The Watch Snob is in.Is It Appropriate To Wear An Expensive Watch?

I've been a huge fan of PatekPhilippe and have wanted to purchase the Nautilus ever since I laid eyes on it at theturn of the century. I have finally been able to raise the funds in order to finance this timepiece, but now I have some second thoughts. I'm not of money, and this watch costsalmost as much as I make in a year. I'm also not accustomed to high circles, and all myfriends are from the same socioeconomic background as I am. I love the Nautilus for its micro-engineering, history, design, and masculinity, but would it be appropriate for meto wear such an expensivewatch? Wouldn't I be better off with a watch that suits my current financial andsocial status. And, if so, what watch would you recommend for a 35-year-old, middle class, educated person, for whom this will probably be the only high-end watch he'll everpurchase?The question you really need to ask yourself is, if youhave coveted the Nautilus for over a decade, will you be happy with anything else? I doubt it. Andindeed it is a fine timepiece, a Gerald Genta design masterpiece and Patek’s onlyworthy sports watch to date (the Aquanaut is unmentionable). Despite the fact that thewatch is worth your annual salary, you state that you already have funds set aside forit. Now, if you were buying it on credit and risking great financial ruin, I mightsuggest a different tack, such as higher education, a better job or marrying rich.Does the Nautilus suit your so-called socioeconomic level? Who cares? Fine timepieces are typically the province of the upper class due merely to their price, butif you can afford it and can justify the purchase, you should be able to enjoy it as muchas the VP whose thumb you’re no doubt under. If your low-life friends can’tappreciate it, I suggest you find some new friends.If this is truly the onlyfine watch you'll ever purchase, you could hardly choose better. The Nautilus will bedurable and versatile enough to wear for almost any occasion, and a Patek is actually agood financial investment and a fitting heirloom.Omega's Golden Decade

When my grandfather passedaway, he left me two watches: An early '70s Timex Electronic, which is a reallycool-looking watch but besides the sentimental value is worthless (I love itnonetheless), and the second watch he left me is a mid-'60s automatic Omega Seamaster DeVille. It’s an absolutely beautiful watch, keeps excellent time and is in flawless condition. It is also the reason that I became obsessed with real watches. The watch hasa 14K gold front and a flat stainless steel back without the typical Seamaster stampedlogo. Is it worth less because it has a plain back? Were the plain backs primarily forinscriptions (there is none on this watch)?It could be arguedthat the 1960s was Omega’s decade. It released a string of great watches across allits product lines and finished the decade with one of its watches on the moon. Then,after emerging from the quartz crisis, it decided it wanted to be Rolex. What a shame. But I digress, and Omega’s current misguided ambitions do not diminish your finetimepiece. In fact, your grandfather’s De Ville is a fine emblem of thebrand’s golden age: an elegant but unpretentious watch with a solid manufacturemovement.Most '60s Omegas that I have seen have so-called signed casebacks,and it is curious that yours has an unsigned steel caseback instead of gold. There is notelling how this came to be, whether the watch was sold this way or if the caseback wasreplaced at some point. However, seeing as this is a watch passed down to you, I’mguessing you have no intention of selling it, so any discussion of its value, diminishedor otherwise, is moot. Question From A Watch Knob

I have my heart set on a Lange(I’m getting an erection just thinking about it). While searching for a Lange, Ihappened to see that many people are taking vintage Lange pocket watches and convertingthem into wristwatches. They are taking 43-mm pocket watches, slapping a leather band onthem and selling them for $6K a pop! So, tell me, is this a horological travesty?Please keep your fetishistic perversions to yourself. I shudderto imagine what would happen if you actually come to possess a Lange & Söhne, though I can see why you’d prefer one in your pocket than on your wrist. Continue Reading

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