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Old 11 December 2017, 01:17 AM   #1
Todkavonic
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Hello, it’s been a long time coming

Watches.

Is there a Greek word for love of watches? Horophila? [googles horophilia] Holy moly! That’s actually a thing!

Ok, like the majority here, I’m a terrible horophiliac.

It all started at age 7 when I got my first watch, a beautiful golden Timex digital with, can you believe it, a stopwatch and, best of all, a light. I used to get under the covers, push the light button, and just stare at its greenish glow. I’m sure that we went through a dozen batteries.

The next stop was a trip to NYC around age 11. My parents gave all the kids a little cash to buy whatever. Well, I bought several exceedingly genuine high-end watches from a gentleman we met on a street corner. Why yes, a Patek, a Vacheron, a Breguet, only the finest. I must’ve dropped $20 that day. As an aside, I wish that I still had ‘em, probably misspelled words and abysmal quartz movements, it’d be a hoot to see them now.

Next, in high school I wore a terrific Swiss Army watch with a domed crystal. While other kids were focused in Nintendo, I remember ogling it in the display case at a local department store. It was my Christmas present that year. My wife still wears it occasionally.

When I graduated from college, my grandparents, who were certainly on a fixed income, gave me my first “real” mechanical watch—an automatic Baume and Mercier. I wore it for almost 10 years. The date function isn’t working (a casualty of not knowing how to properly adjust the date) but the watch is still running like a champ...and like the Swiss Army watch, the wife wears it now and then. I’ll never part with it.

Now, the fun begins. Towards the end of my surgical residency, the wife and I sold a home in a great market; an unintended but serendipitous flip. For the first time in my life there was, for lack of a better word, extra money. We paid off our debts, she bought a couple nice things, and I bought an IWC Spitfire Chronograph, the one with the blue face and the blue alligator strap, the Laureus Sport for Good edition. It’s gorgeous and runs like a top and I think I’m on its third alligator strap.

Our financial situation stabilized and I began looking for niche watches to round-out my collection: something dressy and something more rugged. The dressy category was filled by a Seiko Cocktail Time (amazing accuracy, understated look, I swapped out the strap and it’s a winner all around) and the rugged spot was filled by a titanium, rubber strapped, Panerai Luminor with a manual winding mechanism. No date, no second hand, simple, and classic. I wear it snorkeling and I don’t worry when I smack it against a door knob.

So, Rolex. I’m here, so there MUST be a Rolex...and there is, now. I’ve admired the Submariner 16610LV for years. I’ve watched as it’s price slowly and steadily rose. I’ve talked myself into and out of buying one for years. Is it rugged? Sure, but I have the Panerai. Is it dressy? It can be, but the Seiko is more so. Is it unique, you betcha, but the IWC is too. Wait a second...Is it ALL OF THE ABOVE?!?! Holy crap. It is. That’s the justification, it’s the complete freaking package.

I went hunting and, a few weeks ago, all the necessary components lined up: local reputable brick and mortar seller, fair price, available funds, and my willingness to purchase and to ostensibly blame it on my 45th birthday.

So now I’m the happy owner of a later year (engraved rehaut) 16610LV. It’s as good as I thought it would be. I’m loving the heft and the jingle of a braceleted watch. I’m loving the goldilockian 40mm case—not too big, not too small. I’m loving the deep green bezel insert and how it contrasts with the black face. But most of all, I’m really enjoying the thought of passing it onto my daughter, our only child. I’ll spend the next few years thinking about what to have engraved on the back.

It’s exciting to be part of this forum of like-minded horophiliacs. I’m sure that I’ll continue to gain knowledge and I hope to contribute as well.

Respectfully
Nate
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Old 11 December 2017, 08:35 AM   #2
Ballaratboy
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Old 11 December 2017, 11:51 AM   #3
BBL
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Nate - THAT was a wonderful story!
Congratulations on your super watch!
Welcome to TRF.
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Old 11 December 2017, 12:39 PM   #4
Allanmodel
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Old 11 December 2017, 12:43 PM   #5
Ku5165
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Nice story welcome!
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Old 11 December 2017, 12:59 PM   #6
brandrea
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Old 11 December 2017, 02:07 PM   #7
Hairdude1
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Welcome! Where about in Wisco are you?
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Old 11 December 2017, 07:22 PM   #8
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Old 11 December 2017, 08:01 PM   #9
yannis
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hey Nate the word is horophilie, and welcome to TRF man!
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Old 11 December 2017, 10:01 PM   #10
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Old 12 December 2017, 02:13 AM   #11
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Old 12 December 2017, 04:46 AM   #12
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Old 12 December 2017, 04:48 AM   #13
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Old 12 December 2017, 06:04 AM   #14
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Old 19 December 2017, 08:50 PM   #15
AdamG
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Welcome to TRF!!
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