Reply With QuoteA Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, for me, thanks.
Do I get it, as I was first?
M
What if you could borrow a watch for life?
An eccentric billionaire makes you an offer. He/She will loan you a watch for life (with a few caveats).
1. You can't sell it or borrow against it.
2. You can't leave it to the next generation. The day you die it returns to the billionaire or their relatives.
3. You have to wear it most days.
4. There's no upper or lower limit on price. Service costs and insurance are included.
Which watch would you choose?
A Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, for me, thanks.
Do I get it, as I was first?
M
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Made me laugh. Nice choice. Sadly I'm not an eccentric billionaire!Originally Posted by snowman
A Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, for me, thanks.
Do I get it, as I was first?
M
Lange & Söhne Double-Split
RIAC
Would be a Patek 3970 for me. Could even daily it if it was a loaner
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Good question. The stipulations you propose mean that you have to pick a practical useful watch, with value as an investment irrelevant. Since I have to wear it most days, definitely a quartz. A Grand Seiko, maybe.
And what’s wrong with the triple split Kerry, you know you dont have to pay for dont you, its a loan. Lol.
Cheers,
Ben
..... for I have become the Jedi of flippers
" an extravagance is anything you buy that is of no earthly use to your wife "
A late 1016 with a super luminova service dial.
A nice Grand Seiko sports watch - preferably with GMT and Spring Drive movement. Something like a SBGE001 would be perfect.
That's a no from me, the eccentric billionaire can shove it.
The answer would change drastically if I also had to pay for insurance/servicing/repairs!
Patek 5270P
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
George Daniels' personal Patek Nautilus - the one he converted to coaxial status and wore rather a lot... It's in The Science Museum and they can have it back when I've finished with it! I do like my love-battered watches, watches with history and brilliant hand engineering, so every box is ticked for me. If I were to have enough cash to waste, It's on my fantasy bucket list to buy one and see if I could convince his apprentice to make the conversion to Daniels' original spec.
But I'd be doing the Vincent engine in a featherbed frame with seventies conical hubs back and front first.
Jacob and Co. Billionaire Watch.
Most days isn’t every day, right?
Then a Dufour Simplicity, thank you. When can I expect it?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Given serving is taken care of, a nice thin vintage perpetual calendar, in white gold or platinum. No particular model but probably VC or AP.
Needs some serious googling.
Some of the haute / cutting edge horology pieces mentioned would be lovely, but I think their proportions and sheer 'specialness' would make them less everyday-able.
Sent from my SM-G973F using TZ-UK mobile app
Platinum VC Overseas Perpetual Calendar. Must include the bracket, rubber and leather strap!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bizarrely I am going to say none.
Having to wear the same watch most days, not having the vested interest in hunting it down, learning about it etc would ruin the fun of the hobby.
It would be similar to using a hire car or holiday let, does the job but you don’t really care about it. There would be no attachment to it, it would be become a tool to tell the time, It might as well be a Casio FW91
Yet again I have obviously thought too deeply about this…
You are putting the emphasis on the quest, thus keeping it real and dreaming within your means.
That is not only honourable but will allow you to live happier and more fulfilled than us dreamers of the unreachable.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Seem pretty eccentric to me
Nothing fancy. . . . .
Chronomètre Bleu please.
Yeah sod that, give me an issued SM300…You are putting the emphasis on the quest, thus keeping it real and dreaming within your means.
That is not only honourable but will allow you to live happier and more fulfilled than us dreamers of the unreachable.
Well I guess one out of two ain't so bad...Seem pretty eccentric to me
I concur. 100%
I'm a man of simple tastes, so I'd go for an IWC Aquatimer Cousteau Chronograph (IW378101) ..
And whilst I'm not an eccentric billionaire (or any other kind for that matter), I lent a friend my brand new AquaTerra back in 2004 for his wedding, he's still wearing it to this day .. I have all the boxes/paperwork, he has the watch :)
/vince ..
I'd go for a greubel forsey balancier s2 (on the titanium bracelet). My watches have a fairly easy life so reckon it would be fine as a daily wearer.
Casio F91W
I’d politely decline, I have more than enough nice watches to last me a lifetime........and I can fix ‘em when I need to.
If I had to.
Patek 5374, or a 5370.
It's just a matter of time...
I'm going straight forward if I have to wear it most days. I guess a Daytona Zenith Porcelain 16523 will have to do.
As above, it would have to be a very simple looking watch if it’s for everyday wear. The usual contenders being an explorer 1, an AT etc. The limitless budget would tempt me to go a bit fruity though.
Perhaps one of the new platinum day dates? If not, a perfectly restored and watertight milgaus 1019
A fun thought.
Initial reaction is that I wouldn't do it as I like variety too much.
But "most days" = 183 days a year so I'd have 182 to wear my others so I'm in.
My initial thought was an Ulysse Nardin Freak of some sort. A grail of mine but if it's for the rest of my life I'd need something legible to older eyes so large and clear is a must.
On that basis I'm going Roger Dubuis Excalibur in blue:
On the gorgeous bracelet:
Or, maybe, the Bucherer blue LE, assuming I can have the bracelet added:
I'd be happy with either. Proper watches, suitably bonkers and suitable for my poor eyesight in 40 years time.
Pics stolen from Chrono 24.
Rolex Day-Date in Platinum 118206.
You would need to put it on a strap, as the full platinum bracelet would be tiresomely heavy for everyday use IMO.
I would want something rugged enough to cope with everyday life, be comfortable to wear and definitely have a date complication. I’ll take a nicely aged cream 16550, thank you very much.
I can’t think of anything better than this!
The answer would change drastically if I also had to pay for insurance/servicing/repairs!
Rolex Milgauss 1019 would suit me just fine.
Easy
Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon
I think my choice would be relatively humble. A serviced and pressure tested birth year and month 62mas would do very nicely.
That really is nice.Rolex Milgauss 1019 would suit me just fine.
I might be weird but I wouldn't want to borrow a watch on those terms. Rather wear one of my own watches even if it's nothing to lust over.
For me it would be one of two.
Philippe Dufour, Simplicity
https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/en/w...ch/simplicity/
Or another all time favourite Patek Philippe 5207P
https://i.redd.it/vqxvlfhxgqt61.jpg
I probably get more enjoyment from the ownership and 'curating' of my hoard than the wearing - so no thanks.
I would get zero enjoyment from wearing anything which I couldn't comfortably afford to replace myself.
Last edited by forpetesake; 21st April 2022 at 21:58.
It would be the Rolex Sea Dweller for me
I'm too conflicted, would probably turn him down. If I had to choose, probably a PP Nautilus.
PP 5172G would do me nicely
Just imagine the compound interest payable in terms of IOUs on a long term favour such as that.
And then defaulting on an eccentric billionaire ...
Rolex Explorer 124270 would be my choice....has always been a grail watch (all previous references apart from the 214270) for myself.
Posting Permissions
