As I progress in my collecting journey, I'm starting to question the idea behind a Grail Watch. So let's explore 4 possible definitions of this overused term.
I’ll try to make this story as short as possible. Years ago I wore a 5 digit LV sub to work. A client who would visit would always comment on it saying “one day I’m going to get one of those”. What I knew was that he was extremely wealthy(much more than myself). I finally said “Look, we both know you can afford and attain anything you want, what’s the hold up?” In his words “when you can buy whatever you want, nothing gives you a hard on anymore…I make goals for myself that I need to reach in order to buy expensive things I don’t need but really want!” He said his goals revolve around becoming a better person. I thought that was cool perspective for a wealthy dude…or anyone really. The fun is dreaming and working hard at the way you just might be able to pull it off, and not just because your ship came in. Maybe you reach your goal, then decide to set some more goals to up the ante and keep grinding and dreaming! One day you might get that watch…But I bet the ride towards it will probably be way more exciting than when it’s finally on your wrist!
I have had multiple Rolexes, VCs, Pateks etc. but my real grail was… TAG Heuer… I have always wanted a TAG. In my teens and 20s (with zero knowledge about movements, history, prestige etc) I didn’t care about Patek, Rolex or Omega. I was dreaming about owning a TAG Heuer watch. Not because of the prices, for me TAGs were as unattainable as Pateks. I just preferred TAGs. Fast forward few years to when I was finally able to buy something more expensive than Casio, and looking for a first big purchase. This is when I had made a huge mistake and started checking online reviews… Obviously I didn’t pick a TAG 😢 For all those years since my taste was affected by other people’s opinions. I took me a long time, and a lot of money to clear my mind 😂 I have been in many different phases. First was „only Rolex” period, the most stupid one. Then, of course, was a „vintage” period, „best bang for a buck” period, and the most recent „only in-house” fused with my natural love for the underdogs :) As you can imagine it moved me far from TAGs. Thankfully, after owning more than a 100 watches from different price points, I no longer care about in-house, hype, and what a guy from youtube thinks about it. Almost 😂😂 But at this point I can finally buy myself a TAG! ❤️ I chose simple Carrera 5. The only grail I have ever had. Not this watch specifically, but (for me) it is all about achieve your goals. My goal was to own a TAG Heuer. And here I am with a huge smile on my face :) I’ve owned many „grail level” watches, but none was truly MINE. Those were other people’s grails. That’s why I feel happier right now than I felt picking up my first Submariner or VC Overseas. Even the most overhyped watch won’t feel special if it wasn’t truly desired. And there is a huge difference between wanting something because of the hype and desiring something that really speaks to you. Just learn what you truly love, don’t follow the hype.
"A journey without a destination", so perfectly put for us in this hobby Max. There are a few watches that I really want (grail watch? not sure) and there have been some that I now have that used to be on that really want list as well. Times change and once we get that watch that is that grail time moves on to the next one as you mention. Today I picked up a new watch that was not on my grail list, I had the call from the AD last week and now have a Pelagos 39 on my wrist. Wearing it for just some hours I have to wonder a little why I want another watch as this ticks all the boxes for me, a light tool watch that is also elegant, right this minute I have my close to perfect watch for me right now. Tomorrow however is another day and that watch that I still really want will still be there on my really want list. I may never get it but while I wait I have and can enjoy that watch that isn't my grail watch and appreciate it for what it is.
To me a grail has nothing to do with if you can or can't attain it. Often your grail will be hard to attain but that should not be the reason it is a grail nor should it be one of the traits that make it so. I feel a grail is a watch you love based on its design and how the watch speaks to you. Not everybody has a grail right away until they learn their taste. A grail should be meaningful beyond just how it looks but for some additional reason only the pursuer can describe. My grail is the Rolex Datejust. My father had one when I was growing up. It signifies success for me and reminds me of my dad when he reached a point in life where he would get dressed up nice and go out for a night on the town with my mom. It encompasses all that in a nutshell for me (success, maturity, classy, worthiness, etc). In addition, the pop culture references of it meaning the same thing I seen (from my dad) in real life add to the effect. I now own this watch (my own I bought and my dad's) and no watch will surpass this to me. This does not mean I cannot like other watches and it does not mean I can like more expensive watches over the DJ, but this watch is and will always be my grail watch. But since obtaining it, the uncontrollable urge to buy watches has died. I like being apart of the culture still and I have since bought an Invicta Pro Diver as another daily wear (added to the collection of many other daily wear watches) but that was less of an uncontrollable urge and more so I needed an enjoyable beater. I purchased my grail in 2016. Never have desired another watch since.
In the modern times we now live, to quote Oscar Wilde, I see more and more people knowing the price of everything, but don't know the true value of anything. Grail watches don't have to cost lots of money. A grail to me is what the watch, or anything, represents, not how much it costs. As mentioned in the comments, I suspect a grail watch stops being one the moment you buy it. A few years ago my grail was the Omega Seamaster 300. Within weeks of buying it I felt buyers remorse. The kind of lifestyle I lead had me constantly worrying about scratching it and indeed getting it stolen. It was a hassle I simply didn't account for. fast forward a few years and I now favour field watches and cheap divers that I can just grab and go. I don't have a grail any more. Im way happier for it.
Haha. Isn’t it ironic that almost from the moment you got your Seamaster, the bad feelings of spending money excessively and the paranoid feelings came forward. I think the rule of “if you can’t buy something twice, you can’t truly afford it” is a pretty true saying.
To me, it's a watch that is incredibly difficult to get (whether it be due to price and/or availability, etc.), but not 100% unattainable. Mine is the VC Overseas Everest Dual Time. If selling every watch in my collection would be enough to get it, I'd have it with no regrets. But it was sold out basically the moment it came out and now goes for 3X the price if you can find someone to sell it to you.
My grail watch is also a dream watch which never exist back in 2003. It is a white gold 37mm Lange Saxonia. I waited patiently till 2018 when Lange surprisingly released the Saxonia boutique edition in grey dial and 37mm with perfect proportion of the indexes and hands. I did not hesitate and bought it from the boutique. It is neither rare nor ridiculously costly but it never exist till 2018! It is still my grail watch, Yes! It is just no longer a dream watch for me😊. Next grail? Oh why not? Let’s continue to hunt for our grail watch 😊.
Love the clips from Last Crusade! I tend to think of my grail watch (Rolex Explorer 16570) as the one watch that I aspire to own for my own life. Something that’s worth the wait and worth having for the rest of my life, to represent a specific milestone in my life. I think anything else I’d own would be less expensive than my grail and would be where the fun would remain for buying/selling/trading. Love your videos!
@@WatchCrunchOfficial Indeed! I’m still on the fence about what to buy when I retire from the Air Force in 2 years! Lots more engagement on WatchCrunch to be had to help me!
Excellent discussion. In my opinion there are grail watches for the market (sub, nautilus, explorer, gtm, 1815, etc....) and the real grail, your particular grail watches. Once you realize this, all your anxiety calms down and you can enjoy the travel for those watches than makes you feel really good, regardless of their price or its hype market. A sign that it is a grail for me is that, although it does not make much sense in my collection, it is impossible for me to put it up for sale because i feel like selling a piece of my soul. Great video, great chanel.
A grail to me is a goal watch, something to admire from afar and work hard to obtain. I may never get one and that’s ok, but I love to think maybe one day! Mine is VC Overseas blue.
Great video. To me it’s a combination of overall respect from serious watch collectors (which leads to the difficulty to buy at MSRP) and the watch that visually pleases me, and finally fits my lifestyle. For me, that’s a GMT from ‘you know who.’ Although since I got my BB Pro about 6 weeks ago, I think a lot less about my grail.
This was the first close look I've had of this watch. Of course I had heard of it. Personally, I never felt the need to seek it out, knowing it's beyond my reach, but totally enjoyed the the video! I like the look and look of simplicity of this watch, while you point out the 4 colors of the dial, etc, etc...
A grail watch for me is a watch that I will spend a lifetime in pursuit of but will likely never be able to acquire it. The FP Journe Resonance is my grail.
Grail watch? Well, definitely not a 5711! I got into watches in the 80s, I bought all the magazines, because we didn't have the internet & one thing that stuck in the back of my mind was that a lot of people in the watch world at that time were less than enthusiastic about the Nautilus and the Royal Oak, etc. Their reputations seem to have taken on a Lustre over time they didn't have back in the day. I personally don't have an axe to grind in this regard; I couldn't afford them then and I can't realistically afford them now. I just find it funny how people's perceptions of things change over time. For me personally, my grail is a watch that I can afford, is a bit of a stretch, but I can still wear it daily if I like. It is also as far up the price ladder as I ever see myself going. Honestly, I could probably get away with wearing a 5711 everyday, because the way I dress nobody would ever expect it was real! My Walmart Hawaiian shirt and flip flops probably don't give away the fact that I'm wearing an expensive watch, much less a Patek! 🤪
I was shopping in a PCC grocery store in Seattle recently and saw a guy in running clothes pushing a cart with a 5712 on. I went up to him and told him I liked his watch and he was more than happy to chat about it. He wasn’t much of a watch guy and said that his wife had bought it for him 10 or so year ago and it was heavily scratched and worn. He said, “I can’t believe what the prices of these things have done. It’s done better than most of my Ferraris”. (Which I thought was pretty funny) But what I thought was so cool was that he said he wears it everyday, and it was very obviously scratched and dinged up. It really was someone who daily drove their Patek every day.
My grail watch is the watch to finalise the collection journey, like the engagement ring for the Mrs - 3 months salary if I can, that being the ALS Zietwerk
I am very lucky to have gotten my grail, though it has not placated my love for watches nor infatuation with buying more... At least I no longer have a grail to aim for anymore. Great video as always by the way! 👍
My grail, the one I wear each and every day for work and all around the world is my Breitling Galactic 41 with black dial and big date. I own 17 other watches but at the end of the day it’s my most special watch.
For me, a grail watch is somewhat but not necessarily impossible to obtain. My grail changes from time to time actually. First it was a Hamilton Intramatic, then a Mido, then a particular Oris. Now it’s an Omega Aqua Terra that unless I dedicate socking money away for, I’ll probably never get it. And, even if saved up enough for it, I don’t know if I’d actually buy it. Part of the fun if a grail watch, IMO, is the dream of maybe getting it someday. Sometimes the dream is better than the real thing. Just my 2 cents.
Prof Bill Sanders mentioned that since they dropped the Geneva Seal the PP is marking their own homework.My precious Is the Lang and Heyne Georg in gold.Trouble is however the sale tax alone is more than I have ever spent on a watch and my working class ancestors would spin in their graves.It will remain out of reach as grails should.
For me grail is only something that it is within my reach. My grail is the submariner, I own it, and after own it is still my grail, makes me happy everyday of my life. my limit is probably 15k, spending more in a watch seems crazy for me. (15k I still crazy but I spent that and I don't regret) 100k rather to put that towards a house, or get the new corvette.
Great video about the Nautilus, obviously a fantastic watch. A grail watch is a watch that is very difficult to buy. A Patek Philippe Nautilus or an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak that you want to buy at the official retail price, but not 3 or 5 times more.
You’ll always want another watch, if yours Gold you’ll want a platinum or steel Model, it’s never ending and be happy it is, it will always be a pleasurable distraction😊
My definition would be: a watch you would trade in your hole collection for but that doesn't mean the watch has to be expensive. It could be cheapest of all the watches you currently own. The key is that you would be willing to give up all the watches for that one piece and be happy with it.
Great review here. While I never understood the ridiculous desire and hype over the Nautilus, your video gave me a better appreciation. Here's the thing, and I will just pick this as an example, the modern Omega Seamaster Aquaterra ticks most of the same boxes in wearability and style and I would argue the recent dials (whether the textured one or the very impressive polished coloured dials like the Terracotta) match or beat the Patek. And the Aquaterra is much less costly and the movement is competitive. To top it off, much less worry with an Aquaterra theft wise and you can even afford an entire collection of watches after that with amazing heritage like Speedmaster + ..... etc.
My search for my grail ended before it began. After 20 plus years of being on the sidelines as a “watch enthusiast” abstaining from buying any watch, but studying, learning and lusting after watches my wife bought me my “grail” watch as a 50th birthday present. A Nautilus 5712. After that my collection exploded. Intel there’s by a need to find my grail, I simply bought what Iiked and created an ethos around the number of watches I would purchase and the type. Now I’m one watch away from completing my collection and return to an “enthusiast” only state, reading and enjoying the wonderful watches I’ve acquired over the years. Hopefully, gifting many of my watches to friends and relatives as time passes. So, I propose an argument for getting the “grail” thing out of the way up front to eleviate the pressure and get on with collecting whatever you want.
With all due respect, there's nothing remotely "alleviating" about the 5712, unfortunately. Personally, I get more enjoyment from my micro than any watch I've owned.
I achieved my goal of obtaining my grail, Patek Aquaculture 5065a, about a year ago. I still have my others, but I hardly wear them now. If I don’t have a chance to buy other watches ever again, I’ll be okay. That’s when I know that watch is my grail. I even think about selling my others to fund an investment property.
Agree- great video. For me there’s 4 types that often get called “grails” by other people but for me are separate. Grail watch (something I will always want and chase but likely never get- for me, the Patek Annual Calendar/Lange 1) Exit watch (something that if I got, would be me done with the watch buying/selling and I’d just wear it every day, but I’d still have the grail if ever possible- my exit watch could be a Rolex Explorer or no date sub) Dream watch (something that’s effectively impossible to get but I’d love all the same- a Roger Smith or for other people it might an ultra rare vintage Rolex like the Paul Newman Daytona) There’s also the Chase watch (the next one I have in mind but I will realistically get it before too long- for me it’s a Tudor bb58, once they upgrade the clasp and before I got mine, it was a Reverso duo)
A grail watch is what fits and looks good on one’s wrist after you spent decade/s pining over it ….and when it’s on…my sleeve is over her and in my heart I know I achieved it. No resale, no investment. Purely for keepsake. Btw. For me that’s not the 3711 but AP 37mm RO: That’s a “perfect” bracelet.
Arguably any Rolex could be considered a Grail watch and personally I've no ambition to trade up to the next level. I imagine there must be a cross over point at the Tudor BB58 with some using it as a Beater and others treating as their Grail. It's all a matter of opinion and perspective.
Max nails the discussion again. My reality says the Grail Watch is like the pin-up poster you had as a teenager in your room. Never going to date that girl or be that F1 driver, but wow what an idea. Because that WOW watch is not something I'd wear in public and as a House Cat, what is that about? You have to be able to enjoy your watches as part of your daily life. A 5711 is too "rational" to be a pin-up for me. Watches like my GS and Moonwatch are pieces that I can enjoy in my lifestyle and mean something to me for the hard work that earned them. I've been fortunate to have some fantastic pieces on my wrist (too much time at AD's) but they will stay there. Can't stop thinking about that JLC Master Control Geographic though...
I don’t use the term “grail.” I have a favorite watch, but it’s not my favorite every day. I love a variety of brands, styles, and colors. I love specific shades of color. Don’t wear one shirt or even pair of shoes everyday. Why would I wear the same watch everyday? Not hating on anyone who’s a one-watch collection-that will just never, ever be me. As the kids say - you do you. There are so many ways to enjoy the hobby.
For me it used to be a Submariner no date, but since all that watch crime increased and there are so many fakes and indeed people who have one (real or not), I’m thinking more niche now. Under the radar. I like the non-design of the IWC Mark series (the older models). - Is that a Timex? Seiko 5? 😂😂
Sorry, but neither the Royal Oak nor the Nautilus interest me in any way. Now, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony in blue and gold. You could say that’s my current grail watch. A watch that I’ll save to get.
Got my grail a couple of years ago ( SM300 heritage) . Love it. ... The next grail was a True Pogue, got that a year later, love it too. Strangely enough,my favourite watch is my Willard tho, which I bought as a beater. Really really don't get the hype for GG's 70's designs, to me they're some of the most hideous watches ever made!! Good video thank you 👍🏻👍🏻
It is a nice watch, I remember it going for like 25K. A grail ? Not really. A grail is the Rolex 6542 fully original, or a Omega Speedmaster CK 2915. Most of these show their age, with the patina. A 5711 doesn't, it is a hyped piece, to stay away from. Plus what is a grail for one is not a grail for someone else. I don't own watches, I own 1960s objects that give me intense nostalgia kicks, and when it's alive on your wrist, this is the ultimate. 1967 5513 with old riveted bracelet today... more grailish to me than a 5711.
Honestly I don't know what is so special about the Nautilus. I get that it's a Patek. Handmade etc. But the brand and the hype aside I think it is overrated compared to other watches available at a fraction of the pricepoint. I remember 20 years ago I went into a Patek AD and asked about buying a steel Aquanaut. They offered me a Nautilus instead for about $20k. I turned it down. I don't regret it. I have never liked the 70s design. I wish others would stop thinking that a grail watch has to be one of these overpriced, overhyped watches. You can only be called a watch enthusiast if you make your own decisions on what you like, not what social media dictates. Was Genta a genious? Not enough is focused on his ugly designs. Anyone collecting his trapezoidal Mickey Mouse watches? I think not.
The definition of a grail watch to me is your dream watch or all time favorite watch that you will never be able to afford or obtain. A mini grail watch is your favorite watch that you can afford and obtain.
To me, the greatest value comes in the $1000-2000 range from brands like Oris, Mido, Hamilton, Longines, Nomos, etc. I'd rather have 50 great watches from these companies than 1 or 2 "grails."
I avoid the term for the most part, simply because I find it overused and cliche. For me, a grail watch is something that exists in one’s mind as a well reasoned goal. It’s been compared, mentally against a large number of excellent watches, and time and again, attention returns to that one watch, it simply resonates with that person’s sensibilities. So on one hand, it’s a completely reasonable choice- it is unquestionably a fabulous timepiece. The rub being it’s also simply unobtainable by most any metric including common sense and financial well-being. Yet you chase it anyway at some level. A true grail watch, by definition, maybe you should never actual find it on your collection.
There is no such thing as a grail watch. There are only difficult to get watches that you aspire to own, but will rapidly find a place in a safe not to be worn again, #londonwatchcollector style. And in times of growing insecurity and diminishing GDP per capita, walking around with $ 20, 50 or 100 ks attached to your wrist in the form of an highly recognizable watch doesn’t sound like a good idea, unless you can also afford two 24/7 bodyguards. Max, enjoy the 5711, I’ll stick to my Sinn 556.
A grail watch is one you seek out when you have the money and have located the watch. It is one you have admired/wanted for a long time, and then you finally have the chance to own it - then you realise it does the same thing as a $20 Casio!!!!!!! Only kidding!
I don’t have a grail watch…that I can think of. My drive to want something material just isn’t all that strong. If something costs too much money IMO, or is way too difficult to obtain IMO, or is in some other way impractical…It tends to NOT hold my interest, let alone become something that I become fixated on. Material things just aren’t worth being a “grail.”
I've never liked it, and still don't. The 70s design aesthetic is the worst in modern history. There's so much cringe crass stupidity in today's watch world, with people flexing objectively hideous watches simply because they are expensive. Incredibly tiresome that so few people in this hobby can think for themselves, and sheep purchase watches that "influencers" tell them to buy.
Add to the discussion on WatchCrunch: www.watchcrunch.com/Max/posts/your-4-definitions-for-a-grail-watch-15855
I’ll try to make this story as short as possible. Years ago I wore a 5 digit LV sub to work. A client who would visit would always comment on it saying “one day I’m going to get one of those”. What I knew was that he was extremely wealthy(much more than myself). I finally said “Look, we both know you can afford and attain anything you want, what’s the hold up?” In his words “when you can buy whatever you want, nothing gives you a hard on anymore…I make goals for myself that I need to reach in order to buy expensive things I don’t need but really want!” He said his goals revolve around becoming a better person. I thought that was cool perspective for a wealthy dude…or anyone really. The fun is dreaming and working hard at the way you just might be able to pull it off, and not just because your ship came in. Maybe you reach your goal, then decide to set some more goals to up the ante and keep grinding and dreaming! One day you might get that watch…But I bet the ride towards it will probably be way more exciting than when it’s finally on your wrist!
I have had multiple Rolexes, VCs, Pateks etc. but my real grail was… TAG Heuer…
I have always wanted a TAG. In my teens and 20s (with zero knowledge about movements, history, prestige etc) I didn’t care about Patek, Rolex or Omega. I was dreaming about owning a TAG Heuer watch. Not because of the prices, for me TAGs were as unattainable as Pateks. I just preferred TAGs.
Fast forward few years to when I was finally able to buy something more expensive than Casio, and looking for a first big purchase. This is when I had made a huge mistake and started checking online reviews… Obviously I didn’t pick a TAG 😢
For all those years since my taste was affected by other people’s opinions. I took me a long time, and a lot of money to clear my mind 😂
I have been in many different phases. First was „only Rolex” period, the most stupid one. Then, of course, was a „vintage” period, „best bang for a buck” period, and the most recent „only in-house” fused with my natural love for the underdogs :) As you can imagine it moved me far from TAGs.
Thankfully, after owning more than a 100 watches from different price points, I no longer care about in-house, hype, and what a guy from youtube thinks about it. Almost 😂😂
But at this point I can finally buy myself a TAG! ❤️ I chose simple Carrera 5.
The only grail I have ever had. Not this watch specifically, but (for me) it is all about achieve your goals. My goal was to own a TAG Heuer. And here I am with a huge smile on my face :)
I’ve owned many „grail level” watches, but none was truly MINE. Those were other people’s grails. That’s why I feel happier right now than I felt picking up my first Submariner or VC Overseas. Even the most overhyped watch won’t feel special if it wasn’t truly desired. And there is a huge difference between wanting something because of the hype and desiring something that really speaks to you.
Just learn what you truly love, don’t follow the hype.
Love your perspective! Great comment!
"A journey without a destination", so perfectly put for us in this hobby Max. There are a few watches that I really want (grail watch? not sure) and there have been some that I now have that used to be on that really want list as well. Times change and once we get that watch that is that grail time moves on to the next one as you mention. Today I picked up a new watch that was not on my grail list, I had the call from the AD last week and now have a Pelagos 39 on my wrist. Wearing it for just some hours I have to wonder a little why I want another watch as this ticks all the boxes for me, a light tool watch that is also elegant, right this minute I have my close to perfect watch for me right now. Tomorrow however is another day and that watch that I still really want will still be there on my really want list. I may never get it but while I wait I have and can enjoy that watch that isn't my grail watch and appreciate it for what it is.
Yes, savor the fleeting pleasures of our fickle hearts 😅
Royal Oak, Nautilus. Watches you are not allowed to dislike.
I truly appreciate your wealth of inside knowledge ..and of course your videos ;)
To me a grail has nothing to do with if you can or can't attain it. Often your grail will be hard to attain but that should not be the reason it is a grail nor should it be one of the traits that make it so. I feel a grail is a watch you love based on its design and how the watch speaks to you. Not everybody has a grail right away until they learn their taste. A grail should be meaningful beyond just how it looks but for some additional reason only the pursuer can describe.
My grail is the Rolex Datejust. My father had one when I was growing up. It signifies success for me and reminds me of my dad when he reached a point in life where he would get dressed up nice and go out for a night on the town with my mom. It encompasses all that in a nutshell for me (success, maturity, classy, worthiness, etc). In addition, the pop culture references of it meaning the same thing I seen (from my dad) in real life add to the effect. I now own this watch (my own I bought and my dad's) and no watch will surpass this to me. This does not mean I cannot like other watches and it does not mean I can like more expensive watches over the DJ, but this watch is and will always be my grail watch. But since obtaining it, the uncontrollable urge to buy watches has died. I like being apart of the culture still and I have since bought an Invicta Pro Diver as another daily wear (added to the collection of many other daily wear watches) but that was less of an uncontrollable urge and more so I needed an enjoyable beater. I purchased my grail in 2016. Never have desired another watch since.
In the modern times we now live, to quote Oscar Wilde, I see more and more people knowing the price of everything, but don't know the true value of anything. Grail watches don't have to cost lots of money. A grail to me is what the watch, or anything, represents, not how much it costs. As mentioned in the comments, I suspect a grail watch stops being one the moment you buy it. A few years ago my grail was the Omega Seamaster 300. Within weeks of buying it I felt buyers remorse. The kind of lifestyle I lead had me constantly worrying about scratching it and indeed getting it stolen. It was a hassle I simply didn't account for. fast forward a few years and I now favour field watches and cheap divers that I can just grab and go. I don't have a grail any more. Im way happier for it.
Haha. Isn’t it ironic that almost from the moment you got your Seamaster, the bad feelings of spending money excessively and the paranoid feelings came forward. I think the rule of “if you can’t buy something twice, you can’t truly afford it” is a pretty true saying.
Based on the title, I wouldn't have thought that this video would only be about the nautilus. Not the grail watch for me. Just an expensive watch.
To me, it's a watch that is incredibly difficult to get (whether it be due to price and/or availability, etc.), but not 100% unattainable. Mine is the VC Overseas Everest Dual Time. If selling every watch in my collection would be enough to get it, I'd have it with no regrets. But it was sold out basically the moment it came out and now goes for 3X the price if you can find someone to sell it to you.
Just out of reach to make you salivate and dream 😍
I know! I adore that watch. Absolutely absurd that the coolest iterations are always limited. These brands, man.
Such good taste! The Everest Dual Time is the coolest watch I have ever seen. Couldn't spend the coin at list price so "unobtainium" is fine.
Solid choice! Hope you get it.
Awesome choice the VC!
Even if I don't like the watch, I still like your videos, they are top notch! Would love to see more affordable mods in the future! ❤️
Thanks bud 😁👍
My grail watch is also a dream watch which never exist back in 2003. It is a white gold 37mm Lange Saxonia. I waited patiently till 2018 when Lange surprisingly released the Saxonia boutique edition in grey dial and 37mm with perfect proportion of the indexes and hands. I did not hesitate and bought it from the boutique. It is neither rare nor ridiculously costly but it never exist till 2018! It is still my grail watch, Yes! It is just no longer a dream watch for me😊. Next grail? Oh why not? Let’s continue to hunt for our grail watch 😊.
Love the clips from Last Crusade! I tend to think of my grail watch (Rolex Explorer 16570) as the one watch that I aspire to own for my own life. Something that’s worth the wait and worth having for the rest of my life, to represent a specific milestone in my life. I think anything else I’d own would be less expensive than my grail and would be where the fun would remain for buying/selling/trading. Love your videos!
It's great to have a watch that signifies a life milestone... Cheers Daniel 😊
@@WatchCrunchOfficial Indeed! I’m still on the fence about what to buy when I retire from the Air Force in 2 years! Lots more engagement on WatchCrunch to be had to help me!
Excellent discussion. In my opinion there are grail watches for the market (sub, nautilus, explorer, gtm, 1815, etc....) and the real grail, your particular grail watches. Once you realize this, all your anxiety calms down and you can enjoy the travel for those watches than makes you feel really good, regardless of their price or its hype market.
A sign that it is a grail for me is that, although it does not make much sense in my collection, it is impossible for me to put it up for sale because i feel like selling a piece of my soul.
Great video, great chanel.
A grail to me is a goal watch, something to admire from afar and work hard to obtain. I may never get one and that’s ok, but I love to think maybe one day! Mine is VC Overseas blue.
Nice! Get it ✊
Me, too. Which generation?
@@James-qg2nu Gen 3, cleaner dial.
Great video. To me it’s a combination of overall respect from serious watch collectors (which leads to the difficulty to buy at MSRP) and the watch that visually pleases me, and finally fits my lifestyle. For me, that’s a GMT from ‘you know who.’ Although since I got my BB Pro about 6 weeks ago, I think a lot less about my grail.
This was the first close look I've had of this watch. Of course I had heard of it. Personally, I never felt the need to seek it out, knowing it's beyond my reach, but totally enjoyed the the video! I like the look and look of simplicity of this watch, while you point out the 4 colors of the dial, etc, etc...
Thanks Sim, it was my first time playing with it too!
A grail watch for me is a watch that I will spend a lifetime in pursuit of but will likely never be able to acquire it. The FP Journe Resonance is my grail.
Dude, the resonance looks so rad 😍
Great video as always, Max! Nautilus is definitely one of my grail watch.
Thanks Ian 😁
Grail watch? Well, definitely not a 5711! I got into watches in the 80s, I bought all the magazines, because we didn't have the internet & one thing that stuck in the back of my mind was that a lot of people in the watch world at that time were less than enthusiastic about the Nautilus and the Royal Oak, etc.
Their reputations seem to have taken on a Lustre over time they didn't have back in the day. I personally don't have an axe to grind in this regard; I couldn't afford them then and I can't realistically afford them now. I just find it funny how people's perceptions of things change over time.
For me personally, my grail is a watch that I can afford, is a bit of a stretch, but I can still wear it daily if I like. It is also as far up the price ladder as I ever see myself going. Honestly, I could probably get away with wearing a 5711 everyday, because the way I dress nobody would ever expect it was real! My Walmart Hawaiian shirt and flip flops probably don't give away the fact that I'm wearing an expensive watch, much less a Patek! 🤪
Haha, great historical and tropical perspective
Great video! To me, my grail watch is something that I'll never get but am happy to tell people about it when they ask and why I like it.
Good perspective Linus!
I was shopping in a PCC grocery store in Seattle recently and saw a guy in running clothes pushing a cart with a 5712 on. I went up to him and told him I liked his watch and he was more than happy to chat about it. He wasn’t much of a watch guy and said that his wife had bought it for him 10 or so year ago and it was heavily scratched and worn. He said, “I can’t believe what the prices of these things have done. It’s done better than most of my Ferraris”. (Which I thought was pretty funny) But what I thought was so cool was that he said he wears it everyday, and it was very obviously scratched and dinged up. It really was someone who daily drove their Patek every day.
My grail watch is the watch to finalise the collection journey, like the engagement ring for the Mrs - 3 months salary if I can, that being the ALS Zietwerk
Great video on a watch that has been covered a lot. Great job!!!
Thanks man 😊
I am very lucky to have gotten my grail, though it has not placated my love for watches nor infatuation with buying more... At least I no longer have a grail to aim for anymore. Great video as always by the way! 👍
What watch was that?
I think there is not a grail watch, but the next grail watch. It is all about the journey.
Damn right!
My grail, the one I wear each and every day for work and all around the world is my Breitling Galactic 41 with black dial and big date. I own 17 other watches but at the end of the day it’s my most special watch.
For me, a grail watch is somewhat but not necessarily impossible to obtain. My grail changes from time to time actually. First it was a Hamilton Intramatic, then a Mido, then a particular Oris. Now it’s an Omega Aqua Terra that unless I dedicate socking money away for, I’ll probably never get it. And, even if saved up enough for it, I don’t know if I’d actually buy it. Part of the fun if a grail watch, IMO, is the dream of maybe getting it someday. Sometimes the dream is better than the real thing. Just my 2 cents.
Prof Bill Sanders mentioned that since they dropped the Geneva Seal the PP is marking their own homework.My precious Is the Lang and Heyne Georg in gold.Trouble is however the sale tax alone is more than I have ever spent on a watch and my working class ancestors would spin in their graves.It will remain out of reach as grails should.
Where can i get that watch stand in the video?
For me grail is only something that it is within my reach. My grail is the submariner, I own it, and after own it is still my grail, makes me happy everyday of my life.
my limit is probably 15k, spending more in a watch seems crazy for me. (15k I still crazy but I spent that and I don't regret)
100k rather to put that towards a house, or get the new corvette.
That's amazing! I admire you
Great video about the Nautilus, obviously a fantastic watch.
A grail watch is a watch that is very difficult to buy. A Patek Philippe Nautilus or an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak that you want to buy at the official retail price, but not 3 or 5 times more.
Great point, I might as well get myself on the list 😅
Excellent review and thoughts
Another great video Max, this 5711 looks great on you! I’m still trying to figure out what “grail watch” means to me.. Congrats on 40K+ subs!
Thanks Miguel...I think I understand the definition less after this video 😆
@@WatchCrunchOfficial 😂
The Nautilus looks amazing. What watch are you wearing in the other shots?
Longines spirit 37
Little off topic, but where is the blue sweater from you are wearing on the wrist shots?
You’ll always want another watch, if yours Gold you’ll want a platinum or steel
Model, it’s never ending and be happy it is, it will always be a pleasurable distraction😊
My definition would be: a watch you would trade in your hole collection for but that doesn't mean the watch has to be expensive. It could be cheapest of all the watches you currently own. The key is that you would be willing to give up all the watches for that one piece and be happy with it.
Great review here. While I never understood the ridiculous desire and hype over the Nautilus, your video gave me a better appreciation. Here's the thing, and I will just pick this as an example, the modern Omega Seamaster Aquaterra ticks most of the same boxes in wearability and style and I would argue the recent dials (whether the textured one or the very impressive polished coloured dials like the Terracotta) match or beat the Patek. And the Aquaterra is much less costly and the movement is competitive. To top it off, much less worry with an Aquaterra theft wise and you can even afford an entire collection of watches after that with amazing heritage like Speedmaster + ..... etc.
I was just telling my buddy last night the AT with the teak dial is the best 1 watch collection at it's price 👍
Until things change I think Grill watch may have to have a underlying safety clause in there because if you can't wear it safely what's the point.
Definitely, can't be a safe queen
My search for my grail ended before it began. After 20 plus years of being on the sidelines as a “watch enthusiast” abstaining from buying any watch, but studying, learning and lusting after watches my wife bought me my “grail” watch as a 50th birthday present. A Nautilus 5712. After that my collection exploded. Intel there’s by a need to find my grail, I simply bought what Iiked and created an ethos around the number of watches I would purchase and the type. Now I’m one watch away from completing my collection and return to an “enthusiast” only state, reading and enjoying the wonderful watches I’ve acquired over the years. Hopefully, gifting many of my watches to friends and relatives as time passes. So, I propose an argument for getting the “grail” thing out of the way up front to eleviate the pressure and get on with collecting whatever you want.
With all due respect, there's nothing remotely "alleviating" about the 5712, unfortunately. Personally, I get more enjoyment from my micro than any watch I've owned.
I find the Nautilus to be unappealing. A 'Little Lange 1' on the other hand would be an unattainable grail for me.
The "grail" doesn't really exist, does it? I think a "grail" collection is more realistic isn't it?
Oh boy, that sounds expensive 😅
I achieved my goal of obtaining my grail, Patek Aquaculture 5065a, about a year ago. I still have my others, but I hardly wear them now. If I don’t have a chance to buy other watches ever again, I’ll be okay. That’s when I know that watch is my grail. I even think about selling my others to fund an investment property.
Agree- great video.
For me there’s 4 types that often get called “grails” by other people but for me are separate.
Grail watch (something I will always want and chase but likely never get- for me, the Patek Annual Calendar/Lange 1)
Exit watch (something that if I got, would be me done with the watch buying/selling and I’d just wear it every day, but I’d still have the grail if ever possible- my exit watch could be a Rolex Explorer or no date sub)
Dream watch (something that’s effectively impossible to get but I’d love all the same- a Roger Smith or for other people it might an ultra rare vintage Rolex like the Paul Newman Daytona)
There’s also the Chase watch (the next one I have in mind but I will realistically get it before too long- for me it’s a Tudor bb58, once they upgrade the clasp and before I got mine, it was a Reverso duo)
Chase watch! I love that 👏👏
When is the WatchCrunch app coming?
Any day now!!
Good unique video max.
A grail watch is what fits and looks good on one’s wrist after you spent decade/s pining over it ….and when it’s on…my sleeve is over her and in my heart I know I achieved it. No resale, no investment. Purely for keepsake.
Btw. For me that’s not the 3711 but AP 37mm RO: That’s a “perfect” bracelet.
The grail watch is the one that your wife doesn’t get upset about!
Grail wife 👌
I live in UAE Abu Dhabi its pretty safe and calm.
Grail for me would be very expensive and my last watch!
HEY!
Arguably any Rolex could be considered a Grail watch and personally I've no ambition to trade up to the next level. I imagine there must be a cross over point at the Tudor BB58 with some using it as a Beater and others treating as their Grail. It's all a matter of opinion and perspective.
Max nails the discussion again. My reality says the Grail Watch is like the pin-up poster you had as a teenager in your room. Never going to date that girl or be that F1 driver, but wow what an idea. Because that WOW watch is not something I'd wear in public and as a House Cat, what is that about? You have to be able to enjoy your watches as part of your daily life. A 5711 is too "rational" to be a pin-up for me.
Watches like my GS and Moonwatch are pieces that I can enjoy in my lifestyle and mean something to me for the hard work that earned them. I've been fortunate to have some fantastic pieces on my wrist (too much time at AD's) but they will stay there. Can't stop thinking about that JLC Master Control Geographic though...
Yeah I think less and less in terms of Grails as my collecting years pass
my grail is SBGA413 or maybe SLGA413 (same 413 with 5day spring drive version), and hopefully watch robbers don't care about GS
My grail watch is the Speedmaster CK 2915-1
The OG 👌
My grail? Rose gold green dial day date
Uhgghhh me too 😍
I don’t use the term “grail.”
I have a favorite watch, but it’s not my favorite every day.
I love a variety of brands, styles, and colors. I love specific shades of color.
Don’t wear one shirt or even pair of shoes everyday. Why would I wear the same watch everyday?
Not hating on anyone who’s a one-watch collection-that will just never, ever be me.
As the kids say - you do you. There are so many ways to enjoy the hobby.
For me it used to be a Submariner no date, but since all that watch crime increased and there are so many fakes and indeed people who have one (real or not), I’m thinking more niche now. Under the radar. I like the non-design of the IWC Mark series (the older models). - Is that a Timex? Seiko 5? 😂😂
Sorry, but neither the Royal Oak nor the Nautilus interest me in any way. Now, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony in blue and gold. You could say that’s my current grail watch. A watch that I’ll save to get.
I dont mind a seiko video
Never heard of the brands before being a collector. The only watch brand noted is Rolex, period.
1:01 😍😍😍😍
I'm flattered ☺️
Got my grail a couple of years ago ( SM300 heritage) . Love it. ... The next grail was a True Pogue, got that a year later, love it too. Strangely enough,my favourite watch is my Willard tho, which I bought as a beater.
Really really don't get the hype for GG's 70's designs, to me they're some of the most hideous watches ever made!!
Good video thank you 👍🏻👍🏻
So, buying a tie-dye shirt now I am 45 is a no-no??? Come on, there goes my evening shirt!
🤣 do you
It is a nice watch, I remember it going for like 25K. A grail ? Not really. A grail is the Rolex 6542 fully original, or a Omega Speedmaster CK 2915. Most of these show their age, with the patina. A 5711 doesn't, it is a hyped piece, to stay away from. Plus what is a grail for one is not a grail for someone else. I don't own watches, I own 1960s objects that give me intense nostalgia kicks, and when it's alive on your wrist, this is the ultimate. 1967 5513 with old riveted bracelet today... more grailish to me than a 5711.
Honestly I don't know what is so special about the Nautilus. I get that it's a Patek. Handmade etc. But the brand and the hype aside I think it is overrated compared to other watches available at a fraction of the pricepoint.
I remember 20 years ago I went into a Patek AD and asked about buying a steel Aquanaut. They offered me a Nautilus instead for about $20k. I turned it down. I don't regret it. I have never liked the 70s design. I wish others would stop thinking that a grail watch has to be one of these overpriced, overhyped watches. You can only be called a watch enthusiast if you make your own decisions on what you like, not what social media dictates. Was Genta a genious? Not enough is focused on his ugly designs. Anyone collecting his trapezoidal Mickey Mouse watches? I think not.
I have several grail watches, so I cannot propperly comment…
my grail watch is casio mq24 🙏
😎✊
Your audience already have heard all perspectives on these hyped watches for ages.
Thanks for your insights 🤣
The definition of a grail watch to me is your dream watch or all time favorite watch that you will never be able to afford or obtain. A mini grail watch is your favorite watch that you can afford and obtain.
Mini Grail, splitting hairs there 😉
To me, the greatest value comes in the $1000-2000 range from brands like Oris, Mido, Hamilton, Longines, Nomos, etc. I'd rather have 50 great watches from these companies than 1 or 2 "grails."
I hate that braclet those shine centre section just don’t do it for me
A seiko that has no bezel alignment issues.
🤣🤣🤣
The Cup of Christ itself is more obtainable.
I avoid the term for the most part, simply because I find it overused and cliche.
For me, a grail watch is something that exists in one’s mind as a well reasoned goal. It’s been compared, mentally against a large number of excellent watches, and time and again, attention returns to that one watch, it simply resonates with that person’s sensibilities.
So on one hand, it’s a completely reasonable choice- it is unquestionably a fabulous timepiece. The rub being it’s also simply unobtainable by most any metric including common sense and financial well-being. Yet you chase it anyway at some level.
A true grail watch, by definition, maybe you should never actual find it on your collection.
why are you hating on my billabong suit?
lol get the a lange and sohne perpetual calendar 1 salmon dial wit white gold. only 150 made
There is no such thing as a grail watch. There are only difficult to get watches that you aspire to own, but will rapidly find a place in a safe not to be worn again, #londonwatchcollector style.
And in times of growing insecurity and diminishing GDP per capita, walking around with $ 20, 50 or 100 ks attached to your wrist in the form of an highly recognizable watch doesn’t sound like a good idea, unless you can also afford two 24/7 bodyguards.
Max, enjoy the 5711, I’ll stick to my Sinn 556.
Not sure about this, its like selling my house to own a ferrari…but hey, you can sleep in your car but you cant race your house!
A grail watch is one you seek out when you have the money and have located the watch. It is one you have admired/wanted for a long time, and then you finally have the chance to own it - then you realise it does the same thing as a $20 Casio!!!!!!! Only kidding!
Hahaha, no one will understand us 😅
@@WatchCrunchOfficial Nope, us watch lovers are a strange bunch indeed!
Mine ist the Whitegold Day Dayte 118209
I'd sell my children on Craigslist to buy the Nautilus!
Haha, just keep one 🤷♂️
I own one it. It’s a dumb watch. Don’t buy the hype!! The best watch is simple and Better the Rolex Datejust!
That’s so rediculous it’s not even a good looking watch I would take a Rolex any day before that 5711
The dial is not my cup of tea whatsoever ☹️the Tissot prx will have kind of the same effect on your wrist🤣😂
I don’t have a grail watch…that I can think of. My drive to want something material just isn’t all that strong. If something costs too much money IMO, or is way too difficult to obtain IMO, or is in some other way impractical…It tends to NOT hold my interest, let alone become something that I become fixated on. Material things just aren’t worth being a “grail.”
Wish the Patek , had a timing bezel and lume like a Seiko Marine Master.
NO!!! It is not worth that kind of money!!! Stop it!!!
I've never liked it, and still don't. The 70s design aesthetic is the worst in modern history. There's so much cringe crass stupidity in today's watch world, with people flexing objectively hideous watches simply because they are expensive. Incredibly tiresome that so few people in this hobby can think for themselves, and sheep purchase watches that "influencers" tell them to buy.
not a grail watch. a Hyped up watch...maybe. Too many wanabes.