[Memorabilia] What your thoughts on Motorsport inspired watches?

[danbrigham]

Hi guys,

I'm keen to know, we all love cars/motorsport which almost naturally brings a love for wrist watches. For you what make a great motorsport inspired race watch and any example would be awesome. Would you even buy a motorsport/car inspired watch or stick to the classic dress watch?

Let the debate begin

[coppice]

Loathsome things.Nobody under 40 even owns a watch- I'm much older but my 100quid Citizen just , well,sort of works.

And is there any sight more utterly tragic than some fat middle aged bloke sporting a Gulf logo'ed watch ( other overpriced Gulf tat is available) in the hilarious self delusion that they are exercising their inner Steve McQueen ?

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by coppice

Loathsome things.Nobody under 40 even owns a watch- I'm much older but my 100quid Citizen just , well,sort of works.

And is there any sight more utterly tragic than some fat middle aged bloke sporting a Gulf logo'ed watch ( other overpriced Gulf tat is available) in the hilarious self delusion that they are exercising their inner Steve McQueen ?

Agreed; end of debate.

[chunder]

Me too

Utterly pointless and basically once you get guys like Piola selling his soul to put his name on them, you truly realise they are made for pence and the rest is profit.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by danbrigham

we all love cars/motorsport which almost naturally brings a love for wrist watches.

I have to admit that's not a connection I'd ever considered (and given the responses so far I'm not sure that link is there!)

A watch is a thing to tell the time. Some look nicer than others (and I suspect one plastered with anything motorsporty would fall into the 'not very nice' pile)

I don't own a wrist watch.

[mark_l]

Does a motorsport inspired watch tell you the time any quicker than looking at a cheap watch from the petrol station, or your phone? The answer is no so I'll keep the coins in my bank account.

[Aysedasi]

Hmmm, some opinionated stuff in here!

I like watches and make no excuses for being over 40 and one who doesn't want to tell the time just from my mobile. People seem to have those things permanently welded to their hands these days.... I have a decent number of watches that I rotate. The only vaguely motorsport linked watch that I own is a rather nice Marlboro chronograph that I bought second hand 2-3 years ago which keeps great time and looks quite good (I think - not that I give a tinker's cuss what anyone else thinks). If someone offered me a Tag Heuer Monaco I wouldn't say no, but nor would I pay £3k+ for one unless I won the lottery. I'm sure there are people who've posted in this thread already who buy things that I think are pretty daft/naff too..... (but then I also have a large collection of fountain pens as well.....). There really isn't anything wrong with 'each to his own' and we're all free to spend our money on whatever we like.

[chunder]

We are

But sadly while there are people who will spend 3 grand on a watch (thats the low end of the market sadly), there will always be people who make them, rather than make something more interesting or engineer something unique and different.

[Aysedasi]

Matter of opinion though surely. A watch may not be interesting to you, but it may be very interesting and enjoyable to me or someone else. What makes something 'interesting' or 'different' is (and always will and should be) a matter of personal opinion and taste..... I detest TV soaps, tattoos and piercings (as a small sample of my personal dislikes) but there are people who spend large amounts of their lives watching them or spend large sums of money having them done.... It's their time and money.

[backfire]

There's a big difference between a classic motorsport inspired quality watch (Omega Speedmaster, Rolex Daytona etc.) and a cheap quartz watch plastered in sponsor's logos. I have a 21 year old Rolex GMT (airline inspired not motorsport), I wear it everyday, it gives me pleasure and has doubled in value in three years (it also keeps excellent time). There seems to be people sneering at those who like to wear an expensive watch, yet who no doubt own and drive "silly" cars (I do also), perhaps they should all drive sensible Ford Fiestas.

[Aysedasi]

As I say, one mans' sensible' or 'desirable' is another man's 'you gotta be kidding!'.......

[1Zombie7]

Never really been interested in watches - but my wife wanted to buy me something for my 50th and we struggled to decide what.

She ended up getting me The C70 VW4 Chronometer has been inspired by the 1957 victory at Aintree of the Vanwall VW4 racing car that started with Tony Brooks behind the wheel and took the chequered flag with Stirling Moss in the driver's seat.

And I really like it - not flash but nicely engraved -

[champcarman]

I like Watches but my son rarely wears one so he gave me a V8 Supercars inspired Watch. Fairly expensive and a name brand but not a nothing special.

[The Fat Clerk]

I haven't owned a watch for the last 25+ years, why do I need one?

Both of my cars have clocks as does the Laptop i'm using to write this, and my mobile phone of course, add to this: television, cooker, microwave, bedside alarm clock etc.

P.S I'm 59

[Aysedasi]

I'm 61 and I have lots. I like watches. Period. It's my money..... (and none of them were expensive).

[OVERSTEER]

I received for Christmas a couple of years ago an Omologato Hesketh watch which I love, people make scoff, they may not but I simply don't care.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by OVERSTEER

I received for Christmas a couple of years ago an Omologato Hesketh watch which I love, people make scoff, they may not but I simply don't care.

Well said!

[djinvicta]

I feel naked if I don't wear one. I'm 63 and proud of my 8 euro French Lidl model..

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

I feel naked if I don't wear one. I'm 63 and proud of my 8 euro French Lidl model..

What's her name?