Window shopping: sometimes it’s all you need
Just been out and about in London and found 30mins to pop into a couple of ADs.
I didn’t have any particular models in mind before I started mooching around. At first, nothing really jumped out at me, not enough to de-wrist (wearing my Mark XX today). But then I saw the Oris divers 65!
I was at the Oris boutique on South Moulton St - and as always - the staff were stellar. Charming, knowledgeable, and laid back: proper watch lovers. They represent the brand perfectly!
The charm of the team is only matched by the charm of the watches. I’m a very proud owner of the Oris BCPD (38mm). I’d been hoping to find the new Divers 65 anniversary edition, and fortunately they had one in the window. When I tried it on, size, fit, bracelet, and dial design were all ace. Bezel action let the side down a bit, but it’s not “bad” just not as positive as I like.
The other watch I got to try on was the LUC Chopard QF. I’ve only started to get into Chopard recently. Love a few of the designs (Mille Miligia chronos are a standout) but recently been looking at the LUC range. And fortunately they had the QF on display.
Stunning case, impressively thin, and the movement is…. Wow! The Achilles heal was the dial. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful, both in design and finish. The issue is the lack of legibility. The hands disappear against the dial, and the indexes are entirely invisible. It’s stunning, but as a piece of jewellery. Oh, and if the photo above appears to contradict what I just said, it’s not my photo: whoever photographed the watch is a magician. I couldn’t tell the time staring at it from 6 inches away.
I suspect neither of these two beauties, absolutely awesome though they are, will be heading into my watch box. My shortlist of watches is already too long (Rolex Explorer, Hanhart 417ES 1954, Junghans Max Bill, Sinn 556i and Sinn U50).
But I’ve recently been reflecting on the distinction between watch enthusiasm and watch collecting. I really don’t need to own all these awesome watches to appreciate them. Thanks to the joy of physical ADs, amazing communities like this, and YouTube channels like Max’s, nor do I need to own them to see them and understand them.
Collecting for almost 20 years and obsessed with watches for a lot longer. Not a flipper - more a buy and keeper. Not a huge collection - but they’re all much loved. Have my eye on more watches that I...
I feel the same way. I don’t necessarily want to be a watch collector per se.
I like watches to be functional and love them to be the mechanical marvel that they are but I don’t need 50 watches to know that.
The Choppard LUCs with the micro rotor movements are an absolute joy to look at.
Me like Choppard, look good! Don’t care if its not legible. No mechanical watch is accurate anyway.
Shout out to the Oris boutique, one of the very few brand boutiques that I’ve actually purchased from because they are fair in their deals and staff are excellent. Great coffee as well
Agree, the Oris showroom staff are amazing at that branch. Will wait for that 65th anniversary design when put on newer divers date.
I’ll never understand for the life of me why watches are made that aren’t legible. I guess I understand a blingy piece of jewelry for that sake, but not a dress watch.
I do find it frustrating when the watch hands seem to disappear with the watch face and I've been living with that at times with my Christopher Ward C9 Harrison 5 day (black face) which can be difficult to read in certain light. It's such a great watch and movement in all other respects that I'm prepared live with it. I can see that the QF would be difficult to read in bright sunlight, beautiful design though.
Great #oris
That's the key
You don't have to own everything to appreciate it, & enjoy what you have.