OV9

It’s sapphire crystal, isn’t it? One of the hardest materials known to man.. okay then

In fairness I’d be looking at that if I bought an expensive watch, as I’m a clumsy fucker who inevitably smacks it off walls and stuff. But my work watch is a Casio f91 (not £5 any more Dave, they’re about 12 quid these days) and my idea of an expensive watch is £50

IanF wrote: Mon Feb 10, 2025 10:35 am It’s sapphire crystal, isn’t it? One of the hardest materials known to man.. okay then

I expect the film in that picture is just covering the bezel not the crystal. It's becoming more common these days, particularly on watches like Nautilus and APs as they can only be refinished so many times to remove scratches before wearing down the metal. Particularly the gold watches.

It's almost like a soft, easily damaged material like gold isn't a great choice of material from which to make watches...

When the wearer doesn't do much, it is fine.

The thrill of owning an expensive watch, wrapping it, then putting it back in the bank vault again

Took a (very rare) day off today and had a trip into the West End with the family. Had lunch at the Wolseley which was fantastic. First time there and had no idea it was linked to the cars of the same name.

Then had a look in Burlington arcade and stopped by Diamond Watches of London to try on a couple of APs they had in the window - they were extremely obliging (unlike Watchfinder) and when my son kept pointing at a Richard Mille insisted I try it on... it was a Bubba Watson RM 055 which they had up for sale at... £310,000!



I only afterward worried about who would have picked up the tab if I'd have dropped it

Then had a stroll down Bond Street and given it was very quiet, had a poke around Patek Philippe. Quite an astonishing place really - it was like the inside of a billionaires flat with 3 staff to every one customer, half a dozen private rooms set out over a very capacious ground floor. They also let you in one at a time through an airlocked door where the inner door only opens once the outer is closed!

Needless to say I haven't bought anything (yet ).

That is hideous. But, a great day out, by the sounds of it. Maybe you should take more days off?

It looks cool in isolation but I wonder how it looks when it’s on your wrist and all you see through the transparent face is a smushed wrist and hairs

Can anybody recommend a good pre owned watch site? I’m pretty clueless in that area. Have always bought new from Goldsmiths. Turn 50 in a month or so and will be getting myself something. Have already seen the Endurance Pro Breitling which seems ok for £2.8k or so but curious what the second hand market can offer for around the same price. £3k tops.

Saw a Breitling Navitimer Heritage (had one back in the day) on watchfinder. Can’t afford £7k on what Breitling charge for a new Navitimer although not sure I’d want to spend that much on a watch anyway. Are watchfinder ok, best of a dodgy bunch or what? Goldsmiths also offer used so have been looking but curious what else folks can recommend.

ETA: And £310k for a watch!? I guess if you have the money and struggle to spend it… (or don’t agree with charity)

The movement in that RM is a work of art, but the overall watch is waaay too bling for me. And at the price of a house - ahm oot.

Oh yes - it didn’t hold very much if any appeal other than by virtue of its sheer (and inflated (IMO) value). It was beautifully engineered though - even the clasp snapped shut with some invisible magnetism (yes I know magnetism is invisible… I meant the magnets themselves were not).

Ironically seeing your wrist through the other side of the watch did have a novelty value!

The 39mm APs were much more like it but their prices (unsurprisingly) were far from competitive.

GG. wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 10:47 am Oh yes - it didn’t hold very much if any appeal other than by virtue of its sheer (and inflated (IMO) value). It was beautifully engineered though - even the clasp snapped shut with some invisible magnetism (yes I know magnetism is invisible… I meant the magnets themselves were not).

Ironically seeing your wrist through the other side of the watch did have a novelty value!

The 39mm APs were much more like it but their prices (unsurprisingly) were far from competitive.

And were these watches (APs etc) even for sale, or just display models?

I'd file that watch under interesting things to see but not interesting for me to own or wear.

I’d be a nervous wreck wearing something of that value.

Weirdly just boarded a flight to the US for work and someone getting on the plane wearing an RM! Common as muck obviously

DaveE wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:17 am

GG. wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 10:47 am Oh yes - it didn’t hold very much if any appeal other than by virtue of its sheer (and inflated (IMO) value). It was beautifully engineered though - even the clasp snapped shut with some invisible magnetism (yes I know magnetism is invisible… I meant the magnets themselves were not).

Ironically seeing your wrist through the other side of the watch did have a novelty value!

The 39mm APs were much more like it but their prices (unsurprisingly) were far from competitive.

And were these watches (APs etc) even for sale, or just display models?

Second hand and very much for sale.

I think they have just released a new AP Royal Oak in 39mm (which is the original size that they look best in) but you won’t be able to get one of those for love nor money.

GG. wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 12:16 pm Weirdly just boarded a flight to the US for work and someone getting on the plane wearing an RM! Common as muck obviously

Sure it wasn't one of these?

https://tsarbomba.com/en-gb

DaveE wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 1:15 pm

GG. wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 12:16 pm Weirdly just boarded a flight to the US for work and someone getting on the plane wearing an RM! Common as muck obviously

Sure it wasn't one of these?

https://tsarbomba.com/en-gb

Certainly could have been - I was 15 feet away so impossible to tell definitively from that distance.

That said it was an older gentlemen (I expect maybe late 50s early 60s) on his way to Miami flying First Class so I have a suspicion it was a real one

ShockDiamonds wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:35 am Can anybody recommend a good pre owned watch site?

Go on Chrono24, buy from a dealer with good feedback and a large number of transactions.