Ep #65: The Mystery Of The Grail Watch: One Watch To Rule Them All, A Glorified Wish List Or The Collector’s Odyssey?
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What determines the meaning of a grail watch? Is it a horological equivalent of the legendary Holy Grail, a symbolic object of spiritual and mystical perfection sought after by such luminaries as King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, the wacky team at Monty Python, and all the way to fearless adventurer Indiana Jones? Or is it simply a glorified wishlist item, shaped by hype, heritage, and the ever-shifting tides of taste? In this episode, Parm and Andy explore the grail’s many forms and guises: from auction desirables and independent watch heroes, to deeply personal and emotionally charged obsessions that defy mainstream logic.
Taking the views of friends and listeners to heat up the conversation, the boys then move to their own personal opinions, where this wicked debate becomes a reflective analysis of what they believe a grail watch means to them today. Has this changed compared to when their love for the hobby began? Is it really one masterpiece that completes a collection, or is it an elusive moving target, always just out of reach? Or can it be easier to achieve than you'd first think? Our horologically charged duo unpack the psychology behind the chase, the role of storytelling, and the way one's desire evolves with experience, exposure and identity.
So listen in to find out all of the above, and if the grail watch is a myth, a feeling, or a rite of passage? Does the grail reveal more about the seeker than the object itself, giving away more than meets the eye? Answers to these questions and more will be revealed, as this episode invites you to rethink the quest, not as a destination, but as a journey that redefines popular opinion.
We'd like to say a big thank you to our friends and listeners (and great collectors) for their comments and feedback to make this show truly unforgettable:
1. Guille - @guillemcorbero on IG
2. Neil - @watchfulneil on IG and also from @realwatchbrothers on IG
(check out their website at https://watchbrothers.co.uk)
3. Joseba
4. Faisal - @fsohail on IG
5. Jordi - @watch_zaddy on IG
6. Ed - @fasionably_late_ed on IG
7. Joan
8. Dom - @unpuredcl on IG
So buckle up and enjoy the ride on this rollercoaster of a journey to discover what a Grail Watch really is.
First up, the wristwatch checks: Parm is wearing his Rolex Explorer 214270, followed by Andy with his new Jaeger-LeCoultre 1950s 18k pink gold Calatrava, a gift from his parents ahead of his 40th next year.
Do you agree with Andy’s first statement that a grail watch is a bit like the posters of cars on a teenage boy’s bedroom wall, such as the Ferrari F40? Next, we look at the watch that Andy first saw as a grail from his early watch journey days, the Cartier CPCP Privé Asymétrique in platinum. We then follow with the example Andy made using the Vacheron Constantin 222 to represent a more ultra-premium grail, which he believes a grail doesn’t need to be.
We then turn to Parm’s grail example, the Rolex Daytona in platinum, the 116506, followed by Parm’s actual Daytona in two-tone, the 116523.
Pictured are Neil’s (@watchfulneil / @realwatchbrothers) grails, which he has acquired, the Tudor Submariner 7928 and the Omega Ploprof, followed by his next grail, the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down Hour.
We follow with a few examples of grails from Fsohail (@fsohail), such as your first grail, which could be the classic Rolex Submariner. But over time, it’s no longer a grail as you learn more, and your focus could shift to watches such as the Vacheron Constantin Overseas or pieces from H. Moser & Cie.
Here we have Jordi’s (@Watch_Zaddy) grail, the H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Skeleton Tourbillon.
Could the Omega Railmaster be Ed’s (@fashionably_late_ed) grail?
Might the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down Hour be Parm’s grail, and the early 2000s white gold Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir CPCP with the blue dial be Andy’s?
Pictured is Parm’s version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, shown next to the original.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos, and the Omega Seamaster that Andy chose to skip, which started the hunt that eventually led him to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calatrava
Looking at the Patek Philippe Andy owned, the Calatrava 5119R, and the Omega De Ville cuff watch, which he would not swap to have again.
Here are the examples of the hype watches Parm mentioned, including the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 and 3700, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and the Rolex Daytona (Paul Newman) 6239.
Now we reflect on Parm and Andy’s final grails, or are they just wishlist watches, let us know in the comments. We start with Parm’s, which include the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down Hour mentioned earlier, the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto, and the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 1921 from his earlier days in the journey. Parm is a big fan of the Patek Philippe 3970 Perpetual Calendar, a classic Patek grail, but he would personally prefer the Blancpain Villeret Moonphase, though that one slightly drifts away from the grail topic. Another possible grail could be the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1. Turning to Andy, we have the Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir CPCP, which he mentioned earlier, an example from Laurent Ferrier such as the Classic Moon, and finally, the De Bethune DB28 Kind of Blue.
The final gallery shows the watches Parm mentioned as being hot right now, along with one that once was but is less popular now, the Cartier Pebble. These include the Vacheron Constantin 222, the ever-popular Cartier Crash, and the Cartier Baignoire mentioned by Andy.
That’s a wrap for the show notes! Let us know your thoughts on the grail topic in the comments below, are we just mad watch enthusiasts rambling, or do you agree with some of our points? Until then, you’ll hear us on the next one!
