Which five brands must a WIS own in their lives?

[Omegary]

Given the strong showing of Panerai in this thread, it seems that the 'I' rather than the 'S' is the key adjective in this acronym.

Ooooh get you :lol:. I agree 100% with your synopsis though.

Cheers,

Gary

[I AM LATE!]

A grand seiko - just to prove its really not about the badge! :D :D :D

Cheers

Stephen

[Andyg]

Panerai (got)
Rolex (got)
Omega (got)
Blancpain (in hand)
Patek (wishful thinking)

A more extreme list would include

George Danniels
Roger Mille
UWerk
Breguet
JLC or IWC (pre take over)
Lange

Bugger that's 6!! :lol:

Andy

[gee-whizz]

Mine would have to be, in no particular order:
Rolex
Omega
Seiko
Precista
G-shock/Tag Heuer I cant make my mind up which one.

[Dapper]

Well,

I am falling into the group that feels that a true WIS is fundamentally non high-street.

Absolutely, what's the point of being a WIS if all you do is pop down down to the local AD? That's just 'shopping' :D

[Andyg]

Well,

I am falling into the group that feels that a true WIS is fundamentally non high-street.

Absolutely, what's the point of being a WIS if all you do is pop down down to the local AD? That's just 'shopping' :D

True, however it depends on the street? Some rather nice shopping in Geneve/Monte Carlo, 5th Ave, etc :blackeye:

If the high street in Salisbury then I would have to agree.

Andy

[pippin]

My five:

1. PP (I'm lucky enough to have Inherited my Dad's vintage Calatrava)
2. Rolex (I personally have what is admittedly an irrational dislike of Rolex, but I have to concede it belongs on the list)
3. JLC (I've basically decided a Reverso is my next must have watch).
4. Panerai (I just really like them)
5. This is the tough spot for me because they're lots of contenders. Seiko, TAG, Omega, Zenith, Breitling. All valid contenders. But for me the nod goes to IWC (a nice Portuguese).

[CamCG]

My five (+ brief reasons), in no particular order:

Patek Philippe: Arguably the crème de la crème – Credited with inventing the first wrist watch in 1868 (although watches attached to the wrist were around before this)

Seiko: Great value and qc for the money – Budget to mid/high-end models – I read on another thread that alongside PP and Rolex they are the only brand to make everything in-house. This is something backed-up by Seiko Watch Corporation's President and CEO Shinji Hattori who claims that "We do everything in-house for the watches, except bracelets and straps. We make our own hairsprings, our own mainsprings, all the small parts - we even make the lubricating oil for the watches” (http://www.europastar.com/europastar/ma ... 1004000750).

Omega: Good value for money – All-time classics like the Speedmaster

Rolex: Unavoidable – All-time classics like the Submariner

Longines: Quite underrated imo – Some truly lovely designs for the money

[CamCG]

However, when it comes to individual models rather than brands, I’d say (in no particular order):

Rolex Submariner





Omega Speedmaster



Any Patek Philippe dress type watch



IWC Portuguese





Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

[Bogey]

I don´t think there´s any must have brand, but from a WIS point of view I´d say:

JLC
Grand Seiko
Dornblüth
Sinn
Stowa

Damn, I don´t have any of them, but I do have or had Rolex, Omega, Breitling, IWC and Zenith... Guess I´m not a proper WIS yet, but I still have time.

[andrew]

However, when it comes to individual models rather than brands, I’d say (in no particular order):







...(etc.)

I'm not criticising your choice here, as these are all fine watches that make sensible purchases for someone "normal" who wants to buy one watch and wear it all the time. But the ubiquity in enthusiasts' circles is surprising. It's rather like joining a hard-core motoring enthusiast's group and discovering they all drive diesel Audis. I guess I expected something more than just "a list of well-known and expensive watches" which you can read anywhere, any time.

So am hereby banning myself from the Sub'n'Speedy Talk Forum and hot-footing it over to Mods and Wreckers :lol:

[CamCG]

However, when it comes to individual models rather than brands, I’d say (in no particular order):







...(etc.)

I'm not criticising your choice here, as these are all fine watches that make sensible purchases for someone "normal" who wants to buy one watch and wear it all the time. But the ubiquity in enthusiasts' circles is surprising. It's rather like joining a hard-core motoring enthusiast's group and discovering they all drive diesel Audis. I guess I expected something more than just "a list of well-known and expensive watches" which you can read anywhere, any time.

So am hereby banning myself from the Sub'n'Speedy Talk Forum and hot-footing it over to Mods and Wreckers :lol:

No offence taken, Andrew.

However, I would be wary of some of the opinions of those who see themselves as "true watch enthusiasts".

It seems to me that the disregard shown by some watchies for “mainstream choices” like the Sub and Speedy is sometimes (though not always) because they see them as being popular only because of the "herd mentality” of the mainstream watch buyer.

However, I don’t see a model’s popularity amongst mainstream/high street buyers (who might well only buy a model because of the brand) as a reason for a watch enthusiast to discount the model (in fact, this is a kind of misplaced snobbery). (See my thread on 'The 3 Stages of Rolex Opinion' which references attitudes towards Rolex).

IMO, the only reason that a watchy should discount a model/brand is because of genuine short comings (i.e. mechanical / pricing / materials).

I’m not saying that you think this at all, but I think it does apply to some people and their opinions.

[Dibetu]

Broadarrow
Precista
Speedbird
Sewills
Smiths
Richmond Spencer

Sorry those are six!

How about a limited edition Swatch or a Phillipe Dufour? How about a H. Moser?

Life is just too short; but I would say a M I H watch is an absolute must.

[jonny]

Omega/Rolex -superb watches
IWC esp the portuguese
JLC -reverso,master,avmox,compressor etc
Breguet -type xx
Patek castralava or annual calendar

[PeterM]

Panerai (got)
Rolex (got)
Omega (got)
Blancpain (in hand)
Patek (wishful thinking)

A more extreme list would include

George Danniels
Roger Mille
UWerk
Breguet
JLC or IWC (pre take over)
Lange

Bugger that's 6!! :lol:

Andy

That's 12 :lol:

[namso]

Must have some (poor man's) brands aswell!

Rolex
Omega
Breitling
Seiko
Poljot

[gunner]

Rolex
Zenith
PP
JLC
GP

[JustaHunch]

Casio G Shock, a reliable endurable very cheap tool watch;
Omega Moon watch, it went to the moon don't you know;
Roles Sub, timeless design;
IWC, white faced Portugese, looks stunning; and
PP Calatrava, classy dress watch.

[doctorj]

The only brand I would include in a list like this would be Seiko. ALL the others mentioned are price dependent. PP! for every WIS! Are you kidding? Some of use have bathrooms that need redecorating, or need a new car.

I'd say every WIS should own at some stage

a manual wind watch
a hi-beat watch - or an accutron, or a spring drive, but something very very smooth and (mostly) mechanical
a diver's watch
a chronograph
a quartz watch of some description

Jasper

[Enoch]

I would love to own the following

IWC Ingenieur
Omega Seamaster
Sinn 956
Tag Monaco
Rolex GMT

[jd]

I can't think of any brands I feel desperate to own. Watches, sometimes, but not brands. Watch brands are inoffensive at best - the more they tell me about how buying their brand marks me out as a successful alpha dog playboy yachtsman-pilot, the less I like them.

[ants]

have all been said before, but here's mine

1. Rolex Sub
2. Breitling- any
3. Iwc- any
4. Seiko Diver
5. G-shock

They don't have to be expensive to be a great watch.

[MrP]

OK, in no particular order, at this moment in time and only specific rather than all models of the brand:

Heuer
Doxa
Omega
Breitling
Panerai

hang on, its a trick, this isnt possible, Rolex, Seiko, IWC, Oris and and and!....
I reserve the right to change my mind just before and straight after I press submit!
Good topic btw, I dont own any of the 5!

:? 8) :D

[nAscA]

Casio g-shock Frogman
Tag Heuer
Omega
IWC
...

[lowdrag]

Seiko without a shadow of doubt. price/value/reputation second to none. My IWC I won't sell, but one can lust over Breguet, Jaeger le Coultre and so on even though one can never afford one. My worst ever watch was a Tudor, always breaking down and never accurate, my best ever my current Monster, more accurate than any other automatic I've ever owned in 35 years. My Navitimer a brilliant piece of work but let down by an ETA movement. I guess we all have good and bad experiences, don't we?

[bogie]

Zenith
IWC
Omega
Seiko
JLC

thats mine, have owned all of them numerous times over, bar the JLC ...maybe next time :)

[Bernard]

I've got four brands for this list:

JLC
Omega
IWC
Seiko

First of all: definitely no Rolex for me. I just don't like them.

Seiko: well, everybody should have had at least one and probably about everybody here has had at least one. They are a value for money entry into WIS-dom.

Omega: you can't get around them, good quality, VFM, be it new or an old one, virtually every WIS has had one or more.

IWC: their new line really sucks (just my opinion), way to big, ugly :x . However their vintages are superb. Saw several nice examples last weekend and have become determined to own at least one.

JLC: visited their factory 2 weeks ago. Stunning, can't get around them.

[GregR]

I'd say that Rolex, Breitling, Omega, etc., are brands that ordinary mortals should own in their lifetime - to reflect income, taste, social position, peer group and so on.

Your question concerns a WIS.

Surely a WIS looks for things invisible or at least uninteresting to ordinary mortals - case and dial materials, rarity, beauty of construction (blued screws...) and level of complication (swan-neck regulator...) of the unseen movement.

A WIS doesn't need to own an Omega, he needs to own a pre-moon Speedmaster.

So with that in mind, I'd say that brands would be less important than models; even if Lange und Söhne are members of Richemont group, the 31 day manual rdm must surely belong in the list.

I guess there will never be a George Daniels forum, but a true WIS ( ye Gods, I hate this term!) would, I imagine, hanker after a one-off custom-made, minute repeater pocket watch from the bench of this old, curmudgeonly, genius.

I suppose a hifiIS doesn't dream of anything from Pioneer or Sony, a clothesIS doesn't dream of a top of the range suit from Armani, and likewise I'd like to think the true WIS (there is that horrible term again) thinks on a higher plain than the full page advert's in The Sunday Times Magazine and the product placement campaigns.

This post deserves to be repeated, I agree with it entirely

[ktmog6uk]

for me:
seiko
omega
tissot (vintage)
breitling
precista

[Saint-Just]

Wealthy WIS:

Journe
L&S
VC or PP
Voutilainen
McGonigle

Not so wealthy:
Zenith
JLC
Rolex
Stowa or Nomos
Omega

[bomier]

For me its only Vintage and the brands that I would have on my list is:

Omega (vintage Seamaster or Speedy)
Rolex (Sea Dweller 1665 or red 1680)
Blancpain (Fifty fathoms)
PP (Vintage Calvata) Dress watch
Tudor (Old submariner)

BR :drunken:
M

[p.sebastian]

i'm going for these

Rolex
Omega
AP
JLC
IWC


P.sebastian

[diranija]

I don't think I could nail 5 brands as there is something interesting and boring about most but the WIS in me would at some point like to own watches containing the following movements/complications...

El primero
Pellaton
JLC memovox
Spring Drive
high end perpetual calander
Any tourbillon

Only succeeded in one of those so far though :(

James

[Jungle Stud]

Go on then:

Panerai
Heuer
Rolex
JLC
Omega (just for the new Proplof)

[ncvhdoc1]

PAM
Cartier
AP
Breitling
Rolex

[rugerfanuk]

Omega Seamaster 300
Rolex Sea-Dweller
Sinn U1
Seiko MM600
IWC Aquatimer 2000

[avantgardaclue]

Panerai - 249
Blancpain - FF
Rolex - Explorer
IWC - Pilot
Omega - Speedmaster

[Gruntfuttock]

No list from me. It is this sort of 'must own' nonsense that leads to obsessive 'itch scratching' and consequent flipping due to inability to live up to expectations (well everyone else buys them so they must be good, oh and the resale value is great so you can flip it without losing out...zzzzzzzz?). The other flaw in trying to answer the question is that no single model is typically representative of the brand (how many G-shock models are there?).

[Andyg]

I'll play - remember the question was which five brands must a WIS own (not wish to own, think they might own, but must own

Rolex - its the daddy
Patek - the best of the best - althought V&C or Breguet would also do
GP - history and for the 3 bridges alone
Panerai - perhaps best military history
Omega - just because

Andy

[MuDu Fan]

Very subjective question, with no right or wrong answer. Each to there own and all that.

So, with that in mind.......

Cartier (beautiful and classic designs whilstever they're not dipped in baffles looking tinsel)

MuDu. (hugely underrated quality timepieces)

Patek Phillipe. (no explination needed)

Hamilton. (I just really like them)

Omega Seamaster / Speedmaster
(If they were good enough for Aldrin, Armstrong and Collins, then they're good enough for me).

[MuDu Fan]

Dam. I forgot Blancpain.

[Karl]

Watches not brands for me ( as Simon k said way back) When I was more into this i used to be happier finding a rare cheaper watch than walking to the shop for a packet of frozen fish fingers

[Mick P]

My nominations are :-

1. Rolex - which I have got
2. Omega - which I have got.
3. JLC - which I have got.
4. PP - one day possibly but unlikely.
5. Garrard - just nice and classy and under rated. Need to step up the search for a good one and they are hard to find.

[RustyBin5]

Only three for me. Zenith chrono. Glashutte original. Grand Seiko.


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[Evangelos]

Breguet (any)
Jaeger leCoultre (strictly reverso)
Audemars Piguet (strictly RO)
Blancpain (strictly FF)
Patek Philippe (any)

and if required you can substitute one piece with a Rolex, preferably an every day datejust.

[A440]

I'm not sure that I'm a fully fledged WIS yet, but I live in hope...

The 5 brands that I aspire to one day;

Seiko
Rolex
IWC
JLC
PP

[Van Diemen]

PP
AP
VC
Seiko
Rolex

[bedlam]

Zombie thread!

I'm surprised how many 'WIS' are opting for pretty generic low-level-luxury watches. Probably reflects what they already own or are likely to be able to afford.

Companies interesting to me from a more WIS perspective would be:

Blancpain
Fortis
Stowa
Glycine
Glashutte Original

[stix]

Zombie thread!

I'm surprised how many 'WIS' are opting for pretty generic low-level-luxury watches. Probably reflects what they already own or are likely to be able to afford.

Companies interesting to me from a more WIS perspective would be:

Blancpain
Fortis
Stowa
Glycine
Glashutte Original

True and for me there are the usual's of course as listed above by others, but certainly for me, I probably like at least one model from every brand, which then makes it difficult.

Alternative WIS options:

• GS
• Damasko
• Sinn
• Hanhart
• Lange

[Robsmck]

Little love for Panerai in this thread. For me it would be;

PP
IWC
Rolex
Panerai
Cartier

Still aspiring to the first two.one day I will own a Portugueise and an moonphase.

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