Independents

I must confess I was not sure whether to include this post on the Patek forum or the independents but I would like to give both watches a fair chance so I opted for the independents.  At the SIHH this year, I had the chance to meet the passionate Gronefeld brothers and will get another chance to meet Bart and Tim in Basel. They gave me their lovely book and this time I shall bring it with me to get their autograph. I was in awe of the Remontoire when I saw it. Some may say the movement is somewhat fussy but I love it and it looks even better than most manual chronographs. I liked the Remontoire enough to actually consider parting with my prized Aston Martin Vantage and I do love the Vantage but something would have to give (and I still love all parts of my anatomy!!)

Then a month ago I came across an advertisement on chrono 24 of an Italian dealer selling a Patek Philippe 130 from 1940. It has its original box, extract from the archives and the watch has been serviced at Patek. I have a notoriously small wrist so 33mm is not an issue. In fact 33m might be a better fit than a 39mm Remontoire but from the photos, you may think not.

So should I pull the trigger on one these (am I hearing some of you actually say 'keep the Aston!!'??!!), which one should it be? yes, I know, there is no right answer here and they both make compelling purchases but I can only buy one. Okay, to make it interesting, allow me to add keeping the Aston as the third option!

Best wishes,

Sham

Is my knee jerk reaction: shouldn't one keep a very nice car over a very nice watch?

But I am quite weird as once all the watches I have placed on order arrive in 3 years time, I think at least three of them will be worth a lot more than any car I have. Cars are great but they generally depreciate and cost quite a bit to maintain. Watches though are worn on one's skin and in my case automatically become a part of me and I only buy a watch that I love, never one that I like!

which dial color will you most likely choose?

I think should I decide on the Remontoire, I would opt for one of the following dials. I know, I know I am quite conventional and there is a premium to pay for the Voutilainen dial on the rose gold watch. What do you think?

would anyone be adventurous enough to order the 'Dutch' dial? (black, orange minute track, orange print.)

I would order the watch with the standard grey dial too. There must be enough adventurous (and colour blind!! ) collectors out there because I have noticed that Kari has been coming up with some really weird colour combinations. Yes I agree, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and there are many among us who like to be different but seriously, that is spending a lot of money to be different!

perhaps a silver dial is the way to go, but I hope that's not the ONLY reason... Personally, money no object, I confess to liking the black dial / orange print on the dial, even though I'm not at all Dutch. And the strap could easily be changed in the future....

You are a brave man to wear a watch with a black and orange dial! But kudos to you for wanting one. I guess I like watches to look as discreet as possible rather than being conversation (or laughter) pieces

you really DO want to sell the Aston!

to want to sell any Aston I think as the car evokes such emotion inside its owner. I will however try on the Remontoire again in 9 days time at Basel and conclude how well it suits my wrist. Yes, it is without doubt a lovely watch but for example,I would never buy a car that is too wide like a Lamborghini Aventador or La Ferrari or Mercedes AMG GT as the roads I drive in are pretty narrow so the pleasure would transform to stress almost immediately. Okay, so I am no Schumacher but we all have our comfort zones And yes a Abarth 500 Biposto would suit me just fine

.......I have small wrists. Very small wrists. I am very conscious of wearing watches that are just simply too big for me. Sometimes, I push the envelope if I TRULY love a watch. You lay out the case for the three options using very few words. However, sometimes, when someone does that it is very important to pay attention to the words that are used.

First.....you describve your Vantage as prized and loved. Easy first choice is don't sell the Vantage. You KNOW you love it. Selling it for something that you "think" you will love is not a good trade.

Second...you mention clearly that you have small wrists (inversely correlated by the way with high IQ)...so there is a concern from you that a 39mm will be too big. Trading something you love for something that you have expressed some concern for???  Not a good trade.

Third.....the 130...you describe quite affectionately.....you also talk about how it would be a better fit for your wrist. If you are going to make the trade, do it for the 130....but i suspect that is not the trade you should do.


I bought myself a Vantage a year ago. I am 51yrs old. Its great to keep having mid-life crises...keep having them. Keep the Vantage.

for your candour. Yes the Aston is prized and it makes me feel good just looking at it and knowing that I own it. Not the most practical of cars but then again, I am not known for my practicality! The photo of the Remontoire on my wrist is a reflection that it will probably fit me fine (If it does not, I should seriously consider selling my sealed 39.5mm 5131R!). I must confess that I am slightly partial to the 130 due to its rarity and lovely dial. Saying that, only 25 Remontoires will be produced in steel so that will be pretty rare too.
Good to meet someone with the same taste in cars as me. I bought my Vantage when I was 51 too!

For example, on my 17 cm wrist, I can wear watches from 32 to 47 mm, without any problem, AND with great pleasure. 

Your wrist is exceedingly versatile and you are a watchmaker's dream com true!!

No message body

Sell your house. Buy both watches and live in the Aston!! Job done! (LoL). John.

the flat is already in the market so that I can pay for the RW Smith which will arrive in 2020
But I like the way you think

Bought him a Seadweller a few years ago, balance wheel was damaged. I contacted the dealer, didn't offer a refund...

That is bad but also very useful to know. I would fly to Bologna to view the watch before purchasing it of course. May I ask how long after you purchased the Sea Dweller did you inform the dealer of the damaged balance wheel? They do say they offer a 14 day refund.
Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

if it ain't Dutch


;-)


Yes I'm biased and I would say go for the Remontoire. Have you ever seen a movement like that?!? And about enjoying a good midlife crisis....sell the Aston and get a Lotus on the side. Or a cute au-pair perhaps?

that the Remontoire has a movement like no other. I am surprised being biased that you did not suggest though that I sell the Aston and buy a Spyker! I have had a Lotus Elise before but it just did not rock my boat. As for your last suggestion, as I am not married, here is a photo of my photo of my cute 'au-pair'!

It has a great look and feel and the strap is amazing. I highly recommend the Remontoire. When you see it you know it was built by perfectionists.

Good luck.

I think the technology in the Remontoire is quite something and I am getting swayed towards that direction.

car guy so getting rid of the Aston, granted i had one , wouldn't be an issue.

I would love a rose gold 130 but I think the price would be quite unaffordable. A yellow gold 130 is comparable in price to a Remontoire. I am personally a little apprehensive about buying a vintage watch as I am concerned it would require more maintenance. I once bought a vintage car and learned an expensive lesson!
Still, the 130 remains alluring even after seven decades!

I'm fairly new here and today within a matter of minutes of logging on I've seen pictures of two lovely women (check out Fernando's post for the other). I might need to spend more time here
To answer your question...keep the car for now until there's a watch where pro's and con's lists won't matter. Cheers and best of luck!! (PS...if your "au-pair" has a sister, let me know).

And you have obviously joined this site at the right time!! Normally there are only photos of lovely watches and their not so lovely owners!
My special one has three sisters but I am sure she was adopted because they look pretty different so better luck with Fernando!
On to more serious matters, I think both the Patek 130 and Remontoire have a lot going for them and the former is arguably an excellent investment too while the latter is a technological marvel. The problem with the Aston is that it is not a car but a work of art (in my view anyway) and works of art are something that I do perhaps over appreciate. It bores down to which of the three would give me the greatest pride of ownership irrespective of the cost of ownership. In a perfect world, I would have all three but my world (au pair apart) is less than perfect.
Thank you for your feedback!

You honestly can't go wrong with any of the three options you have. I completely understand "Pride of ownership"...I would be lying if I said that didn't play a major role in my decisions as well. Best of luck Sham1...I'll keep you posted on my "au-pair" search

as you obviously love it.