INCOMING - Explorer I on Oysterflex

[Chadridv]

Like most here, I put a lot of thought into which watches to buy and as always I have a lot to say about this watch. I'll keep this brief for now and post my deep thoughts below the pics.

I will say, if you know me at all, you know it was only a matter of time before I played around with the bracelet. I have a couple everest bands on deck, and of course the bracelet is great... but man, this watch looks right at home on oysterflex.

I do need to add a HUGE thanks Rick (Investr) for helping me out with this! Very very appreciated brother.

Enjoy the pics and if you're interested in my thoughts on the watch read below...












So the 214270 Explorer I has always been a watch I admired. It's hard not to like it. The design is simple but not boring, rugged yet somehow elegant. It's not huge or small, however it has a pretty slim profile. It has the perfect amount of wrist presence. If you're a tinkerer like me, this watch is a dream come true. It looks amazing on leather straps, rubber straps, of course oyster bracelet and jubilee as well. The price point is excellent (relatively speaking).

It's been brought into my stable as a daily driver, but even more than that a watch I can bond with. A watch I can truly own, and not a watch that owns me.

Let me explain...

I've owned some nice watches. Dozens and dozens of watches have gone through my hands, ranging in value from $50 to almost $40k. I'm not a wealthy guy. I'm lucky to be where I'm at, but by no means am I rich or make a ton of money. In all my years of serious collecting, my watch collection has probably always reflected that of a wealthier person lol. I've been lucky in watch selection and have owned quite a few that appreciated A LOT. I've also sold a couple way too early, and simply made the wrong choices numerous times.

All that said, I've always felt financially responsible (allowing for some loss in my collections value) but the truth is, things like value retention and demand play a role in which watches I select. The most important thing to me is to buy a watch I love. I always make choices allowing for value loss but of course hoping for appreciation. I'm not going to get into the "investment" conversation and maybe I'm not explaining this well cause that's not my point. What I'm trying to say is that perhaps for all those reasons, no matter how hard I try watches at a certain price point simply can not be my daily drivers.

Rewind a couple months, I bought a Gshock. Since getting it, I think it's been the watch I've worn most. Side note: I have a 1 year old and 3 year old. They are beautiful destructive little creatures haha. When being truly in the moment with my kids I recently started to find myself distracted by my gold daytona or sky dweller. Not in a positive break for admiration, more so in a little bit of a worry about the watch.

I didn't have these feelings about my watches when it was just my son as small baby or before kids. Maybe it's because my sons a maniac lol. Maybe it's cause as my family grows I feel the need to hold myself to higher standard of financial responsibility. For whatever reason lately I've been a little apprehensive about wearing my "nicer watches" for most of my day to day lifestyle. It got me thinking about who actually owns who here?! haha.

That said, I'll always have a place in my rotation for "nicer" pieces. Trust me they're not collecting dust. But I decided I wanted a watch that I could bond with, enjoy a rugged nature of living, wear to work on location or to the park with my kids, hopefully take on adventures, embrace wear and scratches, truly let go of inhibition and go back to simple enjoyment... and most importantly truly own and not the other way around.