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HoustonHorn

Burnt Ends
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Posts posted by HoustonHorn

  1. 26 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

    Yep, watch buying is an addiction, and not that long ago buying a watch (most brands that is) for investment purposes was snickered at by the other addicts.

    I don't like quartz watches at all, kind of negates a major component of what really makes a watch something special.

    Agreed to a point. There is some level of appreciation for extremely innovative design and great finishing that has some worth. But I don't feel like its worth spending that much when its missing the heart (movement). If you need to know the time, look at your cell phone, work phone, computer, or the microwave/oven/appliance. The time is everywhere, but its the ability to create such an incredibly small, mechanical movement that requires nothing buy human interaction (either handwinding or by moving around) to tell the time to an unbelievable accuracy that fascinates me so much. The hand finishing is also what makes it truly something special and why I've graduated from more mainstream brands to independents. My Speemaster Racing has a beautiful movement. But its machined. Handmade craftsmanship to such a fine detail is just about as impressive to me as the movement itself.

  2. 12 hours ago, Sam Lin said:

    I'm with you on most of your post, and I agree with the overall message. But, think you greatly understate their manufacturing and engineering ability. They are quite likely also the best run watch mfg from a manufacturing standpoint. Their degree of "in-house" and vertical integration is nearly unmatched (GS is the only other that comes to mind, at much lower volumes). Their engineering innovation doesn't get much attention, but their watches are engineered as much as any other brand (or more). What's particularly stunning about Rolex is their ability to mass produce a very high end product (in terms of engineering, in terms of quality, in terms of fit/finish*) at a scale no one else can dream of. While it's easy to say they are limiting production and driving up their values (and yes they are, and so are a ton of other watchmakers), they are shipping more product than anyone at the high end.

    Start about 2/3 down for a look at modern Rolex mfg. They test and hold their product to a tighter standard than most mass-produced watches (and likely tighter than most independents): https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/inside-rolex

    *Counterpoint: Walt Odets' infamous Rolex Explorer analysis:
    https://www.timezone.com/2002/09/16/the-rolex-explorer-ref-14270-part-1/
    https://www.timezone.com/2002/09/16/the-rolex-explorer-ref-14270-part-2/

    Is it the boring, safe choice? Yes. Is the majority of the customer base a turnoff? Yes. But is it any less a watch or mechanical device because of that? My opinion is no.

    Not a Rolex owner, unlikely to ever be, for many of your same reasons. But I have huge respect for their mfg. (I work in automotive; it's much like Toyota for me. People mock Toyota for lack of innovation, for boring cars, for ancient infotainment, but they've dominated quality statistics and resale for nearly 20yrs, while at the same time maintaining profit margins above industry averages. Doing what Rolex/Toyota do, for as long as they've done it, is an amazing engineering/mfg feat, not achievable only through marketing or limiting production to drive demand.)

    They are definitely an incredible manufacturer as well. As you said, they are able to produce a significant amount of watches of incredibly high quality. A large part of that is due to their iterative design process. If you don't change much year after year, you can refine it to the nth degree. And your R&D/engineering resources are focused specifically on that refinement and quality instead of creative design. It's a perfect marriage of engineering/manufacturing, quality, inventory control, and marketing. Rolex will be studied for decades to come as a model for success.

    And you're also right that other brands are starting to do something similar. Tightening up supply, reducing AD margins, controlling inventory by moving from ADs to brand boutiques, and cracking down on the grey market which is resulting in scarcity and increased demand. Prices are rising as a result. Covid provided the perfect cover to accelerate that process. Gone are the days of 50%+ discounts on the grey market for new watches.

    Regarding finishing, Rolex finishing is pretty industrial even compared to other major brands like Omega. It isn't in the same league as high-horology which is hand finished. Of course, they use a steel caseback, and most people don't really care about movement finishing (another thing I'm an outlier on). Rolex is the perfect watch for the masses.

     

     

     

     

  3. On 4/3/2022 at 7:21 AM, Onboard 2.0 said:

    To piggy back on your post. I've always loved watches. I mean from a little Kid I was fascinated by watches. I still remember to this day smashing my navy blue, diver watch against a brick hearth when the Cowboys lost to Pittsburgh in their first Super Bowl meeting, and immediately being more upset that I'd done that than the Cowboys losing (I was 12 or so). I consider my first real watch to be an F1 I bought in St. Barts back around 1992, still sits in my case, but it's small 38mm so it gets very little wrist time.

    I gravitate to Divers, Pilots, and those unique, sportier, dressy watches (GO, and IWC are grail brands for me, in that I can afford to buy those). Pateks, VC's, etc. are amazing, but I know I won't have that kind of disposable income for a watch (even as an investment).

    I've had six Sinn, but have sold or given away (my immaculately clean, 103 UTC to my son last year) all but my U2 which is among my favorite watches.  

    I've been an Hublot fan since they first came out with their electric, cobalt, rubber strap, quartz (they've jumped the shark now in my opinion). I still have my Super B, and my first generation Big Bang (another of my never will sell watches).  I really dig the engineering, and multiple materials mixed together on a rubber deployment strap.

    I collected Choppard Mille Miglias for a while, but have sold all those off.  

    I've been focusing on lesser known brands since the 2008 melt down, and try to wear them all in a general monthly rotation of about 15 different watches. 

    I'll be buying a GO sometime in the next year our so, once I settle on the example I think best captures their design philosophy, and my budget.  Beyond that I want an IWC Port-o- geezy.

    I had a couple watches as a kid, but they were quartz and I never really connected. My dad wasn't a watch guy, and I played golf every day so I just never really got into them until about 6 years ago when buying my wife a Rolex. I tried a few on and liked them more than I figured I would. An Explorer II and a Milgauss. Maybe even then I knew a sub wasn't really something that caught my eye. My first real watch was a Magrette that I got after reading the thread on Shaggy and falling in love with Cushion-Shaped cases. My first big purchase was an IWC Spitfire and I remember trying on a blue Overseas Chronograph and absolutely loving it. But $20k on a watch was unfathomable to me. Wish I had that one now. My tastes are all over the place (what can I say, I appreciate beauty in all forms /novicmackey)  and as a result I own a lot of watches. My grail was a GO 70s, which I picked up about 6 months ago and is easily my favorite watch. Instead of satisfying my obsession, it basically fueled it as I really started to get into independent watches and high horology. That is a habit that I can't afford. But the watch industry being what it is right now, I think there are some investment possibilities outside of Rolex/AP/PP. As many smaller independent brands have just now started up in the past few years, the low production and increasing demand is already beginning to raise the prices for these watches at a pretty significant rate. I have convinced my wife of this and that has allowed me to continue making some purchases as an alternative investment strategy.

    The ultimate goal is to move into the watch industry in the next 3-5 years full time, specializing in independent brands. While I still have a preference for "sports" watches, I'm moving more and more towards interesting, currently unknown bespoke brands (outside of watch circles) that trend dressier. I don't know that any will explode like FP Journe, but I do think the rarity will result in them maintaining value and increasing over time as more an more people become aware of the possibilities. Having a watch that is the only one in the world that is custom made to your exact desires is pretty fucking cool. Plus, you develop a relationship with the watchmaker themselves, and if one of them does eventually turn into the next FPJ, you have an opportunity to be high on the list to get other watches. As PP/AP/FPJ are now basically unobtainable unless you have an extensive purchase history, more and more people are moving to the next big thing. MB&F, DeBethune, Gronenfeld, Laurent Ferrier, etc. are all the same as FPJ from the standpoint of being difficult to get and extremely high priced. I missed that boat unfortunately (unless my financial situation changes dramatically), so working on the next wave of up and comers which are in the sub-$10k range.

    A lot of collectors consider "investment" as a terrible word within the watch industry. I see it as an opportunity to build because these independents are so new and its like getting in on the 2nd floor (3+ years ago would have been the ground floor). For less bespoke, but still extremely limited brands, there are opportunities to upgrade over time. Moser, imo, is one of the most exciting independent brands. I'm not in a position to buy one of their perpetual calendars or a Streamliner at this point, but I can get an entry level Pioneer. If that ends up going up (and prices are already going up), then maybe I sell and get an Endeavour and if that goes up maybe it gets to a point where I can sell it and get the perpetual calendar that I'll keep. If it doesn't go up, I still have an incredible watch that I love wearing. Czapek and Parmigiani Fleurier are two others that are very limited, but have more extensive distribution channels and widening recognition (mostly because they offer incredible sports watches which is a big driver for generating interest). Both are incredible investments at this point if you can get them. I know the Czapek light blue that came out in the last couple months sold out almost immediately and had a waiting list into 2023. Some models are listed at double retail on Chrono24 right now and seem to be selling closer to 50% above retail. The PF Tonda is also extremely popular. The GMT Rattrapante they announced at W&W is probably my favorite watch from that entire show.

    The IWC Portuguiser is a beautiful watch. IWC is killing it right now. My Spitfire isn't in the same league, but its still one of my favorite watches that I own.

    Not sure what GO you are looking at, but they are fantastic watches. One of my favorite brands.

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  4. Yep, that's always been my knock on. Rolex, guys buy one because they think they should own a Rolex. I prefer less known brands.
    I know you've mentioned Sinn in the past. I definitely like Sinn alot (German watches in general) but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. Interesting to see them get into some colored dials as well with the 556. I like them but a bit of a departure for a brand known as a tool watch company.

    Rolex has nice watches. They have a formula and they don't deviate much from that formula and they are probably the best run company from an inventory control and marketing perspective in the history of the world. Watchmaking to me is about passion and creativity and creation of incredible mechanical devices. Rolex is the opposite of that, so they don't hold any appeal for me personally.

    I think brands are realizing a few things. More women are getting into watches and 37-40mm watches work for both sexes. This had a LOT of impact for a variety of reasons that I'll probably expand on at some point. They also have seen microbrands explode in popularity with a large variety of colors and designs. A few big brands have been doing color for years now and it's finally getting more mainstream (thanks Rolex).

    This isn't your father's watch market anymore. Especially since most brands are owned by luxury conglomerates (nobody understands marketing better) . Watches were strictly tools for the majority of their existence. Function over form. But watchmaking is truly an art and watches as tools are essentially useless in today's world other than very specific instances. They are simply luxury accessories now and as such more people are looking at them as an opportunity for individual expression. It's jewelery for men and another expensive jewelry item for women.

    Modern technology has also allowed a lot of non-watchmaking designers/architects/etc. to become watch designers and bring those watches to market and market them very effectively with social media. You also have the creative element behind the watches, the watchmakers, stepping out from under their brands and creating incredible, unique, and beautiful products.

    Add in the inate desire many people have for physical assets both for materialism and now investment assets and its a perfect storm. Microbrands are now generating an entirely new wave of higher end watch buyers for the future. I really don't see this slowing down for the next 5-10 years.

  5. And he would. While he deliberately creates visibility for what he’s doing, it’s to drum up support and donations to WCK.
    He’s a great guy doing great things.
    Yep, absolutely this. Big ego or not he's fucking on the ground in a war zone helping refugees. His balls are bigger than his ego. Good for him.

    The watch community held an auction to support his efforts at www.wck.org and raised a quarter million dollars.

    His visibility was a big part of the decision to hold that auction and support World Central Kitchen. So hopefully he keeps it up. Screenshot_20220328-075116_Instagram.thumb.jpg.a630f929bd95434e6f95a65b92c3ef0e.jpg
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  6. 54 minutes ago, G650 said:

    Yeah I looked at the valuation of the Overseas now and lol.

     

    Tbh I'm not an all gold guy in general, but I've always thought about having a Texas Timex just because. This one excites me because you get that look but with a VC instead of a Rolex.

    I would absolutely get that VC if I had any in with VC. Actually, the guy in our Redbar group here is the North American Online Sales Manager for VC. He basically said that even if he wanted one, he goes to the back of the line. Another guy I have bought a watch (non-VC) from carries VC, but he already told me the Overseas is a several year waiting list. So I imagine this 222 is going to be at least as hard to get, if not harder.

  7. 20 minutes ago, G650 said:

    I already asked my dealer about getting a 222

    I know you have some nice watches, I hope a lot of them are VCs, because this will be crazy hard to get unless you're in for 6 figures already.

  8. Heh heh heh, safe space, for damn sure, right down to the Buick sedan, polo shirt, and khakis, but Rolex has never been one of my touchstones.
    Rolex makes nice watches but I can't imagine paying over retail for one. Plus I just don't really care to wear something everyone else has. I personally think the Liminality is cool and I own another Holthinrichs that is much more subdued but still offbeat.

    Holthinrichs Raw Ornament and my watch for today, Moser Pioneer Centre Seconds. For the price people are paying for a sub, you can get a Moser Pioneer which is a much better watch.





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  9. All the Omega talk reminded I needed to go see what this year’s special editions are going to be. Think I may have to look in to the blue Speedmaster ‘57.
    image.thumb.png.44e30c17713c301328c797aeb994cba5.png
    Yes, I think you should do this.

    That's a great looking watch.
  10. It's a no for me. Reddit saying they are past 75 people as of midnight and there are pictures showing people in line. The news was leaked before they were ready and even then the demand obviously caught them way off guard. They cut the number from 2 to 1 but otherwise there's been no time to respond to the crazy demand and increase inventory at stores.

    For those reasons, I'm out.

  11.  
    please post your update here so I'll know whether to head over or not. next surly meet up, a beer on me 
    Yeah, don't count on me. Now that it's only one, I'm a definite maybe. At best. But I'll report back if I go.
  12. I’m a strap newbie.  Are most straps pretty much plug and play if you buy a tool or two?  Not nuts about the Velcro thing the Omega/Swatch thing has on it.
    It takes a little practice but it isn't too hard to get the hang of. Watch a YouTube video. And always go from the under side of the watch.
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  13. I'll stop by Saturday my and see if it's crazy. I'll definitely get 2 if it's not. A friend wants one who is in California and I'll probably give the other to my wife. I think the jupiter one is cool, as is Mars. But I'll give her the uranus. Doubt I'll get in though... I'm sure it's going to be absolutely nuts.

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  14. 3 hours ago, Bevo said:

     

    2 hours ago, Bevo said:

    After you think you know what you want, send an email to the company with the specifics of what you are trying to accomplish and see if what you chose will work for what you are trying to achieve. It sucks that all the companies are Chinese because it makes customer service pretty annoying.

    Cool, thank you! I'm going to go with an LED strip I think since its going to be attached to the inside of a frame.

  15. 3 minutes ago, Bevo said:

    That should be easy to find in a kit. I'll look into it.

    Awesome, thank you. It seems like it would be readily available off the shelf, but I couldn't find anything that had the cascading effect other than the Christmas lights. Then diving deeper, it took about 2 seconds to exceed my knowledge of lighting. That website above is very interesting, but way way beyond my level of comprehension of lighting and programming. I did see the section on fading light which gave me flashbacks to learning C++ 25 years ago and which I never learned other than to create a random number generator.

    This video seems to show it kindof. Its from 2013 at the 20 second mark.

     

     

  16. 19 minutes ago, Bevo said:

    I am a little behind the times but this page ma help: https://tigoe.github.io/LightProjects/addressable-leds

    It does suck that all the manufacturers seem to be Chinese. But, I think if anyone can help you here describing the project in more detail - wattage needed, goal, etc. would be helpful.

    Cool, thank you, checking that out now. 

    The simplest way to explain what I'm looking for is something like the Christmas decorations that hang from trees that look like icicles and the light goes down like its cascading. I just need a flexible LED strip that does this same thing and can change colors and has adjustable speed. Preferably in 3-10' sections with a controller.

     

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