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iW:
As a variation, now we'll mandate that you must spend at least half of your $8,000 original budget
on one watch. Tell us about your $4,000 "trophy" watch, and also about the remaining four,
that you would buy with a limit of $4,000?
Stein:
With $4,000 to $5,000, I would buy one of my three "grail" watches: a "Steve McQueen"
Monaco from Heuer (which may end up at $5,000), a three-register Heuer Carrera, silver dial with black
registers (at around $4,000) or a Lemania 5100-powered Speedmaster, in the 1960's style case. In terms
of the other watches in the collection, I will drop down to "beater" versions of the 861
Speedmaster and Sinn 156 (at $800 to $1,000 each) and prowl the flea markets for two $500 watches.
iW:
Now let's go the other direction. You've told us about your $4,000 or $5,000 "grail" watches,
and you've told us about the dressy one that you'll wear with a tuxedo. Which of your five chronographs
will you wear to go running or to mow the grass?
Stein:
I would be happy with the Sinn 156 as the rough-and-tumble chronograph of the group. This
one can be the "beater" of the group, especially if I were able to return it to you
at the end of five years. If I couldn't stand to do this to the Sinn, the best choice would
be to buy a "beater" at the outset.
I'm confident that with a budget of $400, I can find a rugged threeregister chronograph that
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will be perfect for mowing the grass or
timing the morning run.
Several manufacturers produced solid chronographs, powered by the Valjoux
7750 and in an indestructible "sewer plate"-style steel case.
iW:
That's been a whirlwind tour of your fantasy collection, but now let's go back to the friend that you
mentioned in response to our first question: How has your friend done with his "5-4-8" collection?
Stein:
He has bought three watches and he's enjoying them every day. He's got a mint 861 Speedmaster,
a blue and gray El Primero, and an automatic Carrera, from the early 1970's. So he's loving his first
three chronographs, and the best news of all is that he's still got $3,000 remaining for the last two!
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Three of the "Grails." If we were forced to spend at least $4,000 to $5,000
on one of the watches, any of these three would fill the bill – "Steve Mc-
Queen" Monaco, the black-on-white Carrera 12 Dato or the Speedmaster
(top) powered by the Lemania 5100.
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