There is no such thing as a grail watch..

[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Attachment 1452571

[Jackie Daytona]

Originally Posted by Apdl

There is always going to be the next greatest more desirable thing...

I agree completely. Collecting watches is similar to dogs chasing cars. You always want to catch the next one then when you get it… there’s still another to chase.

[omar-rye]

A grail is a grail during the pursuit, but it stops being a grail once it is attained.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

A grail is a grail during the pursuit, but it stops being a grail once it is attained.

Yup, the thrill of the chase! Once you get it, you maintain some of that excitement for a short time, and then it lessens. Human nature!

Kat


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[geoach]

being over 60 I have my two grails 16601lv 2003 y ser number flat 4 and PP aqua.......both took years to get........no chase in this dog no more

[Yobber76]

it is true that there are grail watches.

But there's always tomorrow!

[Easy Rhino]

Originally Posted by Gearjockey

Grail to me, is the watch(es) I know I will keep til I’m pushing daisies and my kids grab
em. It may take a few tries to figure that out but in my case, it’s a Sub (SD) and a GMT.

This is how I define grail. My 14060M no date two line sub I've worn daily since my 25th anniversary in 2005 is and will always be a grail watch to me. With two sons I recently added a DateJust 41mm blue stick dial white faceted gold bezel on oyster which I long desired. Now I alternate them and am thrilled each time I put one on each morning as I rise. Sometimes it's not getting what you want, but instead wanting what you've got. YMMV. I'm not sure, but I may someday try to obtain two more for my personal collection.

[garyk]

I’ve had watches before my grail watch and some after but nothing diminishes the grail watch I was fortunate to buy in 2000.




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[TimeAZ]

Agreed. The grail watch is the watch you DONT buy.

[johnsonsxusfrt]

we are all dopamine addicts. It drives us to hunt for the next piece. Once we actually get it the dopamine levels drop and the only way to ramp them back up is to begin the pursuit for the next piece

[1William]

The concept of the Grail is great and it drives a lot of people in a lot of areas. Not just watches but cars, real estate, collectables and even salary/money. The term Grail is thrown around quit a bit without an accepted definition by most. So there are degrees of a Grail and when taking into account human nature a possible repetitive nature to the acquiring of items that qualify. Leave out the factor of age and life experience and it is a true merry go round until someone decides to get off. When I bought my first SS Submariner for $1400 I thought I was there, never sell and did not know you could trade. Fast forward 30 plus years and I have been through all of the Rolex references in every metal and only recently have some personal clarity. The Grail does not exist for me on any level but it has been a fun ride. And guess what my favorite watch is? A SS Rolex Submariner ND 124060. A modern return to the watch I started with. Don't fight it, don't overthink it, just enjoy the ride and the watches.

[jamesbondOO7]

I thought a YG DayDate was the grail, now I want to sell it. I might end up with just the 16030 I bought almost 40 years ago.

[SLWoodster]

I agree. It’s just the grail for the moment.

But that’s okay. I think people having grails keeps me humble.

Originally Posted by mpkRolex

You only get temporary gratification once you buy your grail and then move on to the next shiny watch. Your watch taste and liking changes over time. At some point I waited long for a RO but before I could get my hands on it I lost interest. Life lesson after being a long term watch owner having owned many “grails” Subs, Daytona, YM, DJ and lately just the Pepsi and Starbucks. Thoughts?




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[Copasetic]

Originally Posted by metallic

While there is no grail watch, there can be satisfaction, contentment with what you have. I think that's the grail, contentment and satisfaction with the collection you have with an occasional adjustment of that collection.

I totally agree. As soon as I get something new, I find myself thinking about what’s next.

[Lesnerelli23]

I can definitely see both sides of the argument.

For me, I have a “grail” and I own it. The 116610LN was my first luxury piece. To me it’s the absolute perfect sub.

There are other watches I’d love to have like a 1680 red or 60’s Pepsi. And while those could be considered “grails”, they aren’t “perfect” watches to me like my Sub is.

Which therefore makes the 116610 my grail, at least by my own logic lol.


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[Torshalla]

Human nature… once we achieve our goals, we set new goals :)


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[Zach69SS]

With me, there is always the next grail. Sometimes it takes a year or two to get something I really want. Then, I want something else, I guess it a sickness we all have with this hobby and some don’t understand.

Grails, Yes, many?

[johnsonsxusfrt]

Originally Posted by Zach69SS

With me, there is always the next grail. Sometimes it takes a year or two to get something I really want. Then, I want something else, I guess it a sickness we all have with this hobby and some don’t understand.

Grails, Yes, many?

100% agree. I thought once I got the call for my AP Openworks I would be done, but that lasted 2 weeks

[Roger Lococco]

This is pretty close for me … maybe one day.




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[WristWatchWonders]

Grail watches come and go. The thrill is the chase.
The "exit watch" seems more applicable here. It's that last big score before an individual stops collecting. Once that watch is in the box there's no need to keep going.

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[AF_Rob]

My grail (ALS Zeitwerk Minute Repeater) is a ridiculous level of watch making along with a ridiculous price, that even if I could, I would never buy.

My practical ceiling for any daily piece is Rolex/Omega territory.


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[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

A grail is a grail during the pursuit, but it stops being a grail once it is attained.

Good point Omar but to be honest it doesn’t mean much. There are many things in life we try to pursue and get and by this definition they are all grail it kind and of washes away the meaning of the word


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[Ferrari308]

I don't know. I think I have achieved all of my grails. I have the Daytona, GMTii, Submariner, and a Day-Date along with a few Datejusts and an OP.

I would kind of like to get a few more watches, but if I never get them that's ok. I would maybe at an Explorer I, Cartier Tank, and maybe a few others, but I don't have much desire for a PP, VC or AP. I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at them, but I never set any other watch as grail status beyond what I have right now.


PDG

[georgew]

Personally never bought into the "grail" watch thing. I've bought what I've liked and wanted over the years without any consideration that any of them was a (or "the") "grail". It's personal I know.

[kritameth]

Once upon a time the DD was my grail. It’s been everything I’ve dreamt it to be and then some, but now it’s a 5970. So yes, I suppose it is as fleeting as time itself.

[metallic]

Originally Posted by johnsonsxusfrt

we are all dopamine addicts. It drives us to hunt for the next piece. Once we actually get it the dopamine levels drop and the only way to ramp them back up is to begin the pursuit for the next piece

Great point. This is the same thing that happens to a gambling addict. The dopamine rush of the win disappears very quickly and once that rush is gone, the gambler returns pursuing another dopamine rush.

It's never ending until the money is all gone.

[Bazil]

I agree, no such thing as that final grail ..

[HogwldFLTR]

Indy didn’t give up archeology after finding the grail. No reason having your ultimate watch quenches the desire for watches. Sometimes finding the ultimate and living with it are two very different things.

[Oxfordian]

No such thing as a grail watch, just a watch that you'd love to own.

[Dawgprint]

Originally Posted by alphadweller

Here's how I see things.

There is no grail, it's an illusion. Once you get it, there'll always be the next piece looming on the horizon, ready to strike. There's no exit watch.

Thus you could very well carry on adding all sorts of watches despite your grail. You wake up one day and you find it too heavy, you don't like the attention from people, you don't feel safe on the street with it, scratches annoy you, you miss your good old beaters and not so beaters etc etc.

We know what it's like in this hobby, grass is always greener with the next piece on the wrist.

Well said