Oleg would like to start a collection with a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch and his budget is $6,000-$12,000. What should he buy? We ask readers for suggestions.
When someone says “I’m no prude,” it is pretty easy to imagine what typically comes next: a prudish commentary on some aspect of modern society or youth culture. I like sex. There we go! To the point and leaves no doubt as to intent, I’d say. That said, I typically try to keep my interests in sex and watches somewhat distinct. But does the watch industry at large?
In 2006 GaryG spotted two objects of desire at a California dealer: Vianney Halter’s dramatic Antiqua and Contemporaine timepieces. They were out of his reach, but in 2007 he found a Contemporaine in white gold offered at a price that was about one-third its original retail value on eBay. What could possibly go wrong?
Over the twenty-odd years GaryG been buying “serious” watches, he has purchased more pieces bearing the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand name than any other. By far. Within the Jaeger-LeCoultre pantheon, one watch subgroup stands out: the Reverso. He and his wife have bought a total of seven Reverso models. Given that, why add another? In this instance, the Reverso Tribute to 1931?
Many of you are likely to be asking yourselves, “Who is Gerd-Rüdiger Lang?” Understandable. If we told you he founded Chronoswiss in 1983, you might then say, “Ah, yes.” But did you know that Lang, who sold Chronoswiss in 2012, owns a collection of chronographs that might well be the most complete themed collection of this type in the world? Elizabeth takes us through just a few of the treasures in Lang’s collection.
Wouldn’t it be splendid to have everything your heart desired? Well, it’s a nice fantasy but it’s not going to happen to any of us, including GaryG. And, beside, he is not so sure that the experience of “selling to buy” isn’t actually a significant part, albeit a bittersweet one, of the collecting experience.
From the time GaryG revealed that he’d added a Patek Philippe Reference 5170P chronograph to his collection, he has frequently been asked two questions: how does it compare to his Patek Philippe Reference 5370P split-seconds chronograph? And how does it compare to Patek Philippe’s prior flagship chronograph, the platinum-encased Reference 5070P?
Asking vintage watch enthusiasts which chronographs they might pick as their favorites, one movement quickly comes to mind: the Omega 321. Caliber 321 is an exceptional movement that certainly deserves the praise and attention it receives, most likely stemming from the fact that it was used in the first Speedmasters.
GaryG has said it many times: there are great watches to be had at every price point! Enter the Timex Marlin re-edition of 2017, a watch that he owns, wears, and loves.
Dynamic, or flexible, pricing for new watches might seem crazy at first glance and a radical retail strategy, but Ian Skellern thinks it could be the future of retail. Here’s why.