WatchUSeek Watch Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Your 'Grail Watch': What Defines the Perfect Timepiece for You?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 58 Posts

_thestig_

· Registered
Joined
·
141 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
What’s your grail watch, and what makes it so unique?
Is it the design, its history, or the challenge of acquiring it?
I'm currently doing my research, but I am interested in the timepiece you’d move mountains to add to your collection.
 
#2 ·
I don’t have a grail watch anymore since I found mine.

I am a chronographaholic, and wear a chronograph most days of the year. My grail was to combine the sleekness of a case without pushers with a center minute counter with no sub dials on the main dial.

It was the IWC Porsche Design Titan automatic chronograph from the 80s-90s that had a sleek case, but it had traditional 7750 sub dials.
Image

I wanted to combine this case design with the dial of a Damasko DC 80. It has a center minute counter with no sub dials on the main dial, but the case shows the obvious chronograph pushers.
Image

In 2019, I discovered a watch that was created in 2012 by a very small watch company in Austria. The case was even more sleek than the old IWC, because the chronograph is operated by the crown.
Image

It is the perfect execution of a watch I had dreamed of for a long time. Since acquiring the watch three years ago, it has been my most favorite watch in nearly 39 years of collecting them.

Surely there are much higher grade watches that are more grail – worthy (A. Lange chronograph comes to mind), but for me for everyday wear, this is exactly what I want. Even though I do not expect to find anything better, I still buy chronographs on occasion. Like I said… I’m a Chronographaholic!
 
#3 ·
The bottom line is there's no perfect timepiece. And even if you think so this week, next week might be different.

History may or may not be important to some. I'd like a little history personally.

I'd like something with good proportions and is I consider good looking, is well made (good fit and finish to the case and movement), from a respected company, and one that is probably more expensive than my other watches since we're talking grail.
 
#4 ·
I wouldn't do anything out of the ordinary for any watch. It's just a watch. I work hard for lots of other reasons, and I have no patience or regard for rarity. My favorite watch is the 3861 hesalite Speedy, but we were just walking past the Omega boutique and saw that they had one. I realized I could afford it so I bought it.
 
#12 ·
My grail is always the next one i want. So it fluctuates. Right now im in the market for a rolex sky dweller white dial oyster. Would be my first rolex. So thats my grail atm. Once i get that, my grail will be my next watch. Thats how i look at it anyways
 
#13 ·
I get that a grail is unachievable by it's very nature. And if it IS achieved/obtained, then what? Will you dream up another? Or be done? Or just continuing to add trinkets here and there to enjoy (as I am doing now)?

Not a question directed to anyone specifically. Just rambling thoughts in that big old noggin of mine.
 
#14 ·
_thestig_ said:
What’s your grail watch, and what makes it so unique?
Is it the design, its history, or the challenge of acquiring it?
I'm currently doing my research, but I am interested in the timepiece you’d move mountains to add to your collection.
Click to expand...
My grail watch would be a sleek and elegant timepiece with a red dial that screams sophistication and wealth, that also has a nice deep red dial. Maybe something like a grand seiko elegance, but I don't have any specific "grail watch"
 
#15 ·
There are attainable 'grails' and pie in the sky grails I will only attain if I ever win the lottery. I'm fortunate enough to have acquired all of my attainable grails but the 'true' grails will forever remain out of reach.
 
#18 ·
I really dislike the term grail as it's unnecessarily opaque. In the car world, we talk about dream cars. It's irrelevant as to whether someone can actually get one at some point or not. It's something we'd buy if we ever have the funds to make it happen. If you're really a nerd, there's the affordable dream cars and reach dream cars. I personally don't waste my mental energy on things I'll never reasonably be able to have.

And then we come back to watches. Do I have a dream watch? Something that requires a substantial investment? No, no I don't. The older I get, the harder of a time I have really spending money on a watch. I'm starting to think that I don't really like watches, despite just buying a not-very-cheap Yema. My wife told me she'd buy me a very nice watch for my 50th. After a few minutes of thinking, I told her that I might prefer to use that money to attend something like the Monaco Grand Prix.

I think I'm just a lot more casual with watches than I am with something like cars. I watch a few watch-focused youtube channels, but very few things I see really get my heart beating quickly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Cuddles
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#20 ·
My 'grail' before I re-defined the term for myself was a watch that, at the time, was just out of reach. My requirements were:
1. Chronograph
2. Mechanical
3. Highly legible
4. Good history/story/legacy.

For me, it was the 1861 Speedmaster, which I ended up getting 11 years ago, and it has never left my box.

Subsequently, I redefined the term 'grail' to be something that was actually pretty unattainable. In that regard, the only watch I hold as a grail in any meaningful way would be the Seiko Springdrive Spacewalk. Its expensive for what it is, and quite rare. Unlikely that one will ever come available in my lifetime in a way meaningful enough for me to be able to take advantage of :D
 
1 - 20 of 58 Posts
About this Discussion
57 Replies
47 Participants
Last post:
PolishX
WatchUSeek Watch Forums
posts
24M
members
618K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to watch owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about watch collections, displays, watch winders, accessories, classifieds, and more! We welcome all manufacturers including Casio G-Shock, OMEGA, Rolex, Breitling, Rolex and Tudor, Seiko, Grand Seiko and others.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Public Forum Watches - Private Sellers and Sponsors Affordable watches Dive watches Casio G-Shock