Long journey...

[kilyung]

Forgive me for writing such a long incoming post but I need to get it out of my system.

It's no secret to anyone here that I've been lusting after a YM2 for a while now. My first encounter with the YM2 was in 2008 (a year after its release at Basel 2007). I was working in Florida and meeting a potential sales executive candidate at the Ritz Carlton beach resort in Naples, FL.



Yes, a very casual interview. He showed up promptly and was dressed very smartly in business casual attire (it's FL) with this MASSIVE gold Rolex on his wrist. I'd only seen the YM2 online and it was surprisingly better looking than I had anticipated... beach+ocean+massive gold Rolex=picturesque. However I had not "matured" enough at that point in my horological journey to feel comfortable wearing a YG Rolex.

Fast forward to Basel 2013 and the SS 116680 is introduced. Wow!



Here was a watch that rekindled my fascination with this model. The YG YM2 was still very much somewhere in the back of my mind and I'd since overcome my YG hesitation. However a battle was brewing between my superego-ego-id (Herr Freud would have thought me a basket case). Would I listen to my id and just go for the gold? Or would my superego prevail in dissuading me altogether from such a large and expensive (and arguably unnecessary) timepiece. My ego valiantly tried to mediate between the two using the SS YM2 as a compromise. Quickly, my superego was tossed from the ring but my id and ego were still going all out.

All you guys, who have been picking up YM2s, were not helping (you know who you are!). Being unable to decide, I looked to my existing collection of precious metal Rolexes for inspiration.



My first precious metal sports Rolex was picked up in 2010. The 116718 YG GMTIIc. It's a fantastic watch and my favorite complication by far. Even to this day, it gets more wrist time than any other Rolex.



Next up in 2011 was the 116619LB WG SubC. Another great reference as it's a sub (not much more to say). I love the color (blue is my favorite color) and the weight is intoxicating. It's a very deceiving watch as it "looks" like any other SubC but most people around me don't know it's special. It's my rough & tumble Rolex (my SS Rolexes hate it).



Lastly in 2012, I got the 218206 Plat DDII. Now this was an odd one for me. I've got other dressy watches (from more "prestigious" brands) but I love the weight and even the size of this massive piece of metal not to mention the relative scarcity of this piece.

So when I looked at this list, here's what I realized...

116718 - I like the look of an all YG watch
116619 - blue looks fantastic on my wrist
218206 - I love heavy watches
Collectively - I like the rarity of wearing the top of a model line

Well when you put it that way, it's obvious the 116680 was going to lose. Furthermore, despite being a fantastic watch the 116680 price is very high for a steel Rolex and about halfway to a gold model. At that point, the decision was as clear as blue skies (although the PP 5980/1R and Rolex Daytona 116506 did and still tug at my consciousness).

Oh but the story goes on! After finally making a decision, I contacted my usual AD and was told that they could order it in (at a great price). Sadly, they called me back a month later and reneged on our deal. I'd never had this issue before (so never needed anything in writing) and have acquired MANY pieces from them in the past. Unfortunately they hired a new sales manager who refused to honor the offer. Even a plea to the AD owner failed. It's bittersweet that this watch caused a rift between my AD and me but 'c'est la vie' and we have parted ways. Anyways after a LONG search and lots of conversation with many great sellers, I finally found the right deal for me. So on this Thanksgiving holiday, I give thanks to Sohail who was kind enough to help me when I was down. Having reached the end of this 5yr saga, I now present the newest addition to my precious metal Rolex family...

heh heh heh!