I meant to post this for a while, but what does everyone do for a living?

Personally I am in the commercial auto rental and lease business, and run an offshoot family office that invests in alternative finance platforms and round B/C companies. Totally ruined my love for cars but it keeps me on my toes all the time.

What is everyone wearing?

Curious what people think of Hermés watches. Sure, they are a high-end fashion brand (yeah, I'm a fan) but I like a few of their affordable designs such as the H08, the Arceau line including the Chronographe, and kinda, sorta like the Cape Cod.

Movements seem legit via their stake in Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and their ownership in component makers such Natéber and Joseph Erard.

Thoughts?

I’m also looking for recommendations for servicing my Roger Dubuis Square Perpetual Calendar. Does anyone know of any reputable local watchmakers or service centers in South Florida with experience working on high-complication pieces?

Dearest FTW Collectivists:

A couple years ago I purchased, for personal use, 3D-print plans for little watch hangers/stands [link] from AndoAndoAndo [link] a quirky Finnish-Japanese microbrand that makes whimsical watches featuring unusual case shapes and dials (e.g., they have a line of vinyl record-inspired/looking watches [link].

Anyway, I reached out to them to see if I could share the plans with the collective, and he said sure thing.

So … everyone is welcome to use the plans to print as many hangers/stands as you like for yourself, family, friends, foes, etc. You just cannot sell the plans OR sell any stands you print. Here are the 3-D printing plans.

Just thought some of you might enjoy these. Speaking from experience, I can say they’re fun to have around … and can help further rationalize having way too many watches:)

Cheers!

Andrew

Any of you have an opinion on Hentschel watches?

https://hentschel-hamburg.com/watches.html

Hi everyone - headed to Tokyo for 5 days on a trip specifically built around watch hunting and eating wagyu haha

I've got 35 (!!!) unique stores on my agenda... I'm honestly pretty afraid I'll get watch fatigue and they'll all start to look the same after awhile.

My primary objective is to leave with a Grand Seiko, ideally a Shunbun but a Snowflake is also high on my list though I am open to just going with whatever speaks to me. I've seen and tried on both of these watches in person before here in Hawaii, and have long lusted after both of them.

Also hoping to run into a few vintage GS, and hopefully a LordMatic or two while over there. If I can also snag a nice vintage Swiss piece, I will as well.

Anything specific that any of you would be on the lookout for over there?

Lastly... shout out to my wife for supporting this trip (she's going a month later with her mother and our girls... which is the only way I was able to get permission to go on my own!)

Apologies if someone has asked this question already, but does anybody like artem straps?

Thanks!

What is everyone wearing?

I am currently in Utah and came across one of these at a small dealer’s shop for sale, brand new. I see only a few for sale on C24, all asking for more than retail. I think I could get it at a discount. I’m curious what group thinks about it? I think it’s a fun watch.

I am curious what Collictiveneers think were some of the highlights and intriguing releases in last week's watch fair. I was out of the country and wasn't plugged in much. I figure some here have thoughts and opinions that align and collide with the watch journalists and sites.

Fed,

Just discovered the Hansie vids. Great stuff! Being a bit of a tinkerer and just a watch lover in general, these are very informative and entertaining. Hans has a great sense of humor and huge watch knowledge chops. Binge watch worthy.

Fed,

I know nothing about this brand but think this watch is super cool. Movement isn’t anything special from what I can tell except for the hand finishing on the rotar. I just love the look of it. Retail was around $5200. Is this a good watch or good buy?

https://collectivehorology.com/products/louis-erard-le-regulateur-louis-erard-x-cedric-johner-mauve-pre-owned

So was checking ebay for a piece I've been looking for and they have one listed for an aggressive price. Checking their website I don't see any obvious red flags, but wanted to see if anyone has personal experience with them.

I think the ubiquitous use of phone cameras for wrist shots has led to a permanent parallax error where everyone thinks watches wear larger than they actually do. That and amongst other pretentious gatekeeping in the community, there is a vocal “size police” always ready to determine what’s an appropriate size for your wrist. So I’m going to write a love note to larger watches as my horological rebellion today.

For reference, I have wrists at 18 cm/7 inches, so not particularly large. And yes, I would personally agree that watches that are too large for a wrist can look a little silly; I do peronally follow the rule that lugs overhanging the visible edge of your wrists is that limit (though I still think anyone should wear what they like…who cares what someone else thinks). And I own and enjoy watches across the spectrum, from 36 mm to 44mm. So I’m not anti small watch. In fact, you should enjoy both because fads will swing back and forth.

Here’s my list of why large watches are the shit, and would love to hear others reasons as well:

1. In the current market, more modestly sized watches are the dominant fad. So you can reap larger discounts buying against the stream in preparation for when 2010 rolls around again.
2. Visibility and ease of telling time - granted design can help or muck this up, but apples to apples, large watches are generally easier to quickly tell the time. I can’t imagine a better watch as I wade into my reading glasses era than something like the IWC Big Pilot
3. Crown and other pushes generally larger and easier to manipulate. Also a plus as you cross into middle age and beyond!
4. You can generally get into high end complications for less money than super small and/or slim movements with the same complications.
5. The James Bond in the novels probably had to use a 36mm Rolex as an impromptu knuckle duster. But why would you choose that when today you can buy a 44mm Rolex made out of gold to punch someone in the face with?
6. Some watches are supposed to be large as part of their use case. Dive watches and pilots watches are supposed to be about legibility, and people really were smaller 50-75 years ago. 38mm back then probably was like rocking a 44mm Panerai today.
7. 99.9% of people that you run into either won’t notice your watch, or if they do, will think that it’s too large (unless you’re rocking a 55mm Invicta or something similar). Most of them are wearing those blocks of an Apple Watch.

Hi Fed, I am saving for one of my grail watches. Can you give me an estimate on a H. moser 3200-1200? Thank you

Hi Guys,

Not sure if we have any 1911 nuts in the forum but ACW's new restomod series 1911 just dropped. I just saw it in my inbox and snagged one! They still have 7 left. I am a huge ACW fan! These are gonna go quick. Link in the next post if you are interested.

Goes without saying but just in case, I have zero affiliation with ACW (apart from being a customer).

I had a crazy idea last night, I put my brigade 5707BA on an old Hodinkee Boone strap. It’s weird but I kinda like it. I’ll see how it goes on a warm Florida spring day, but I was a bit surprised just how much people didn’t like it on Facebook. What do y’all think?

Does anyone else find the two watches thing infuriating? It takes a certain amount of panache and class to walk around wearing some peoples life savings strapped to your wrist and not look like a complete douche but this takes the whole thing and just pukes it up right in your face! Kevin, respect the collection but this move just may single handely take down the whole watch community

That watch is a stunner.

How do you say this name:

Czapek and Cie

Czapek

Can someone phonetically spell it out?