14 watches. 27 years. Collection complete

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by phrede

Very nice! Wish I could be there, but unfortunately not.
Best of luck and congratulations on the book!


-via iPhone

[Darina32]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Not a very intelligent question. As Rainman said, about $100.

Also preordered. Good luck with the launch!!!

sorry for my question. Just i also have the collection and spent a lot of money for it. therefore i am interested in this

[APPRF]

Did OP post any pic?

[Heller]

No pics it seems. But it also looks like everyone has forgotten that In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team.

[Reinhard in SA]

Originally Posted by Heller

No pics it seems. But it also looks like everyone has forgotten that In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Darina32

sorry for my question. Just i also have the collection and spent a lot of money for it. therefore i am interested in this

Best to pursue that sort of thing back channel.

Originally Posted by APPRF

Did OP post any pic?

Yes, if you'd read the thread you'd know.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by APPRF

Did OP post any pic?

Too lazy to click eh?

[Collector2019]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

The best use I have ever used a Rolex for, was in greenland. We had to self rescue to the coast after an accident. After 10 days we made it to the coast and to the top of mountain.
I saw a local hunter in the fjord..
Ran down the hill and met him. There was notable language issue..
So I turned the hands of my Submariner to 6 o'clock. He smiled and went away.
That night we moved most of the gear down the hill, the next morning it was gone..
In despair we tried to self rescue across the rivers and fjords to the settlement. Failed and decided then to wait to 6 o'clock pm..the hunter turned up and also had the rest of our kit! He had been there at 6.am...
He then took us via his boat to the village, which was on an island a km out to sea, so we would never have made it anyway ...

Rolex save lives too. one of a kind thread, amazing collection, great stories. Nothing can beat this. Thanks Steve.

HogwldFLTR is the thread trusted keeper

[cop414]

Originally Posted by APPRF

Did OP post any pic?

Many pics, read the entire thread.

[HauteHorlogerie]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Here is the group shot. Couldn't not do it now!

Left to right...and expeditions/history. Notes.

1.submariner. Date. First watch bought. It's been to Iceland, Norway, greenland, South America. Had several services.
2.Deep Sea. No expedition history.
3. Sea Dweller. Antarctic.
4. Explorer 1. My dad's old watch. Been to Norway and Iceland.
5. Explorer 2. Norway.
6. Explorer 2. Black dial. Norway and Antarctica.
7. GMT 2. Antarctica. Engraved on back with South Pole enscription.
8. Explorer 1. (New) no expedition history other than UK expeditions.
9. Patek 5227. Last watch bought. Used as everyday watch. Already scratched in several place
10. Explorer 2. (New) White dial, default watch for work at present. No overseas history
11. Explorer 2. (New) Black dial, admired a lot. Going to Iceland this summer and greenland next summer.
12. Patek 5172g. With brown leather strap; looks better than the black. Only UK travel.
13. Patek 5070. Special occasions. My dad's watch.
14. IWC spitfire. A present from my dad when I got to the pole.


So that's that. It has taken me 27 years, and I would not buy another watch. Over the years I have had a Daytona and Panerias, yet in the end I have focused on the 'expedition' watches.
All the Rolexes are from the same AD who is now a friend!
Patek is not a brand I ever wanted as they are so expensive, but my dad left me the 5070. Owning one you realise how special they are.
They are from the same AD- different one to the Rolex.. And he to is a friend; and in June am off to Patek for a two day your of the factory!!

Each watch is scratched and chipped, done more than others; they all get scratched on the top right at 2 o'clock when used in anger..
But they are the history of my life and travels.

That's what watches are for; not just for recording the time; but our own travel through that time.

Steve.

I've loved this thread. Haha so good. So many adventures.

[Maverick_1908]

What an awesome thread toomuchtalk. Only read half so far but these are my fav quotes.

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

From experience the black dial edges it. In clear day light you don't notice the difference, but in dusk or low visibility in snowy conditions the black dial stands out more.
Especially on the newer explorers.
The black dial is the better 'polar' watch.

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

The watches work fine.

A complete collection depends on what you want you collect. My aim was to collect what I call the rolex expedition watches, that I could get when they came out; not second hand- hence no original explorer 2.
Also no 'sport' watches like yacht master /Daytona etc. just the ' expedition' type watches.
Plus in my opinion Patek make the finest watches...
But rolex make the best workhorse watches..

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Patience. Expeditions require patience...
Spent 3 days in a tent once waiting for the weather to clear..

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Rolex's were designed for a purpose. That's why I always wanted one; an expedition watch. For on the first expeditions I went on, there were no external time checks. No sat phone. No gps. You could have a radio if you had the gear to carry it.
So you needed a watch that was reliable, tough and kept the time.
Rolex. A Patek would not survive...despite bring the better timepiece.

Image from a slide; east Coast greenland early 90's.

No time check except a rolex...

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

The best use I have ever used a Rolex for, was in greenland. We had to self rescue to the coast after an accident. After 10 days we made it to the coast and to the top of mountain.
I saw a local hunter in the fjord..
Ran down the hill and met him. There was notable language issue..
So I turned the hands of my Submariner to 6 o'clock. He smiled and went away.
That night we moved most of the gear down the hill, the next morning it was gone..
In despair we tried to self rescue across the rivers and fjords to the settlement. Failed and decided then to wait to 6 o'clock pm..the hunter turned up and also had the rest of our kit! He had been there at 6.am...
He then took us via his boat to the village, which was on an island a km out to sea, so we would never have made it anyway ...

[ILuvSubs]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Looking forward to buying this Steve and reading it. Congratulations on getting this published! Great to see this thread lives on.

[Maverick_1908]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Cheers.
All of them, except the most recent have been serviced once. So the submariner has been serviced once in 27 years. And it was battered! Think it cost about £400, which was a lot considering what I paid for it in 1987( I think ).
The thing is rolex sport watches are very robust!
And in reality, even on a polar trip they are worn under the cuff and are not exposed to the weather.
The submariner was worn on military exercises, diving trips, polar expeditions, mountaineering, Sky diving, caving- so I reckon one service in 27 years is good value.
And; it has been worn in the shower

This one is for the “can i shower with my rolex”?

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Collector2019

Rolex save lives too. one of a kind thread, amazing collection, great stories. Nothing can beat this. Thanks Steve.

HogwldFLTR is the thread trusted keeper

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Maverick_1908

What an awesome thread toomuchtalk. Only read half so far but these are my fav quotes.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Heller

No pics it seems. But it also looks like everyone has forgotten that In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team.

[travisb]

Very much looking forward to picking up and reading this. Congrats on the publication and epic thread!

[In-Cog-Neeto]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

The best use I have ever used a Rolex for, was in greenland. We had to self rescue to the coast after an accident. After 10 days we made it to the coast and to the top of mountain.
I saw a local hunter in the fjord..
Ran down the hill and met him. There was notable language issue..
So I turned the hands of my Submariner to 6 o'clock. He smiled and went away.
That night we moved most of the gear down the hill, the next morning it was gone..
In despair we tried to self rescue across the rivers and fjords to the settlement. Failed and decided then to wait to 6 o'clock pm..the hunter turned up and also had the rest of our kit! He had been there at 6.am...
He then took us via his boat to the village, which was on an island a km out to sea, so we would never have made it anyway ...

SIMPLY, WOW

Thanks to whoever resurrected this thread

[watches.ist]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

A copy has just reached my hands in India, can’t wait to start reading (when I reach home).

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by watches.ist

A copy has just reached my hands in India, can’t wait to start reading (when I reach home).

Wow! Thats amazing! I hope you like it!

[SearChart]

My estimated delivery date is late October, looking forward to the book Steve!

[JR16]

Originally Posted by SearChart

My estimated delivery date is late October, looking forward to the book Steve!

Nice! Mine is somewhere on a plane or boat (I assume) from the UK to USA.. due to arrive Wed according to amazon uk. Looking forward to it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[MrPear]

This will forever be my favourite thread in here.

What a story, what a collection, and what a BLOKE haha

[marcusp23]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Ok. The last watch.



I love the old style watches, I think in some way they are more 'Rolex'. The adverts, the history, the tool style non bling function of them. They were understated and did not pander to the trend to be too big.

And the one watch I would keep above all else is the first I bought; the Submariner.

Less is more.

Yet...

The Explorer 2 new version came out.

The quandary; white or black dial? It's important in my opinion to see these as two seperate watches; as the dials are so different. The black has a depth to it. Makes the watch seem more robust. Even though it's not..

The white is great, but the black has the nod to the original in terms of the 'phantom hands' and the original I will never get...

And in the low half light of dawn the black dial is more functional. It is also exceptionally cool..

and all the current adverts have the white dial. So again less is more.

I love expeditions, do it or a living; so it has to be an Explorer. The explorer 1 would be first, but it does not have a date; and on an expedition you need to know what day it is- or you might miss the ferry...

The Pateks are the finest made watches in the world, but you can't take a shower with one. Except the Aquanaut, but for me a a Patek needs to be on a leather strap and be made of an exotic metal.

So it has to be a Rolex.

The new explorer 2 black dial.

This watch as yet has no expedition history, but it will go to Iceland this year, on a trek never done before...and to greenland next year on a new route across the icecap....

Just flagging this post as the best ad I’ve seen for the Explorer II black dial :)

[trfChris]

Best thread on TRF by far. If you are new to it: make a nice hot cup of tea, settle down in your favorite chair, start from page one and just keep reading. So good.

[WatchGuy1966]

Just got mine today!

[WatchGuy1966]

Just got mine today!

Please excuse that other post. I have no idea how I did that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rushca01]

Amazon’s says my copy should be here Wednesday, can’t wait to ready it when I go on vacation in a couple weeks.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by SearChart

My estimated delivery date is late October, looking forward to the book Steve!

Brilliant stuff..

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by JR16

Nice! Mine is somewhere on a plane or boat (I assume) from the UK to USA.. due to arrive Wed according to amazon uk. Looking forward to it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro