A 36mm Explorer story...

[Otto]

Around 20 years ago, I was in a mountaineering store in Japan in early Spring and I was talking with a guy who worked there, a pencil thin but muscular guy, maybe 5'7" at best, a rugged, experienced mountaineer, and he was wearing the 36 mm Explorer. It looked great on him. It stood out against his calloused, oversized rock climber hands. I was talking to him about our watches when his wife, who also worked in the store, walked up and joined the conversation. She was wearing the exact same Explorer model. I mentioned how they had the same watch and their story was that since they both climbed mountains regularly, and since that shared passion had in large part brought them together, they had decided when they got married that instead of buying wedding bands and an engagement ring, they would buy matching Explorers and wear them not only on climbs, but in everyday life as well. The previous weekend, they had climbed the still icy Mt Fuji as part of a volunteer group (using crampons and ice axes) to start clearing the mountain paths of debris prior to the summer climbing season; and, yes, the couple had worn their Explorers. I thought the fact a couple who spent their working days advising climbers on the technical aspects of mountaineering gear had chosen the simple Explorer as their watch was a pretty good object lesson in form following function.

[Lew Archer]

That's a wonderful story, on many levels. Thank you!

[BOA]

Good story.

[ajas]

Great story Otto. Thanks

[GGGMT]

Cool


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[Arid]

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

[Maxy]

What a great story...thanks for sharing!

[jhew]

nice story. I mentioned this to my wife-"instead of buying wedding bands and an engagement ring, they would buy matching Explorers and wear them not only on climbs, but in everyday life". And thought i could add another rolex sport watch.

She told me nothing is more significant as wedding band bcos ring will keep other woman away from you, not watch!. Watch will draw woman to you. hmm.

[JimSnyder]

Great post Otto.

[juve]

Great story . Thanks

[carlhaluss]

Thanks for sharing this great story, Otto. Absolutely love it!!!

[Kyle3130]

Thanks! That’s the kind of story this hobby is all about.

[Otto]

Originally Posted by jhew

nice story. I mentioned this to my wife-"instead of buying wedding bands and an engagement ring, they would buy matching Explorers and wear them not only on climbs, but in everyday life". And thought i could add another rolex sport watch.

She told me nothing is more significant as wedding band bcos ring will keep other woman away from you, not watch!. Watch will draw woman to you. hmm.

Ha! Your wife makes a good point. That reminds me of another story. I was heading home on a train from Yokohama about 10 years ago and out of nowhere, a beautiful woman started talking to me and telling me about the club she owned and how I should visit it some night soon. Clearly, she was not trying to pick me up and her story of buying her own business was very interesting. I told the story of the encounter to a friend the next day, a friend who had been at the party with me, sort of adding the idea that I still “had it” enough to attract beautiful women even at my age. He looked at me and in a very serious tone said, “It was the watch, Otto.” He knew I had been wearing a gold Daytona. That really took the wind out of my sails. (By the way, I see you are in Singapore. I started buying Rolex watches while living in Singapore, a very beautiful place to live.)