Spangles - Dr. Tabby
5595
I Had A Terrible Idea! Please Comment on It!
Today seemed as good a day as any to have a bad idea. Here's mine: I was thinking of saving up for a really haute horology watch, maybe something like a Voutilainen, let's say. However, there is a small problem (with a dumb solution). The issue is that I haven't fallen in love with any Voutilainen I've seen. They are amazing, but when I think of what to, uh, bespeak, in terms of a design, it really goes back to some watches I already have, such as my Breguet Marine... I love my Marine in a way that is probably illegal in some states. I really like it.
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That leads us to my idea. I know a well trained watchmaker who can black polish and chamfer whatever. He'd be happy to take a moderately well finished watch, like my one of my beloved Breguets, and finsh the hell out of it to (almost) Dufour levels.
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It would look extra swell. No resale value in this, but taking a watch I love and making it extra awesome in a way pretty much only I would care about. For less than the Voutilainen I don't love yet.
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Terrible, right? I am honestly considering it.
Further dumb ideas to build on this one await!
For now, dear reader, I ask for your comments.
I Had A Terrible Idea! Please Comment on It!
Today seemed as good a day as any to have a bad idea. Here's mine: I was thinking of saving up for a really haute horology watch, maybe something like a Voutilainen, let's say. However, there is a small problem (with a dumb solution). The issue is that I ...
Yeah agreed - pretty much a terrible idea!
Why - you spend 95% of the time looking at the front end not the back. Anyway, my suggestion is bide your time, an independent will sing to you one day and that’s the time to pull the trigger
I don't see why not.
It's yours. If you think you can do something with it to enjoy it even more than you do, you do it. I mean, it's just a thing. We get all dewey-eyed about these watches here but they are just watches-pieces of metals attached to each other-that then tell ...
Yeah, it won't be bank-breaking, and I will smile extra whenever I see it
The loupe will be unto me a friend.
Hey Spangles. I'm not sure this is a terrible idea!
I think the worst idea is forcing a square peg into a round hole (aka buying a piece on which you're not 110%). EVERY, SINGLE time I've stretched for a piece...I've failed 😔 I like your idea of taking a beloved, known quantity and elevating it. Of course ...
It is not necessarily a bad idea...
...since you seem to be in unreasonable love with your Marine. It is not my case but who cares ? It is your watch, your taste, and thank God it is not a crime to do what you want with your property. As for me the finishing is of course one of the key poin...
I'm in favor and I totally understand your predicament
Myself, I'm going the route of custom RGM to try and get a nicely finished watch that would check all the boxes.
Why not ask Brequet if they'd do it?
I have no idea whether Brequet does bespoke work for anyone, but if I were in your shoes I'd start with an inquiry there. If they are able to undertake the task, they'd have the spare parts to replace anything that goes wrong with the adventure. I would a...
That's a good suggestion!
They wouldn't take the darn "10hz" off the 7727, so I wonder. This is a little different from the usual modification, in my mind, ar least. So, I don't think there will be buyer's remorse. The watchmaker is skilled. He just needed a watch nerd crazy enoug...
What are you really looking for?
You like the Breguet Marine for its shape, not for the finishing level. Taken for granted that you can do whatever you want with your stuff, IF you are looking for an upper level of finishing watch, well , Voutilainen is just one in the list. Gronefeld an...
Please don't do that to a watch!! THAT would be probably illegal in some states... :-)
Of course, just my two bitcoins --- you should do whatever you would like with your own watches, and I actually look forward to seeing some NSFW pictures of the job if you go ahead!
In terms of haute horology, I'm sorta waiting on FPJ to bring out his new Optimum 2.0 which he is working on (may take a few years)
Opt 2.0 will update his natural escapement. One dream I have is that I'll get a mother of pearl semi-bespoke dial (which FPJ lets you do, as long as Mr. Journe personally approves). That's how the jade dials you see every so often happen. Also, lapis dial...
I frankly like this direction a lot more...FPJ normally does a terrific job, and in general more and more brands nowadays offer a broad range of bespoke services...
I'd personally look here first, if only for the certainty that the job will be of the highest quality (plus, retaining market value and having a "fully original" piece also doesn't bother me ) In any event, I still look forward to seeing your pictures of ...
The trick here is with any new-ish escapement to work the kinks out.
I am thinking of the Credor because the spring drive is pretty well tested. That's an option if I pass on this and the FPJ.
Actually to me this isn’t the craziest thing I’ve ever heard
Especially to do to a Breguet Marine. Why not really!?
Exactly! I think a lot of people's minds go right to Bramford or something when they think of this, but it's quite different.
I will never sell it, but if I did, I wouldn't even mention the work done and I'm sure no one would notice that the black polish on the screw heads and angleage is now at Lange level. It's just not something people would notice. Although, I totally will g...
Do it!!
It is not often we find a watch that we are so besotted with and we all have different tastes! The Breguet Marine sounds like the love of your life and that's wonderful because many of us are still in serach of that elusive watch. Go send it for plastic s...
GREAT POST!
Just think... if your guy is really that good, when you submit your watch to Breguet for servicing, the watchmaker will be confused because your watch looks TOO good! Has that EVER happened before? I bet not! LOL. To take it a step further... imagine if y...
Ah, I see!
You really think it's "modding"? All that is happening is the finishing is improving. That's it. In what way would you say the beauty of the watch is lessened?
I peronally believe that the independents are producing a piece of art
First, I totally respect the owners ability to do anything they want. They own it and can do whatever they want to it. To me, the independents differ from the big players in that a single individual or small team design and build each watch to create a st...
Good comments, but maybe not in this case!
The resale value is exactly the same. Think about that. You might have to read my original post again to see why that is the case. The model remains exactly the same. Breguet is not an independant, but I would consider the same treatment for a lower-end i...
perhaps you are right
maybe I went into the post thinking bad thoughts and didn't give you a chance. Sorry about that. I now officially retract my trainwreck statement! (But I still would not do it). Paul