14 watches. 27 years. Collection complete

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by red.earth

I've only reached page 3 of this thread and I've had to stop as I'm at work and I'm laughing too loudly

It gets better!

[Archduke]

OP great collection and great thread!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Archduke

OP great collection and great thread!

Thanks. Wasn't an easy thread to start with. But got there in the end.

[Angrypuppy]

Originally Posted by red.earth

I've only reached page 3 of this thread and I've had to stop as I'm at work and I'm laughing too loudly

IMO it turns into the best thread on TRF.

When it first started I read the first little bit and ignored it until it got to quite a few pages. Then I kept coming back for more.

[HogwldFLTR]

You really need a DJ(II?) and DD(II?).

[sturgeon123456]

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story and for taking us on such an wonderful journey. My favourite thread by a long shot and you sir are one interesting fellow.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Angrypuppy

IMO it turns into the best thread on TRF.

When it first started I read the first little bit and ignored it until it got to quite a few pages. Then I kept coming back for more.

Thank you.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by sturgeon123456

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story and for taking us on such an wonderful journey. My favourite thread by a long shot and you sir are one interesting fellow.

And thanks to you. It's all about the journey!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

You really need a DJ(II?) and DD(II?).

Who me?

[Silvio Mosiello]

The word "need" should never be taken literally on this forum


Sent from my Motorola Razor

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Silvio Mosiello

The word "need" should never be taken literally on this forum


Sent from my Motorola Razor

Couldn't agree more

[Silvio Mosiello]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Couldn't agree more

I found out who you are! The jig is up Thanks so much for contributing to this forum and not letting the initial negative attention get to you. What are your thoughts on a skydweller for a expedition a Rolex. Itd be cool for someone traveling all over like you!


Sent from my Motorola Razor

[mjg002]

So I'm very late to this party but have thoroughly enjoyed the journey... (To mix my metaphors!).

Steve - I am seriously impressed with your life, your watches and the way you have responded to this thread. I wish I could match your story - both expedition and watch-wise.

In my younger days I too was into outdoor sports and exploring (mainly rock climbing and mountaineering) and wanted a similarly inspiring career. In fact, having read Geography at Uni I considered joining the British Antarctic Survey - but instead ended up choosing the corporate world though that has been good to me as I have still travelled the world extensively doing interesting things, and at the same time earned the funds to see many other parts of the world when not working. And happy to say this includes Alaska and the Yukon doing things such as dog sledding in seriously cold conditions (see pics).

My first Rolex was also inspired very much by the explorer element and I also remember well the Rolex advertising of the time (Rolexes being used to the summit of Mount Everest etc.) in National Geographic Magazine and similar. I actually don't now remember which model it was (could have been an Explorer or Air King) but this was back in the mid 80s and I regret now not keeping it. I only really got back into watches seriously when I started to be able to better afford them but have still tended to focus on watches that are decent tool watches - particularly those with a GMT function. I have now a EXP2 plus 3 GMTs (1982 16750 Pepsi, 2007 16710M Pepsi and a BLNR - but the BLNR has to go because I can't live with the PCLs - it may get replaced by the new Deep Sea Deep Blue...).

Anyway, I found your story truly inspiring - and particular how you have built your collection and why. I wish I could turn the clock back and do the same. But going forward I will now collect in a much more considered way - and I have you to thank for that. I am also going to go back to reading some of the books that inspired me when I was more actively involved in the mountaineering world - I can recommend The Shining Mountain by Pete Boardman - and sadly also Fragile Edge by Maria Coffey which tells the sad tale of Boardman and his friend Joe Tasker's untimely deaths on Everest in 1982.

Thanks again for a great read. I look forward to many more from you.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Silvio Mosiello

I found out who you are! The jig is up Thanks so much for contributing to this forum and not letting the initial negative attention get to you. What are your thoughts on a skydweller for a expedition a Rolex. Itd be cool for someone traveling all over like you!


Sent from my Motorola Razor

Yes! That's me.
Not really looked at the sky dweller... Will check it out!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by mjg002

So I'm very late to this party but have thoroughly enjoyed the journey... (To mix my metaphors!).

Steve - I am seriously impressed with your life, your watches and the way you have responded to this thread. I wish I could match your story - both expedition and watch-wise.

In my younger days I too was into outdoor sports and exploring (mainly rock climbing and mountaineering) and wanted a similarly inspiring career. In fact, having read Geography at Uni I considered joining the British Antarctic Survey - but instead ended up choosing the corporate world though that has been good to me as I have still travelled the world extensively doing interesting things, and at the same time earned the funds to see many other parts of the world when not working. And happy to say this includes Alaska and the Yukon doing things such as dog sledding in seriously cold conditions (see pics).

My first Rolex was also inspired very much by the explorer element and I also remember well the Rolex advertising of the time (Rolexes being used to the summit of Mount Everest etc.) in National Geographic Magazine and similar. I actually don't now remember which model it was (could have been an Explorer or Air King) but this was back in the mid 80s and I regret now not keeping it. I only really got back into watches seriously when I started to be able to better afford them but have still tended to focus on watches that are decent tool watches - particularly those with a GMT function. I have now a EXP2 plus 3 GMTs (1982 16750 Pepsi, 2007 16710M Pepsi and a BLNR - but the BLNR has to go because I can't live with the PCLs - it may get replaced by the new Deep Sea Deep Blue...).

Anyway, I found your story truly inspiring - and particular how you have built your collection and why. I wish I could turn the clock back and do the same. But going forward I will now collect in a much more considered way - and I have you to thank for that. I am also going to go back to reading some of the books that inspired me when I was more actively involved in the mountaineering world - I can recommend The Shining Mountain by Pete Boardman - and sadly also Fragile Edge by Maria Coffey which tells the sad tale of Boardman and his friend Joe Tasker's untimely deaths on Everest in 1982.

Thanks again for a great read. I look forward to many more from you.

Wow! Thanks. Great post, seems like you do enough adventure anyway.
Am fascinated by Boardman/Tasker. Have read them all...
Have you read Coffreys other book? That's good as well...

[toomuchtalk]

And my favourite.....

[mjg002]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Wow! Thanks. Great post, seems like you do enough adventure anyway.
Am fascinated by Boardman/Tasker. Have read them all...
Have you read Coffreys other book? That's good as well...

No, but I'm going to check her other book out right now! I think I have read all the books by Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker but I'm going to make sure now. Brings back memories - both good and sad. I remember feeling that I had lost personal friends when they died even though I never met either of them. But they wrote so well about things I was very close to at the time. Thanks for the tip and the memories!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by mjg002

No, but I'm going to check her other book out right now! I think I have read all the books by Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker but I'm going to make sure now. Brings back memories - both good and sad. I remember feeling that I had lost personal friends when they died even though I never met either of them. But they wrote so well about things I was very close to at the time. Thanks for the tip and the memories!

Yes- likewise!
The book is: The Mountain casts its shadow.
Also read: The boys of Everest by Clint Willis.

[MTROIS]

Have been lurking here for a few months, but this thread is by far the most interesting and inspiring one!

[toomuchtalk]

So, thought I would profile each watch in the collection. From first to last. Each watch has its own history. And is the story and part of a journey.

Rolex Submariner Date.

First watch bought. Sold a car to buy it at 18. I choose this one as I was diving at the time, the watch was worn on fives all over the UK. It went through university, officer training, got married with it on. It's bern on expeditions to the Alps, Iceland, Norway and greenland.

It is a classic rolex, in my opinion this version is better than the new ceramic models. It should be in any collection.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by MTROIS

Have been lurking here for a few months, but this thread is by far the most interesting and inspiring one!

Cheers!

[mjg002]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Yes- likewise!
The book is: The Mountain casts its shadow.
Also read: The boys of Everest by Clint Willis.

Steve,

I will do that. Thanks for the tips.

And I see this thread is going to get seriously interesting again(!) based on your most recent post. I am looking forward... Maybe we should all do something similar. But suspect we don't all have such great history with each watch - I know I don't!

Cheers, and thanks again!!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by mjg002

Steve,

I will do that. Thanks for the tips.

And I see this thread is going to get seriously interesting again(!) based on your most recent post. I am looking forward... Maybe we should all do something similar. But suspect we don't all have such great history with each watch - I know I don't!

Cheers, and thanks again!!

No problem!
Don't think the thread will take off again. Think most have seen it!
Doing it just for my own watch jounrey now:)

[red.earth]

I've still got about 600 posts unread - it's like having a big, mostly uneaten cake

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by red.earth

I've still got about 600 posts unread - it's like having a big, mostly uneaten cake

It's crazy!

Second watch bought will be posted tomorow with pictures and history:)

[Dyim]

Thread of the year for sure

Phenomenal collection with even better stories behind them.

@toomuchtalk, how often do you service the watches? Just wondering if they find anything unusual during servicing because of the extreme conditions they have been thru.

Looking forward to more postings.

[2Redbulls]

I'm very glad this thread was resurrected, otherwise I'd never would have found it. Love the pictures of the locations. Now off to the exploration thread...

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Dyim

Thread of the year for sure

Phenomenal collection with even better stories behind them.

@toomuchtalk, how often do you service the watches? Just wondering if they find anything unusual during servicing because of the extreme conditions they have been thru.

Looking forward to more postings.

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

[playmore009]

I am glad this thread was resurrected - Just awesome! Thank you for taking the time and sharing with us your stories and your collection.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by playmore009

I am glad this thread was resurrected - Just awesome! Thank you for taking the time and sharing with us your stories and your collection.

Submariner in action....