What time do you wear?

I have a Rolex GMT II and yes it does run a bit fast (1 sec / day) and I don't care a jot! I've only had it for a couple of years, and it's given me no problems - it does the multiple timezones and you change the hour hand independently to keep the seconds ticking whn you move time zones too. I did have a couple of fake ones for a fraction of the price, but firstly they fell apart when I dropped them (both) and secondly I always thought I was kidding myself. So I bought this one when I was flush and think to myself one day I'l be able to give it to a younger relative and it'll probably be worth more than what I paid for it.

For accuracy I have a radio clock linked to the Caesium clock in Geneva which cost all of £60.

Is it bling? To some yes. To me, I'll just never have to buy another watch.

Snofun, the problem I have with your posts is that you don’t hesitate to say things as fact that are more opinion.

Shorton’s point was that you are boasting of your watches quartz accuracy comparing it to an automatic. You have followed up by making claims about the Rolex quartz that I suspect you haven’t a clue about. Either way it’s a pissing match.

You say that a Timex is more accurate than a Rolex. Have you ever owned a Rolex? I will bank my money on the Rolex quartz, keeping apples to apples; even with an automatic, if you learn its characteristics, you can control its timing on how you lay it when not worn and it will be very accurate. Perceiving that you have never owned an automatic, you are making claims with no experience. Futhermore, when speaking of Rolex, you generalize them, you can get a Rolex quartz like your Breitling, just as you can get a Breitling automatic; Breitling’s automatics will not be as accurate, in general, as their quartz movements, so what does this say?

You criticize automatics because one must move their wrist to keep them going, that is part of owning an automatic that some like.

As for which will last longer, an automatic or a quartz, an automatic can always be maintained, if a quartz fails, it is thrown in the hurby-curby! Furthermore, look at the vintage market, it doesn’t take long to see the vast market for vintage mechanical watches.

You also imply that people who purchase a Rolex do so to impress neighbors and friends, I wouldn’t doubt that some may, but that is a sweeping generalization and one I do not believe as a whole, in fact, I know it not to be so.

Lastly, I have tried not to get personal in my replies. You have repeatedly put down people for spending large sums of money for watches such as Rolex, claiming your watch to be far superior. An argument could be made that your purchase is the foolish one; the Brietling Aerospace lists at over $2000, correct? When you replace the battery, ask to see inside, I suspect you’ll see mostly plastic, similar to the Timex.

I would like to state again, I don’t look down on your purchase, it is what you wanted and brings you joy, for other it would not.

Brian – Maybe I’d take your admonition more seriously if you didn’t appear so officious yourself in your addressing and correcting “us” in your posts – along with your freedom to use presumption and assumption when convenient in addressing me. I also tire of the pissing match, however so succinctly I reply as follow -

I said my opinion was that performance should be the ultimate goal of a premium piece of hardware, and notwithstanding your attribution, YOU stated quite factually on Jan 14th-“no automatic watch will keep time as well as a $50 Timex”, so my opinion and your fact apparently agree, and I’d assume particularly so when comparing a very high quality quartz movement to a Timex.

And notwithstanding comments about reliablity, a local dealer told me today -“A Submariner should come in every 3-5 years for maintenance– it’ll cost $410 and take 10 days if we’re not backed up. An Aerospace should come in when the battery fails – cost $35, time 30 minutes”, and reliability was stated as “not an issue”.

So the probability is greater that a Rolex can be fixed if broken, however it’s also apparently more likely to break due to complexity, and it’s required to have frequent and costly maintenance. So for a substantial sum of money, you get something not as accurate as a Timex, that requires substantial additional cost and time for maintenance, and is more likely to require repairs.

OK, the attraction continues to elude me, but that’s just my opinion as I said. You do get a web site that dedicates 20% of its masthead to celebrities or “ambassadors” who wear them, and another 20% to sponsored events if that’s of interest to you though – not my cup tea. Thanks anyway.

Correct, I did say that an automatic movement is not as accurate as a quartz movement, in general; the part we seem to be missing it is that you freely bash Rolex brand as not being as accurate as a Timex, here I disagree. Just like your Brietling, Rolex makes quartz movements. If I kept saying Breitling isn't as accurate as a $50 Timex would you disagree? Breitling makes watches with automatic movements that will not be as accurate as a quartz Timex.

I don't argue the fact that an automatic can cost more to maintain over the years, but it can be maintained. That said, as for 3-5 years, the current state is more in the 5-10 realm. If something were to go wrong with the quartz movement, what are you going to do?

As I already mentioned, there is a healthy market for preowned mechanical watches, while there may be a market for certain quartz watches, it is small in comparison. Mechanical watches do a better job of holding their value as well.

It is clear that an automatic isn't your thing, that is fine, but for many people there is a lot of appeal to owning one; much like some people love a V-Twin motorcyle and others just don't get it.

You state that in your opinion performance should be the ultimate goal of a premium piece of hardware. Does Breitling miss this mark with their mechanical watches?

If accuracy is your biggest issue in owning a watch, you don't have to spend a lot of money.

If performance is what you are after, why spend 2 grand, there is no need.

Your reply to me makes no sense. "if you remember to move your wrist, while wearing an automatic?" Do you have problems with this? Seems to me someone that travels shouldn't have that issue. Leave the Ecodrive on the window sill? Yes, it's true a wrist watch is most effective on a window sill, instead of on my wrist wear I can see it.

Impress my friends? 90% of my friends don't know I own a Rolex. I didn't buy it for them, I bought it for me. As far as a Rolex being accurate most of the time... at the end of the day when I'm 1 or 2 seconds fast, I'm comfortable with that. I would love to know what your profession is that 1 or 2 seconds can make or break you. And, if it does, you sure don't have time to look at your watch.

BTW, contrary to your belief, accuracy is not the ONLY thing that makes up value.