Need to balance out the collection with a dresswatch, thinking Zenith Elite Captain Central Second..

[Techniec]

Dear all,

As witnessed by my signature, please find below my current collection (apologies for grainy picture):



Not included in the picture is my IWC Ingenieur AMG, which is currently being serviced at IWC repair centre.

Here is a picture for your reference (sourced from the net):



Personally, I think my collection is pretty well rounded (albeit a little heavy on chronographs, but that's my favorite complication), however it's lacking a true dress watch (even though the JLC MC Chronograph is pretty dressy).

So I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on this Zenith, which I can get at a really nice price from an online retailer: the Elite Captain Central Second (as before, picture courtesy of internet):



I think it's a really dressy watch, from a great manufacture, featuring an in-house movement and a clean, classy dial. As such, it should, imho, represent good value for money and a great way to round off my collection...

Please let me have your thoughts on this piece. Do you agree that it represents great value and balances out my collection well? Or do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

BR,


Pieter

[vbomega]

Pieter, your collection is fantastic! Nicely done!

I think you can't go wrong with this Zenith. Highly respected company, great movements. I own El Primero Captain with white dial and gold markers. Take a look at the white dial Elite Captain, it may look slightly dressier and may balance your collection a little better. Either way, both watches are probably the best value out there.

[mebiuspower]

That's a good choice. Also consider Zenith Elite 681 Ultra Thin but that has sub-second and no date.

[JustinD]

Nice collection. I'd buy a JLC Reverso as your dress watch.

[ramirez1970]

Very nice collection. The Zenith you selected is very nice, as well. Like the idea of the Reverso, though. Just so different than anything else you currently have. You need a Gshock in there, too.

[Duder]

I like it. Rounds out your collection as well. Nice looking dress watch.

[wristclock]

The zenith is a great choice although I will have to side with the idea of getting the reverso, it's a legendary watch that would round out an already fabulous collection.

[Metlin]

That Zenith is great; however, if you're looking for a true dress watch, I'd recommend something with a white background.

I'd recommend something along the lines of JLC Master Ultra Thin, which is very similar, but much more dressy:

[Watchalex]

Hi Pieter,

Collection management, love it. I really like what you’ve done so far and see the system behind it.

I think the Zenith is a nice choice for the reasons you yourself cited. But I’d side with vbomega in that the white/silver dial version would round out the collection a bit better, given the preponderance of black dial watches. Also white dial watches are generally regarded as dressier. So if you go dressy, go dressy all the way. I could even imagine something like a JLC Master Ultrathin without a date and without a second hand in a flat handwind movement, even dressier.

But you already have JLC and a very nice model, too, and I can see the interest in having a good brand mix.

In that sense, if I may suggest, I’d get rid of the TAG and the Planet Ocean. IMHO, TAG is below the other brands and the PO is not a must-have watch from Omega, plus you already have one of their musts with the Speedy. And they are both divers. I do think a collection at that level should definitely have a diver. The normal choice would be a Submariner. But that is almost too ubiquitous. So perhaps you can still find the very nice SeaDweller 16600. One of the best divers ever and also from a must-have brand. I could also nicely imagine a Panerai but the Luminor Marina models aren’t full divers (no dive bezel) and the Submersibles are not everyone’s cup of tea. If you can swing it, a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms would be awesome, of course. In any case, I’d say bye-bye to the TAG and the PO, if I wanted to stay very stringent and high-class throughout.

In the same interest of “cleaning up” I’d also get rid of IWC Pilot Chrono. You already have 3 IWC watches and two chronos, both built on the same base movement. Not necessary. If you want an aviation themed chrono, why not get a Breitling Navitimer. It’s THE model for the brand and THE aviation chrono if there ever was one. Plus, if you care enough, you could get it with the new and very nice in-house B-01 movement. Now that would be much worthier component in this fine collection than the IWC Pilot chrono.

Finally, for the future and to really be complete, I think it would be nice to have a GMT watch. For me, the best GMT out there at the moment is the Grand Seiko SBGE001. This would also be a way to show your appreciation for non-swiss horology.

The collection would then look like this:

IWC Inge (everyday watch, titanium, in-house)
IWC Porto Chrono (retro-design, important for brand)
Zenith Elite (dress watch)
JLC MCC (dress chrono, very fine movement)
Rolex SeaDweller (legendary dive watch)
Omega Speedy (legendary moon watch, vintage!)
Breitling Navitimer (legendary aviator chrono, important for brand)
Grand Seiko SD GMT (crazy good movement and finish on this Japanese gem, plus features that are hard to find elsewhere)

To be honest, I could even imagine to purify this further and throw out the Portugieser because it is not in-house and the truncated complication is rather useless. Then there’d be 7 really fine watches, one for each day of the week. And you’d have the most important brands that are still somewhat attainable with watches that cover all the bases.

[geoffbot]

Awesome collection and good idea - I think a dress watch would be a fine addition. The Zenith is lovely and does seem to be very good value. If I had your collection though I would add something a little dressier: