The Long and Winding Road

[SemperFi]

I've gone through all nineteen pages of the Explorer I Club Thread, read every post and looked at about a hundred photos of the Explorer, both older and newer versions, and I've got to say that I'm hooked. I joined this forum six months ago when I first decided that after longing for a Rolex for over forty years I was going to get one. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.
In the interim I've researched the Sub, DJ's, DJ II's in all of it's configurations, Explorer, and Explorer II's as these were the only ones that interested me. My favorite at any given point in time has been each and every one of the aforementioned models. I've been to the AD four times, each time trying on the watch that suited my fancy at that moment. I've digested all of the comments, suggestions, and recommendations from forum members from the various threads I've started or others that I've posted on.
In the last month, however, it seems to have all come together and my eye has been continuously drawn back to the Explorer (214270) as my first Rolex and one that I would proudly pass down to my son and then my grandson. It's clean but elegant look and seemingly perfect proportions are tugging at me, more so than any of the others I've been considering.
I've seen pictures of the Explorer on its original SS bracelet, on a Nato strap, on a woven strap, and on a RubberB strap and it looks great, and differently versatile, on each one.
If I had the cash I'd order it today but at least I'm shooting for a goal now...and it doesn't hurt that it's the least expensive of the bunch.