Comments:
please share what watches you have that:
1) were purchased new,
2) were regular production models, not limited editions, when you bought them,
3) are still owned,
4) and most importantly, are no longer in production or sold by the manufactuer?
5) please do not include Rolex, as I find the Rolex game boring, uninteresting and frankly ridiculous -- do not be offended!
I have one:
the 2014 Omega Seamaster Co-axial Master Chronometer.
At the time, there was a long lag between introduction at BaselWorld 2014 and when it was actually available for purchase. I got mine in March 2015, which was surprisingly quite early in its appearance at ADs.
Despite its thickness, it does not wear too thick since the case is not of the slab type.
My father owned two Omegas, and I wanted my first "nice" watch to be an Omega in his memory. When this came out at BaselWorld, I knew it was the one for me.
I still love it to this day, and honestly/objectively (as possible) like it better than its successors in the Omega catalog today.
What are the stories of your watches in this category?
Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US, and turkey lovers everywhere!
[picture from Jason Heaton/Hodinkee of old]
Among others: UN Sonata, Freak, 160. Patek 5110. JLC MMR, Amvox II, TT Polaris 68 and Deep Sea alarm US. Hentschel H1 Chronometer P20, Zenith CP P 15...
thanks for your short list... please see my response to Jay (Eire) below and chime in on your perspective, as i'd like to hear it...
Panerai 177K from 2008. A frequent companion. I can’t effectively convey the wearing experience. Those who know, they know. 😍
Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA.
IWC Portofino 34mm, PAM 170 OOR, Speedy Pro Tintin, Breitling Airwolf, Eberhard Contrograf, Ming 17.09, Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue.
Probably be moving some to the market in the new year as I am consolidating. Prefer now to look at vintage plexi watches.
Tough question.
Generally I’ve sold most of the original owner regular production references I’ve owned (except Rolex). Why? Because all are easily and often cheaply replaced or bought back. With the exception of Rolex, so those I keep.
I do have one on my wrist today though. Fits your bill (as this version is no longer offered).
I may have one or two more that also match the ask; Journe CTS comes to mind.
some manufacturers tweak models every few years, whereas others basically leave a model in catalog for years and years...
and others (JLC!) bring in a new model/line then kill it after 2 or 3 years if it has not "taken off" (in some executive's mind that is, sales-wise), regardless of the lines appeal and strengths. this shows no commitment to the idea, which makes one (me) wonder, because presumably a new model/line of watch does not happen overnight -- it must take several years to go from first sketch to prototype to actual production. lastly, some manufacturers are so entrenched in a particular watch that even if its time has passed (!), it stays in the catalog for decades. there is no rhyme nor reason to all of this...
I never got the logic there. An example? JLC Geophysic line. It should have been there to stay, to welcome new models, new complications. Same for the True Second movement. Why just dedicating it to two discontinued watches???
A couple
Hi
A couple of mine
Oris pointer date - my first 'expensive' watch
Still have box n papers & it's going nowhere
Reverso Duo
Hi I know they still make it, but it's V3 rather than this one. Still on its original strap. Cheers JML
Still have box n papers & it's going nowhere
Reverso Duo
Hi I know they still make it, but it's V3 rather than this one. Still on its original strap. Cheers JML
Amazing
It's amazing for me to look through my collection and realize that I have *zero* watches that fulfill 1-4. This isn't a huge surprise since I mostly buy pre-owned, but the 3 watches I own that fulfill 1-3 (JLC Reverso Duo, Nomos Metro, and Lange Saxonia) are all still in production, the latter two completely unchanged, while the Reverso has had some minor modernizing updates in the 13 years since I bought it new. So you might count my Reverso as fulfilling all the conditions.
Here it is back when it WAS new:
RGM 151p …
Bought used on TZ in 2008 from some dentist in Oklahoma. ETA 2892-A2 movement. 39mm. Watches costing >10x more have come and gone since then. It would be absolutely perfect if only it had a screw-down crown. Roland, are you listening?
Here is a few. All quite old
I bought all of them brand new, some close to 40 years ago.
IWC Ocean 2000. Civilian model. I think it is over 40 years right now. The luminous material is crumbling, but the movement is being serviced regularly and I wear it quite often.
Minerva Palladio GMT from the late nineties. This is mostly forgotten by collectors community. It has pedestrian Valjoux 7750 movement, but GMT module is designed by Paul Gerber.
IWC Deep One. Enough said, this is the legend. The only recent addition is the rubber strap.
Cartier Torture Monopoussoir
Minerva Palladio GMT from the late nineties. This is mostly forgotten by collectors community. It has pedestrian Valjoux 7750 movement, but GMT module is designed by Paul Gerber.
IWC Deep One. Enough said, this is the legend. The only recent addition is the rubber strap.
Cartier Torture Monopoussoir