(dignified music)
- All right, here we are with the highly anticipated,
frequently requested state of the watch collection video.
We're gonna break it down into four different sections.
First, what is still in the collection from last time.
After that, we'll talk about what's gone
and why I decided to get rid of those watches,
Then we'll take a look at what's new in the collection.
And finally, my wishlist for the future.
There's lots of changes,
including what I really want to add to the collection,
so be sure to stick around for that.
All right, quick recap of what I still have
in the collection from last time.
Starting off with the Seiko 5 SNK809,
in my opinion, best bang for the buck watch under $200.
Next Rolex Datejust, reference 116234,
my first luxury watch purchase.
And as a result, a very special watch for me.
Another special watch here, Cartier Tank Américaine,
the watch my wife gave to me on our wedding day
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph, that's going nowhere
and just because,
let's have some gratuitous shots of the caseback.
(upbeat music)
Also still in the collection,
the Heuer Carrera limited edition Blue Dreamer.
This is number four of 100,
the workhorse IWC Ingenieur,
and the Swatch Sistem51 Vintage 84.
Now let's talk about what is not in the collection anymore.
Obviously, the big one you already know about
if you're a fan of the channel
is the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711.
If you are just happening upon this video,
you can watch the entire video I did
on why I decided to sell it,
my complete thought process behind it
and how much I actually sold it for
with the link right up there.
Also gone from the collection is the Cartier Drive.
I had one from the first year of production,
stainless steel, black dial.
It was a cool watch, I wore it,
but it was probably one of my least worn watches.
41 millimeters, so it was a little large for my wrist,
which is 6 1/2 inches.
I also kinda struggled to find ways to style it.
It seemed to require a very specific kind of outfit
and it just didn't find a real permanent place
in my watch rotation.
Now, this one might come as a big surprise to you,
but also gone from the collection
is my 1977 Rolex GMT Master reference 1675.
It was a special watch, it was a birth year watch,
but I just sorta like had my time with it.
I was wearing it less and I found kind of enjoying
looking at it more than actually wearing it.
And I'm someone who likes to wear my watches,
not just treat them as museum pieces
that are viewed under a glass case.
So, because I was sort of tipping that way with this one,
I decided to let it go.
And I actually sold it to my friend, Eric Wind,
from Wind Vintage.
And I know the question everyone will have with this one
as well as the other two watches that I let go is,
do I miss them?
And actually the answer is no, I don't miss them at all,
not even one bit, so I feel pretty good
about the decisions I made.
When some doors close, others open,
or when you finish a book,
there's always the next book to read,
and there are a few new additions in my watch collection,
five to be exact.
And now I'm gonna take you through what is new
in the collection.
Up first is maybe the most interesting addition,
definitely very unique,
and that is this Letter Opener by Cartier.
It's a limited edition actually.
There were 2,000 of these made.
I have number 1123.
Very interesting, elongated clock face
reminds me very much of the Tank Américaine.
It is a quartz movement, but who cares?
It's a really neat piece.
As I said, it's very unique though.
They are definitely out there to be had if you look.
I found this one on eBay about six months ago,
got it for a really good price,
and based on what I see them going for now,
it was kind of a steal.
Next new addition to the collection
is a Pre-Bond Omega Seamaster.
James Bond, of course, has worn a Seamaster since 1995.
And because this one dates before 1995,
that's why it's called a Pre-Bond Seamaster.
A lot of these tend to be quartz movements.
However, this one is actually an automatic movement.
It's got a look that's very similar to the Rolex Submariner
although the price is definitely much different.
I really liked the size of this watch.
It's between 36 to 38 millimeters,
so it fits my wrist really well,
and it has a really nice patina on the hour indices
as well as all of the hands,
which gives it a great kind of vintage look and feel.
Another Omega addition to the collection,
this one, a Speedmaster, the first Omega in space.
This watch is one that I actually did a complete video for
going through the process of actually buying it, unboxing,
talking about why I thought
I would never be a Speedmaster owner
and what changed my mind
and resulted in me purchasing this watch.
That video is linked right up there
in the right hand corner
if you want to get the complete story.
Now, this is a watch that has quickly become
one of my most worn watches on a day-to-day basis.
It's just so versatile.
It looks great on a variety of different straps.
I have been wearing it mostly on what you see here,
which is a really nice brown suede strap.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity
to work with Vacheron Constantin
on a campaign for the launch
of their new FiftySix collection.
I really fell in love with the brand at that time,
and particularly, the way that Vacheron
kind of takes elegance
and just goes like that extra little bit further.
And this next watch that's new to the collection,
which you've seen featured a lot in my outfit videos
over the past year is, in my opinion,
such a great expression of that timeless elegance
with a level of detail and subtlety
that is just incredible.
This is the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle
in pink gold.
It's a 38 millimeter case, which in my opinion,
is just the perfect size.
The case thickness is great too, 7.77 millimeters,
so quite thin, manually winding,
brown alligator strap, see-through caseback,
with an absolutely gorgeous movement.
Though the main attraction with this watch is the dial,
beautiful hour and minute hands,
very elegantly placed small second style.
And then of course, the beautiful, intricate guilloche.
In many ways, this watch is a perfect encapsulation
of my own personal style and that it's simple, elegant,
timeless, and it really pays attention
to those small details, which elevates it
from a beautiful watch to an incredibly beautiful watch.
One of the things I said
in my original watch collection video
is that I needed to add more gold.
And in addition to the Vacheron,
I also have now a beautiful Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
in pink gold.
Now, if I had to pick two
of my most favorite watch brands ever,
it would be a tie between Lange and JLC,
and for the same exact reasons.
They're both incredibly elegant, beautiful design,
exquisite craftsmanship,
and kind of like a real watch lovers watch brand.
Somewhat under the radar, and if you know, you know.
My Reverso is the medium size.
I've tried the large size on.
And for me, I feel the medium size
is just a little bit better fit.
It kinda wears more elegantly in my opinion.
It's got that great art deco look.
And that's actually another thing that I really loved
about the Reverso model in that its design
really hasn't changed all that much
from when it first appeared.
I have it on the black alligator strap that it came on.
Such a natural fit with a tuxedo or formal wear.
And I'm actually planning on getting
a brown strap for it soon so I can wear it more easily
on a day-to-day basis.
That's what's new,
but as anyone who gets into watches knows,
there's always that next one that you are hoping to acquire.
And with one notable exception,
my wishlist has changed pretty dramatically
since the last time.
First and number one on my wishlist
is a Lange 1 in rose gold.
I still think back to a few years ago
when I had the opportunity to have one on my wrist
for about a month, such a perfect watch, in my opinion,
from the size 38 1/2 millimeter case
to the quality of the craftsmanship and the finishing.
And of course, that iconic
and incredibly unique design of the dial.
Next, the JLC Master Ultra Thin Perpetual calendar
in pink gold.
When I went to London on a trip with JLC,
I got to wear the steel version,
and then when Robin and I visited
the manufacturer last year,
I had the opportunity to wear the pink gold version,
and I just absolutely fell in love with it.
39 millimeters is a great size, it's timeless, but modern.
I love the moon phase, just a really beautiful watch
that wears incredibly easily.
Another one from JLC that really intrigues me
and I would love to find at some point is a vintage Memovox.
I'd love to grab one from the '50s or '60s.
It's an alarm watch, which I think is so cool
because we don't think of mechanical wristwatches these days
as being used as alarms.
And a vintage Memovox would be a really cool connection
to a specific time in history.
And then there is the watch
that I am seriously kicking myself for not picking up
like six to nine months ago, a polar dial Rolex Explorer II.
Seriously, like nine months ago,
these things were going for around $5,000,
and now they're in the seven to $9,000 range.
It's such a great everyday watch.
It's incredibly versatile, it's sporty.
I like that it has a GMT complication.
If you're watching this and you're like,
"I want a nice watch too, but I don't want it to be a Rolex,
and I don't wanna spend more than $3,000,"
there are actually a lot of great brands that fit that bill
and I put together a video that's right over there
that will take you through five of my favorite picks.