Too expensive for me, but I like it.

blue5000

We all like to dream, thought I'd start a thread about watches that are not seen too often. Found this on watchrecon......

https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-patek-2428-recent-patek-service-motivated-to-sell.66223/

I wonder if the previous owner is thinking, ' Phew. That was a close one.'

Wibbs

That's a lovely Patek B. Their Calatravas are my fave TBH. Pure elegance.

Now me being a Longines man... And a broke arsed fecker. Here's something of an ironic rarity from the brand, a Longines chronometer dial.



Somewhat ironic(in the Allanis Morrisette vein) because although Longines entered and were extremely successful in all the major chronometer trials throughout the 20th century(they and a couple of others blew the doors off big names like Rolex, Patek, AP and a host of others in said trials), unlike Omega who were similarly successful and paid for and displayed the certification a lot, Longines rarely enough produced chronometer certificated watches for sale to the public.

That one, a late 60's/early 70's Longines Diver(Diver's being cool), high frequency, very nice actually "in house" movement* and not some bought in slightly fettled(if even) ETA stamped with the brand name flying out of production lines in their millions every year. Oh and currently the design type being copied and reissued by Longines of late? Yours for 1400 euro, or nearest offer on your friendly neighbourhood eBay. A bloody steal in my humble.

If it were a similar Omega Diver of that vintage minus the chronometer rating it would be at least twice, if not thrice and more the price. Even though in the period the Longines were usually more expensive and just as, if not better quality. Never mind that a similar new reissue will cost more and popular brands like TAG Heuer will cost many times more.

If it was a few years back when my circumstances were more flush I would have bought that in a hummingbird's heartbeat.




*a few Longines "chronometers" come up from time to time, but with the autos you can tell the real deal because the rotor is gold plated along the edge. So this is a good un.

Wibbs

Feck! Sorry I didn't link the above in case anyone here was interested. Looks like it's been sold now.

OK to try to make up for it... another diver. This time a Breil, an "Italian" brand(using Swiss movements and cases), who supplied the Italian navy divers with their watches in the late 70's and 80's, just like the vaunted(and tres expensive new, but with feck all connection to the original) Panerai did previously. The actually issued examples are dialled "Marina Militare" and here's one for 800 Euroquids. with its original bracelet.



Military issued? Check. History and backstory? Check(and way more than new stuff with faux "history"). 50 Bar Diver? Check. All original? Check. Squale case with screw down crown? Check. Oh and in keeping with the Longines theme, they were individually certified for the Italian Navy by Longines in Milano and that's the stamp on the caseback. So one could either buy a brand new Panerai(or Rolex or, Omega or, etc) rattled out in their thousands and pay many many times that price for a nebulous connection. or you could have an actual issued military diver's watch with history, that was "used in anger".

For 800 quid? I'd love that watch and would be buying it in a hummingbird's heartbeat. A hummingbird on crack cocaine with a history of cardiac arrhythmia. Getting very excited. Again if I was more flush these days.. FML Meh I can't complain too much, to be fair. I'm sitting here in Ireland with the heat on, full stomached on me laptop, talking sh1te with fellow nutters so... I'll look for sympathy when I'm featured on a Trocaire box.

CarltonBrowne

I'm wondering, in the light of the recent Paul Newman auction, how much the one that Jacques Brel actually wore would reach...

Wibbs

Here's one. Not suited to the bargain thread, but considering the prices of vintage chronographs these days, especially so called "panda dials". The pretty average LIP examples because of a couple of Hoodwinkee artless have gone to mad money.

70's Consul chronograph



Just over 800 quid for what looks like NOS and at the time Consul were owned by Girard Perregaux. They majority dealt in women's pendant and such watches, only rarely do you see a man's and even more rarely a chronograph. It's getting viewed a lot so can't see it lasting long.