My shortlist

[Cybotron]

What about this? I know you said the Santos is out but this would be quite the collection.

[mlcor]

Solution--sell the Tudor and buy both of the others. Done.

[tribe125]

It's a pilot's watch!

For Alberto Santos-Dumont, but rarely seen on Wizz Air.

[wschofield3]

You picked the same two I would have, myself leaning towards the Explorer only because I'm thinking most would like one with the crown in our collections.

[tribe125]

The Explorer is a classic. I would get rid of the Ranger if I went that route. The Ingenuier is nice but way over priced. If you were to get one at a huge discount or great price then go for it. IWC really sucks on the secondary market.

The Explorer-Ranger thought has occurred to me as a possibility further down the line, but that’s further than I’m thinking right now.

I’ve found ways of rationalising the price of the Ingenieur, like you do.

Even with my moderate negotiating skills, I’m sure I could get a discount. I’m fifty miles from the dealer, though - and it’s equally likely that late one evening I’d go “Sod it” and add to basket.

[tribe125]

What about this? I know you said the Santos is out but this would be quite the collection.

Excellent! And I might linger over that picture.

[tribe125]

Solution--sell the Tudor and buy both of the others. Done.

If buying two, I might end up bringing the IWC chronograph back into the picture.

Complication - and I’ve been there!

[tribe125]

You picked the same two I would have, myself leaning towards the Explorer only because I'm thinking most would like one with the crown in our collections.

Confirmation. I like that.

[tribe125]

Excellent! And I might linger over that picture.

And along similar lines, I quite like the look of this.


I get carried away sometimes.

[crownpuller]

So it’s Explorer or Ingenieur, barring a comeback by one of the vanquished.

I too, still have a hankering for an Explorer; but I'm quite happy with the Ranger in that role and can think of no other reason than "Because it's a Rolex" to pursue one, and that's just not enough justification to 'splash out' on one in my book.

At the risk of repeating myself:

...I can't help but think a 25 year 'itch' needs scratching.

Yes, it'll take a hit on the secondary market if it doesn't work out, but it should recoup enough to pay for the Explorer.