thinwater
Well-known member
^^ This.
Every instrument and your cell phone has an accurate clock. What is a watch for, other than jewelry? I got rid of all of mine 40 years ago. Useless wrist clutter.
Expensive watches on boats.
- Thread starter fredrussell
- Start date
^^ This.
Every instrument and your cell phone has an accurate clock. What is a watch for, other than jewelry? I got rid of all of mine 40 years ago. Useless wrist clutter.
rotrax
Well-known member
They are good films, thanks.
In 2012, six of us got stopped by the Swiss police and all had to pay a fine. One instance a little unfair because there was no evidence to back up the accusation that three of us had crossed a solid white line, but cost me and two others 400chf each. The police did not have a registration number to identify which of the many black 911s that were on the road at that time were the guilty ones, so they just picked three of us and said "This is Switzerland, you have no human rights, pay or go to jail".
One lad was stopped in France and got a warning.
In Scotland the nice officer found our cars in a car park and was looking over them whilst we had lunch. He just wanted to look at the cars. The general attitude and response from the various forces (except the Swiss) was "We appreciate these cars can be safe at speed and have great handling and braking, just don't overdo it OK? Enjoy yourselves lads".
For some reason, the Swiss police were convinced we were Gumball Rally.
2013, exiting the Pyrenees towards Rialp there were many squad cars and two helicopters. Somehow we heard the police co-coordinating a road block over our VHF radios. Needless to say, they didn't find us. French Police stopped one of the GT2s who had been lagging behind a few miles, a landslide in the mountains separated us and he had about a 150 mile detour to meet us at the hotel. He put his foot down and got caught, but again the French police just gave him a warning. There were a few other incidents as well.
Heading down the last section off the Route Napoleon towards St Paul de Vence, there was a long section of hair pins as we descended down the hill side. A little Peugeot 106 diesel came up behind us, I think everyone tried to give him a run for his money, but no one could shake him off and he eventually overtook the cars behind me, came up behind me, he was too quick, I pulled over to let him past. So, either we were not as quick as we thought we were, or the guy in the 106 was a legend
During a particularly wet and slippery Lands End Classic Trial in the early 1960's about thirty motorbikes were waiting for the Sutcombe section to open. This long climb was in fine form due to the rain. The first bike, a Triumph TR6 Trophy made his attempt when he was called forward, shortly after coming down after failing the climb. The next four suffered the same fate.
Suddenly there was a commotion as a 125cc BSA Bantam pushed its way forward to the front of the queue. Bad etiquette, and against the rules as there is a time element in these events. Pushing in definitely not allowed in MCC Classic Trials! The start line Marshal stopped him, pronouncing loudly "No pushing in mate! Anyway - where is your number?"
"Number be buggered" said the Shepherd, for that was his job "I bloody well live up there!" and he disappeared in a two stroke haze, feet up, all the way to his cottage near the top.
He became a legend too
lustyd
Well-known member
Watches are coming back now they’re smarter, even for young people.
OP get a Garmin Fenix 7. Titanium body, sapphire lens, can hold global charts (and comes with global maps), has built in GPS and tracks your health and fitness in addition to a bunch of other things. Waterproof to 100m. If you like diving get the Descent version which has scuba apps included. There’s a range of smart straps available in leather or titanium as well as comfy silicone ones. As a bonus they’re also quite cheap when compared to classic watches.
Stemar
Well-known member
True, but my phone lives in my pocket. When out in wet conditions, an inside pocket. My watch is on my wrist, immediately accessible.
graham
Well-known member
I have an old battered casio digital £10 watch hanging on a hook on the boat only kept for its timer mode at race starts. Its more than a decade old ,same battery and still keeps time.
If I had a quality watch everyone I know would presume it was a fake!
If I had a quality watch everyone I know would presume it was a fake!
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Most desirable watch I have ever seen was on the wrist of a doctor. I was talking to his wife in the bar over the marina office in Boulogne when she called him over to get him to show me his watch
A Rolex. Well I have a rolex, bought for me by my father 60 years ago, so I was not impressed. Until, he took it off & showed me the inscription on the back. I forget the exact wording but it was something like:-
"Rolex Fastnet 2005 winner overall"
People spend zillions to get one of those & never do.
His wife was telling me that he actually had a couple more for class wins as well.
He was more proud that he had a French crew, but even more so of his British designed & built Nicholson
A Rolex. Well I have a rolex, bought for me by my father 60 years ago, so I was not impressed. Until, he took it off & showed me the inscription on the back. I forget the exact wording but it was something like:-
"Rolex Fastnet 2005 winner overall"
People spend zillions to get one of those & never do.
His wife was telling me that he actually had a couple more for class wins as well.
He was more proud that he had a French crew, but even more so of his British designed & built Nicholson
Jim@sea
Well-known member
I think you would need to ask your insurance company if they would cover it, I know that years ago I had an item of Gold Jewlery which was quite heavy (32 grammes) which I bought from a lad that used to go round selling Gold to motor traders, So I did not have a receipt. (£300 in 1973) So as my garage had already had 2 burglaries I took it to a jeweler and had it valued.
!0 years later someone I had dealings with asked at the garage if I was in, and they were told "no he is on his boat"
So they knew I was not at home, So that night my house was burgled and they took the Gold Jewlery.
My Insurance Company only paid out because with having the previous valuation it proved that I had bought it and as I had only got married 3 months before, wedding photographs proved that I was wearing it then
Where Insurance Company Loss Assessors get involved they get a percantage of the claim if they can reject it.
If your watch fell overboard they amy want a wittness of the incident
LittleSister
Well-known member
Zillions? Your local trophy engraver will put the same on your own watch for just a few bob!
laika
Well-known member
Aren’t watches mainly marketed as being accessories for rufty tufty action men? Racing drivers, pilots, divers, agents in HMSS? In which case worrying about scratching it is surely an admission that it’s just a symbol of affluence which would put me right off.
Ah but I tell the time like a pro and can hold an intelligent conversation about leap seconds. No-one would use the phrase “all the gear and no idea” about a timepiece. A guitar on the other hand..
I’ve been considering a decent guitar for a few years now that I can afford one but haven’t really played for over a decade. I feel embarrassed to even ask to try an expensive guitar in a guitar shop.
No-one is going to say “Oi, who d’you think you are?John Harrison?”. George they might…
Ah but I tell the time like a pro and can hold an intelligent conversation about leap seconds. No-one would use the phrase “all the gear and no idea” about a timepiece. A guitar on the other hand..
I’ve been considering a decent guitar for a few years now that I can afford one but haven’t really played for over a decade. I feel embarrassed to even ask to try an expensive guitar in a guitar shop.
No-one is going to say “Oi, who d’you think you are?John Harrison?”. George they might…
LittleSister
Well-known member
A guitar one doesn't play is at least more decorative than a watch one doesn't wear!
Yes, guitar shops can be intimidating, and their staff can sometimes seem determined to prevent you finding an instrument you can't bear to leave without buying. You'll somehow need to clearly convey to them you have the dosh, and the inclination to spend it, to disarm their possible default position of stopping every penniless Tom, Dick or Harriet from getting their grubby paw prints all over their premium offerings.
laika
Well-known member
(at the risk of thread drift towards the lounge...)
Actually I've not had bad experiences, just feel embarrassed having cash but modest skills when so may people have the skills but not the cash. A big problem though is that unlike watches, standing rigging or possibly (not that I've ever looked) Porsches, you can't just see a guitar you like, find a dealer for that brand and go and try it. You're limited to the small random selection of guitars any shop has at the time. There's a particular (expensive) carbon fibre topped guitar I really like the idea of (boat relevance: reasonable choice for a live aboard concerned about swings in temperature and humidity?) but no-one is going to order one in just for me to try. The USA is a long trip to go guitar shopping.
V1701
Well-known member
Birdseye
Well-known member
I laugh at myself with this similar story.
I went to the gym and it being a nice sunny day, I drove there in the toy car ( yes, middle aged man with open sports car
). Got to the gym and parked the car along the access road. Got my bag out of the car and started to walk to the entrance. Just a couple of paces and I decided that I hadnt parked close enough to the grass verge so I put down my bag , went back to the car and started shuffling it back and forwards to get closer. . A chap was gesticulating at me from 20 yards away - I reckoned he was telling me that I shouldnt park alongside the no parking cones so I ignored him. Busy body you see. Yes you guessed correctly - I drove over my own gym bag. Not only that but I smashed my I phone inside and burst a bottle of shower gel that then covered everything from trainers to towel.To cap it all, the phone repair cost was less than the insurance excess as was the resale value of the phone..
Daydream believer
Well-known member
I do not know if you have even competed in a yacht race; but knowing that one has cheated to get that on the back of a watch would bring nothing but shame to me. Regardless of the value of the watch initially, it would soon become valueless, in my own mind & I would prefer not to wear it.Zillions? Your local trophy engraver will put the same on your own watch for just a few bob!
Just me, but in yachting I would never knowingly cheat. Some do. My wife would confirm that, as she has spent lots of time on the committee boat, where she can see what happens. It tends to be the same people every time, so not a "mistake". But we know who they are & they hold little respect from others.
Bandit
Well-known member
If Bernie Ecclestone had a Casio he would not have been mugged for his Jewellery.
laika
Well-known member
What can you expect from one of those beatnik musician types.
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LittleSister
Well-known member
It was a joke. I would not do such thing, nor would I expect my suggestion to be acted upon or nor taken seriously by anyone
Yes, I have competed in yacht races. No I'm not a cheater. Having been an occasional race officer, I agree with you that most race cheating tends to be the same people every time. On the basis of a lifetime's observation, I believe the same holds true for all other types activity and cheating - most cheating is done by the minority of people who are habitual cheaters.
Watch out for them!
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
Quite. What’s the point of competing if you’re going to cheat? You’ll be glad to know it’s not just you.
Obi
Active member
Yes that is often part of the marketing for sports watches.
I have two SS sports watches. They are extremely difficult to scratch. For example, one day carrying my windsurf board the wind caught the board and pushed it against a very rough brick wall and trapped my wrist and watch between board and wall. Because I was already moving forward the watch got dragged over several inches of very rough brick. Not a mark on any of it. I suspect the domed sapphire took the brunt of it.
(Note to OP: A Speedmaster would have been wrecked had this happened to it).
That is one reason I chose to buy an expensive watch. Even at 30-40 years old of having a hard life it still looks as good as the day it was bought. Much like it's owner
Other reasons: Some people like nice things. Some of these watches will give those people pleasure every single time they look at it and think "That is a nice watch" and despite being put through the ringer for 30+ years it looks brand new and behaves like brand new. It has also worth more a lot more than it's original purchase price and will be handed down to a family member upon my demise.
Some people might buy several watches throughout a lifetime. I buy one or two to last a life time. A watch that will always be in my mind something special and provide pleasure every day in the same way a nice car, painting, guitar or whatever, whereas the £30 Casio would not do this for me.
Daydream believer
Well-known member
When I was a teenager I wore my Rolex every day; even on the building sites. One day I dropped something down the cavity of a brick wall. As I put my hand down to get it, I scratched the watch face . That was 59 years ago & my mother paid exactly £100 for a new face to be fitted. So you can imagine that was an awful lot of money.
Exactly one day after I had it back, I was hammering a steel chisel into some concrete with a sledge hammer. I took an almighty swipe. I miss hit the chisel & it flew up in the air. Hit a wall & came back at me as it came down. I put my arm up to protect myself & the chisel smashed the watch face.
I will not tell you what my mother said, as it is not printable. The watch is now on its THIRD face, but she is not alive to buy any more, so I am more careful.
Exactly one day after I had it back, I was hammering a steel chisel into some concrete with a sledge hammer. I took an almighty swipe. I miss hit the chisel & it flew up in the air. Hit a wall & came back at me as it came down. I put my arm up to protect myself & the chisel smashed the watch face.
I will not tell you what my mother said, as it is not printable. The watch is now on its THIRD face, but she is not alive to buy any more, so I am more careful.