Evolution of a watch collection…

[subtona]

i wanted to share the evolution in my watch collection over the last 5 years, it has dawned on me that I have come full circle back to the Daytona, the grail watch (black dial this time). It Seems like the perfect time to revisit the journey. hope you enjoy.

In 1991 the Daytona was a Zenith version, it was impossible for me to find back then, I had my name and deposits with several AD in the nyc area. After waiting more than a year for a Daytona to surface, I gave up and decided to purchase my second choice, the Submariner 16613 Bluesy (E serial) new from Wempe on 5 ave in manhattan. The bluesy had become quite popular at the time.

I went on to forget about the Daytona for 20 years and enjoy my Submariner, using it for any and all tasks as my only watch… then unexpectedly in 2010, a friend mentioned he had a guy who worked in a rolex AD, my friend told me this guy could make things happen… so I replied, if you want to test him, ask him if he can get me a Daytona?
the call was made and BOOM, the guy came through, the Daytona (V serial) in December of 2010, I finally purchased a white dialed 116520 Daytona.
It was my second Rolex and a grail that had been in my sights for the 20 years.

Naturally i wanted to learn all about the Daytona so in Jan of 2011 (ill bet you can guess what comes next) yes thats right, i discovered the Rolex Forums…i joined TRF




first we have the two watch collection and no worthy camera or photographic skills to accompany them.
Here is the well worn bluesy and my original Daytona centric TRF avatar image, a belt buckle given to me by a friend.

[subtona]

here are some collection snaps that i came upon looking for a white dial daytona wrist shot (which i haven't found. my watch pics, a few thousand were seperated into relevant folders but all got merged into 1 folder when i installed new photo software. 1 click of a button and they were all jumbled up.

here you'll see the daytona doesn't stay too long and the TT Sub loses its TT bracelet. the bracelet was so worn, i was beginning to think it would just fall apart on my wrist soon, so i replaced it with a modern SS bracelet with SEL for half the price asked for a replacement TT version.

some images of what the TT bracelet looked like prompting the replacement. it had just been polished and was sold seperately. notice the wear notches in both the gold and SS parts of the bracelet.

also there is a picture of my idea of a watch collection, when the submariner was all i could think about.

[JohnAndrew]

Originally Posted by subtona

here are some collection snaps that i came upon looking for a white dial daytona wrist shot (which i haven't found. my watch pics, a few thousand were seperated into relevant folders but all got merged into 1 folder when i installed new photo software. 1 click of a button and they were all jumbled up.

here you'll see the daytona doesn't stay too long and the TT Sub loses its TT bracelet. the bracelet was so worn, i was beginning to think it would just fall apart on my wrist soon, so i replaced it with a modern SS bracelet with SEL for half the price asked for a replacement TT version.

some images of what the TT bracelet looked like prompting the replacement. it had just been polished and was sold seperately. notice the wear notches in both the gold and SS parts of the bracelet.

also there is a picture of my idea of a watch collection, when the submariner was all i could think about.

Beautiful collection and pics.
Your 16613 bluesy with the SS bracelet inspired my 16803 mods. I thank you.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by JohnAndrew

Beautiful collection and pics.
Your 16613 bluesy with the SS bracelet inspired my 16803 mods. I thank you.

Thank you.

[Sunny Arizona]

I soldyou the non-date several years ago. Looking good.

Originally Posted by subtona

here are some collection snaps that i came upon looking for a white dial daytona wrist shot (which i haven't found. my watch pics, a few thousand were seperated into relevant folders but all got merged into 1 folder when i installed new photo software. 1 click of a button and they were all jumbled up.

here you'll see the daytona doesn't stay too long and the TT Sub loses its TT bracelet. the bracelet was so worn, i was beginning to think it would just fall apart on my wrist soon, so i replaced it with a modern SS bracelet with SEL for half the price asked for a replacement TT version.

some images of what the TT bracelet looked like prompting the replacement. it had just been polished and was sold seperately. notice the wear notches in both the gold and SS parts of the bracelet.

also there is a picture of my idea of a watch collection, when the submariner was all i could think about.

[subtona]

this pic is a midway collection pic, getting things dialed in and a fine collection but not quite where i would find contentment.

also a pic of a favorite but very short lived panerai combo and the AP Diver.

ps the camera skills are getting a little better.

[subtona]

the collection is getting dialed in but some significant changes happened relatively quickly, the AP jumbo was gone and the Nautilus took its place.

Most recently the Aquanaut has gone, enter the Daytona and the present status of a watch collection.

the Patek 5170 is photo shy as he is still visiting Switzerland on holiday, oh those patek wait times can really test a guy.

hope you all enjoyed

[tkerrmd]

really a terrific post and collection Gus, thanks for sharing the journey with us!

[Le Chef]

Originally Posted by subtona

the Patek 5170 is photo shy as he is still visiting Switzerland on holiday, oh those patek wait times can really test a guy.

I hear you! My 5712G just got after 9 months away. NINE MONTHS!!! My Lange 1 took less than a third of that time. I'm likely selling the 5712 just because I think that length of service time is unacceptable.

[MTROIS]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

I hear you! My 5712G just got after 9 months away. NINE MONTHS!!! My Lange 1 took less than a third of that time. I'm likely selling the 5712 just because I think that length of service time is unacceptable.

This is certainly why they are opening additional school/training programs around the world. They need more resources to handle the workload.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

I hear you! My 5712G just got after 9 months away. NINE MONTHS!!! My Lange 1 took less than a third of that time. I'm likely selling the 5712 just because I think that length of service time is unacceptable.

A guy could die of old age waiting for his watch to come back:)
Nice to have them back

[mrhy]

Originally Posted by subtona

the collection is getting dialed in but some significant changes happened relatively quickly, the AP jumbo was gone and the Nautilus took its place.

Most recently the Aquanaut has gone, enter the Daytona and the present status of a watch collection.

the Patek 5170 is photo shy as he is still visiting Switzerland on holiday, oh those patek wait times can really test a guy.

hope you all enjoyed

Congrats


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by subtona

the collection is getting dialed in but some significant changes happened relatively quickly, the AP jumbo was gone and the Nautilus took its place.

Most recently the Aquanaut has gone, enter the Daytona and the present status of a watch collection.

the Patek 5170 is photo shy as he is still visiting Switzerland on holiday, oh those patek wait times can really test a guy.

hope you all enjoyed

Congrats!!!

[David5807]

Originally Posted by subtona

the collection is getting dialed in but some significant changes happened relatively quickly, the AP jumbo was gone and the Nautilus took its place.

Most recently the Aquanaut has gone, enter the Daytona and the present status of a watch collection.

the Patek 5170 is photo shy as he is still visiting Switzerland on holiday, oh those patek wait times can really test a guy.

hope you all enjoyed

What case are you using in this picture to store your watches in?

[anothernewphone]

Love a good collection journey post!

[Rogdogg]

That's a great collection that you have already so I will be very interested to find out where it is headed. That Patek chrono is beautiful. I love how the ExpII can hold it's own in such great company when you consider everything in your collection.

[AF_Rob]

Originally Posted by Rogdogg

That's a great collection that you have already so I will be very interested to find out where it is headed. That Patek chrono is beautiful. I love how the ExpII can hold it's own in such great company when you consider everything in your collection.

I hear ya... It amazes me how the ExII and Sub pull it's weight with watches several times it's price.

[subking86]

Thanks for sharing! Such a great evolution!

[Eric Chan]

Thank you for sharing it with us. There are seldom anything in life that I enjoy more than hearing the story of one's journey through something they hold so dear to themselves.

[mps354]

Love past and present collections, and great write up!

[HACKNSACK44]

Very nice!

[subtona]

Originally Posted by anothernewphone

Love a good collection journey post!

Originally Posted by Rogdogg

That's a great collection that you have already so I will be very interested to find out where it is headed. That Patek chrono is beautiful. I love how the ExpII can hold it's own in such great company when you consider everything in your collection.

Exp II has been hanging tough:)
there was an auto mechanic on the forum who had worn his Exp II to work for 15 years every day, the watch was beat to snot and looked great… it became an instant favorite for me.

Originally Posted by subking86

Thanks for sharing! Such a great evolution!

Originally Posted by Eric Chan

Thank you for sharing it with us. There are seldom anything in life that I enjoy more than hearing the story of one's journey through something they hold so dear to themselves.

nice

Originally Posted by mps354

Love past and present collections, and great write up!

thanks Mike

Originally Posted by HACKNSACK44

Very nice!

Originally Posted by sickened1

Very nice collection Gus. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by brmeyers

Great Journey, many legendary timepieces

Originally Posted by AF_Rob

I hear ya... It amazes me how the ExII and Sub pull it's weight with watches several times it's price.

sometimes Function before form

Originally Posted by TimeOnHand

Very cool... Thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by arguetaoscar

Awesome collection, and great read!


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Originally Posted by NYCREBROKER

Congrats Gus!

Originally Posted by GB-man

Nice write up gus. You really got your money's worth out of that TT sub

indeed i did, the beauty is i sold it for what i paid for it and got to enjoy it for 20 years without restriction :)

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Great post! Loved reading about the evolution of the collection...which I must say, is a most enviable one!

I laughed at your Sub phase, because there was a point in the evolution of my collection also when I had three black Subs. As you said, "the Submariner was all I could think about."

Thanks for sharing your journey, Gus!

i see that theme every now and then and i smile and wonder where that individuals collection will go in the future… of course our own Mike has taken it to the extreme with the most amazing sub collection ever.

Originally Posted by lukajur

Great write up. I loved the detail you recall about your journey and I enjoyed reading it. Congrats on a great collection, but I sure hope you aren't done yet.

just never can tell… i think it is the best part :)

Originally Posted by AzHadEnuf

Great collection Gus

Originally Posted by Danny83

Thats a great collection

Originally Posted by Koala

that Patek grail is spectacular, well played!

thank you, i should have mentioned that at the beginning (1990) i had fallen for a Patek and said someday… it really was the long standing grail

Originally Posted by mike

Wonderful collection and story. Thank you for sharing

Originally Posted by IT Nerd

Great story and collection!!!

Originally Posted by DCgator

Totally agree.

Originally Posted by Hairdude1

Thanks for sharing your journey and collection

Originally Posted by steveclocks

you just proved that 'building' a watchcollection never really stops! great journey you've had and thanks for sharing it here with us. I think a passion like ours is even better when shared with likeminded people...and that's where TRF comes in.

couldn't agree more, looking forward to seeing similar posts by all of you :)

Originally Posted by Paul_81

Thank you for that some great shots and wow what a experience to get to your collection as it is now

very satisfying journey to finally know what works for you, even though sometimes it evolves.

Originally Posted by travisb

Great journey! I love these kinds of posts. You've filtered through some great pieces and ended up with a fantastic collection.
Was there an issue with the 5170 that caused it to be sent in?

dial blemish, didn't actually notice it for weeks after i brought it home, but then once you see it...




Thanks a lot friends, really appreciate each and every one of your comments and kind words

Nice to see how so many of us have an appreciation for the evolution of the collection experience.

to the journey

[subtona]

anchors of the collection and the grail.

[sickened1]

Very nice collection Gus. Thanks for sharing.

[Vaxe]

Originally Posted by subtona

anchors of the collection and the grail.

I respect that your 14060 is considered anchor alongside the 5170

[subtona]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

very nice

Thanks Tom.

Originally Posted by Vaxe

I respect that your 14060 is considered anchor alongside the 5170

Thank you. Classic sub is comfortable in any company.

[brmeyers]

Great Journey, many legendary timepieces

[TimeOnHand]

Very cool... Thanks for sharing!

[arguetaoscar]

Awesome collection, and great read!


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[NYCREBROKER]

Congrats Gus!