My Dealbreakers: Watches I cannot buy!

[@davidjb3671]

Agree with your list, and for myself I'd add the following:: - 45 degree angled date at 4:30 - Hour numerals sliced by subdials - Tourbillons. Completely pointless And finally the big one: - Buying a watch because I've been told it's an 'investment'

[@SuperYova]

The date window has become a big sticking point for me too. Agreed on the 45 degree angled date as well as background color sticking out from the dial (especially on very expensive watches like the Nautilus).

[@ljr35]

agreed, except on the tourbillon, If it is done in such a way as to enhance the aesthetics of the watch (and some definitely are) then assuming I have the money to service it I think I could defo buy a tourbillon watch.

[@rosco8166]

Agree 100%

[@leasetime65rat-g29]

100% agree. For me the worst are sliced numerals . That Justus a completely design faux pas

[@PeteMcConvill]

some of those were once on my list (pretty sure I've railed against mutilated numbers on chronos in the past) today I've more sanguine on it. Likewise dates - sure I've got preferences (small, discrete at the 4:30 and oriented to be horizontal or big dates at the 4:30 or 1:30) but preferences arent dealmakers/breakers.

[@jeremyrice3719]

Great point about “stand-ins.” My mind went straight to design. Mercedes, cathedral, snowflake hands and of course the cyclops are all 100% dealbreakers. The date at anywhere but 6 breaks it. 99.5% of time I gravitate toward symmetry and while I get that others love the funky look of a power reserve at 10:30, a giant date at 3, a single subdial at 9, it just doesn’t work for me. Lastly, color, color, color. The exact shade, the sheen, is it sunburst or not is HUGE for me. For instance, in 35 years of almost entirely fashion watches and my 3+ years in the hobby (where fashion watches are dead to me), I’ve never purchased a white-dial watch. I look forward to you next video (which I assume) will focus on the things that immediately draw you to a watch.

[@PeteMcConvill]

its funny, mostly those aesthetic 'deal breakers' have really started to fade for me - its increasingly the philosophical issues that push me away. next video isnt what attracts me to a watch but it is coming soon.

[@raphaelcavina6138]

Love your intellectual approach to watch collecting. I will not buy fake and look alike, faux patina, artificially aged dial, short handed , exhibition case back, Chinese watches, exterior anti glare treated crystal, integrated bracelet. But I may go against any of those statements if I love the watch 🤪

[@Bob.martens]

Agree on everything, but I have a confession: I put a Seiko dial and hands in a 100$ Steeldive 'Willard', because it's basically the watch at the price Seiko should have made. I'm not trying to fool anyone, I just refused to be ripped off. Wearing it feels weirdly satisfying. Principles shouldn't stand in the way of harmless fun.

[@PeteMcConvill]

Not my place to hear confessions and I get others dont feel the way I do but personally if I want a willard I buy a willard. That you say it feels 'satisfying' indicates there's a whole other 'screw you seiko' psychology at play here.

[@brysoga]

Fun to Faff. Yes I went off piste skiing and spent about an hour hiking up for a five min ski. Absolutely not worth it.

[@makoniec3752]

My first dealbreaker is lack of at least minimal water protection (say equivalent of 5atm) as I don't accept the watch not being able to protect itself from environment (humidity, dust, water). And in practice - I gravitate towards dive/tool watches, the get the above and then some toughness as well. My second dealbreaker is related to materials and finishing - as the watch must age in style, for me. That excludes any coatings/painting on the cases. That unfortunately is not so simple. I've had ~$1,500 stainless steel diver once, and it started to look terrible once nicked and scratched. Hence I always try to find pictures of the used pieces of the model I'm after, to learn how watch could mature with me (you may have also realized by now, that I don't appreciate any restorations)

[@barrylattuca5352]

I agree with what you said, with only one exception. I would consider a SD43 Rolex and an Explorer 2 with the cyclops.

[@ramsdenschippy]

It’s an age thing Pete. I was like you on cyclops. Now I’m 70 I need the time and date. I don’t always know why I’ve gone upstairs! I absolutely love the cyclops on my Datejust. I’m sure you will too!!

[@PeteMcConvill]

I'd rather not know the date than have to gaze upon that crime against nature.

[@ramsdenschippy]

@@PeteMcConvill good point. At my age I still don’t know what date it is 10 minutes after checking it!

[@alanwright3172]

I have some deal breakers ,then a watch comes along that I have to have. Case in point, I don't like date windows that shown more than one "day", I don't like cropped numerals, I can't stand odd screws on the dial and printing that is out of line is a definite No No. So why do I find the Orient Sun & Moon Automatic SAK00004 so charming that in resides in my No1 watchbox 🧐!!!!!!!!! PS Merry xmas and hopefully a more normal new year to you and yours Pete🎅🏽

[@timeisahumanconstruct9251]

i bought a few fakes when i was younger and they were the first mechanical watches i owned. i loved them (particularly a panerai) and they helped me appreciate the real deal of which i enjoy today.

[@frankiesdaliydrinks]

Emotional labour. Love that term

[@jeffreybowden9835]

Hands that do not reach the chapter ring. I’m looking at you SEIKO and most other Japanese brands.

[@michaelfierman3256]

I absolutely HAVE to have after-market diamonds slathered onto every possible surface of my watches. From Timex Expedition on up...anything else is a deal breaker. Ok maybe emeralds and rubies as well. See how flexible I am? 😉

[@typebflieger]

I came here to say precisely this, but you beat me to it! The more diamonds and precious metals, the better! 😉

[@michaelfierman3256]

@@typebflieger when i saw "deal breakers " I thought of you right away!

[@davedesandro]

"Fun to Faff" ratio is something I'll hold on to.

[@JohnLFjellstad]

I think my #1 is price. I will not buy watches that will take me more than a year to save up for. I can admire a Patek or Vacheron or H. Moser, and I find them beautiful, but I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a watch that I had spent that much time saving for. I rather use the money on a vacation trip with the SO.

[@PeteMcConvill]

Absolutely agree - that comes under the idea of a watch that makes me work/worry.

[@typebflieger]

I agree with all your points except the cyclops, but I understand why people don’t like them. My dealbreakers are watches that are too shiny, too monstrously large, pieces with useless complications, and finally, overhyped, overpriced, blingy watches like the Daytona that people buy primarily as a status symbol. Basically, watches that purely exist for showing off and flexing will never enter my collection or get within an arms-length of my wrist. Yuck!

[@j.burgess4459]

Pete, I agree 100% about not buying a "substitute"! I've made this mistake myself - I bought a BB58 to put on a grey NATO strap. I told myself that it creates the same vintage vibe as a 5513 Sub; and it's a modern chronometer rated watch, right? And hey, it only costs 20-25% as much.... What's not to like? But, alas, the human psyche doesn't work that way 😕Just last week I traded the little BB58 in (at a loss, of course) against - yep - a 5513 Submariner. Could've saved myself some money by cutting right to the chase.

[@PeteMcConvill]

absolutely - I honestly cant recall ever buying a substitute and being really happy in the end

[@Nefville]

Only no buys for me are if the watch is too big (or too small) or too expensive. Not just expensive as in out of my price range but also if it's more than I'm willing to spend on this hobby.

[@PeteMcConvill]

Im really with you on the idea of expensive - for me it comes under the heading of 'cant make me work or worry' a luxury that hurts you financially makes no sense to me.

[@stevefox8605]

Homages made by anyone other than the original manufacturer, dates especially on divers (exception made for my Willard because with my eyes it's too small to read & looks like an ordinary index ), leather straps or packaging ( veggie since 1982) , agree on complications, legibility, Colour ( I'm colourblind), case size (38mm minimum), must have sapphire, dislike lumed bezels...I could go on 🤣 Pretty picky, but there's the odd watch that breaks the rules and really appeals (Speedmaster for example)... We're a funny lot!! Have a Happy Christmas folks 🎅🏻🍻☃️👍

[@PeteMcConvill]

on that last point of sometimes a watch breaks the rules and we still get it - thats why my dealbreakers list hase evolved a little - this list for me is (for now) rock solid, I dont own any watches that break these rules and there's none on my plan for the next few years that do either.

[@ljr35]

I hear you! I was expecting you to say integrated bracelet also (or maybe I am mis-remembering your dislike of bracelets), totally with you on the complications. Perpetual calendars are aimed at rich folk with just one watch it seems to me - or maybe I need a watch butler whose job is to mind my watches, polish and regulate them etc. and keep an eye on ebay for bargains. How rich do you need to be to have a watch butler I wonder!

[@PeteMcConvill]

true - integrated bracelets arent my thing BUT they clearly arent a deal breaker as I have two of them - that was actually a bit of a challenge, separating 'things that I dont really like' from true 'deal breakers'.

[@johnayres2303]

I think you can only justify wearing a fake if you also had the original. Say I plan to travel down to London but I wear my fake Submariner rather than my original.

[@PeteMcConvill]

I can understand the arguement and certainly wouldnt care if others did it - personally I wouldnt. but otoh I dont want a watch that puts me in that position in the first place.

[@onifrakimarq7663]

no fakes, no watches I can not afford, not a watch just to impress others and I have to read the time at a glance. At the end a watch has to put a smile on my face, when I look at it. Best regards Oni

[@johnayres2303]

Any watch with a case in Gold, Silver or Platinum. Its adds to the price, weight and scratch-ability.

[@PeteMcConvill]

makes a lot of sense

[@joakimkarlsson3362]

totally agree ! hate cyklops,don`t even like cronos, only 3 hands that's enough, well give me a date window if you must.

[@josenoventa6852]

Do you avoid other knock-off products (such as generic medication as opposed to original Aspirin etc.) or does this aversion apply only to the watch world?

[@PeteMcConvill]

of course not. the distinction between knock-off and generic is the difference between an artistic endevour associated with self expression and the supply of a commodity designed to meet a uniform standard at the cheapest price. one of the reasons I really dislike knock-off is precisely this - they reduce watches to a commodity and suck the life out of them.

[@rosco8166]

Great Vid Pete, agree with all your points, as soon as you have to brown nose to get anything in life, you lose a bit of your soul and are less human in my eyes. Not brown nosing has probably cost me a lot in life especially financially, but it's a principle I stand by. Keep up the top work mate. Regards Rosco

[@airportworker_fra]

Lets put it like this - I do not like dead animals and parts of them being involved in my hobby :) If I can´t opt for a metal bracelet without the leather strap which is included in a set, too or if I can´t get a set without the (by many liked) leather travelroll, then it is a deal breaker FOR ME.

[@PeteMcConvill]

never really thought about this from a vegan (and adjacent) POV but makes a lot of sense

[@jjjensn]

I will never buy a watch that, in any way, reads 24. I don't think, that fraction of a second it, arguably, strikes 24:00 justifies a place on my dial or bezel, because time will read 00:something for a full hour after that.

[@TL-ph5wg]

Totally agree!

[@CaptCanuck4444]

I'm with you, kissing ass to buy a watch from some nobody half my age and a tenth of my life's achievements is not my idea of a good time.

[@jonchaton7541]

Seems like there’s judgment about social status governing how people should be treated?

[@respectablylate3081]

Love your take and whilst I may not completely agree on all points, life would be boring if we did!

[@PeteMcConvill]

To be clear - my aversion to arse kissing applies to everyone regardless of their status from highest to lowest.

[@vladimirpetreski7248]

If I start listing all the things I don't like in watches, the list would be 10 pages long. And at that point a legitimate question arises - am I even a watch lover at all? So, I don't even think about that. I just stick with those not very many watches I like at any particular time and that's it.

[@PeteMcConvill]

I think its fine to have a list of things you dont like - nothing in the life is perfect - the question is are they totally unacceptable and if so why?

[@scottc6946]

Any watch that has a cyclops that is not Rolex I cannot stand. I feel the cyclops is a hallmark of Rolex that should be exclusive. I also think the Omega Seamaster and Tudor Black Bays have been responsible for people settling due to the value proposition compared to a Sub. Oh, and you don’t have to grovel and beg to get a Rolex …. You just have to be a decent human being and have a respectful conversation. Maybe it’s different for AP or Patek.

[@PeteMcConvill]

Blackbay I get but not so much the seamaster - apart from being a diver from a brand in roughly the same price point the sub and seamaster are totally different watches, different styles, different feel. I see the black bay as a sub substitute whereas the seamaster is more an alternative.

[@Volker10watch]

Agree, except cyclaps

[@Tonysoprano497]

Larger sports watches with no fine adjustment.on bracelet .You can spends thousands only to realise the watch dosent fit properly . Not really acceptable..

[@entroheat]

Good point with cyclops and that makes you not going to own most of ugly Rolex watches with their abomination looking 🤢 cyclops.