The Explorer plunge... Thanks TRF

[busytimmy]

Great watch! Congrats

[vitalsignsrn]

Congratulations. :-) Your son looks like he's ready for it anytime dad! ;-)

[Rogdogg]

Congratulations on acquiring a great watch. I think the Explorer is fantastic.
I do think however that you may be borrowing it for a lot less than 18 years. I give you about 6 haha. Great Picture

[travisb]

Nice story leading up to a great watch! Congrats to you (and your son)!

[Runnin' Rebel]

Good story, and your a great dad

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Bfd70

...money is an infinitely renewable resource.

Congratulations!

[theken]

Great story and big congrats!

[cop414]

Looks great on him! Did you tell him that it's really his and that you're just borrowing it for a decade or so?

[toomuchtalk]

Awesome.

[broulstone]

Cute son nice watch.👍


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[x zombie]

Super nice.

[maxbaris]

Great story! My fave as well! Wear it in good health.

[Bfd70]

Thank you all for the kind words. Last night I placed it on the night stand and fell asleep staring at the gorgeous blue lume.

[kultschar]

Nice story!!

I received mine this morning!!!

[dchernikoff]

Awesome story -- and watch! Very inspiring. Got me thinking - I have one Rolex but two sons... Uh oh!

-Dan

[Dvenus11]

absolutely loved the story

[SoonerTA]

Such a classic! Congrats!

[De Sisti]

Originally Posted by Bfd70

I've been "into watches" to some degree for about 9 years. It started when a friend showed me his new Hamilton. From there it was off to the races. Seiko, Hamilton, Fortis, Omega....I started acquiring a decent collections of watches I really liked. I appreciated their beauty and craftsmanship. I loved the research and hunt for the next acquisition.The one thing I didn't like however was seeing watches go unworn, sometimes for months at a time. Also, the hobby felt like it was getting too expensive for a man with a young family and middle class means.

I decided to reduce the holdings to two watches. I kept a Hamilton Khaki for work (no desk/suit/tie) and used the proceeds to purchase a used Y series Explorer II, which was my obsession at the time (from hq Milton in San Francisco, great seller). I wore the watch daily for the next 5 years and loved it.

Then, a few months back, I was reflecting on an impending birthday. I thought I deserved a gift. I thought about how a new Rolex that had only ever been mine would be a great way to start the decade. The old itch returned. I went on Rolex forum. I lurked. I lusted. So many beautiful watches. I went to the Ad, kicked tires, tried on models. The white grape dial on the oyster perpetual, be still my heart, the blue of the JD II like the sky on the perfect day, the Sub...a classic! Though each brought with it a slight short coming. Too small...too polished...too common.

What was I looking for? Well, I wanted a watch that was more casual than business. If I have on a tie someone is likely getting married or buried. Something that I can wear while throwing the ball with my son, then wear while taking my lovely wife for a night on the town. Something classic. The hulk is gorgeous, but after a few years.....I dunno. Then I saw it. The Explorer I. It looked big at first, and in the store light the dial almost looked brown. Still, there was something about it.

I went home and searched, and read. Videos, printed reviews, wrist shots by the dozen. I became convinced...obsessed almost. I went to the AD today, not to buy really, but to visit all of the lovely watches. It was there. I put it on. The voice in my head reminded me: life is short, and money is an infinitely renewable resource. I'll take it! Today I made my first purchase of a brand new Rolex. I will follow with a picture tonight. I want the first shot to be of my son wearing it. It's his after all, he's just going to have to let me borrow it for the next 18 years.

A random bit of white space makes it easier to read.

[Racerdj]

Great story, congratulations!

[Bfd70]

He hasn't gotten to wear "his" EXP II yet...and it has been 5 years






Sure I should have used paragraphs, but I was too damn excited!

[Silvio Mosiello]

Great watch even better story!


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[FiftyTwoEighty]

Congrats on a great 214270! Your son will LOVE it in a few years!

[gbpritf]

Congratulations! Very nice story.

[stoo14]

Congrats. Great story. Thanks for sharing. Due to collect mine on Tuesday... that's me wearing it in the shop before it went in the safe until collection day. ❤️⌚️


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