This Speedmaster 145.022 from 1969 for me, exactly 5 years ago. I will not say what I could have had it for...
I think we've had a thread like this before...or maybe it was a tangent off in another thread... not sure. For me it's this one: Had just been through the Vacheron factory, had a nice lunch there, and was at their museum. If I recall this watch, and it's automatic version also in pink gold with black dial, were only available there... I'm not a gold watch person, but I loved this one. Cheers, Al
Ditto. A beauty. What prevented you from pulling the trigger? Just so I don't create a similar thread five years from now.
These two insists on haunting me in my nightmares..... I was second on them both, The 1665 was a full-set
At the time I was worried a Speedy would be too large for my relatively puny wrist, and it was 5 years ago, before I was terribly knowledgeable (not that I am now, but maybe a little more so, and due in no small part to this forum). It was I think a tad under $3K at the time. Prices weren't quite as crazy then, for Omega or Rolex.
The marine and the tdmp are like ships sailing off into the horizon, you don't know if you will see them again. That waffle is super cool also. I have regrets almost daily, Dennis's 2500 was on my short list but unfortunately, my watch cash is also on my short list!
We can always say these things but at the time we just didn't make the decision based on many factors. Look to the future but don't let past things make future decision illogical.
Not watches in this case but a pair of BMW motorcycles seen in a stash of old German stuff for sale. An early sixties R50SS BMW, one of a few factory or importer kitted road racing specials available in the US. "Stock" it had a lovely big liquid filled tachometer instead of a speedo, straight pipes and open throated carbs. Also avalable was a mid seventies R90S in production racing trim, in its original smoke grey paint with the track inspection stickers from the Daytona 200 still on its fairing. Both were complete and running well. This was before vintage anything went nuts pricewise and both were at that magic stage that old racing bikes briefly hit... too old to race, but not old enough to be valuable.... I could have purchased either one, I had the money, and I could have licenced it for the street in those days, but I needed a reliable bike for commuting to college so I settled for a nice BMW R27 250. Lovely little thing, stupidly high quality..... but the fun I could have had! ***sigh***
I don t regret not pulling the trigger, because I just couldn t afford them there and then, there are many Watches I have seen and wished I could buy them, but to be honest I can t remeber that many of them so I agree with what Kringkily says as the best way to look at it.
15 years ago a friend of mine who I have been bugging for him to sell me his 6239 Paul Newman Daytona finally decided to let go of the watch. We were at a party then and after many drinks, he took off the watch and gave it to me. He asked me to give him 5 new Breitling Navitimer watches that he will give to his 5 boys who were all grown up already. I agreed but gave the watch back to him again and just asked him to meet me at the Breitling AD anytime at his convenience to finalize the trade. The next day I got a call from him and he informed that the watch was missing from his night table when he woke up. His live-in maid was also nowhere to be found and when he checked her room all her belongings were gone too. In short, the maid stole the watch. I felt really sorry because had I not given the watch back to him again, it would not have been stolen. In fact, he sort of chided me also for not holding on to the watch when he handed it to me that evening. I still regret it to this day for the lost opportunity of owning a one owner Newman Daytona for a reasonable price.