White Dial Exp-II: the WIS conundrum (long rambling post)

[CPTL]

This is a post about my next watch, the Exp-II. But, it's also about watch collecting, love of Rolex, and what drives us to keep buying these things.

I've long wanted a white dial GMT. I'm trying to diversify: get the daily wearer (my Sub), the dress watch (my DJ), the cool chrono, the "beater," the GMT, etc. I had myself convinced that the next one on the list had to be a Seamaster GMT white dial. It could be the "beater" and the GMT, and would substitute with the daily wearer for a change.

But, then I started thinking about when I would wear it, and why I was buying it, and what got me into buying watches in the first place.

The "beater" would be the watch I wear to the beach, fishing, going for a run, deploying to Iraq, etc. Since I do a lot of these things while I'm on vacation, then it would also have to be my vacation watch--unless I bring two, which doesn't make much sense.

But then I started thinking about why I'm buying these things in the first place. Is it to have a bunch of expensive watches? No, I don't think so. I started thinking about Bo's recent struggle--about how he's sitting there looking at his $10k watch with all these functions that he doesn't use. What is it about these watches that gets us all excited? Is it the functions? Is it having "one of everything?" A watch for every occasion? One watch for all occasions?

For me, at the end, it comes down to having a Rolex on my wrist. Since I put that Sub on the first time, that's all I want to wear. I love that feeling of looking down at the perfectly polished crystal, the slow, gentle sweep of the second hand, the perfection of the dial. It's got to be a Rolex to get that feeling.

I had myself convinced that I needed the Omega, because I wanted the lume. The logic goes like this: the "beater" is going to be the watch you wear in Iraq/Afghanistan/wherever else the Army decides to send you. So, you have to be able to see the damn thing in the dark. And, since you have the beater, it will also be your fishing/beach watch, and by extension the vacation watch.

But, as long as I'm wearing the Omega, I'm going to miss my Sub. It's that simple. Do I really want to spend a year deployed and every vacation looking down at my wrist and wishing I saw a Rolex there?

So, I've decided not to get the Omega. My Sub, the daily wearer, will become my beater. It's not like the Omega is any tougher than the Sub--it's just cheaper, which makes it easier to justify abusing it. But, I bought the Rolex because I wanted to wear the Rolex. The Sub is as tough as they come--it will be fine, and it's insured in case the bracelet breaks and it drops into the ocean. So why torture myself by leaving it at home? And I can see it in the dark, I just have to look really close and squint.

So, I will get the white dial Explorer (eventually) so I've got something to switch out the sub with. I'll have the black dial Sub, and the white dial GMT. Good contrast. That, with the DJ, will round out my collection nicely. All will get worn, and never will I look at my wrist and be disappointed. Maybe Rolex will soon begin using the same luminous material Omega uses, and I can get the hands and dial changed at a service.

Thanks, Bo, for making me think about why I spend all this time looking, reading, thinking about watches. Rolex is the reason. It's not because I want to stockpile watches that I'll never wear--it's because I want to look down at my wrist and see perfection. Back to the basics. Simplicity. Perfection. Rolex. Thinking about it makes me feel good.

Note that I haven't seen my Sub in about five months. I'll be reunited with it in about 10 weeks. Several friends, including two Rolex owners, convinced me that it would be a horrible idea to bring my Sub with me to Iraq. They were wrong--it was a horrible idea to leave it with my dad. I look at my wrist 20 times a day and see my Suunto Observer, which is a great watch that has been with me for a loooong time. However, every time I check the time I think, "I wish I had my Sub." Never again. Never again.