Hey guys, an opportunity has come for me to purchase my first "great" watch (woohoo!!). All the watches I've bought thus far have cost less than $2k. In about a year's time I will be the first member of my family to enter a university and as such I've been given the green light to procure a watch below $10k as reward. Being the good son I am, I've decided to reduce the budget by about $4k thereabouts so I can still get a pretty solid $6k watch plus pay for a family vacation and maybe a couple of dinners.
I'm looking for an automatic watch on bracelet that while not necessarily a 'beater', can still handle a fair amount of punishment (bangs against table tops, scratches). A chronograph function will be useful but not essential. I would also like a watch that I can swim with. I plan to go amateur diving someday so WR should be 200m<.
I've shortlisted 3 watches that I've been pondering over for awhile, but please feel free to offer your suggestions if there's a watch I should be looking at instead. Otherwise, I would love to hear which of the 3 you would pick and your reasons.
In no particular order:
1) Sea-Dweller 16600 (2nd hand) (http://www.watchblog.dk/pictures/gallery/16600/slides/20070625-210357.jpg)
Pros - I'll like to own a Rolex. WR is off the charts. It can take a beating and look better with age. It doesn't say Submariner on it (I love the Submariner but I've seen so many that I'd prefer something similar but different. It's a personal thing so I hope Sub fans don't take offence. It's also the superior Rolex diver.) In-house movement.
Cons - No other complication except date function. It may be hard to find a used one for $6k with all genuine parts (I think), and harder for one with box and papers.
2) Breguet Type XX Aeronavale (2nd hand) (http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/epZSEw-hy8Y/maxresdefault.jpg)
Pros - It says 'Breguet' on the dial. Flyback chronograph. It's the best-looking of the 3 imo. Archieluxury has one so it must be facking luxurious, fackers :-d. Also did I mention that it says 'Breguet' on the dial?
Cons - I don't like the Breguet bracelet so I'll have to change it. WR is only 100m. Technically not an in-house movement although technically it is (???). I think if I owned one I'll baby it a lot because it says 'Breguet' on the dial.
3) Breitling Chronomat 41 (NIB) (http://www.qpx.nl/media/basel_2011/breitling/breitling_chronomat41.jpg)
Pros - Chronograph AND 300m WR. Dad used to have a Chronomat when I was a kid and I remember playing with it so fond memories. In-house movement. Has the longest power reserve of the 3 at 70 hours. I can also get one new-in-box.
Cons - I've heard people say that it's too 'blingy'. The dial looks odd for me with the square-shaped detail that they're trying to pull off. I'll be picking a Breitling over a Rolex and a Breguet and in some quarters of this forum that's mad, very mad.
I've opted not to include a poll because I feel that your worded opinions are more informative than simply knowing which watch is most popular and which is least. So let me know what you think, leave your comments down below!
I'm looking for an automatic watch on bracelet that while not necessarily a 'beater', can still handle a fair amount of punishment (bangs against table tops, scratches). A chronograph function will be useful but not essential. I would also like a watch that I can swim with. I plan to go amateur diving someday so WR should be 200m<.
I've shortlisted 3 watches that I've been pondering over for awhile, but please feel free to offer your suggestions if there's a watch I should be looking at instead. Otherwise, I would love to hear which of the 3 you would pick and your reasons.
In no particular order:
1) Sea-Dweller 16600 (2nd hand) (http://www.watchblog.dk/pictures/gallery/16600/slides/20070625-210357.jpg)
Pros - I'll like to own a Rolex. WR is off the charts. It can take a beating and look better with age. It doesn't say Submariner on it (I love the Submariner but I've seen so many that I'd prefer something similar but different. It's a personal thing so I hope Sub fans don't take offence. It's also the superior Rolex diver.) In-house movement.
Cons - No other complication except date function. It may be hard to find a used one for $6k with all genuine parts (I think), and harder for one with box and papers.
2) Breguet Type XX Aeronavale (2nd hand) (http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/epZSEw-hy8Y/maxresdefault.jpg)
Pros - It says 'Breguet' on the dial. Flyback chronograph. It's the best-looking of the 3 imo. Archieluxury has one so it must be facking luxurious, fackers :-d. Also did I mention that it says 'Breguet' on the dial?
Cons - I don't like the Breguet bracelet so I'll have to change it. WR is only 100m. Technically not an in-house movement although technically it is (???). I think if I owned one I'll baby it a lot because it says 'Breguet' on the dial.
3) Breitling Chronomat 41 (NIB) (http://www.qpx.nl/media/basel_2011/breitling/breitling_chronomat41.jpg)
Pros - Chronograph AND 300m WR. Dad used to have a Chronomat when I was a kid and I remember playing with it so fond memories. In-house movement. Has the longest power reserve of the 3 at 70 hours. I can also get one new-in-box.
Cons - I've heard people say that it's too 'blingy'. The dial looks odd for me with the square-shaped detail that they're trying to pull off. I'll be picking a Breitling over a Rolex and a Breguet and in some quarters of this forum that's mad, very mad.
I've opted not to include a poll because I feel that your worded opinions are more informative than simply knowing which watch is most popular and which is least. So let me know what you think, leave your comments down below!