IRL Dissappointment
Discussion
What watch did you read all the reviews about and love it, and then when you finally got to see it in the metal it did nothing for you?
For me there was two. I was dead set on a Hamilton Murph 38, really loved the look, I knew the Hamilton strap was a bit stiff. But when I finally got to try one on, I really didn't gel with it at all. I tried on the original (42mm), the bracelet option, the white dial, nope, none of them. And I was ready to buy too.
The second one was the Tudor Pelagos. I honestly don't know what it is but when you look a close up shots of watches, those with a lot of depth or interesting elements to the dial (i.e. the white seamaster below) to me are just more 'special'. I'm not sure if the level of detail just gives off a 'higher quality' vibe.
So when I tried on the Pelagos, the dial is very flat, and the crystal is very flat, just everything was completely flat, it just didn't look that special, I'm not sure why.
Has anyone else been underwhelmed by a watch that they thought they would love?
(P.S. I partially blame the amazing macro photography these days in watch reviews, it makes everything look amazing up close, but you sort of forget how small watches actually are)
For me there was two. I was dead set on a Hamilton Murph 38, really loved the look, I knew the Hamilton strap was a bit stiff. But when I finally got to try one on, I really didn't gel with it at all. I tried on the original (42mm), the bracelet option, the white dial, nope, none of them. And I was ready to buy too.
The second one was the Tudor Pelagos. I honestly don't know what it is but when you look a close up shots of watches, those with a lot of depth or interesting elements to the dial (i.e. the white seamaster below) to me are just more 'special'. I'm not sure if the level of detail just gives off a 'higher quality' vibe.
So when I tried on the Pelagos, the dial is very flat, and the crystal is very flat, just everything was completely flat, it just didn't look that special, I'm not sure why.
Has anyone else been underwhelmed by a watch that they thought they would love?
(P.S. I partially blame the amazing macro photography these days in watch reviews, it makes everything look amazing up close, but you sort of forget how small watches actually are)
That last part is definitely true, I remember reading lots of reviews of the Longines I wanted... got it and it's a stunning watch, but (maybe my eyesight) I can't actually even read 'Swiss Made' on it, it's all so tiny! The reviews photos do hit differently these days.
Only watch I was slightly disappointed with was a Breitling Navitimer. Also I suppose the TAG solographs didn't seem that special up close.
Edited to say... any Grand Seiko. Still do not get these watches at all. Slightly different from your thread title because they never impressed me in the photos either! Heard from many, I need to see them up close to really appreciate them, so I did just that, and, nope, still nothing. I just don't get the brand I'm afraid!
Only watch I was slightly disappointed with was a Breitling Navitimer. Also I suppose the TAG solographs didn't seem that special up close.
Edited to say... any Grand Seiko. Still do not get these watches at all. Slightly different from your thread title because they never impressed me in the photos either! Heard from many, I need to see them up close to really appreciate them, so I did just that, and, nope, still nothing. I just don't get the brand I'm afraid!
Rolex
Was on the list for one and waited and waited .....
In the meantime I was in holiday in Florida and in a mall saw a Rolex AD.
Went in, some polite conversation, and demonstrated I was a serious buyer.
They went to the back, and bought out a Daytona.
Excitement levels elevated ....
Tried it on and it just didn't do it for me. It felt too small, the bezel didn't look great.
I declined ....
I should have perhaps bought it - but didn't want to deal with the hassle of bringing it back and not declaring.
Strange - since then I have tried the ceramic version and think it does look better and I am not as disappointed as the earlier model.
Was on the list for one and waited and waited .....
In the meantime I was in holiday in Florida and in a mall saw a Rolex AD.
Went in, some polite conversation, and demonstrated I was a serious buyer.
They went to the back, and bought out a Daytona.
Excitement levels elevated ....
Tried it on and it just didn't do it for me. It felt too small, the bezel didn't look great.
I declined ....
I should have perhaps bought it - but didn't want to deal with the hassle of bringing it back and not declaring.
Strange - since then I have tried the ceramic version and think it does look better and I am not as disappointed as the earlier model.
Cupid-stunt said:
Rolex
Was on the list for one and waited and waited .....
In the meantime I was in holiday in Florida and in a mall saw a Rolex AD.
Went in, some polite conversation, and demonstrated I was a serious buyer.
They went to the back, and bought out a Daytona.
Excitement levels elevated ....
Tried it on and it just didn't do it for me. It felt too small, the bezel didn't look great.
I declined ....
I should have perhaps bought it - but didn't want to deal with the hassle of bringing it back and not declaring.
Strange - since then I have tried the ceramic version and think it does look better and I am not as disappointed as the earlier model.
I tried on the ceramic Daytona a few months after they were released. Everyone seemed to be raving about them but it just didn't seem special. Was on the list for one and waited and waited .....
In the meantime I was in holiday in Florida and in a mall saw a Rolex AD.
Went in, some polite conversation, and demonstrated I was a serious buyer.
They went to the back, and bought out a Daytona.
Excitement levels elevated ....
Tried it on and it just didn't do it for me. It felt too small, the bezel didn't look great.
I declined ....
I should have perhaps bought it - but didn't want to deal with the hassle of bringing it back and not declaring.
Strange - since then I have tried the ceramic version and think it does look better and I am not as disappointed as the earlier model.
Cupid-stunt said:
Rolex
Was on the list for one and waited and waited .....
In the meantime I was in holiday in Florida and in a mall saw a Rolex AD.
Went in, some polite conversation, and demonstrated I was a serious buyer.
They went to the back, and bought out a Daytona.
Excitement levels elevated ....
Tried it on and it just didn't do it for me. It felt too small, the bezel didn't look great.
I declined ....
It's funny you mention this. I've seen so many close up photos of the black dial sub that when I finally got to see one in real life, I was a bit disappointed, it was so tiny ha ha! Was on the list for one and waited and waited .....
In the meantime I was in holiday in Florida and in a mall saw a Rolex AD.
Went in, some polite conversation, and demonstrated I was a serious buyer.
They went to the back, and bought out a Daytona.
Excitement levels elevated ....
Tried it on and it just didn't do it for me. It felt too small, the bezel didn't look great.
I declined ....
(it's obviously the same size as everything else, I was just surprised for some reason)
CrippsCorner said:
That last part is definitely true, I remember reading lots of reviews of the Longines I wanted... got it and it's a stunning watch, but (maybe my eyesight) I can't actually even read 'Swiss Made' on it, it's all so tiny! The reviews photos do hit differently these days.
Only watch I was slightly disappointed with was a Breitling Navitimer. Also I suppose the TAG solographs didn't seem that special up close.
Edited to say... any Grand Seiko. Still do not get these watches at all. Slightly different from your thread title because they never impressed me in the photos either! Heard from many, I need to see them up close to really appreciate them, so I did just that, and, nope, still nothing. I just don't get the brand I'm afraid!
Same here with the 'Swiss Made' tiny font on nearly any watch.Only watch I was slightly disappointed with was a Breitling Navitimer. Also I suppose the TAG solographs didn't seem that special up close.
Edited to say... any Grand Seiko. Still do not get these watches at all. Slightly different from your thread title because they never impressed me in the photos either! Heard from many, I need to see them up close to really appreciate them, so I did just that, and, nope, still nothing. I just don't get the brand I'm afraid!
I tried on a GS snowflake and shunbun. I was convinced I wanted the snowflake, but in real life, you can't really see the dial texture, the shunbun was the much nicer watch, which surprised me.
Rolex Sea Dweller. Had my heart set on one when I got my first “senior” position in 2003.
Tried it on, was available to purchase new (Birmingham) but the bracelet made it feel really cheap. Bought an Omega Seamaster instead. Felt much more premium in general. Still got that. Absolutely lovely.
Tried it on, was available to purchase new (Birmingham) but the bracelet made it feel really cheap. Bought an Omega Seamaster instead. Felt much more premium in general. Still got that. Absolutely lovely.
Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 7th February 18:19
Hear this a lot about the Daytona, much smaller and less exciting than you think it's going to be.
I bought this early last year after falling in love with it in the pictures, same sort of thing tbh, hardly worn it, have half-heartedly tried to sell it as it's too expensive to not be fully sold on it.
I bought this early last year after falling in love with it in the pictures, same sort of thing tbh, hardly worn it, have half-heartedly tried to sell it as it's too expensive to not be fully sold on it.
Squadrone Rosso said:
Rolex Sea Dweller. Had my heart set on one when I got my first “senior” position in 2003.
Tried it on, was available to purchase new (Birmingham) but the bracelet made it feel really cheap. Bought an Omega Seamaster instead. Felt much more premium in general. Still got that. Absolutely lovely.
Exact same experience I had but with a sub. Tried it on, was available to purchase new (Birmingham) but the bracelet made it feel really cheap. Bought an Omega Seamaster instead. Felt much more premium in general. Still got that. Absolutely lovely.
The hollow links made it feel rattley and cheap. Having lusted after one for years and being sold on the (Perceived) quality etc..
I went with a Planet Ocean instead.
New ones are a different ball game.
My inital thought was my Tudor GMT that I got new in 2018, didn't see it in the flesh, saw all the releases etc and ordered it, when it finally turned up realised its huge (thick) although I have been wearing it a lot recently again.
My other disappointment was for my brother in law, he really wanted a TAG but after a few looks decided to go with Tudor, off we went to the boutique to look at the 41mm white dialled 1926 with blue hands, in the pictures the hands looked matte and it looked great.
In reality the hands are shiny and didn't suit it in my opinion, he ended up getting the black dial one instead.
My other disappointment was for my brother in law, he really wanted a TAG but after a few looks decided to go with Tudor, off we went to the boutique to look at the 41mm white dialled 1926 with blue hands, in the pictures the hands looked matte and it looked great.
In reality the hands are shiny and didn't suit it in my opinion, he ended up getting the black dial one instead.
On a much more ordinary level than some of the watches mentioned so far, for me it was the Sinn 556.
In theory it should work perfectly, simple aesthetic, well-made, right size. I loved all the pics I saw online but when I tried a couple in-store I was massively underwhelmed.
The printed indices on the black dial versions were just too plain and the gloss black dial didn't lift it enough. So I looked at the blue version and it was just, well, a bit tacky. All the indices and the hands had edges that looked like they'd been dipped in glitter. Oh and the Sinn logotype looks like it was done in PowerPoint. And while I knew that before, in real-life it's just woefully disappointing.
Shame really it's still a brilliant watch, just not for me.
k
AB said:
Hear this a lot about the Daytona, much smaller and less exciting than you think it's going to be.
I bought this early last year after falling in love with it in the pictures, same sort of thing tbh, hardly worn it, have half-heartedly tried to sell it as it's too expensive to not be fully sold on it.
Wow, THAT's an expensive watch to have sitting around.I bought this early last year after falling in love with it in the pictures, same sort of thing tbh, hardly worn it, have half-heartedly tried to sell it as it's too expensive to not be fully sold on it.
Sporky said:
Oris Propilot X - grey dial.
Nice, but so dull looking. Basically no contrast in finishing anywhere, just matte grey, matte grey, and a bit of matte grey.
The rainbow dial one similarly - clever, but "static" - I thought there'd be some shimmer to it.
I'd not heard of it but it's not bloody cheap either is it.Nice, but so dull looking. Basically no contrast in finishing anywhere, just matte grey, matte grey, and a bit of matte grey.
The rainbow dial one similarly - clever, but "static" - I thought there'd be some shimmer to it.
I lusted after a polar explorer for years. Tried one on in Goldsmiths and was very disappointed.
Also tried one of the white faced Aqua Terra that had similar face to the pic in OP and while it looked nice, it wasn't £5k nice.
Am more into smaller and micro brands, so possibly would always find such things disappointing. Quite liked the IWC ,but I'd rather have a Sinn.
Also tried one of the white faced Aqua Terra that had similar face to the pic in OP and while it looked nice, it wasn't £5k nice.
Am more into smaller and micro brands, so possibly would always find such things disappointing. Quite liked the IWC ,but I'd rather have a Sinn.
AB said:
Sporky said:
Oris Propilot X - grey dial.
Nice, but so dull looking. Basically no contrast in finishing anywhere, just matte grey, matte grey, and a bit of matte grey.
The rainbow dial one similarly - clever, but "static" - I thought there'd be some shimmer to it.
I'd not heard of it but it's not bloody cheap either is it.Nice, but so dull looking. Basically no contrast in finishing anywhere, just matte grey, matte grey, and a bit of matte grey.
The rainbow dial one similarly - clever, but "static" - I thought there'd be some shimmer to it.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff