Watches you like but you know aren’t for you

[Idontgram]

Here’s a bit of weekend fun (hopefully).

In the few years I’ve been in this hobby I’ve come to a few realisations regarding stuff I like but either can’t pull off or it doesn’t suit my overall lifestyle / dress / MO.

Top picks among these are military watches, some of what I call big and tough watches (Big tool watches like a PO / SD / MM300) and oddly enough proper dressy stuff.

I tend to inhabit the middle of the road with versatile 3-handers which are smartish, I pick up a diver or a chrono now and again for some variety but they don’t tend to stick around long. I love the idea of a Damasko DC66 or a 90s Zenith grande elite, power reserve but deep down, I know they’re not for me.

Has anyone else had similar realisations?

[Soom]

IWC Big Pilot for me...I really like it, but I have tried it and it is obvious there are not too many occasions I would/could wear it. A few years ago went for a Deepsea instead which felt much better on wrist (gone for now).

[walkerwek1958]

Definitely not!

The majority of my collection are vintage Omegas that are regarded as dress watches in todays parlance. I never go anywhere remotely formal that justifies a dress watch but I wear them all on a regular basis regardless of where I’m going or what I’m doing. I never wear a proper watch when doing manual tasks but otherwise I simply wear what I fancy wearing. The exception to this rule is the last remaining Rolex I own, I don’t wear it and I doubt I ever will, at some point it will get sold.

Size is a problem, there are watches I like but find too big, I don’t have large wrists and I don’t like watches that fill the wrist, I think a lot of watches look too big for the wearer thesedays but the owners obviously think otherwise.

[verv]

There's a factory diamond bezel mop dial w/diamond markers datejust at work that I absolutely love.
Couldn't pull it off though but lordy I'd like to try !

[TROYBOY79]

Blancpain fifty fathoms.
Too big and too expensive but always drawn to it

[minkle]

Nomos. I've had three, lugs are long and I find them too dressy for me but really do like the brand.

[Jari37]

Datejusts (although I note the comment below that perhaps I just haven't seen the right one yet), Speedmasters & GS divers. All great in their own ways, just not for me.

[RobDad]

For me it’s chronographs. I like the idea but for timing something a dive bezel does everything I need. And as I get older I find it increasingly difficult to see sub dials. I have had a few speedies and Tudor big block chronos but never bonded with them at all - all that effort and engineering for a function I know I won’t use!


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[Mr Curta]

Omega Z-33

[AP1]

JLC Reverso for me. Lots of things to admire about it but if I had one, I’m sure I’d never wear it!

[blackal]

JLC Reverso for me. Lots of things to admire about it but if I had one, I’m sure I’d never wear it!

Absolutely!

Such a classic design, but way too classy for my dress-sense!

The kind of watch you could get a top photo of, frame - and mount on a wall!

[Asupercoolusername]

Ploprof - love it, but know I would never wear as too big, and it would likely bash off everything…

[verv]

Ploprof - love it, but know I would never wear as too big, and it would likely bash off everything…

Yes. Ploprof is another one I really like, but as I wear watches on my right wrist, the crown would dig and be uncomfortable. So not for me.

[Tetlee]

Omega Z-33

Exactly what I was going to say. Absolutely love that one, and don't mind thick watches, but think that would be a step too far. Would still love to try one though.

[NickRed71]

Exactly what I was going to say. Absolutely love that one, and don't mind thick watches, but think that would be a step too far. Would still love to try one though.

Me too. Was sorely tempted last year when one came up on SC and was not snapped up immediately, but for once rationality won out over impulse.

[Wallasey Runner]

This.



Too big, Ceramic case, too Blue, too blingy, too fussy and also too expensive, but I wouldn’t complain if someone bought me one.

[Linc]

Tudor BB 58. Love the look, but too small for me.


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[Pan16520]

Tudor BB 58. Love the look, but too small for me.


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Agreed loved the the silver Tudor but too small on the wrist, not sure why a dive watch is sized like an everyday watch. Make it bigger and it’s a winner. The realist in me thinks silver let’s keep it small .


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[Hood]

IWC Portugieser
Love the watch but wears like a dinner plate on my wrist.

[sweets]

Loads. Mostly because I know I will never spend £4k or more on a single watch.
Breguet XXI
Rolex Sub
Rolex GMT II
A few JLC watches, like the Memovox Polaris and Deep Sea Chrono
Zenith CP2

And so on.......

[davidj54]

Datejust. Great watches and I love the idea of one, especially when I see them being worn on TV shows, movies etc but just too blingy and dressy for me in reality. Also the Planet Ocean, much nicer watch than the SMP but just too big and hefty.

[Itsguy]

If watches that were simply too large or too expensive were included, we’d be here all night. So best to stick to those that you like but for some reason wouldn’t wear. For me that’s JLCs. Very appealing, I just assume they’re made for someone else, who I imagine would look great wearing them. The same goes for the Rolex Sub. Nothing against them, maxi dial 5513s look great, I’m just not a diver and have never felt like wearing one, that’s someone else’s job.

And then there’s the GS Omiwatari - a fabulous object from both sides. Not for me though, I think it’s the blue, seems like a watch for someone with blonde hair maybe?



But if they did one like this (exactly the opposite hue), I’m in.

Datejust. Great watches and I love the idea of one, especially when I see them being worn on TV shows, movies etc but just too blingy and dressy for me in reality.

You just haven’t found the right one for you, it’s like picking your favourite flavour from a chocolate box. Try vintage with smooth bezel with oyster bracelet, not blingy at all.

[Idontgram]

If watches that were simply too large or too expensive were included, we’d be here all night. So best to stick to those that you like but for some reason wouldn’t wear.

This is what I had in mind in my OP. To be fair, most AL&S would also fall into this category for me, but not because of the price as that’s not what I was driving at.

[Wallasey Runner]

This is what I had in mind in my OP. To be fair, most AL&S would also fall into this category for me, but not because of the price as that’s not what I was driving at.

To be fair when I mentioned the Speedmaster was too expensive I meant in relation to Speedmasters. £12k or £13k is too much to pay for tarted up Speedmaster imho.

[helidoc]

JLC Reverso. Such an icon, I have tried very hard to like it in the flesh, but I don’t.

Most Grand Seiko, such quality, such lovely details, but I can’t find a harmonious (and thin!) design that works for me.

I love the IWC Big Pilot, but a combination of size and slightly dodgy value retention is likely to keep it off the wrist.

Dave


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[earlofsodbury]

So many, so, so many.

Usually because they are impractical, or I would be gutted if I damaged them even slightly.

I guess Omega tops the pile - love to own almost any of them, but I know I'd almost never wear them, and prices have moved well beyond what I think they're actually worth now.

[Cornholio]

Bulova Lunar Pilot. Tempting, but biiiig.

[Mr Curta]

Bulova Lunar Pilot. Tempting, but biiiig.

And nothing like what it claims to be.

[zelig]

Plo Prof & Reverso - for the reasons outlined in earlier posts.

Shame - as I really, really like both.

For some time thought the Plo Prof a fugly abomination.

Not now... It's a funny old game.

z

[demonloop]

At least half a dozen Grand Seikos

[Omegamanic]

Most Grand Seiko for the styling, just WTF. May as well be a Jacob & Co for the majority of them, but a few look great.

Things like the Seiko MM300, which could have been a contender for an only watch if a little bit more had been spent on a couple of areas. The bracelet is the biggest let down though.

The Zenith CP - something just doesn’t sit right with me and I can’t put my finger on it.

Most dress watches. I’ve been attracted on a number of occasions and spent a fair few thousand trying numerous models, but none seem to hit the spot.

I guess I’m just in to sports/dives watches mainly, with few exceptions.

[Dave E]

PVD watches. I really like how they look, but when I've had them, I just didn't like how they look on my wrist.

[Gavbaz]

Rolex and I have had a few.

Not what they are cracked up to be. Endless threads of absolute crap and all it is nowadays is about money.

Wouldn’t go back to that rat race, ruined the hobby for me.

[11erv]

Rolex and I have had a few.

Not what they are cracked up to be. Endless threads of absolute crap and all it is nowadays is about money.

Wouldn’t go back to that rat race, ruined the hobby for me.

Ditto, Gav. And with many other manufacturers, most dealers and 100% of speculators all trying to ape Rolex antics, your point about ruining the hobby is starting to become absolute, for me.

[RobDad]

Ditto, Gav. And with many other manufacturers, most dealers and 100% of speculators all trying to ape Rolex antics, your point about ruining the hobby is starting to become absolute, for me.

Snap. I don’t currently own a single Swiss watch, and I baulk at the - to me - ludicrous prices asked now for watches which, up until recently, we’re freely available and for a fraction of the prices they now command. Rather spoiled it for me and I suspect a lot of others.


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[gerrudd]

Snap. I don’t currently own a single Swiss watch, and I baulk at the - to me - ludicrous prices asked now for watches which, up until recently, we’re freely available and for a fraction of the prices they now command. Rather spoiled it for me and I suspect a lot of others.


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Is that really true. All but one of my watches are Swiss and all affordable in the grand scheme of things. But I’m buying used and staying away from the high end.

[RJM25R]

Omega Speedmaster. Had loads and always sell eventually. Love to look at them then never wear it.

Breitling aerospace. Had loads and always sell eventually. Love to play with them then never wear it.

Tag heuer Models excluding Monaco. Had loads and always sell eventually. Reminiscing I think, then never wear it.

Omega Seamaster. Had a few etc etc…..


I’m Going to stop typing now.

[Ascalon]

Another design classic that just doesn't work.

The Nautilus...

It should tick all the boxes for me but I just can't appreciate it.

[dkpw]

Much of the CWC line up comes into the category of "watches you like but aren't for you." I love the dials but the case shapes and fixed lug bars mean they never sit well on my wrist. I've had the G10 and several divers and sadly they just don't work for me. Likewise, the Seiko Tuna, sbbn015, was another one which like the CWCs always looks superb on other people's wrists but were just ill-fitting on mine.

[Wallasey Runner]

Much of the CWC line up comes into the category of "watches you like but aren't for you." I love the dials but the case shapes and fixed lug bars mean they never sit well on my wrist. I've had the G10 and several divers and sadly they just don't work for me. Likewise, the Seiko Tuna, sbbn015, was another one which like the CWCs always looks superb on other people's wrists but were just ill-fitting on mine.

They do sit high when resting on two strips of a NATO, but if you try a clip on strap the watch sits much lower on the wrist allowing the caseback to sink into the wrist.

[dkpw]

They do sit high when resting on two strips of a NATO, but if you try a clip on strap the watch sits much lower on the wrist allowing the caseback to sink into the wrist.

That is better than a NATO, but there's still too much of a disconnect between the case shape and the dial for me :(

[Dave+63]

The Zenith Defy chronograph on SC right now. It’s lovely but would drive me mad trying to see what time it was.

Same with all skeleton watches really.

[jon8oy]

The Zenith Defy chronograph on SC right now. It’s lovely but would drive me mad trying to see what time it was.

Same with all skeleton watches really.

Likewise!

I think the others for me after the Cartier Tank and Tag Monaco. Love the look of them, just don't think I could carry them off.

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[TaylorG]

AP ROO.

Had wanted one of these since the late 90's but the association with bling and rappers has totally put me off owning one.

Still love them though.

[MartynJC (UK)]

I’ll try anything except watches >47mm diameter and <35mm. See my back catalogue.

(I really like the modern Ploprof btw).

Anything simple through to grande complications is not ruled out.

But to answer the question. Probably the AP Royal Oak, three hander in steel. I did lust after one not so long ago, but passed on a deal. Realised it’s too close to my VC 4500V

[Jaacck]

Everything bronze and over 40mm for my slender wrist..

[Nudlar]

Santos. I love everything about the watch, except the Roman numerals

[AlexL]

This.

Drooling but it will look on me like a saddle on a cow.


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[Sinnlover]

For me anything in a precious metal is something I know I could never pull off.
I appreciate the quality and craftsmanship but I would never wear one nor would it suit me, same for anything remotely dressy / smart.

[ac11111]

I tend to end up buying what I really like, would stay in my head and could fester for years before I pull the trigger. More often than not driven by seeing one in the wild. For example IWC Pilot Chrono, always liked but the 43mm and non in-house held me back. So when they released the 41mm with in-house there was nothing holding me back on that one and I’m delighted with it now.