You guys are correct -- at $5,000 per watch, my friend would not be excluding much at all; and for a novice collector to drop $25K of the first five is a bit of a stretch.
I think the more interesting exercise might be to find five "classics" for under $10K, total.
I start with the following:
- Heuer Carrera, Valjoux 72, white-on-white . . . say $2,000
- Omega Speedmaster, 861 movement, circa 1969 . . . say $1500
- Zenith El Primero, circa 1970 . . . say $2000
So my friend will have spent $5500, and will have three of the undisputed classics.
If it suits has taste (large chronos, from the 60's / 70's) he could add some sort of Breitling Navitimer or Co-Pilot / Unitime (around $3,000), and he will have $1,500 remaining (for some reasonable Sinn).
I believe that the average collector might want to make some substitutions -- maybe find one of the 50's types / dressy / gold watch -- Angelus, or Tissot, or Lemania, or Jaeger?? Maybe go lighter on one of the watches (re-issue Carrera instead of Valjoux 72), and splurge for a Monaco or Espada? Maybe a moonphase / triple calendar for special occasions?
So after I finish a couple of other projects (??), maybe this would be a fun page . . . "Five Under $10K"; something of a companion to the Vintage Heuer Price Guide.
Thanks for all the responses.
Jeff
