Practice what you preach

I’m tired… another week, another round of tepid “hot” takes. Tudor is a homage of Rolex? Fuuuuuuck where to begin… I mean how can the sister company of one homage the other, and anyway, look at the history. Anyway, that’s not why we are here.

I found myself in yet another rant, this time defending my stance on digital, electronic, and quartz vintage. I find it fascinating that people will recommend watches without really being 100% transparent.

Hands up who likes vintage digital? Hands up then who would recommend something like a vintage Heuer Chronosplit? There is literally one guy on the planet who could help you if it went belly-up and even then it is a custom module. Does that sound like fun?

I own a Seamaster f300Hz from 1972. It’s a very handsome watch. If you’ve never owned a “hummer” before it’s a pretty interesting experience. The noise, the vibration, the faint presence of a vibrating shiny on your wrist, the repair bill…

I found the only guy in the UK who would repair these about 10 years ago. It cost me significantly more than the price of entry to maintain this piece. I do my own battery changes, but before this equalises down to anything close to economic parity we will have colonised the Moon, Mars, and possibly Titan. I’m not taking this one with me.

I find that when people recommend things they often forget about upkeep. Why would I recommend you something that would cost up to £800 for a service… so there goes vintage Omega. The Swatch Group seem to be hell-bent on choking the market for servicing and spare-parts, in 20 years time I hate to see all of you who clamoured upon the vintage Omega train post LaLaLand suffer from obsolescence , but I bet nobody warned you when you rabidly bid on that grimy Pie-Pan on eBay in the garden of the Red Lion that fateful Summer’s evening when you were trying to chirpse that redhead.

I did post what I called the “Vintage Bastard Theory” as a light-hearted guide as what to avoid to prevent heartache. It is an opinionated piece of whimsy, but it does come from a good place. I don’t want anyone getting burned by vintage – and I do come from experience. I practice what I preach.

I offer up vintage mechanical as a viable choice, with 15 jewels and above, because history and current market dictates that it is easier, and cheaper, to maintain a decent Swiss ébauche from AS, or FHF, than it is most other options. Plus, the entry-point is really low at times if you don’t have to have a “brand” name, and anyway, there are hundreds of brands available from the pre-quartz era you are effectively buying a vintage “microbrand” (<groan> – Ed.).

A hobby is all about the enjoyment at the end of the day.

Case in point: I paid £180 for a 1970s Oris Star ChronOris monopusher with the Oris Cal.725 about 8 years ago. It no longer functions. I cannot find a donor for less than 7x the price, nor can I find anybody to fix it for me. Great value watch in the short term, Dodo in the long term. How much enjoyment do you think I’m getting out of this watch?

Don’t buy vintage complications. Don’t buy pin-pallets. Never buy vintage pin-pallet complications… if I can give you any advice it would be that. I’m not after a biscuit either (but if you have any that would be nice), but if you want to enjoy yourself don’t put yourself in harms way. I love snowboarding but I am also mindful of gravity, the cruelness of the mountains, and the fact that the older I get my body cannot deal with the impact that thrashing down a course on a park board imparts on it. I would not recommend your grandmother tame a lion if she wants a new cat (that sounds like a euphemism – Ed).

Beware watch commenters on the internet, they are (mostly) chatting out of their arse. At least we’re not trying to hawk you something… yet 😉