Expensive watches on boats.

Never worn a watch, simply dont like that clasp feeling on the wrist, then early this year got back into boating and spent the entire summer misjudging tides and drifting around not having a clue what time we need to get going or moor up etc.
A cheap waterproof traditional watch with a nice big shiny face smiling back at me 'is now top of things to get asap. Yes one could use the phone but I really do not like introducing the thing to the salty environment, plus with my eyes I can never see it in the bright sunshine either. I think next years watery shenannigans will be a lot more fun... and hopefully a bit less stressful.
 
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Fr J Hackett said:
I was recently in a Rolex distributors shop in the UK having a battery replaced in my Omega, there was a couple of Asians wanting to buy a Rolex as a gift ( I was earwigging the conversation) "What have you bought from us before" "Nothing" " Well we will see what we can do for you, what had you in mind" " A gold Rolex" with raised eyebrows "Which model" and so it went on with the final result of them settling for a Date Adjust, then came the we will contact you when we have one available to which the response was we want it today we have the cash which elicited the response of we don't deal in cash and we will contact you when we have one which should be within the month. The pair then got up and left the shop.
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A job which has to be one of the easiest, is to man the Rolex "booth" in Heathrow Terminal 2.
Every morning, they unlock the booth, open the safe, and put some watches out for display.
All the watches say "Not for Sale".

Customers come in for a chat.
Anyone that wants to buy a watch (I did try) is asked "Do you have a Wolex Welationship" in a squeaky and condescending voice.
It is explained that you need to have already bought a bunch of watches that you don't want (e.g. Datejust) before you can buy the one that you do (e.g. Daytona).
And even then there is a long waiting list (several years).
Or ... you can pay double list price for a pre-owned one with scratches.

At the end of the day, the watches go back into the safe, and the booth is locked up.

I ended up buying something different, which admittedly won't hold it's value in the same way.
But it's less likely to be ripped off my wrist by someone with an E-Bike and a Balaclava.

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About 50 years ago after a backdated pay rise I went into a Rolex-heavy shop in Bath intending to buy a Submariner. On hearing that I intended to wear it sailing both dinghies and cruising boats the salesman (who actually also sailed) persuaded me that an almost throwaway waterproof Timex at a twentieth of the cost would be more practical. They did not sell Timexes, but I bought one from a chain jeweller shortly afterwards. And later that year I lost it overboard, after the strap edge caught on a shroud as I was going forward quickly.

I do still have a quality ultra-slim very plain gold dress watch, but these days rarely have occasion to wear it.
 
Chiara’s slave said:
I admire the micro engineering, but my watch has no moving parts other than the control buttons. It’s the most I have ever paid for a watch even so.
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A very long time ago, I would have been wearing one of these, listening to Gary Numan.
I'm still listening to Gary Numan, but you've hit the mark there - for me it's all about the micro engineering and design that goes into a mechanical watch.


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SC35 said:
A very long time ago, I would have been wearing one of these, listening to Gary Numan.
I'm still listening to Gary Numan, but you've hit the mark there - for me it's all about the micro engineering and design that goes into a mechanical watch.


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I have a Garmin Quatix, which has an ‘analogue’ face, though I also have my Dad’s Omega, which I have not worn. Its so small, by modern watch standards that I feel I might be told it’s a girls watch.
 
The first thing I did when arriving at the boat was to take of my watch and ring put my good spectacles in the case and get one of the cheap pairs out of the chart table then place those things my wallet and my car keys and phone in the chart table. I only retrieved them when leaving the boat or in case of need.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
The first thing I did when arriving at the boat was to take of my watch and ring put my good spectacles in the case and get one of the cheap pairs out of the chart table then place those things my wallet and my car keys and phone in the chart table. I only retrieved them when leaving the boat or in case of need.
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Wallets, car keys etc we have safe spaces for, but my glasses and watch are of similar value, and get used. So far, so good.
 
Having lived in very dangerous places I learned not to have about my person any thing of value...I even had old flip flops for the beach ...they were stolen while I was swimming....I have known people to go for a walk and come back naked, robbed of all the had.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
I was recently in a Rolex distributors shop in the UK having a battery replaced in my Omega, there was a couple of Asians wanting to buy a Rolex as a gift ( I was earwigging the conversation) "What have you bought from us before" "Nothing" " Well we will see what we can do for you, what had you in mind" " A gold Rolex" with raised eyebrows "Which model" and so it went on with the final result of them settling for a Date Adjust, then came the we will contact you when we have one available to which the response was we want it today we have the cash which elicited the response of we don't deal in cash and we will contact you when we have one which should be within the month. The pair then got up and left the shop.
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Wow you’d think Rolex could afford competent sales people! I’ve seen better at McDonalds!
 
lustyd said:
Wow you’d think Rolex could afford competent sales people! I’ve seen better at McDonalds!
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It's not like that - see my earlier post.
Rolex deliberately restrict production to be below demand, creating long waiting lists.
It's more desirable because you cannot just buy it.
 
billskip said:
Having lived in very dangerous places I learned not to have about my person any thing of value...I even had old flip flops for the beach ...they were stolen while I was swimming....I have known people to go for a walk and come back naked, robbed of all the had.
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In Ethiopia we stopped in a township, probably Shashemena, for a rest in a secure hotel. Some of us fancied walking a short way to buy some pastries and the advice was to leave our watches and wallets behind and just take a few birr to pay with, and anyone ill-disposed would easily be able to read our body language and leave us alone. As it happens, Ethiopia is generally pretty safe, especially in the countryside, and the pastries were very nice too.
 
SC35 said:
It's not like that - see my earlier post.
Rolex deliberately restrict production to be below demand, creating long waiting lists.
It's more desirable because you cannot just buy it.
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Not to me, I’d hate to support any company treating people like that. I also hate shops that don’t have things to sell, utter waste of space.
 
lustyd said:
Not to me, I’d hate to support any company treating people like that. I also hate shops that don’t have things to sell, utter waste of space.
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Indeed, which is why I went to IWC - "International WatchNerd Company"
There are some limited editions that are a bit harder to get hold of, but most of their watches are available within a reasonable timeframe.
 
SC35 said:
Indeed, which is why I went to IWC - "International WatchNerd Company"
There are some limited editions that are a bit harder to get hold of, but most of their watches are available within a reasonable timeframe.
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Given what you’ve said about their attitude I wouldn’t want to be seen wearing one. They don’t tell the time well so if all they have going for them is not making many (lots of folk would call that unpopular!) and arrogant sales people then best left alone.
I’d also be worried about opinions changing and the investment disappearing as people realise what the brand stands for.
 
lustyd said:
Given what you’ve said about their attitude I wouldn’t want to be seen wearing one. They don’t tell the time well so if all they have going for them is not making many (lots of folk would call that unpopular!) and arrogant sales people then best left alone.
I’d also be worried about opinions changing and the investment disappearing as people realise what the brand stands for.
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IWC customer experience is actually quite good.
I WhatsApp a concierge dude in the Battersea shop, and he sorts out stuff that you can’t do online.
He knows that I’m into limited edition Pilots Watches, and makes some useful suggestions without any hard sell.
 
SC35 said:
IWC customer experience is actually quite good.
I WhatsApp a concierge dude in the Battersea shop, and he sorts out stuff that you can’t do online.
He knows that I’m into limited edition Pilots Watches, and makes some useful suggestions without any hard sell.
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Because you’re the right kind of customer presumably. Utterly abhorrent to me I’m afraid. If an Asian family want to buy something then they should receive help rather than getting jerked about.
 
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