Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

Cyclingtourist · 21-09-2021 05:49PM

I collect off piste.

dinorebel · 21-09-2021 06:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117920943#Comment_117920943

For me it's more "Collect when pissed"

Wibbs · 21-09-2021 07:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117920974#Comment_117920974

I dunno, pretty much all my best buys were two glasses of vino in, usually more. My worst were mostly when I was stone cold sober. 😂

I've had periods of not bothered too. I was gung ho in the late 80's when it was hard to be gung ho, lost interest in the early 90's then the early interwebs reignited it in a big way, what with all the cool new info and watches suddenly available. Lost interest around 2005 for a good while too and other periods where I was a one or two watch man. The explosion of the high end luxury market didn't impact my interest as it never was anyway. Latterly the youtube thing didn't really affect me as the vast majority is about new stuff which again I was never in the market for anyway. What vintage stuff does show up is 90% cheap and cheerful. Guys like Archie I can't watch for more than a minute without gagging. The slicker sales types leave me completely cold with their (mostly) BS. Well they're salesmen and they wind me up in general. The Oisin lad I can watch for Venice and some of his ramblings, but it's much less about the watches, again because they wouldn't be in my wheelhouse anyway. Funny enough if anything the pox pandemic has cooled my jets. I have no idea why, though business has been slack and money tighter so there's that. Now in fairness I have a shedload of watches so I'm not cured by any means. 😁

micks_address · 21-09-2021 07:30PM

Hi folks,

taking a spin up to Belfast Thursday and wanted to check out pride and pinnion watches. Any suggestions on parking any dos or don’t? Are they ok letting you try on watches etc? Also any places close by that would do a nice lunch?

cheers,

mick

893bet · 21-09-2021 07:58PM

I have been mildly bored for a while. Not bought a watch in 12 months and struggling to identify my next piece.

The YouTube “community” is also a little nauseating at the moment. The back slapping and faux comradery is turning me off.

When behind it it’s all about subs, adds and superchats.

At least you can pick and choose what to watch! And there is a lot of choice.

scwazrh · 21-09-2021 08:12PM

prior to COVID the only watch you tubers I seemed to notice were Watchfinder , teddy baldassarre , time&tide and Hodinkee .It has exploded since then ,surely some of them will die off over the coming months

Fitz II · 21-09-2021 08:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117921351#Comment_117921351

The shop is in the Merchant and there is parking on street round there (have some english coins) There is a multistory round there too. They are dead sound about trying on watches. The merchant itself has excellent food.

banie01 · 22-09-2021 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117921547#Comment_117921547

Apart from our own crop of YTrs and an American lad I posted previously, I have zero YT watch channels on sub. I'll dip in and out, watch videos posted on here and TZ to see what's up, but, in particular the lifestyle bolloxology that some YTrs ascribe to their watches just doesn't float my boat.

One crop of videos I did enjoy were always the fake comparison videos but then they started getting copyright strikes. Still out there but no longer as prominent and I think even Watchfinder's were taken down?

I do follow a lot of manufacturers, sellers and watchmakers on insta. Just another step in convincing myself I have ADHD 😂 I don't need to watch a diatribe, photos are nice, reels are short and I can always click if I want to know more 😉

Actually my own insta ticked over 1k followers today 😁

It won't last long tho, as I need to cull fake accounts and fecking fake sellers!

unkel · 22-09-2021 04:18PM

Linky to your insta? I'm new to all that stuff 😂

banie01 · 22-09-2021 08:34PM

https://www.instagram.com/bryans_gear_and_collectibles/

It's far calmer than than YT 😂

My own insta is a mix of watches and models. The models are generally of the aviation kind tho rather than brassers!😂😂

https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1rkbysjkrym9z&utm_content=lvvcqi4

micks_address · 24-09-2021 10:10AM

Took a spin up to Belfast yesterday watch browsing. First stop was pride & pinion. Took us a while to figure out it was actually inside the Merchant hotel. Its a good setup in fairness as you have a lot more privacy than just walking in from the street. The lads there are sound as Fitz mentioned. They had some nice Rolex, a very high end Patek piece for .5 a million. No trying on that one.. no problem with anything else. I tried on a mark 1 39mm explorer and i have to say i really liked it. Its not nearly as noticeable as my Datejust but there was just something about it that drew me in. Tried on a millgaus which i thought was surprisingly chunky. They had a 321 speedmaster and a few nice Omega as well. They had 1 of the first 50 kermits produced at 50k and a Rolex with a meteorite dial that was some mad money. Happy to chat away and spent about 30/40 minutes with them.

Took a walk over to McNeelys then. They had quite a bit of stock and mad for chat. Tried on two submariners - a newer one and slightly older.. very similar.. they had a VC blue dial overseas? Priced at 30k.. bracelet and strap included.. tried it on... substantial watch. Also tried on a royal oak chrono that looked like something out of the lego movie. They had a panerai and few other nice watches there. Ended up buying a wolf watch winder that someone had left in for sale. More for the craic than anything else. They run draws where you can buy a ticket for 15 pounds and enter a draw to win a sub or daytona etc.. sell about 2k tickets and one lucky person gets the watch.. i guess its way for them to sell a watch and get the money while someone ends up with a 20k watch for 15 pounds. Sound sales guy there and would definitely go back.

We went onto Lunns then for a look at the Omega's first. Tried on the No time to die seamaster. On mesh and nato. Its a lovely watch on. Seriously light. No date on it which seemed odd... do they make a date version? I tried on the new speedmaster and i like it. The bracelet seems more delicate than the older models but i can imagine another speedy will be in my future at some stage. Asked about potential discount on sales - zero was the answer.

Lastly we went into the rolex side of Lunns... hardly any rolex on display and they have stopped taking names for any submariner. Just seemed very empty. Didn't get a warm and welcoming feeling from them at all.

Anyway it was a nice day out. Belfast is a grand spot and easy walking around most of it. Probably the new speedy and explorer left most of an impression on me... well the VC to.. but out of my league..

Cheers,

Mick

unkel · 24-09-2021 11:41AM

Nice write up, Mick!

Going myself tomorrow, booked in with P&P too, which will be my first stop over there around lunch time. Is there parking in the hotel? Free or paid and did you notice is there any car charging? Normally don't need to bother as a 10 minute stop on the way back at the Supercharger would do the trick but we will be leaving late tomorrow night, prefer not to stop on the way home. Any recommended spots for a decent dinner?

micks_address · 24-09-2021 11:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117932921#Comment_117932921

We parked in the donegal street car park... we just spotted it on way in and its close to the center of the town - like 10 minutes away. Fitz might be able to speak better to parking etc.. around the hotel. We paid 12 pounds for 3.5 hours parking or so. Re dinner - we popped into a bar on the same street as hmv/sports direct and they had a half decent steak sandwich (apologies can't remember name) it was a pretty casual day out so didn't want anything to heavy. Popped into the Boulevard in banbridge for a look around on the way home.. was pretty much empty. I'd imagine be more around it at weekends.

micks_address · 24-09-2021 11:48AM

didnt see anything on the charger front but wasnt looking... im still burning petrol

Fitz II · 24-09-2021 12:36PM

Any time I was there I was there at the crack of dawn so got spots on street, but you need some of the queens money to operate the machines.

C0N0R · 24-09-2021 01:06PM

Victoria square is handy for parking but pricey but not a bad location if you’re watch shopping. Other options would be castle court or the car park at the Europa hotel. Got a nice lunch in Avoca the last time I was up, plenty of options around the centre - Victoria square area.

To be honest the handiest way to get into Belfast is to use the park and ride from spruce field which is about £3 and drops you at the europa.

893bet · 24-09-2021 05:17PM

Well well well….another speedmaster. Another mess.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/hot-take-the-new-omega-speedmaster-chronoscope/

This new version….comes in six different versions.

Cyrus · 24-09-2021 06:18PM

That's not a handsome watch

That new speedy clasp isn't to my taste either

Fitz II · 24-09-2021 06:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934513#Comment_117934513

Pure gash

Good news on the Rolex front see here

https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2019/05/23/cab-to-open-2nd-hand-rolex-store-in-dublin/

Wibbs · 24-09-2021 08:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934714#Comment_117934714

Those circular scales look cool enough on the original vintage cases and were a popular dial type with a few brands, but for me anyway that dial looks odd in the Speedy's much heftier case.

unkel · 24-09-2021 09:03PM

The Criminal Assets Boutique, LOL!

unkel · 26-09-2021 12:52AM

In Belfast today to drop my daughter to the MK gig. Parked at the Q park Victoria square, bang in the middle of the city centre, easy peasy no need for any English money (I had none and wasn't planning to go get some). Bit early for my appointment at P&P but went in anyway and had a good time with the lads, who are super friendly, not pushy and very professional. With just a glance Tim could tell my watch was the 126660 and not the 116660. Tried on a good few watches, the polar explorer 42 is a great allrounder, really like it, but it can never be a match for the James Cameron, this time last year it was still the "poor man's Rolex" - well it ain't that now in terms of money. I was smitten with the Z-blue Milgauss, a gorgeous watch. I was wearing a shirt so that helped too. The watch I had hoped to try on, the blue Yachtmaster 40, was sold a few days ago (but ichrono in Dublin have one too, going to see it next week)

They have all sorts of drinks there, offered me one a few times, but alas I was driving back this evening so zero alcohol. Had a jolly good time in there, said my thanks and went out. Just out, guess who was coming up? Indeed. Nico himself. So I said hi, he couldn't be more friendly, straight away pointed us to some comfy chairs and we had a good chat. He couldn't be more sound. Told me a good bit about his background and what he was at. The watch shop is now only a small part of his business / income and he is about to sign some pretty big deals for US TV corporations. I pointed at the watch he seems to wear a lot, the green Daytona, for me to try it on. And of course, Nico took it off his wrist straight away and handed it to me. Now the Daytona is far too small for me, but it sure is a glorious watch. Interesting that Nico was extremely bullish about the Rolex brand and the value of the sports watches for the next few years. More so than anyone in this forum has expressed in recent times, myself included.

Had a very good late lunch in Coppi Italian restaurant, busy place, great food, decent value for money

After we dropped my daughter and her friend off at the concert, we drove back into the city centre. Parked at the central train station (flat £3 fee for the whole evening, even on a Saturday and free 23kW charging). So we left the car charging to 100%, went back for some food / drinks and a stroll about until it was time to pick the teenagers up from the concert at Ormeau Park. Flew back home then

Was my first proper visit to Belfast (work trips there and going to the airport don't count) and I was struck with how friendly and helpful people are. We sure will be back

893bet · 26-09-2021 08:06AM

I am extremely jealous of people getting to try on watches. This country is a disaster for that. So **** small. Keanes in Limerick is the collect place to me for any kind of variety. And it’s not a welcoming shop. Very small. You stand in the centre and you are 3 metres from the walls in each direction and can make eye contact direct on with every sales assurance.

A lot of the YouTube dealers are bullish. TPG and Marco are king of saying “it will cost more next week”. I guess that’s their business. I would be bullish enough on them myself. Best case is a temporary stagnation in the short to medium term I think. Drop 5 percent and then surge 10.

When you put the demand, brand recognisability and desire and small numbers produced against a growing wealthy population. Plus prices rises. Plus the rate at which they are printing money means assets are wanted. Rolex have weathers storms well in the past.

The question is can all their watches be in the demand. They are going to refresh another like this year, maybe Milgauss or Cellini. Will they they be 50 percent over RRP?

893bet · 26-09-2021 08:15AM

Another thing I have noticed is the move to small high end independents which I watch closely to see if some thing pops up that I like. It’s like people are buying these in the hope of finding the next FPJ. Think Fredrico did a video on this. Watch box just bought De bethune so that’s the end of them! Prices will soar through manipulation.

Think gronefeld just stopped taking orders as they are 3 years plus behind from a thread on TRF.

The crazy grey prices for Rolex are surely driving people this way also. When a steel sports is 16k grey you have to look at what else is available at the same price point. And when there is 25k watches that have depreciated to 16k already then they become attractive.

scwazrh · 26-09-2021 09:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940238#Comment_117940238

good write up there of what sounds like a nice day.Northern Ireland in general is a lovely place.It always nice to fit in some activities for yourself while the rest of the family are doing their thing .

Not surprised to hear Nico has stuff going on in the US , Roman from luxury bazaar seems to be very active with him since he distanced himself from timepiece gentleman ( Not sure if right name - The Texas lads with the recent drama)He is entertaining and seems to be living the lifestyle with the fast cars and private jets.I’ve seen the Amsterdam watch company complain about him a few times , not sure if Justified or not .

banie01 · 26-09-2021 09:23AM

@893bet we share an issue regarding our local "high" end jeweller.

I have a good friend working there, and TBH I still hate going in there. The watch selling setup is weird too IMO. With the private rooms in particular being far too small for comfort.

It also looks like Fields aren't carrying their pre-owned stuff in the window in the Crescent anymore? I hadn't bought but they used to have a range of mid tier pre owned bits that seem to be gone now too.

Looking for watches in Limerick really is a shallow pool. I have a trip to Dublin in November for a show that may well snowball into a watch hunt though.

On your point on people moving to independents. Not something I can speak to other than reading about tbh but in what I've read, certainly seems true.

You know my opinion of the high end steel sports 😉 I think there's growth yet to come for some pieces and recent experience would bear that out IMO. The rise in VC Overseas over the last 8 or so months indicates that people are buying, that they are buying other than Rolex too where there is apparent value.

I think your gen 2 and my (albeit your old) gen 1 illustrate that well. Prices on both have risen quite sharply and I'm not going to offer a graph as my point. I did have a conditional offer for my Gen 1 that was high 4 figure to low 5, with the dealer expecting to pitch it at 13k 😳

If you look at the graphs available for 42040/42 or 42050 (blue of course 😉) the line is approaching exponential over the last 6-8 months.

Now my own oft repeated stance is that inflation is a growing risk that some watches are doing a nice job of offsetting. Even new VC are starting to hold their price on purchase rather than immediately depreciate and the effect on older models is very noticeable.

banie01 · 27-09-2021 01:34AM

I apologise if this has been discussed before but, if it has I missed it. Has anyone here had a look at www.relleb.com yet for selling their watches?

It's a service that offers a marketplace, authentication , escrow and insured pick up and shipping to/from buyers. I've only had a quick scan but it seems a very viable alternative to Chrono and eBay. I see there's at least 1 Irish seller on their with a polar Explorer 2, so someone's using it.

What say ye lads?

https://www.relleb.com/how-it-works

micks_address · 27-09-2021 08:05AM

Never heard of them... pop up for chrono24 as soon as i clicked on the link.. id imagine the plus chrono have is blast radius... a lot of buyers/sellers there

banie01 · 27-09-2021 06:12PM

I know @IrishPlayer has had recent poor experience with shipping from Japan, but, anyone else got any info from recent experience?

I'm looking at a couple of watches and Japan is offering serious value (even including VAT) versus the US and EU. I have no issue waiting for it, but don't want to end up in a cycle of returns or shipping holds. I know the seller probably has plenty of shipping experience but any additional info re:TARIC that could simplify the flow would be appreciated?

micks_address · 27-09-2021 07:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117946830#Comment_117946830

Id say if you get shipping via dhl or fedex etc won’t be any Issues

Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

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