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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.
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 time. As an aside, I never understood why a "frankenwatch" was considered the sine qua non of evil. As long as you know what you're getting, or what you've done, what's wrong?
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 this presupposes that you're 110% confident in the craftsperson doing the elevating! At some level - a level which clearly varies among us all - this hobby is about collecting watches which make you happy, irrespective of the broader community's view. Yes, you probably won't realize value accretion, but again, who cares? Why do you own this particular piece in the first place. Further, if value creation / destruction is a concern (a valid one at that), you can manage your risk by offering the right piece for "enhancement" at the outset.
Just my .02. But if you enhance, some before and after photos are obligatory 😊
I like your idea of taking a beloved, known quantity and elevating it. Of course this presupposes that you're 110% confident in the craftsperson doing the elevating! At some level - a level which clearly varies among us all - this hobby is about collecting watches which make you happy, irrespective of the broader community's view. Yes, you probably won't realize value accretion, but again, who cares? Why do you own this particular piece in the first place. Further, if value creation / destruction is a concern (a valid one at that), you can manage your risk by offering the right piece for "enhancement" at the outset.
Just my .02. But if you enhance, some before and after photos are obligatory 😊
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 points when you talk about a watch from Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, or Grönefeld of course but not only : you buy an exclusive piece of watch art made in extremely limited quantity, but also the architecture of the movement is special and not only the finishing (moreover I doubt you can obtain the hand finishing of a P. Dufour or Voutilainen with any watchmaker apart from the top ones who would certainly not accept to work on your Marine).
But that's only my taste and my opinion, if you are in deep love and you can satisfy yourself with the finishing of a watchmaker that you know, go for it...
Let us know the outcome after you have received the feedback of others here and post pics of the result whether it is a modified Marine or a new watch from one of the Indies.
My 2 cents 
,
,Mike
I guess all future servicing will be done by the same watchmaker. [nt]
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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 add that the only aftermarket modifications I haven't regretted have been those that improve function in something frequently used for which function matters.
Park
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 add that the only aftermarket modifications I haven't regretted have been those that improve function in something frequently used for which function matters.
Park
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 enough to do it.
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 enough to do it.
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 and Romain Gauthier have different design, wondrous bevels and all you can expect from an independent watchmaker.
Honestly I wouldn't do it because unless you looked at your newly finished caliber every now and then with a loupe, what would be the difference?
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 and Romain Gauthier have different design, wondrous bevels and all you can expect from an independent watchmaker.
Honestly I wouldn't do it because unless you looked at your newly finished caliber every now and then with a loupe, what would be the difference?
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 dials, etc.
Or not!
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 this "project" after completion, you sound determined to doing something special for yourself!
)In any event, I still look forward to seeing your pictures of this "project" after completion, you sound determined to doing something special for yourself!
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 go to the Breguet boutique and ask them "What's different about my watch?" and have them loupe it versus an in-store example of the same model. It'll be fun for everyone!