Has anyone purchased a watch of Grailzee? Curious what your experience was?

Hi Federico

happy new year. I've been offered a new in the box Singer Flytrack Cocktail Timer limited Edition - one of twelve for 11k. Would this be a smart buy? I believe Singers are typically much pricier but I just don't know enough about them. Thank you.

I've been going back and forth between these two for a long time and cannot for the life of my decide what to buy. The correct answer is of course buy both but I am trying to be 2% financially responsible. Both stack up so closely in every way - anyone own either model that wants to give me some flavor?

Hi everyone,

Just signed up and excited to join this community as a long time listener for FTW.

I would love thoughts on Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer 150th Anni Ltd Ed 18K White Gold 260-22 38mm with box and papers.

It’s my first UN and I just purchased it for $7275 and would love to get input. I already bought it and will keep it but would value any information from this community on whether I got a good deal or not.

Bonus points if you have any extra info to share besides the value - it’s my first UN.

So I'm looking to pick up a JLC Reverso Duoface specifcally Ref Q3848423, are there any discounts on these at ADs anymore? Should have picked one up before all the price increases in the last few years but it is what it is. Considering they don't seem to take much of a hit on the secondary market I doubt it but figured I would ask.

This watch is way out of my budget but thought I’d share with the group. Seems like a good deal for a high horology piece, especially since it appears the dealer might consider further negotiation. Hopefully the attached link works. Curious if this is actually a good deal?

supposedly unworn, box and papers from 2025. $30,500. Is that a good deal?

Hi Federico

I am trying to solve a Universal Geneve mystery. I have a Compur circa 1935-1940? (caliber 281(?)) but something about it is weird. After scouring the Internet I cannot find one where, on the dial face it says Compur above and Universal below, they all show the opposite. This is the only Compur I've been able to locate with this dial. Have you seen this before? Any idea on value? It's in great condition for its age. Thank you.

Hi Federico

I am trying to solve a Universal Geneve mystery. I have a Compur circa 1935-1940? (caliber 281(?)) but something about it is weird. After scouring the Internet I cannot find one where, on the dial face it says Compur above and Universal below, they all show the opposite. This is the only Compur I've been able to locate with this dial. Have you seen this before? Any idea on value? It's in great condition for its age. Thank you.

I have three Breitlings and all the sapphire crystals are damaged somehow either by scratches or the anti-reflective coating warping. Getting these crystals replaced without breitling insisting on a full service has been impossible, even when the service has been done recently. Of note, I have many other watches and none of them have had crystal problems. Is this a known issue with breitling? Know anyone who might source and replace the crystals? Rumor has it breitling keeps their parts pretty well locked up these days

Sorry, I may have posted this question for Federico in the wrong place...

Hi Federico, I've been offered a new in the box Singer Flytrack Cocktail Timer limited Edition - one of twelve for 11k. Would this be a smart buy? I believe Singers are typically much pricier but I just don't know enough about them. Thank you.

Fed dropping some heat with those 3 Moser's today! Why did I just give you my. money last week?

Hi,

"RGM Watch Co America's Premier Watchmaker" ... is it true? ...

PS-801-BB “Baseball in Enamel”

The first RGM watch with a real glass-fired Enamel dial.

There is a ton of information on the webpage. https://www.rgmwatches.com/watches#/ps-801-bb-1/

RGM said the 18K rose gold is currently $39,500

RGM said the stainless steel in 42mm 801 case is available with no price

RGM said the stainless steel in 40mm 801 case is $18,900 with 18 month build time

There are lots of available options. Are any of the options worth the price?

Is this too much of a novelty watch for any future resale?

Any suggestions how to objectively evaluate this watch?

What is special about a glass-fired Enamel dial? Is this element worth the price?

Thanks...

Fed

I am looking at a Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto but wanted to get your thoughts on LF specifically and the independent world in general. To get there, some background. The following is a list of brands that were once high flying to some degree. Some are gone. Some are around but have fallen from their heights.

1. Maîtres du Temps
2. Jean Dunand
3. Celsius X VI II
4. Cabestan
5. De Grisogono
6. Romain Jerome (RJ)
7. HD3 Complication
8. Loiseau
9. Badollet
10. HYT
11. MCT (Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps)
12. Breva
13. Ladoire
14. 4N
15. Valbray
16. Christophe Claret (The Brand)
17. Franc Vila
18. Pierre DeRoche
19. Wyler Genève
20. DeWitt
21. Guy Ellia
22. Manufacture Royale
23. Vincent Bérard
24. Antoine Martin
25. Rebellion
26. Hysek
27. Hautlence
28. Devon
29. Goldpfeil

Here is an article written by Just Hast about a Cabestan and collector in 2013: https://monochrome-watches.com/the-collectors-series-gavin-foo-and-his-more-than-special-cabestan-luna-nera/

If you read the words this interviewee is saying, they are the same exact words everyone uses today about independent watches and watchmakers. We like to believe that there is some new independent movement but from what I can tell researching the old Timezone forums and articles like this - we have always been here. We have always been here. If so, this time is probably no different.

The epilogue to the Cabetstan article above is that Cabetsan is gone and if you want to get one serviced you can send it to Hong Kong where there is a watchmaker that made his own tool to open the thing to start to hope to service it. Everything is serviceable with enough effort and cost so I wont say it is unserviceable but it isn't easy and nobody is talking about Cabestan but me.

Where I am getting with this is - is this time different? Is there something fundamentally different today or are many, most, all, independents, like Laurent Ferrier, destined to be added to my list above right below Goldpfeil?

Knowing all of that, the question "should I buy Laurent Ferrier?" is kind of stupid. That asks the person answering to either predict the future which nobody can do or say "buy it if you love it" which we all know is a cop out. We all know we don't want to buy something that is difficult or impossible to service in 10 year or carries so much Franck Muller/culture risk that, like Franck Muller or Cabestan, will be an almost worthless trinket in the future.

So, the actual question of "should I buy a Laurent Ferrier" is really a risk analysis. Nobody can predict the future but how risky do you think an LF is in the future? I am not asking whether the price will go down 10%, 20%, or 30%. I don't really care there. I am asking if you have any inside industry knowledge about future viability and/or based on past experience what your gut says about what I am calling Franck Muller risk where LF becomes more or less a tombstone for the independent scene of 2025.

While you are at it, do you have a list of independents that you think have reached escape velocity? Lets keep the list to at least being fairly accessible. FPJ is there but not interesting for this discussion.

Hope that made sense.

Collectors may avoid or even disparage bronze watches for its tendency to patina. Sometime in quite ugly ways. It's largely due to neglect of the metal. I've owned the Tudor Black Bay 58 Bronze Boutique Edition for near five years. I love its size and fit. It looks terrific and has been mistaken for rose gold. Once a flight steward spied it peeking out under my sweater and told me to be careful in the city I'd landed in. And I rarely wear any nice watch exposed. This just caught the eye! The trick is to immerse the watch fully in a bowl of cool water with two effervescent dental tabs. One hour is more than enough time. Most patina gone if one does this periodically. If you're hesitant to try bronze, this may have you reconsider.

Hi everyone,

I am considering delving into vintage (or at least neo-vintage) arena - both of which I am totally unexperienced - and I have the following question:

Is it possible to have a vintage or neo-vintage watch with decent accuracy (say more/less around COSC specs) - after service - or the fact of being vintage makes it impossible to have decent accuracy measures?

Quite frequently I came across info like "-30 sec/day" (doesn't have to be 30 just to exemplify) and then something like "which is great/reasonable/acceptable for a vintage watch / a watch from this era".

So, if I buy a vintage and the accuracy is like the above stated is it possible that - after service - the watch will run within decent accuracy measures (say +/- 10 to 15 sec) ?

I am talking about brands like Omega / Breitling / IWC / Heuer / Tudor / Glashutte / Cartier among others.

Thanks in advance.

HP

Saw video ad for it. Build your own watch w Seiko movement. Several hundred dollars, lots of options. Just curious. Seemed like a fun gift idea.

I started collecting in the '90s and have many watches from that time that I would like to sell. These are mostly in the +/- $500 range at that time. I have long since moved to more quality watches and would like to know if there is (other than e-bay) a site that specializes in this type watches, that may just buy them from me. Any recommendations?

Link to the video below.

https://youtu.be/wKsOz15j64U

Went to Mayor's today in Tampa and was surprised that several Rolex were available. Granted, they were DJs but in the precious metal Rolesor. I've heard inventory is increasing - especially for the steel, less coveted references - and today was a good sign. Of course the recent price hikes may dampen some enthusiasm. Nonetheless, it was pleasant to see and I'm always treated well at this AD.

I'm curious if anyone else has a similar experience?