Long time, first time...an introduction

[TeddyBallGame]

Hi! I've been lurking on TRF for years without contributing much into this community. I decided now's the time (since I've got extra time on my hands) to introduce myself and formally say, hello!

Like a lot of us, I still remember how I caught the watch bug. I had to read for 30min each night when I was a child and I would take my dad's Omega with me to know when time was up. Instead of reading though, I would stare at the sweeping seconds the whole time. Since then, I was hooked. Sadly, that watch was stolen from my dad. I would love to have it today.

I saved and bought my first nice watch at 17, a quartz Tag Heuer, which I still have and wear. I thought I was so cool back when I wore it! haha After college I bought my first automatic watch an, Omega Seamaster Professional. What can I say, I was a sucker for the Pierce Brosnan Bond movies. I wore that watch as I started my journey into the working world and I can definitely say that it helped me in the office. Higher ups would sometimes notice and strike up conversations about it and their own watches. It was a great networking tool!

Since that time my style has evolved and my hobbies have changed but talking about and looking at watches still make me smile. Since that first Tag and Omega, I've been fortunate to add various watches to my collection, which is up to 18. Some bought impulsively and others after spending a ridiculous amount of time researching. But they all have some sort of story. Once and a while I think about selling various pieces, to thin out the herd, but I never do. After my recent purchase last week I told myself that going forward it's, one in-one out. We'll see how that goes. haha

Anyways, I just wanted to say hello and thank all of you for the years of interesting discussions, watch pics along with some entertaining forum bickering.

Like all good posts, this wouldn't be complete without a picture of my current collection (apologies for the bad iPhone pic).

Hope everyone is staying safe these days. Cheers!!

[pradeepraavi]

Hello. Amazing collection.

[watchmework]

Now is as good a time as ever, welcome!!! You've got a great collection

[Mr. Miami]

Hello! Great story and collection. I too caught the watch bug when my dad bought his first omega a few years back. Now that I’m graduating college in a few weeks, I will be purchasing my first nice watch too, a Rolex. Thanks for sharing!

[dan993]

Some nice watches there

[schoolboy]

Thanks for sharing the story! And great collection by the way

[johnorpheus]

Nice collection!

[WatchNutcase]

Amazing collection, very diversified. Do you have a favourite?

[Tavli3]

Great collection, certainly a good model to guide ones own collecting going forward. I too would be interested in hearing which is your favorite.

[Texex]

Nice collection, really like the Tudor Ranger and the Sinn, what model is that?

[chloebear]

Welcome to TRF! Fantastic collection and great background story. Really a shame you don't have your dad's Omega. After my daughter and I read every night we talk watches for 10 minutes. We talk about all the terms that are vanishing from our vernacular, like quarter after, quarter to, top of the hour, bottom of the hour, etc. She knows and understands the purpose of the GMT hand and what GMT stands for and its significance. I say all that to say, it's the personal stories around watches that are coolest to me.

Cheers!

[cj3209]

Originally Posted by chloebear

Welcome to TRF! Fantastic collection and great background story. Really a shame you don't have your dad's Omega. After my daughter and I read every night we talk watches for 10 minutes. We talk about all the terms that are vanishing from our vernacular, like quarter after, quarter to, top of the hour, bottom of the hour, etc. She knows and understands the purpose of the GMT hand and what GMT stands for and its significance. I say all that to say, it's the personal stories around watches that are coolest to me.

Cheers!

Hi, what does it mean that you are the 'unofficial ambassabor for the Explorer II'?

I'm waiting for an X2 16570 Polar Z-serial to be mailed to me...

LOL

CJ

[chloebear]

Originally Posted by cj3209

Hi, what does it mean that you are the 'unofficial ambassabor for the Explorer II'?

I'm waiting for an X2 16570 Polar Z-serial to be mailed to me...

LOL

CJ

It means Rolex doesn't pay me, but I sing the praises of the Explorer II to anyone who will listen....often times to the consternation of my wife who does not share my love for the Explorer II (she prefers my Pepsi GMT).

I'm also required to defend the it any time someone dogs it on the forum.

Two of my closest friends who are not watch guys and both want a black dial Explorer II.

Furthermore, I swapped it with my twin brother once for his white Milgauss. While I love the Milgauss, being without the Explorer II drove me crazy. It was the longest three months of my life. On many occasions I strongly considered driving the 900 miles from Arkansas to Michigan to get it back.

Congrats in advance on the incoming polar! Share some pics!

[cj3209]

Originally Posted by chloebear

It means Rolex doesn't pay me, but I sing the praises of the Explorer II to anyone who will listen....often times to the consternation of my wife who does not share my love for the Explorer II (she prefers my Pepsi GMT).

I'm also required to defend the it any time someone dogs it on the forum.

Two of my closest friends who are not watch guys and both want a black dial Explorer II.

Furthermore, I swapped it with my twin brother once for his white Milgauss. While I love the Milgauss, being without the Explorer II drove me crazy. It was the longest three months of my life. On many occasions I strongly considered driving the 900 miles from Arkansas to Michigan to get it back.

Congrats in advance on the incoming polar! Share some pics!

My X2 16570 came in. Love it. Although, I have to admit, my SubC bracelet feels better than the X2's. Oh, well...

[CKizzy]

Great collection!

[anuradha]

Wow What a collection and a lovely story to go with that. I also got interested in watches thanks to my father who had a collection of Readers Digests starting from the late fifties to seventies. Those advertisments were awsome and later came the Nat Geo magazines. Wear in good health
I have given up collecting after 7 years.

[chloebear]

Also, we have similar taste in watches. I have the black Explorer II to your polar, the Pepsi GMT to your rootbeer and the Submariner to your Sub with date. The next three watches on my to get list: Explorer, JLC Master Control (I'm getting the non-sector dial one) and a white Daytona to your black.

I'm going to guess that your humble Explorer in the bottom corner gets a ton of wrist time...maybe the most.

[TeddyBallGame]

Thanks everytone! I'm looking forward to being a more active member of TRF.

Originally Posted by WatchNutcase

Amazing collection, very diversified. Do you have a favourite?

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Great collection, certainly a good model to guide ones own collecting going forward. I too would be interested in hearing which is your favorite.

My favorite for sentimental reasons is the Tag Heuer. It was the first watch I really wanted and saved for. I remember noticing its granite dial sparkle in display case at my local Macy's. Every time I was at the mall I would always go and look at it until I finally saved up enough to buy it. I think it was $695.

Originally Posted by Texex

Nice collection, really like the Tudor Ranger and the Sinn, what model is that?

Thanks!! It's a Sinn 956 and I think it's been since discontinued. https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/956_Classic.htm

Originally Posted by chloebear

Also, we have similar taste in watches. I have the black Explorer II to your polar, the Pepsi GMT to your rootbeer and the Submariner to your Sub with date. The next three watches on my to get list: Explorer, JLC Master Control (I'm getting the non-sector dial one) and a white Daytona to your black.

I'm going to guess that your humble Explorer in the bottom corner gets a ton of wrist time...maybe the most.

Thats a great way to share you passion with your daughter. She'll definitely remember those moments.

I tend to rotate watches quite a bit and really like wearing them all. If I had to pick one that gets the most wrist time I'd probably say my Speedmaster. I like to switch straps often and recently added an older 1171 bracelet to it which makes it so comfortable to wear. I did just get my Daytona last week and since then it's been on my wrist non-stop. I sometimes think about just choosing 2-3 to wear for a few months and putting the rest away to make my like a little easier in the mornings. haha Good luck with your next three pieces!

[Santiago32]

Originally Posted by TeddyBallGame

I tend to rotate watches quite a bit and really like wearing them all. If I had to pick one that gets the most wrist time I'd probably say my Speedmaster. I like to switch straps often and recently added an older 1171 bracelet to it which makes it so comfortable to wear. I did just get my Daytona last week and since then it's been on my wrist non-stop. I sometimes think about just choosing 2-3 to wear for a few months and putting the rest away to make my like a little easier in the mornings. haha Good luck with your next three pieces!

Very nice collection! Congratulations on your recent Daytona pick up. I'm looking to add a chronograph to my collection and I can't decide between a Speedy and a Daytona. Since you have both which would you keep if you had to only choose one? I really like the history behind the Moonwatch and changing straps gives it a lot of versatility but the Daytona is also beautiful, higher quality, and holds value a lot better (i wouldn't sell but nice to know money is there). TIA

[rfs]

Great collection! Nice to hear your story!

[AJM914]

Very nice collection!

[Cloudchaser]

Great collection!

Now, such a great screen name demands an avatar! Ted fishing, flying, or hitting!

[joli160]

Welcome Ted, some great pieces in your collection

[socalwatchcollector]

Fantastic collection of time pieces but you are missing a moon phase and tourbillon complication. It's apparent you have the addiction and they are a must have in any collection. If that is something you feel would tickle your fancy take a look at JLC. I believe you get the most bang for your buck with that brand. I'm just here to enable!

[TeddyBallGame]

Originally Posted by AAVDB

Welcome! And awesome collection!

what watch is your latest addition?

Oh and I like the JLC Polaris Date a lot! You wear it a lot? What do you think about the overall quality! Thanks

I was lucky and got the call from my AD for the Daytona last week. It hasn't left my wrist since!

Yes, It's gets worn a fair amount of time. I think the quality is really good and keeps really good time. The case is finished really nicely. It's a top heavy watch since the case has some heft to it and has a rubber strap. Because of the way the rubber strap fits it does wear a little bigger than other 42mm watches. It tends to sit a little higher on the wrist. It's one of those watches you need to try on before buying. I also love the dial, very minimal writing on it. Super clean!

Originally Posted by Santiago32

Very nice collection! Congratulations on your recent Daytona pick up. I'm looking to add a chronograph to my collection and I can't decide between a Speedy and a Daytona. Since you have both which would you keep if you had to only choose one? I really like the history behind the Moonwatch and changing straps gives it a lot of versatility but the Daytona is also beautiful, higher quality, and holds value a lot better (i wouldn't sell but nice to know money is there). TIA

Ohh that's tough...they really are different watches. I've had the Speedy for a long time and there's just something cool about having to wind it each morning and the way the dial looks under the hesalite. For some reason, when I wear it I don't baby or worry about it. Plus all the history behind that model. It doesn't keep the best time though, and I have to adjust the time every few days (i'm one of those like like my watches displaying accurate time). But that's not a big deal. The Daytona is just a week old so I'm still high from the new watch glow. I find myself just staring at it, weird I know. It does though feel more polished and sexy than the Speedy. Part of that has to do with the PCL, white gold hands/indices, and silver sub-dial rings the other part is the case shape. If you can get one at retail, it's a no brainer, but I don't think it's worth the secondary prices being asked considering what you can get a Speedy for.

Originally Posted by ARoughDraft

Great collection. Out of all the chronographs, which one gets the most love?

The Speedymaster by far. But now that I got my Daytona, I have a feeling it's going to sit in the box for a while. The other two chronos have thicker cases because of the Valjoux movements so I tend to not wear them when I have dress shirts on. They're a little tight under the my cuff. I do love the cream color of the Sinn dial though.

Originally Posted by pav333hp

I also have the Hamilton intra matic 68! It's my favorite watch and I wear it almost daily :). Nice collecting BTW.

Aside from mine, I've never seen another one in the wild. It's a cool watch!

Originally Posted by socalwatchcollector

Fantastic collection of time pieces but you are missing a moon phase and tourbillon complication. It's apparent you have the addiction and they are a must have in any collection. If that is something you feel would tickle your fancy take a look at JLC. I believe you get the most bang for your buck with that brand. I'm just here to enable!

Trust me, I don't need much enabling haha.

I actually had a JLC MUT Moon Phase (silver dial) that wasn't getting worn much, maybe 1-2x a year. It's just a little too formal for me. I ended letting my brother have it since he would get more use out of it. Someday I do want to add a JLC Reverso moon phase to the collection. Need to keep my eye out on the used market for the blue dial version or maybe the rose gold one...hmmm. As for a tourbillion, maybe someday.

[GONZO2LR]

real nice collect and story...

[pav333hp]

I also have the Hamilton intra matic 68! It's my favorite watch and I wear it almost daily :). Nice collecting BTW.

[WatchGuy1966]

Beautiful collection!

[horologymania]

Great story & collection! Daytona and Rootbeer are my personal favorite

[Gdaso]

Great collection!
Welcome