Blog IV - Grails

What is Theo’s grail watch? Read on to find out…

What is your grail piece? Possibly the most asked question in the watch world. Every collection review, every interview, every hyper-smug Hodinkee 'Talking Watches' episode concludes with this being posed. But what exactly does it mean?

The word grail is used to reference the most coveted of something, in this context, a watch. All watch enthusiasts will have an idea of which this is for them. For some, it will be set in stone, for others not so and a number of elements play into understanding this. 

Firstly, does a grail watch always have to be something you can realistically conceive of one day owning, or rather the piece you would buy if money was suddenly no object? Secondly, does a grail have to be set in stone and therefore ceases to be one if you change your mind? I think this is subjective, but I can certainly answer from a personal perspective. 

For me, a grail piece is one which I keep a few purchases away. As with most watch enthusiasts, I am constantly eyeing up the next watch to add to my collection, but that is never the "grail". Why? Because I feel that if I do make that purchase, there is no where to go from there and as someone who loves the experience of seeking out and buying the watch as much as then enjoying it, that is not a position I want to be in. I suspect there would then become another grail to take the spot on the pedestal, but I still am not quite ready to take the leap. 

If I were reading this, I would be thinking 'yes, great, but which watch are we talking about here?' For the last few years there have been many watches that have traded in and out of the 'Yes please!' category, but only one has been a constant... The 116520 Rolex Daytona. To me, this steel bezel generation is more special than the newer ceramic bezel 116500LN and 126500LN. It's aesthetics are, and I think will always be, more iconic than the later references. 

Will I ever own one? Probably. But at the moment there is nothing else to take over it's grail status and even when you have achieved something, who wants nothing to aspire to.