge.

Regardless, given your criteria, I would likely opt for the following:

JLC Reverso Classic Medium Duoface $9,350
Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 Pistachio Green $8,400
Omega Seamaster 300 $6,800

I have no reservations about the JLC dual time. The color of the Breitling chronograph gives me a bit of pause in a 3 watch collection but I think it works well with greens, blues, and browns and the in-house handwind column wheel chronograph movement is difficult to beat for the price. The Omega isn't my ideal diver (I'd probably go for a Rolex Submariner in this list price range but that's not an option due to no Rolex) due to the fauxtina and polished bracelet but it's a still a great diver and I don't like dates. I thought about choosing the GO SeaQ but I don't like dates and it can't be had on a bracelet in any size for the MRSP price cap.

Thanks for the hypothetical exercise!

[Chute]

I would probably do this:

Rolex Explorer 39mm Mark II 214270
Sea Gull 1963
Orient Bambino.

That should keep it under 10k, but if I had to do it all in one watch it would be the 116520 Daytona.

As much as I think Explorer is the perfect watch, I look at the 116520 and believe it's even better.

[denmanproject]

These are my 3 non-Rolex in my collection and oddly match your requirements to a T (if you mean under $10K each, not all together)

Daily - Seiko SLA037
Chrono - IWC Top Gun
Dress - Cartier Calibre

[robinmgb]

Cartier have to have an entry somewhere in my opinion.
Tank mc, drive moon phase or Santos de Cartier at least .
The high end watches produced by Cartier in the last 10 years seems to go unnoticed on here, they are producing tourbillon etc. of the highest haute horologie possible, £100000 to £200000 pieces the equal of any Patek, Vacheron etc. yet most people think they're only a fashion brand below Rolex, unbelievable!

[_speedmaster_]

1. GO SeaQ
2. Zenith A384
3. GS SBGY007

You didn't specify, but i assumed you meant under $10k msrp. I would likely change a thing or two if I was allowed to get NOS watches on the grey market. Or assume sizable discounts on certain brands like Breguet.

[bhas]

Originally Posted by Justindo

I recently posted this in the $30,000 collection thread with similar criteria:

A $30k budget is healthy for a nice collection, although I would personally be looking at a 4-7 watch collection with a variety of brands, types, and price points.

Keeping to 3 pieces is more challenging but doable, although I wouldn't want to have fewer pieces. For me, a 3 watch collection means 3 versatile watches, one of which is a diver on a bracelet and two dressier watches, one on a black strap and the other on a tan strap, with at least one of them being a chronograph (my favorite complication).

What is most challenging about your question is the equal price allocation, as I would go for 1-2 more expensive watches (e.g., ALS, VC, or a complicated JLC) with the small balance going toward some less expensive watches (e.g., Tudor, Longines, Rado, Hamilton, Seiko, and Casio) with that budge.

Regardless, given your criteria, I would likely opt for the following:

JLC Reverso Classic Medium Duoface $9,350
Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 Pistachio Green $8,400
Omega Seamaster 300 $6,800

I have no reservations about the JLC dual time. The color of the Breitling chronograph gives me a bit of pause in a 3 watch collection but I think it works well with greens, blues, and browns and the in-house handwind column wheel chronograph movement is difficult to beat for the price. The Omega isn't my ideal diver (I'd probably go for a Rolex Submariner in this list price range but that's not an option due to no Rolex) due to the fauxtina and polished bracelet but it's a still a great diver and I don't like dates. I thought about choosing the GO SeaQ but I don't like dates and it can't be had on a bracelet in any size for the MRSP price cap.

Thanks for the hypothetical exercise!

Great thoughts. Specifically regarding the equal price allocation. I like your thought of a 30k max budget, but allowing for variation in how you spend it. I have also been very closely eyeing the B09 Pistachio. I have gone to the store to look at it on numerous occasions. That watch is a stunner.

I must admit I designed this due to my own circumstances. There was a theft of three watches of mine about 9 months ago, and I am trying to rebuild it with watches that I can actually buy without going grey market or used. I have nothing against grey market or used, but I have three sons and plan to take them with me to purchase the three, and eventually they will own one of them. I am trying to replace a 16570, Moonwatch Pro Hesalite, and a Panorama Date. I am not necessarily trying to "replace" each one with the same model or anything, but those three types worked well for me and my style.

[RLROCK]

Originally Posted by robinmgb

Cartier have to have an entry somewhere in my opinion.
Tank mc, drive moon phase or Santos de Cartier at least .
The high end watches produced by Cartier in the last 10 years seems to go unnoticed on here, they are producing tourbillon etc. of the highest haute horologie possible, £100000 to £200000 pieces the equal of any Patek, Vacheron etc. yet most people think they're only a fashion brand below Rolex, unbelievable!

I had a Cartier Roadster TT that was elegant on the wrist, and my wife managed to make it hers for a while.

I have to say the new collections, especially the Drive de Cartier, with their in-house movements are intriguing.

And now my wife has seen me surfing the Cartier site! This will cost me! LOL!

[GalaxyGuy]

This would be my three:

Dress watch on a strap - Habring2 Felix Foudroyante (salmon dial) - $7995
Every day wear - Grand Seiko White Birch - $9100
Chronograph - Zenith Chronomaster Original - $9000 on a bracelet