What rings the bell?

To me, when I look at any watch I have on my wrist, I will tend to do one thing specifically...I will focus on whatever flaw I perceive the watch to have. Recently, i found an insert for a vintage Sub that I owned. The watch is in superb condition.....its dial is like a mirror. Its case is as good as any I have seen for a 60yr old watch. It has the rare configuration with its crown and a rare exclamation mark at the bottom of its dial. It is a superb Sub. BUT....and it is a big BUT, the insert was wrong....it came from the wrong era and was not right for the watch. Now every time I looked at the watch, I marveled at how beautiful it was, but I would always end up with a frown about the insert knowing that I would never be happy until I found something that was more in keeping with the watch. It annoyed me....it didn't spoil the watch for me, but it certainly lessened its appeal.

So, when I buy vintage pieces, I tend to wait until the piece i find has no issues and is in the best condition that i could find. To be honest, I am not looking to find a cheap watch with issues...i'd rather pay a full price and get a watch without issues. That is what rings my bell.....so....the way I would look at it is that if a watch has a major issue and that results in it being cheap, I don't see it as cheap.....I see it as expensive as I won't enjoy the watch...i will pay whatever money I pay but won't enjoy the watch.

A 2499 nobody wants?

By: Thurmond Von Ripper : May 2nd, 2013-15:01

There is a 2499 up for auction in the next several weeks that is unique, but not in a very desirable way, which makes this watch interesting to me. Apparently, the watch was originally sold with a integral bracelet. At some point, an owner decided to chan...

Horology philosophy 101

By: watch-guy.com : May 2nd, 2013-15:44

A great question but in the end it comes down to personall choice, However I suspect the price range of this piece still puts it way above the average ( or even above average collector) and is aimed at the serious collector- who would look at this piece a...

I agree

By: sam1234 : May 2nd, 2013-17:02

I agree with Julian's comments above and don't think I'd be interested for all of the same reasons. Now if it could be bought cheap enough, and if it could be sent back to Geneva to have the case restored to it's original configuration, and if you could f...

buy it if you like it...

By: DDW : May 2nd, 2013-17:02

Just like you said. If you like it, it could be bargain of the century(this century that is) The watch is a 2499 in almost all parts, certainly in the most important parts(movement, dial, case and case back) Just the lugs are not factory, but if its for w...

I don't have a problem with the lugs, my concern would

By: whit : May 3rd, 2013-08:22

be two fold: 1- If Patek would service a modified watch. 2- If the work done has not adversely affected the fitting of the case parts. I can see where some collectors are put off by any modification from original but there was a time when dial and hand ch...

Relax, modifications have been done by Patek...

By: Fricks : May 3rd, 2013-11:00

... i think i recognized the one that will be auctioned by christies on the 12th of may in geneva. i think there isn't too much to worry about, i see it more of an opportunity than a drawback

Consider this...

By: descartes1 : May 4th, 2013-11:12

I'd stay away from a franken-piece like this one. There are sooo many incredible pieces which are on the block at the May, 2013 Christies auction that for 6 figures you could get a very, very special, unmolested, no-story piece. That is what I would be th...

What rings the bell?

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 4th, 2013-11:31