Re: SomeThoughts, from one who owns both... Posted By: allen st. john Date: 5/31/07 10:26 GMT

In Response To: SomeThoughts, from one who owns both... (Chicagoland Chuck Maddox)

Sir Charles

Hardly, I'm an american mutt, a long long way from peerage.

Interestng comments as always.

Thank you! I try...

FWIW, it seems like this is the perfect place to trot out Memphis Raines in the Ferrari dealer from Gone in 60 Seconds.

That, of course, is the other side of the Vintage Vs. Re-Issue discussion isn't it?

Where he compares the 360 Modena that he finds in front of Starbucks to the 4 cam 275GTB that will make velvet ropes part and champagne flow from the heavens.

Yup...

I still consider my 861 Speedmaster is a vintage piece, albeit one that's still in production in some form. Although if I were buying back in the day when a 321 and an 861 were roughly comparable in price, I would have bought the 321) I may be a poseur and a weenie, but not because I wear an 861 Speedy (24/7 every single day BTW)

And I don't really see purchasers of recent production Speedmaster Moonwatches as poseurs or weenies, I really don't. Their heart is in the right place. And it's probably a more practical choice for many. But the fellows who take the time and decide that they want a 105.002 or a Pre-Pro 105.012 and take the time to learn how to discern a proper original example from one that's a parts replica... They are the lifer's the enthusiasts, the connoisseur, the guys you want to swap tales with over dinner. I mean after all, who do you think would have better stories? A.J Foyt Jr. (4-time Indy winner) or A.J. Foyt IV?

But while I think that some of the TAG Heuer reissues are nice watches, they're not classic like an old Carrera.

I think that some of the TAG-Heuer reissues are nice watches as well.

The first generation manual wind Carrera Re-Edition is in my opinion the "Alpha Male" of the Classic's line. It was and remains what TAG-Heuer SHOULD be doing with all of the Classic re-issues. Not like what they've done with the Monza's and some of the other "Re-Edition" models.

Personally, I'd much rather TAG-Heuer had followed the Carrera Re-Edition with other similar re-editions that were much closer in appearance and spirit to the original models rather than the "retro-Styled" pieces they have trotted out.

The vintage watch is much cooler, not too much more expensive to buy, and cheaper to own both in the short run (buy a new TAG today and try and sell it tomorrow) and the long run (I fully expect that if you hold on to a nice vintage carrera, you'll be able to buy a small fleet of reissues in five years)

The real problem is finding a very good to better quality original at a reasonable price these days. The biggest problem is finding them, not buying them. On the other hand the Re-Editions are not as difficult to purchase. And of course a 40 year old watch will appreciate in value faster than a eight to ten year old watch.

Two requests, Mr. Maddox.

1) repost that Memphis Raines essay. It's very very good.

You didn't say please, but you did request... Hmmm...

Cheers!

-- Chuck

Chuck Maddox

Chronographs, like most finer things in life, only improve with time...

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