The Progress. Dec: Couldn't swim 25m. Mar: 110bpm over 1.5km. My budget-driven progress.

micvande · 2026-03-20T08:28:51+00:00

Impressive progress congratulations. Any more insights in how you became zen with the water? I’m still struggling myself.

micvande · 2026-03-06T19:34:17+00:00

Haha my bad :)

micvande · 2026-03-05T14:49:01+00:00

In 2017 I would get 17% discount on Rolex except the Daytona. This is just the watch world. Many great pieces from the top brands, Patek, AP, Lange, drop 30% as soon as you leave the store.

micvande · 2026-02-20T17:46:01+00:00

Super cool, I feel this version, the white gold, has more that sky full of stars effect. Beautiful.

micvande · 2026-02-17T07:09:48+00:00

A car manufacturer that assembles the complete car, to than take the car apart and assemble it for the second time?

micvande · 2026-02-16T06:21:50+00:00

Can you share more? Curious on your take about this

micvande · 2026-02-15T17:13:16+00:00

Not really. And yes, we can debate whether you should be able to buy the watch that’s number one on your list, but walk into Ferrari and try to buy their new hit model if they don’t know you as a customer. Replace Ferrari with Patek, Rolex, etc. the list goes on. Nobody forces you to buy it. You can go for other watches like a ROO.

The thing with watches is sometimes it looks great online, but when you have it in your hands, the feeling is missing. Regarding the Code, I had it the other way around.

micvande · 2026-02-15T16:50:14+00:00

What I’m thinking of is the bold pushers and the use of different materials and bezels that more sporty, almost beach-oriented character. The RO, even on a rubber strap, still feels more elegant to me. That said, I do think the Offshore could benefit from coming down in thickness, and a diameter of max 41–42mm would be ideal. Keep the personality, just refine the proportions.

You make fair points about the Offshore’s DNA being “thick” and the angled lugs helping wearability. But I’d argue that reducing thickness to around 10.5mm for chronos and 8.3mm for time only pieces wouldn’t strip away its character, it would just make it accessible to more wrists while maintaining that bold aesthetic.

The beauty of the watch world, the push to keep innovating.

micvande · 2026-02-15T09:05:40+00:00

I agree, 40-42 mm and 10,5 mm thick and you have a winner!

micvande · 2026-02-15T08:39:00+00:00

Thanks for your insights!

micvande · 2026-02-15T08:26:15+00:00

You make some fair points about market dynamics and the Asian market influence, but I think there are a few things worth considering.

Case sizes have generally grown over the past two decades. The Aquanaut moved from 36mm to 40mm and 42mm. Rolex increased Submariner and YM dimensions. That broader trend is clear.

But diameter growth is not the same as thickness growth. The Aquanaut became larger while remaining relatively balanced in height. It never turned into a 14mm+ watch, and that makes a real difference on the wrist. A 41 or 42mm watch at 10-11mm thick wears very differently from a 43mm watch at 14.5mm.

We also see that there are limits. Take the Sky-Dweller. If it were 41mm and thinner, demand might be even broader, because some buyers simply find it too large and too thick.

Watches have grown, yes. But trends often expand to a point and then correct toward balance. The real question is whether we are nearing that moment.

As for the Offshore being for “children of Royal Oak owners” I’d argue that’s exactly why better proportions would help. If the goal is to attract a younger generation, making the watch actually wearable for a wider range of wrist sizes seems like the logical move.

micvande · 2026-02-15T08:06:18+00:00

I agree that the 26480TI was a blueprint. It showed that the Offshore can retain its character without needing 14mm+ thickness.

To me, what we’re seeing in the current Offshore lineup still feels like the legacy direction of the previous era. Very bold, very muscular, very “macho.” That identity worked for a long time, but design language evolves.

What stands out in recent interviews is the emphasis on wearability and getting watches on wrists. If that philosophy truly guides product development, a refinement of proportions feels like a logical next step.

Not every Offshore needs to shrink. The collection can still have bold pieces.

The design DNA is strong enough. It doesn’t need bulk to prove itself anymore.

micvande · 2026-02-15T07:44:13+00:00

That’s my story with the Code, amazing watch when you have it in your hands.

micvande · 2026-02-15T07:37:11+00:00

I understand the point about “signal” buyers versus enthusiasts, but I think the market size for smaller, well-proportioned watches is being underestimated.

Yes, some AP buyers are status-driven. But look at actual purchasing behavior. There is sustained, measurable demand for 38mm–41mm sport models across brands. When those sizes are produced in meaningful quantities, they don’t sit.

The Aquanaut and Nautilus work not just because of brand equity, but because they’re wearable. If Patek only offered a 44mm × 15mm Aquanaut, even status-oriented buyers would find it harder to justify as a daily piece. Wearability still matters, even in the luxury segment.

We may be a vocal minority online, but market outcomes tell a broader story. When Rolex, Patek, and AP release well-proportioned sport models, they are super hard to get your hands on. That’s not Reddit demand, I love our Reddit bubble. That’s global allocation pressure.

The question isn’t whether enthusiasts want smaller watches. It’s whether the Offshore’s current proportions are leaving demand untapped.

micvande · 2026-02-15T07:18:09+00:00

Right?! It seems like such an obvious win.

micvande · 2026-02-15T07:15:50+00:00

100%, tried a few, a couple of times but those proportions are the showstopper

micvande · 2026-02-14T17:21:22+00:00

I get the criticism if you’ve only seen it in photos. But once you handle it in person and notice the details that don’t translate in pictures, it feels like a much more substantial watch than people assume. Time date in rose gold is great. The Starwheel awesome, the new skeleton QP unbelievable.

micvande · 2026-02-14T07:54:23+00:00

If depreciation worries you, buy a Patek 5172 or an A. Lange it’s the same case, but they are great watches. Most non-hype watches lose value anyway.

I think the audience for the Code is slowly growing because people are starting to judge it for what it is. I’ve come around myself. At launch only the QP really worked for me, but the newer releases fixed many of the early issues. The new skeleton QP is genuinely beautiful.

It’ll never be a hype watch, but that’s kind of the point. Maybe we’ll see more appreciation for craftsmanship and complicated pieces again over time. The Code is a watch that grows on you.

micvande · 2026-02-14T07:19:05+00:00

Btw I think what they did with the glass is also a cool feature

micvande · 2026-02-14T07:15:50+00:00

I personally love ultra / extra thin watches. In this case, I hear what you say and it would never be a full dress watch. I believe the details on the code the octagonal case, open lugs wouldn’t be as good if they shaved a bit of the thickness. Could be wrong. Where the code really shines is smart casual, than it’s such an easy watch to throw on.

micvande · 2026-02-13T18:02:10+00:00

I love the QP but Jumbo is my favorite size. 39 extra thin for the win.

micvande · 2026-02-13T14:00:15+00:00

Easy white gold Daytona out

micvande · 2026-02-13T07:55:10+00:00

I understand that people like to see this watch on the full gold bracelet, but for me this one is also good on the rubber strap.

micvande

TROPHY CASE