IWC, Vianney Halter, Greubel Forsey Collection

Bernard Cheong's retrospective on his watch acquisitions from 2003-2014 offers a unique lens on collecting, emphasizing aspects like rarity, price retention, and intrinsic value over a decade. His personal reflections on pieces from IWC, Vianney Halter, and Greubel Forsey spark a lively community debate on the role of monetary value versus horological artistry in watch collecting.

I have placed the words into the raw, resized pictures I took.

Specifically I chose these 10 years, because many will be shopping for watches, and at the prices of such with the exception of Greubel Forsey, which I was crippled to acquire.

I recommend these all, for different reasons.

Here, you can see the age...almost zero.

And if any, the age added to the beauty.

Also, rarity, price retention, value for money.

All personal views. If any insults, there are none intended.

I am a strong Lange and Patek supporter, but there are much more passionate writers for those brands, and I wish not to confuse.

Here goes:

The Cabestan is to me first a Vianney Halter.

This is the first one made:

Mine..aged since 2006.

The rivets again.

Aging, dust, and all...but classic beauty has evolved, once you set eyes on the Greubel Forseys aged 10.

The IWC GST, once the unloved..now a collectable with the right thickness and superb print on dial quality.

Finally, the unspeakable.

I think, personally, that the Greubel Forseys should be classified into a department with museum collections.

Although there are more costly watches, the entry bar is what it is extremely defining.

I mean, you can buy an affordable Richard Mille easily.

But, for Greubel Forsey...unless there were extreme circumstances, like for me...one existed, I took it.

After that, it was hard to back down.

But, I think these watches are, at the prices of Aston Martins and Rolls Royces, even both...not for general discussion, it may be misunderstood.

But I am glad, that it in some way, validates my own predictions here in 2003 and 2004, that good watches, very good ones, will follow the arc of the art and antiquities curve...up.

You cannot but study the example of practical superb finish, not for aesthetics, the flat screws are the best example, followed by the quality of hand finished over machine, only if hand is better.

The flat screws and the rounds of the bars.

I doubt if fully commercial and board driven companies will execute these again after the two men are gone.

It's like buying a Stradivarius or Guaneri, only 600 or 630 exist.

Now, given another 10 years, 2023, only 1,000 more Greubel Forsey will exist.

Making possible a 1,900 or so in total!

Taking Lange at 4,500 a year...a no brainer. The cost is high.

But. I did think very carefully.

Enjoy.

No offense meant.

I own practically every Lange made when the "man" was alive!

So...

I hope no more ill feelings.