Current grails?

[cmcm3]

I generally consider grails to be watches I'd absolutely love but are significantly out of my financial comfort zone. I know grails don't have to be expensive but personally I don't think I've ever fallen for a watch that was really hard to get but not expensive as a result of it's rarity. Anyway, I digress...

I thought it would be interesting to see the kind of watches people have as their grails at the moment.

For me the two really are a 36mm Platinum Day Date with the ice-blue dial and some sort of Patek Nautilus in the more recent, larger size. On the Patek I would say the 5980 or 5726 would be my ultimate, but I'd happily settle :wink: for a 5711. The Plat DD I just think is such a nice subtle watch that hardly anyone would pick up on, classic styling, with just an extra window on the dial and the dial colour and the bracelet giving the game away. 8)

So what are your current grails guys? Expensive or otherwise...

[Argee1977]

Your AP Diver, i await its arrival in sales corner with much savour :D

[darrenw]

I need some bronze in my life...



...although I've still not managed to see one in the flesh yet, so borrowed tiniternet pic.

But a ROO Scuba is right up there too :wink:

[cmcm3]

Your AP Diver, i await its arrival in sales corner with much savour :D

I guess the ROO Diver would have counted as a grail for me if I'd known I had wanted it for more than a few hours before I bought it! At the "cheaper" end of the grail scale my recent TV dial Speedmaster had potential to have been a grail for me if I'd had to wait a bit longer to get it, but I was pretty lucky with one being offered to me not long after my interest was caught.

[EdRonax]

At the moment going up in value Pam 339, Pam 373 and the ultimate, Pam 203, its nice to dream.

[scarto]

Snap on the Platinum 36mm Daydate...well, a few years ago it was. And that too with the diamonds. Heyyyy..come on, what's not to like?



At present it would be an Everose Daytona or DayDate II (with black dial and black arabics).

Also, I can't help that think there should only be one grail and it should never really change until you obtain it...however, I don't seem to stick to that myself if we are defining a 'grail' as something deeply desired but hard to obtain due to financial or rarity reasons - which is what I like to think of it as.

Have I lost anyone? :?

[marin]

SBBN015 for me, although I already have the 013... :bigsmurf: :albino: :bom:

[burnsey66]

I'd like to have the ability to own a selection of my 'mini grails' at the same time, rather than having to flip one to have another.

My grail is not just a watch I aspire to own, but a watch I consider I could own and be happy with that watch alone.

That watch is the 116619LB white gold blue dial Submariner.

[Inspector71]

I'm having a "birth year obsession phase", so at the moment the grail is "something fabulous from 1970".

Have absolutely no idea what it is yet though :roll:

[Parabola]

IWC Ingenuir 3227, PAM24 and a dressy JlC

[cmcm3]

Snap on the Platinum 36mm Daydate...well, a few years ago it was. And that too with the diamonds. Heyyyy..come on, what's not to like?

The diamonds aren't for me, but nearly snap!

At present it would be an Everose Daytona or DayDate II (with black dial and black arabics).

Everose Daytona was mine until I recently tried it on and decided it was no longer a grail. Just a bit too there against my pasty Scottish complexion.

Also, I can't help that think there should only be one grail and it should never really change until you obtain it...however, I don't seem to stick to that myself if we are defining a 'grail' as something deeply desired but hard to obtain due to financial or rarity reasons - which is what I like to think of it as.

Have I lost anyone? :?

Agreed with that, but I'm like you, my grails change without the quest ever being completed, or in some cases even begun!

[cmcm3]

I'd like to have the ability to own a selection of my 'mini grails' at the same time, rather than having to flip one to have another.

My grail is not just a watch I aspire to own, but a watch I consider I could own and be happy with that watch alone.

Yeah, that's the theory, but the reality, when faced with having to offload a load of your much-loved collection to afford it would often be much different. Certainly for me.

That watch is the 116619LB white gold blue dial Submariner.

Nice choice. Don't think it would fulfil the "a watch I consider I could own and be happy with that watch alone" criteria for me at least, but that's why grails are personal!

[NJH]

Just a plain old AP Royal Oak like the one recently on our SC. Maybe for my 40th.

[Dast]

I currently yearn for a Pam 25.

[burnsey66]

Yeah, that's the theory, but the reality, when faced with having to offload a load of your much-loved collection to afford it would often be much different. Certainly for me

One point to note for me OP is that I wouldn't expect to 'have to' sell anything to acquire my grail.

That's my principle of a grail, a watch i really, really want but realistically it's out of reach.

I consider my own grail is sort of a lottery win purchase if that makes sense, otherwise it would just be a watch I desired and that is too easily achievable.

[TheFlyingBanana]

I always have a few on my target list - the trouble is I have had so many watches over the years now it is getting harder and harder to find new ones I really want...

However:

Martin Braun Selene with meteorite dial.
Cartier Santos 100 XL
Rolex DeepSea


I am sure there will be a few more I can think of, but I expect to get at least two out of the three above this year. The Martin Braun might prove a bit of a challenge. But I like a challenge! :D

[xxnick1975]

Wish I could reunite with my first swatch

[FredrikStu]

A vintage Sea Dweller (out of my price range)

and a PRS-5 (out of stock and I'm not allowed to post a WTB ad, because I don't have 50 posts)

[will852]

I have a lot of the obvious choices in mind....the Deep Sea etc.

However, I think this one is a long way off for me - The Rado Ceramica XL.

It's not actually *that* expensive, and I absolutely adore the looks. However, it's Quartz....and I couldn't justify £1500 or so on a Quartz watch when I find Automatics and mechanicals much more special and I have so many of those on my wish list too.

One day I'd love to have the Rado, but I think it'll be a while yet.

[Marios]

For me, a 'grail watch' is the one watch I would be happy with if I had to limit my self to just one. I'm quite lucky to have acquired that watch:



Not really lucky I guess, since I went out of my way at the age of 20 to make it happen. I had to save for more than a year to purchase it. It's not perfect, nor rare - just an average 1153 Heuer Carrera calibre 12 from the early 70s. It's not even the best looking watch I've ever seen. But I know it's the one watch that I'll always keep. It's my watch.

There are of course many watches on my ever expanding 'wish list'. Most notably a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 'no radiations' tribute and a PP Nautilus of some kind. That's the hobby aspect- researching, learning, obsessing, planning. These could change at some point, but this is staying:

[jonny]

Mine was Portuguese 3717-14 with blue numerals.Though i have it now so I would say a dressy JLC.

[Grandiloquence]

1. Speedmaster Pro. Rather common in the wild, never seem to get round to getting one but always wanted one. Love the Galaxy Express 999 one - a little less common! 2. Heuer Silverstone vintage in red. I'll probably never own one but it's the only watch that has really made me weak at the knees!

[GraniteQuarry]

458 Italia, in Avorio.

Oh, you mean watches? Nothing! :lol:

[Tai Mi Shu]

That watch is the 116619LB white gold blue dial Submariner.

:shock:

Honestly only just seen this thread and therefore obviously this post!
That's my "Grail" too... at least, it's what I need to focus on. :D

[Routers]

Actually not really seen anything that I can say I really want.
Several I admire, but they all have good and less good points.
I am currently satisfied with the ones I have, and even thinking of reducing further.
Am I cured, or maybe just senile?

Ian.

[colin]

I have two:

- TV dial Speedmaster
- GMT Master II

That's it.

[bloater]

Well there seems to be several ideas of a grail,
so a grail in terms of out of range at the moment but achieveable in the longer term would be a sub lv, it would also do as a one watch does all type of grail.
If were talking about a lottery win grail, then there are a few, but the first one I would buy would be this:
:drunken:

[Malcolm68]

Bought my grail watch couple of weeks ago, the AP Star Wheel, so guess I need a new one.

Would have to be the Breguet 5717 Hora Mundi. Saw it in Basel in March, stunning watch, the pictures dont do it justice, think its out about October time, but not gonna be able to sneak that one under the radar as will a tad on the expensive side.



Malc

[Joy]

Damasko DC56

Student budget you see

[Chris_in_the_UK]

For me......

A Ti Richard Mille :shock:

and, not on the back of Vicky's post - a WG Sub with the blue dial 8)

[Mike Wood]

My currant grail...



but I'm having trouble raisin the money to buy a Patek minute repeater...

:lol:

[verv]

achievable - pam 312, 359 and a 14060m.
lottery - pam 203, patek nautilus or aquanaut.

my problem is that getting one grail just gets me wanting another.. it's never-ending

[ManCityDG]

I think mine would be that White gold and blue sub that Tai mi shu is after! When I win the lottery it'll be one of the 1st 10 things I buy.

[I a n]

These aren't out yet, but I love the look of them...

[TheFlyingBanana]

My currant grail...



but I'm having trouble raisin the money to buy a Patek minute repeater...

:lol:

I am groaning, groaning, gone...
:D

[Womble]

[scarto]

Womble,

Woah, never seen or heard of that before. It's it's elegant and beautifully modest. It's just won another admirer.

Google says Vyskocil is an independent German watchmaker. How much does one of those cost then?

[Tai Mi Shu]

and, not on the back of Vicky's post - a WG Sub with the blue dial 8)

I think mine would be that White gold and blue sub that Tai mi shu is after! When I win the lottery it'll be one of the 1st 10 things I buy.

Oi! I'd better get mine before either of you, I saw it first! :lol:

[Womble]

Womble,

Woah, never seen or heard of that before. It's it's elegant and beautifully modest. It's just won another admirer.

Google says Vyskocil is an independent German watchmaker. How much does one of those cost then?

21000 Euros in platinum! :shock:

[sunster]

Mine is simply the steel Sub-c. That would pretty much complete my small collection

[Harrison]

I'd like to have the ability to own a selection of my 'mini grails' at the same time, rather than having to flip one to have another.

My grail is not just a watch I aspire to own, but a watch I consider I could own and be happy with that watch alone.

That watch is the 116619LB white gold blue dial Submariner.

.... exceptionally vulgar and hideous. Worse than a gold plated bathroom tap.

I'm putting it directly onto my 'hideous watch' list :D

[Lomax99]

Achievable (with part consolidation): A.Lange & Sohne Datograph;
Need a windfall: A.Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk

[100thmonkey]

Panerai 382 (Due Dec)

Panerai 372 (Due Oct)

At some point a Aquanaut but no rush

[Viking72]

I'm fairly new to the game, but I'd say my current grail is the Heuer Autavia "Jo Siffert". Andy Tims has one up on SC right now that would do me nicely, but as I'm buying a flat this summer I can't pull the trigger on it :evil:

Having said that, the Breguet 5717 Hora Mundi mentioned earlier in this thread looks pretty amazing, but on the geographic world timers there are a few very tempting choices (Patek, JLC, etc). I'll hold off on something like that for my 50th though!

E

[Harrison]

For 15 years my grail has been the Seiko 6105-8110

I've sorted through hundreds of ruined examples through overzealous or nasty restoration. I'm having my first one restored ringt now. Just Stunning.

[thattallchap]

Rose Gold Radomir

Patek Nautalis XL

[andyb190]

Love everything except the way he appears to have written the name in fountain pen.

[Neil.C]

None. :(

Happy with the old crap I've got.

[scarto]

Womble,

Woah, never seen or heard of that before. It's it's elegant and beautifully modest. It's just won another admirer.

Google says Vyskocil is an independent German watchmaker. How much does one of those cost then?

21000 Euros in platinum! :shock:

:shock:

Can see why it's a grail now. :)

[Time Cat]

My grail thing changes now and then...

I own my grail; the iwc ingenieur but i might like to have a rose gold reverso.