My watch evolution …(Rolex, Breitling & Omega content w Rolex happy ending) - long

[simonthepilot]

I guess that I have been weak for watches since I was a very young boy, in the late 80:s I remember having a Casio digital watch –with a integrated phone book that emitted tone dials so you would not need to actually use the number dial. Very much a 80:s thing but it was really something back then.
In 1992 my parents got me a “nice watch”, a Olympic Seiko limitied edition which I do still have but it was not until 2003 I discovered the finer timepieces. As I’m also a pilot by training, the Breitling line was very close to my heart. During a vacation in Rhodes, Greece I decided to pull the trigger on lovely two tone Breitling Aerospace.



After a year or two (can’t remember exactly) I sold it due to our second baby was on the way, and we where planning to buy a house. So during these years, until 2008 I lived with a cheap very basic Seiko quartz. In late 2008 I decided that I was in need of a nice timepiece, once again a Breitling Aerospace. During a business trip to New York and Montreal I visited many Breitling retailers and finally got a good price at La Swiss in Montreal. A Breitling Aerospace Advantage with a grey dial.



I was really into the black dial (not a single one in stock in Canada at the moment) – so I never really bonded with the grayish dial, and that period of time was rather tuff as I got some issues with my health and was undergoing extensive examinations so in some strange way the watch in my mind came to be associated with the difficulties I was going through.

During this period I was heavily into watch magazines, different forums as well as window shopping during my different business trips in Europe. I guess it was also a way to divert my thoughts on other things than the issues I was going through. Being into watches means that you can’t avoid Rolex, and I grew more and more found of the Rolex Submariner LV with the green bezel.

I extensively searched different forums and tried to learn more about the SubLV. Even though I now can say that the SubLV was my first love, I kept reading that the GMTc was a superior watch with the parachrome hairspring, cheracrome bezel and the all new solid bracelet. And yes, it was very much appealing when I first tried it on at an AD in Stockholm. The SubLV was nice to, but the green bezel doesn’t really do well in a spotlight intensive environment – as the GMT does. The Stockholm AD said that the GMT was superior and that there where a four month waiting time after putting down a 20% down payment.

So during spring last year
I was very ripe for my first Rolex acquisition, even though I wasn’t completely clear on which one. During a business trip to Germany (via Amsterdam Schiphol) I had the chance to once again try on the SubLV at Schiphol, but not the GMTc as it was not in Stock. They day before I called Wempe in Cologne to see if they had the SubLV and the GMTc in Stock, and they had the GMTc.

So there I was, between flights at the airports, having only 50 minutes to decide – the SubLV at the airport, or the GMTc at Wempe in downtown Cologne.







I went for the GMTc. The SubLV:s green does not it’s best in an AD-environment. And the handling at Schiphol (where they sometimes are not very gentle with their merchandise can be perceived as a tad cheap IMHO). However I can only recommend them as they do have good service other than that.

I really loved that GMTc. A solid, massive piece of art. Actually a perfect watch, everything was just…. utterly perfect. I got plenty of positive feedback, the watch really caught the attention of lots of people, colleagues, friends, family. I have only good things to say about the GMTc, but the PLC where a bit hard to care for.

The following summer I decided to sell my grey dialed Aerospace as Breitling released the new teck-like Vulcano black dial. This was also a mental full stop for the health issues I was going thorugh so I flipped it and went for the new black dialed aerospace as in a manifestation. To keep costs down I ordered the watch with a rubber band.





However, just after a few weeks I decided I wanted the full titanium bracelet.

As time passed by I was quite happy with my watches. As we celebrated our ten year anniversary I bought my lovely wife an Omega Constellation Two-tone.



I also had a short réunion with an pre-used Omega Seamaster GMT, but flipped it away shortly after I acquired it, more of a parenthesis in my watch evolution.



My watch interest was peaking now, and I kept having feelings for the SubLV, my first love.. It started to become more clear that the Rolex I really fell for was the SubLV. Sure, the GMTc was overall a more modern construction and I’m sure a better watch, but in some way it was to perfect for me. I realized that I really wanted the SubLV.

So I flipped the GMTc to a nice gentlemen being the CEO of a listed company. He was kind of funny and gave me a investment advice, buy stocks in my company – that could easily be the best investment you do…
So after a few weeks I was once again at Amsterdam Schiphol airport and trying on the SubLV and a few other watches. As we also where extending our house I was quite hesitant on once again plunging out with that kind of money. I tried on the Rolex Explorer and the salesperson immediately gave me a “extra, extra good price” and as I had a connecting flight to catch the decision was solely taken on the good discount. I went for the Rolex Explorer but as soon as my connecting flight took off from Amsterdam I regretted what I had done. This was my second chance to buy the SubLV and I blew it.





As soon as I was back I put the Explorer out for sale. Even though I must admit it’s a lovely watch. I liked it very much, I really did. But it was the Sub LV I really loved.

It was not very easy to flip the Explorer, but finally a very nice gentlemen, a pediatrician who was looking for a simple, durable, high-quality timepiece showed up and basically paid the same money I paid for it. The watch was BNIB, even the stickers where on as I realized it would be much easier to sell it was those on.

The pediatrician put down a down payment on the watch, and wanted to wait with full payment until end of the month. The very next day I was once again off for a business trip, via Amsterdam. And there it was sitting in the window, the SubLV. Now I was completely sure – nothing could change my mind. Even though they had several others in stock (the new SubC TT) and all for real tax-free prices (MSRP – 19% in EUR) I went for the SubLV with the new random serial no.





And now almost a month afterwards I am so happy, so completely satisfied with the SubLV. I’ve sworn never to flip it if I don’t have too. The green bezel is fantastic, especially in natural light.

So what’s the moral of the story? Nothing is like the first love! Even though I may feel that the GMTc was better in many aspects, it’s the SubLV which makes me smile the most

[veidtadrian]

Cool story..but maybe it is just me, but there was something wrong with your code as the pics didn't show up!

Alot of flipping but good that you finally have what you want!
You also met alot of people in your journey...

[simonthepilot]

Sorry for the pics, it's now corrected!

[OYSTERMANN]

What a great post, Simon and your LV looks fantastic!!

Just make sure you keep hold of it, after such a journey getting there!

You bought your wife a lovely Constellation, too - I bet she adores it.

All the best,

[Woody]

Great post - thanks for sharing.

I must say that the Explorer looks great alongside the LV...............any second thoughts about letting it go

[Tek]

Good to hear you got what you wanted . Wear it in good health

[simonthepilot]

Originally Posted by Woody

Great post - thanks for sharing.

I must say that the Explorer looks great alongside the LV...............any second thoughts about letting it go

Yes, the Explorer was wonderful. Have it on my future aquistion list - however could not keep it due to the house extension :-(