Ever thought of foregoing your collection?

[anton]

My post was inspired by others (namely stephane) looking to unload their collection, but after a day of window-shopping yesterday I thought about my collection (gens & reps) and am considering getting rid of everything to get either one of these:

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chrono

Audemars Piguet RO Alinghi Polaris SE / ROO Montoya

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Geographic

I love the hobby of rep collecting and being a novice watchmaker, but as my collection grows, my emotional value towards any watch seems to become more saturated. But I've always dreamed about owning a gen from the Big Three without breaking the bank. I've done enough impulse-buying that I'm proud (and ashamed) to finally be able to afford one of them...

...but I ask the proponents of the rep club...would you think what I'm doing would be a mistake? Would a rep give me the same satisfaction? Have you ever thought of doing the same?

[Viennawatch]

Yes I have thought about that anton, but then again I don't have so many reps/gens to begin with, haha. So it was more of wishful thinking with me...

But I'd go for the AP Alinghi... however if I'm not wrong, there is a considerable price difference between the Alinghi and the VC... like MAJOR.. Why not sell enough gen and reps to get the VC and keep your favorite reps/gens...

Good luck anyways! Please do inform us when you purchase either watch and pictures pleaseeeee!

Regards,

VW

[deltatahoe]

that's a tough one anton -- i know i'd have a hard time doing it.

i'd probably rather wait till i could afford to just buy the watch before selling most of my reps and/or gens to get that "grail watch".

many times the pleasure involved with the realization of a fantasy (e.g. getting your "grail watch") can be disappointing, particularly after the initial high has worn off. it would be sad to have sold many or all your reps/gens and then wish you hadn't.

just my $0.02,

deltatahoe

[freddy333]

No.

[crystalcranium]

I have sold the rep collection twice to concentrate on the genuine collection. I only bought the highest fidelity replicas, very popular among the replica buying community, treated them like fine china (no pun intended), kept them tuned to perfection, and sold them here where their uniquiness and exquisite fidelity to genuine details was appreciated and well known. The result was something of a mini-bonanza with the pieces selling for very high prices. The genuines I collected are all a part of my present, growing collection. My experience is that if you buy good reps by doing your homework, they are not a bad place to "park" and enjoy your genuine collection savings. The reps are piling up again so it might be time for anither fire sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TeeJay]

To be honest, no. There are only a couple of (literally two) watches in my collection that I could do without owning. All the others, have some kind of sentimental value, either as gifts received, bought with inheritance, modified myself, or, in the case of my least 'attached' watch, (the SMP 2220.80) completes 'a collection' (the watches worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale) The only watches I could do to lose, are my Rolex Daytona, and my Omega X-33. Even then, I'm unlikely to get rid of the X-33, as it's a reasonably rare watch to have, and, I know that at some point in the future, it will serve as an 'outdoor pursuits beater', (although it wasn't purchased for that reason) For me, the attachment is to the watches themselves and what they represent (as gifts etc) rather than any accuracy or favoring one more than another, and, there's not really a 'grail watch' which I really want enough to sell the collection to aquire. As I'm not particularly bothered between rep and gen, there's nothing really unaffordable which I can't aquire in rep form.

Also, as mentioned above, there can be instances where a watch is received, and simply doesn't have the desired impact. I had this happen when I bought a VC Overseas. Lovely watch, I just couldn't stand to wear it, so instead, I sent it to a good home

[Corgi]

Heavens no... for the price of all of my reps I could have one entry-level luxury swiss gen. Then I would wear it for a few months, and be bored with it...

The whole reason I collect reps it for the diversity and fun of having something new and exciting every little while without breaking the bank.

Maybe one day I will win the lottery, and then collect gens.. but I would still probably stay on this forum... just because the gen forums are usually filled with old farts who have no idea how to use a computer and you get thousands of posts like "I just bought a Breguet and tried to post pictures by stuffing them inside the little cup holder coming out of my computer but they didn't show up what do I do now...?!?!"

Disclaimer: not all senior citizens are senile.

[eunomians]

Purging is the only way to go. Move on up. Reps are reps in the end. Genuine watches (depending on what) are extraordinary.

[bosk]

Anton,

If you can afford to get the ROO Montoya pictured (Plat version), u should not be forced to sell your reps

Sure I could afford 1 gen (<10K), but I like different watch styles and vary what I wear day to day.

Get an AP!!!! And keep all your reps.

I'm sure there will be a decent rep of the montoya soon:

bosk

[TeeJay]

Purging is the only way to go. Move on up. Reps are reps in the end. Genuine watches (depending on what) are extraordinary.

Indeed, reps are reps, but, even a rep can have sentimental value if it was a gift

[archibald]

Indeed, reps are reps, but, even a rep can have sentimental value if it was a gift

In late 05 I sold off 15 low-medium end reps to buy my first gen, and am happy I did. I now have a small collection of great reps and mid level gens--6 high-end reps and 1 gen PAM, a steel JLC, a Chopard dive watch, and a Tag Monaco.

But be careful which gen you buy. Reps are Rep quality, but let's face it, so are some gens: I've owned 2 gen pams and am completely underwhelmed by the difference between high end reps and my former 000. My 86 fares better in comparison, thanks to top-quality brushing and dial work on the gen, but is there $3500 worth of difference...no f'n way. On the other hand I have a Master Hometime that no rep and few gens of any price can ever touch quality-wise, which cost me $200 more new than my used 086.

Bottom line, I'm happy w/ my decision selling all but my best 4 or 5 reps, buying a top-value 5k gen, and then continuing to buying only a very few top quality reps and one 5-6k gen per year, used or new.

[TeeJay]

In late 05 I sold off 15 low-medium end reps to buy my first gen, and am happy I did. I now have a small collection of great reps and mid level gens--6 high-end reps and 1 gen PAM, a steel JLC, a Chopard dive watch, and a Tag Monaco.

But be careful which gen you buy. Reps are Rep quality, but let's face it, so are some gens: I've owned 2 gen pams and am completely underwhelmed by the difference between high end reps and my former 000. My 86 fares better in comparison, thanks to top-quality brushing and dial work on the gen, but is there $3500 worth of difference...no f'n way. On the other hand I have a Master Hometime that no rep and few gens of any price can ever touch quality-wise, which cost me $200 more new than my used 086.

Bottom line, I'm happy w/ my decision selling all but my best 4 or 5 reps, buying a top-value 5k gen, and then continuing to buying only a very few top quality reps and one 5-6k gen per year, used or new.

That's some good trading there, amigo

Out of curiousity though, did any of those low-medium end reps have sentimental value like gifts, or were they just self-purchassed?

I know entirely what you mean about being underwhelmed. Before I bought my Submariner rep, I went into a jewellers (family run, not really an AD as such) and tried one on. At the time, I was wearing a Casio dive watch on an aftermarket ss bracelet. I could've bought the Sub there and then (in I had the means to do so) but when I put it on, my honest internal reaction was "Is that it??!!" Sure, the watch looked nice, but it didn't feel like several thousand worth of watch on my wrist. My Casio weighed more, and had a better quality deployant clasp. I thanked the proprietor, left, and promptly ordered the rep I'd seen for half the price on EuroFakes (Yes, got hosed on the price there ), had the watch within five days, and kept the rest of the money the gen would've cost to go on vacation. That was what ultimately led to my interest in reps and other brands, but it also made me very conscious of the fact that at the end of the day, even a gen is 'just a watch', and it's aesthetic value is pretty subjective

[mezzanine]

When I first received my stainless steel Big Bang, I gave serious consideration to selling the rest of my reps and calling it a day. I couldn't imagine finding another watch that would match it's quality and synchonicity with my personal style. I'm still not sure that there will be another rep releaesd within the next couple of years that will rival what the HBB did for reps this past year.

[chris5264]

As far as reps go,,,definately. Even trying out the super reps was disappointing because what is being replicated is the looks not the overall quality (IMHO). Of the three super reps, I had problems with two, not great odds and enough to turn me off. I actually have the eta SFSO coming soon and if I miss it and it sits at the post office a week, I really don

[crystalcranium]

Purging is the only way to go. Move on up. Reps are reps in the end. Genuine watches (depending on what) are extraordinary.

Agreed...reps are a beautiful pit stop...but if you are a true timepiece lover...gens are the only place to be.

[World Traveller]

Agreed...reps are a beautiful pit stop...but if you are a true timepiece lover...gens are the only place to be.

I want to get one of these one day.

[crystalcranium]

Gorgeous...ypu would think they would set the regulateur correctly...the second hand reads 3 seconds past the minute and the minute hand infers about 10 seconds to the minute. Get it right guys!

[anton]

I've finally decided and many of my reps are indeed going to the FS section and my gens are going to the TZ FS section and lately I've been fascinated by 7/8-day movements.

Thanks to your suggestions, I've narrowed it down to:

Reason being is that I like the convenience of the seconds marker resetting to zero as you set the time.

And I've always had a love for pilot's watches.

Any opinions?

And thanks again for your suggestions!

[CY0811]

Anton,

If you can afford to get the ROO Montoya pictured (Plat version), u should not be forced to sell your reps

Sure I could afford 1 gen (<10K), but I like different watch styles and vary what I wear day to day.

Get an AP!!!! And keep all your reps.

I'm sure there will be a decent rep of the montoya soon:

bosk

I WANT THIS REP'ed SO BAD....anyway if you have to do it go with the AP....the VC and JLC are incredible but cant touch that AP IMO.

[CY0811]

I've finally decided and many of my reps are indeed going to the FS section and my gens are going to the TZ FS section and lately I've been fascinated by 7/8-day movements.

Thanks to your suggestions, I've narrowed it down to:

Reason being is that I like the convenience of the seconds marker resetting to zero as you set the time.

And I've always had a love for pilot's watches.

Any opinions?

And thanks again for your suggestions!

These two are great, but I personally wouldnt go for them in Gen form....just too common in regards to exterior design compared to the AP to me. If I had to pick between them I would go with the pam, even though I do find the IWC very attractive as well.

Edited October 15, 2007 by CY0811

[chad]

I picked up my first GEN pam 005, 30 mins after I received my 5th watch from josh/andrew that was defective or DOA. Just could not take it anymore.

I do miss the variety though. So i have stated buying reps again.

My first back....a bell and ross 03-92......did it work? nah...... 30 mins slow a day. Got a replacement quickly. Cannot set the date on it without winding it at the same time.

Something to be said for not dealing with the BS.

Something to be said for the variety.

Tough call. I like the variety and community.

[robertk]

I have both Gens and reps. Gens include Rollie's, Blancpain, IWC's. Yet, I wear both. Just for the variety. Sometimes I prefer the reps (Pam's). I refuse to pay for a Pam or Rollie Gen anymore. Too many nice reps of them.

Sometimes, I pick one out of the box and wear it without even realizing which is gen and which is rep. For me, it's hard to tell on the wrist anymore......and mine keep good time. Maybe, my eyesight is going.......or maybe I'm not as anal as I could be......or maybe, nobody else would ever know besides me.......and I forget!

I just love watches! my Addiction no.12.