Seems good to me but asking the experts. This is a pretty grail-y watch for me. Looks stunning but looks can be deceiving (ask my wife)

Do you think $8000 for a 91 Submariner is a fair price? It’s a friends who bought it new and has had it Rolex serviced every 5 to 7 years. It used to be his daily wear but he bought a Tag to wear every day now. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

Hey guys, Does anyone have experience dealing with this seller on Chrono24? Thinking of buying a watch from them. Somewhat time sensitive so would appreciate any thoughts

https://www.chrono24.com/dealer/kksupercrown/index.htm

Thanks

Akhil

Tell me I’m not the only one :)

Also - please add more women options to the marketplace!! Thanks.

I’m allocated the new red mad2 release, due to arrive in June. Interested in exchanging for an orange. Ideas on how to get this done? Thanks!

The Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile collection launched in 2008 and, in my opinion, it was one of the most innovative and misunderstood watch projects of its time.

What made the Quai de l’Ile so unique was the level of customization available to clients. Buyers could configure different aspects of the watch, including:

• Dial configurations
• Case materials
• Movement finishing
• Straps
• Even individual case components

At launch, Vacheron Constantin reportedly offered close to 400 possible combinations, which was incredibly advanced for that period.

The watch itself was also technically very interesting. The case used a complex 7-part construction that allowed combinations of materials such as:

• Titanium
• Palladium
• Pink gold
• Mixed-metal configurations

The dials were equally innovative and incorporated anti-counterfeiting technology similar to what is used in passports and banknotes, including:

• Micro-printing
• UV markings
• Transparent sapphire dial elements
• Hidden text
• Security inks

A lot of collectors now believe the first-generation Quai de l’Ile models are seriously undervalued today because:

• Production numbers were relatively low
• Almost every watch was configured differently
• The concept was not fully appreciated when released
• Modern collectors are beginning to understand the experimental design language

In my personal opinion, the Quai de l’Ile is one of the most overlooked modern collectible watches on the market.

These watches were expensive when new, with retail prices ranging roughly from $30,000 to $70,000 back in 2008, depending on the configuration. Adjusted for inflation today, these were serious luxury purchases, which means most buyers were experienced collectors creating highly personalized pieces.

That is what makes the collection so fascinating to me. With nearly endless combinations available, different dials, precious metals, titanium, palladium, movement options, and custom configurations. These watches feel like true “treasure hunt” pieces on the secondary market today.

Very few come up for sale, and when they do, most are usually more standard configurations.

Personally, I think the most collectible examples long term could end up being:

• Palladium case models
• Rare mixed-metal configurations
• Unusual dial combinations
• Early production pieces
• Highly customized client orders

The use of palladium alone was extremely forward-thinking for the time, especially considering how uncommon the material was in watchmaking back then.

The big question is whether some of the truly rare configurations will eventually surface on the market, and whether Vacheron Constantin would ever release actual production numbers or configuration data.

Could the Quai de l’Ile become a grail-level collectible over the next 10–20 years? Nobody really knows. But to me, it feels exactly like the kind of historically important, low-production, misunderstood watch that collectors tend to rediscover years later.

It will definitely be interesting to see how the market evolves around these pieces in the future.

Hey, so I’ve always wanted to add the Pepsi jubilee bracelet to my collection. Now since its being discontinued I feel like the prices have gone up a bit and I’m not sure if I should pull the trigger now or wait? some of the prices I’ve seen have been stupid. For a 2020 with Jubilee - 126710BLRO thoughts on a good price? Or the other piece I would like to add is 2018 yacht Master with the rhodium dial and oyster bracelet .

Any thoughts on price or personal suggestions on which to add sooner would be awesome.

Im new-ish to really collecting so appreciate the conversation. Especially as a woman , the last dealer I met with was a prick and said woman should not wear 40 mm or above! Ha! I’m 5’3 120lbs and I’ll wear what I like!!

Thanks!

Liz

On this Memorial Day, I acknowledge my deep respect for anyone who served or serves in the US Military. I did not as my draft number was high enough to not be called during Viet Nam. My dad served during World War II and my grandfather - the reason for my post - enlisted during WWI and was awarded two Purple Hearts fighting in northeastern France to free Belgium from German occupation. Pop's lungs were seared for the rest of his life due to the mustard gas. Yet, he still smoked. Different times. Until I was almost two, I lived in a Bronx apartment with him, my grandmother, my parents, my brother, and my great grandmother.

My grandfather, an only child, was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. His childhood friend was Dutch Schultz, the Prohibition-era Jewish mobster who was whacked by the Mafia Commission in 1935 for not standing down after planning the murder of New York Special Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey. My grandfather was Dutch's chauffeur for a while but was smart enough to move on.

In his shadow box among the Purple Hearts and personal mementos hangs his last watch; a deco Bulova that I believe is "The Revere." The watch dates from the late 1930s and houses a standard 10AE caliber in manual wind, seven jewels with sub seconds. The hands are frozen at 5:06 and the dial has a tropical patina.

I often wonder about vintage watch stories; the cool places they've been on the wrist and how they end up where they do. I suspect many of us are guardians of a relative's watch. I think this one is pretty cool and I admire it from time to time for its obvious connection to a personal hero.

To all military members; thank you for what you do. I'm not sure you will ever get enough in return for the sacrifices military families make.

need some pro advice: I have 3 watches that I don’t wear often (a Doxa 200 orange, Doxa 1500T, and a Tudor Black Bay S&G) so want to move these along and consolidate into one watch. These are full sets, great condition, extra straps and bracelets. I can list them on EBay, but that’s iffy and time consuming. Not sure if any dealer would take a 3 for 1 trade in, but that would simplify things for me. Is that a possibility?

How am I showing I’m a watch guy without showing a watch?

Quick one for Vet My Deal. I’m buying a Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas two-tone double spiral (ref 102236, non-diamond) for my wife. A dealer called Swiss Watches Inc, Yuri Lyubarsky, is offering it at $11,000, tax free, factory-direct with full manufacturer warranty, box and papers, registered to me as first owner. Terms are bank wire only, non-returnable, 6 to 8 week delivery.

I want your read on two things. Is $11K a fair number for this reference, and how much does the wire-only, non-returnable setup worry you given I haven’t confirmed the fit on my wife’s wrist yet? Retail is $12,900 and I’m seeing grey-market new around $11K to $12K. Tell me if I’m missing anything before I move.

Anyone have any experience with this Indie watchmaker? I'm considering one of his subscription pieces, a jump hour. I would get #1 of 12, but it's very pricey. I'm waffling.

I recently returned from a trip to London. A great city that makes it easy for you to separate from hard-earned US dollars given the exchange rate! But the British Museum is free and among its treasures are some wonderful watch galleries. Thought to share some of my favs with a few comments.

Hello Everyone - Starting a new thread to update the forum on our bespoke watch project with Sartory Billard. We have began to coalesce around two watch options and a few design ideas and will be proceeding to vote and select the specifications of our inaugural group watch. If you are interested in the project and have not done so please join us via the WhatsApp group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DMeAvRyzd5s6qNO0iXaFBJ?mode=gi_t

We have two current watch options, the SB-04 that will come with a leather, rubber and full metal bracelet: https://sartory-billard.com/collections/edition

It will feature a unique palm tree motif guilloche in black with "miami" blue accents and lume. For the case back every member will have the option to put customized text (kids names, initials etc).

The target price for the SB-04 all in delivered will be around $4,500 inclusive of tax and duty. This is directly in our original price target range, and may fluctuate slightly due to exchange rates (we are working in Euro), but this is a fairly locked in amount.

Our other option is the SB-10 Jump Hour: https://sartory-billard.com/collections/sb10-jumping-hour-edition

For this watch, we have targeted two potential configurations. One with an Onyx Cabochon on the top of the sapphire, and one with black Meteorite. For the time numerals, there will be alternating Miami blue and pink numerals. This watch will also have a user specific customizable case back and come with all three strap/bracelet options.

The target price for this watch is slightly higher than our original budget at $5,500 for the Onyx and $5,700 for the Meteorite, but represents a WILDLY unique and special watch that I think makes the "juice worth the squeeze". We will of course defer to group vote via the WhatsApp chat, so majority will dictate what is ultimately selected.

This is the Onyx: Please ignore the blue peaking around the edges of the non displayed numerals that is just a render

This is the meteorite: It is a screen grab from a video showing the rotating hour colors so it is a bit grainy, the video itself is on the WhatsApp chat:

The lume itself will be alternating colors as well !!

For those not on the original list below please feel free to post here and I will add you, and dont forget to join the chat.

Lets get this project kicked off, if we do it in the next few weeks, these watches will all be home in time for Christmas.

Fed, I am a fan of the Peter Speake-Marin releases of his Velsheda model. Particularly have been looking for a Gothic or Deco, made in incredibly small numbers about 10 years ago. Hodinkee offered one a few years ago for about $7k and I hesitated a bit after calling about it... and poof.

Do you ever run across either? What is a reasonable price?

There was an early rose gold Velsheda and even black dial Gothic I recall.

Thanks.

Hi, in wanting to avoid sales tax on expensive watches I found that there are forwarding services that can be shipped to, for example, an oregon facility address where there is no sales tax, and then the service forwards the package to your address. Is this something anyone has utilized and is it safe?

The significant watches in my collection are Moser Pioneer Swiss Mad Red (on bracelet), IWC Big Pilot, Zenith Original Chronomaster Triple Calendar (panda dial), Cartier Roadster, Tudor GMT (root beer bezel steel and gold), and Omega Railmaster.

But my Tudor Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue gets compliments nearly every time I wear it whereas the rest barely get noticed except by true watch enthusiasts. I think casuals just love that Tiffany Blue dial.

What is everyone wearing?

LANGE 1815 UP DOWN reference 234.026, white gold. Watch only priced at $23K. Good deal or not? This model is apparently hard to get.

Hi folks, a friend of mine is looking to get a watch, the Fliegler Brown Vintage 36, from Stowa. The watch looks very nice and especially the movement through the caseback looks sharp, but I'm not familiar with the brand. Anyone have knowledge / experience with Stowa? Thanks https://www.stowa.de/flieger-bronze-vintage-36-handwound-top-grade-without-logo-with-date-antique-strap-brown