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subtona · 14 October 2015, 01:12 PM

i wanted to share the evolution in my watch collection over the last 5 years, it has dawned on me that I have come full circle back to the Daytona, the grail watch (black dial this time). It Seems like the perfect time to revisit the journey. hope you enjoy.

In 1991 the Daytona was a Zenith version, it was impossible for me to find back then, I had my name and deposits with several AD in the nyc area. After waiting more than a year for a Daytona to surface, I gave up and decided to purchase my second choice, the Submariner 16613 Bluesy (E serial) new from Wempe on 5 ave in manhattan. The bluesy had become quite popular at the time.

I went on to forget about the Daytona for 20 years and enjoy my Submariner, using it for any and all tasks as my only watch… then unexpectedly in 2010, a friend mentioned he had a guy who worked in a rolex AD, my friend told me this guy could make things happen… so I replied, if you want to test him, ask him if he can get me a Daytona?
the call was made and BOOM, the guy came through, the Daytona (V serial) in December of 2010, I finally purchased a white dialed 116520 Daytona.
It was my second Rolex and a grail that had been in my sights for the 20 years.

Naturally i wanted to learn all about the Daytona so in Jan of 2011 (ill bet you can guess what comes next) yes thats right, i discovered the Rolex Forums…i joined TRF

first we have the two watch collection and no worthy camera or photographic skills to accompany them.
Here is the well worn bluesy and my original Daytona centric TRF avatar image, a belt buckle given to me by a friend.

subtona · 14 October 2015, 01:21 PM

here are some collection snaps that i came upon looking for a white dial daytona wrist shot (which i haven't found. my watch pics, a few thousand were seperated into relevant folders but all got merged into 1 folder when i installed new photo software. 1 click of a button and they were all jumbled up.

here you'll see the daytona doesn't stay too long and the TT Sub loses its TT bracelet. the bracelet was so worn, i was beginning to think it would just fall apart on my wrist soon, so i replaced it with a modern SS bracelet with SEL for half the price asked for a replacement TT version.

some images of what the TT bracelet looked like prompting the replacement. it had just been polished and was sold seperately. notice the wear notches in both the gold and SS parts of the bracelet.

also there is a picture of my idea of a watch collection, when the submariner was all i could think about.

subtona · 14 October 2015, 01:34 PM

this pic is a midway collection pic, getting things dialed in and a fine collection but not quite where i would find contentment.

also a pic of a favorite but very short lived panerai combo and the AP Diver.

ps the camera skills are getting a little better.

subtona · 14 October 2015, 01:41 PM

the collection is getting dialed in but some significant changes happened relatively quickly, the AP jumbo was gone and the Nautilus took its place.

Most recently the Aquanaut has gone, enter the Daytona and the present status of a watch collection.

the Patek 5170 is photo shy as he is still visiting Switzerland on holiday, oh those patek wait times can really test a guy.

hope you all enjoyed

anothernewphone · 14 October 2015, 01:50 PM

Love a good collection journey post!

Rogdogg · 14 October 2015, 01:57 PM

That's a great collection that you have already so I will be very interested to find out where it is headed. That Patek chrono is beautiful. I love how the ExpII can hold it's own in such great company when you consider everything in your collection.

subking86 · 14 October 2015, 02:03 PM

Thanks for sharing! Such a great evolution!

Eric Chan · 14 October 2015, 02:17 PM

Thank you for sharing it with us. There are seldom anything in life that I enjoy more than hearing the story of one's journey through something they hold so dear to themselves.

mps354 · 14 October 2015, 02:22 PM

Love past and present collections, and great write up!

HACKNSACK44 · 14 October 2015, 02:24 PM

Very nice!

subtona · 14 October 2015, 02:24 PM

anchors of the collection and the grail.

sickened1 · 14 October 2015, 02:29 PM

Very nice collection Gus. Thanks for sharing.

brmeyers · 14 October 2015, 02:31 PM

Great Journey, many legendary timepieces

AF_Rob · 14 October 2015, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogdogg

That's a great collection that you have already so I will be very interested to find out where it is headed. That Patek chrono is beautiful. I love how the ExpII can hold it's own in such great company when you consider everything in your collection.

I hear ya... It amazes me how the ExII and Sub pull it's weight with watches several times it's price.

TimeOnHand · 14 October 2015, 02:40 PM

Very cool... Thanks for sharing!

arguetaoscar · 14 October 2015, 02:42 PM

Awesome collection, and great read!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

NYCREBROKER · 14 October 2015, 02:52 PM

Congrats Gus!

GB-man · 14 October 2015, 03:01 PM

Nice write up gus. You really got your money's worth out of that TT sub

DCheeta · 14 October 2015, 03:04 PM

Great post! Loved reading about the evolution of the collection...which I must say, is a most enviable one!

I laughed at your Sub phase, because there was a point in the evolution of my collection also when I had three black Subs. As you said, "the Submariner was all I could think about."

Thanks for sharing your journey, Gus!

lukajur · 14 October 2015, 03:40 PM

Great write up. I loved the detail you recall about your journey and I enjoyed reading it. Congrats on a great collection, but I sure hope you aren't done yet.

AzHadEnuf · 14 October 2015, 03:44 PM

Great collection Gus

Danny83 · 14 October 2015, 03:53 PM

Thats a great collection

Koala · 14 October 2015, 04:43 PM

that Patek grail is spectacular, well played!

mike · 14 October 2015, 04:47 PM

Wonderful collection and story. Thank you for sharing

IT Nerd · 14 October 2015, 04:55 PM

Great story and collection!!!

DCgator · 14 October 2015, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IT Nerd

Great story and collection!!!

Totally agree.

Hairdude1 · 14 October 2015, 05:22 PM

Thanks for sharing your journey and collection

steveclocks · 14 October 2015, 06:33 PM

you just proved that 'building' a watchcollection never really stops! great journey you've had and thanks for sharing it here with us. I think a passion like ours is even better when shared with likeminded people...and that's where TRF comes in.

Paul_81 · 14 October 2015, 07:02 PM

Thank you for that some great shots and wow what a experience to get to your collection as it is now

travisb · 14 October 2015, 07:10 PM

Great journey! I love these kinds of posts. You've filtered through some great pieces and ended up with a fantastic collection.
Was there an issue with the 5170 that caused it to be sent in?

14 October 2015, 01:57 PM	#6
Rogdogg 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bangkok Posts: 6,124	That's a great collection that you have already so I will be very interested to find out where it is headed. That Patek chrono is beautiful. I love how the ExpII can hold it's own in such great company when you consider everything in your collection. __________________ Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

14 October 2015, 02:24 PM	#10
HACKNSACK44 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Chuck Location: Orlando Watch: 114060 Posts: 8,450	Very nice! __________________ 114060

14 October 2015, 02:40 PM	#15
TimeOnHand "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Kevin Location: Hong Kong Watch: Rolex Air-King Posts: 4,468	Very cool... Thanks for sharing! __________________ Instagram: timeonhand1010

14 October 2015, 03:40 PM	#20
lukajur "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Real Name: Luka Location: Austria Watch: Speedy Posts: 387	Great write up. I loved the detail you recall about your journey and I enjoyed reading it. Congrats on a great collection, but I sure hope you aren't done yet. __________________ Omega: Speedmaster Professional, Rolex: Blancpain: Fifthy Fathoms Bathyscaphe Rose Gold Cartier: Midsize Santos

14 October 2015, 03:44 PM	#21
AzHadEnuf "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Real Name: Ralph Location: Tucson, Arizona Watch: 6263,DJ,SUB,BB,THR Posts: 2,043	Great collection Gus __________________ "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." -A. Einstein

14 October 2015, 01:50 PM	#5
anothernewphone Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Bill Location: Plymouth Meeting Watch: 116520 Posts: 3,209	Love a good collection journey post!

14 October 2015, 02:03 PM	#7
subking86 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: key west Watch: 16610 Posts: 811	Thanks for sharing! Such a great evolution!

14 October 2015, 02:17 PM	#8
Eric Chan "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Eric Chan Location: Vancouver, BC CAN Watch: Day-Date 118238 Posts: 8,798	Thank you for sharing it with us. There are seldom anything in life that I enjoy more than hearing the story of one's journey through something they hold so dear to themselves.

14 October 2015, 02:22 PM	#9
mps354 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Real Name: Mike Location: CT Posts: 9,096	Love past and present collections, and great write up!

14 October 2015, 02:29 PM	#12
sickened1 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Real Name: Ed Location: SoCal Watch: ugiveiswatchuget Posts: 9,054	Very nice collection Gus. Thanks for sharing.

14 October 2015, 02:31 PM	#13
brmeyers "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Real Name: Bryant Location: Florida Watch: ...Your Thoughts Posts: 2,171	Great Journey, many legendary timepieces

14 October 2015, 02:42 PM	#16
arguetaoscar "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 2,335	Awesome collection, and great read! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

14 October 2015, 02:52 PM	#17
NYCREBROKER "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Steven Location: Miami Beach Watch: 214270 &Speedy Pro Posts: 391	Congrats Gus!

14 October 2015, 03:01 PM	#18
GB-man 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Watch: addiction issues Posts: 37,342	Nice write up gus. You really got your money's worth out of that TT sub

14 October 2015, 03:04 PM	#19
DCheeta "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Real Name: Dave Location: NYC Posts: 7,181	Great post! Loved reading about the evolution of the collection...which I must say, is a most enviable one! I laughed at your Sub phase, because there was a point in the evolution of my collection also when I had three black Subs. As you said, "the Submariner was all I could think about." Thanks for sharing your journey, Gus!

14 October 2015, 03:53 PM	#22
Danny83 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Real Name: Danny Location: Bay Area CA Watch: Yellow Gold Posts: 20,307	Thats a great collection

14 October 2015, 04:43 PM	#23
Koala "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Real Name: Jared Location: Boston Watch: AP 26401RO Posts: 469	that Patek grail is spectacular, well played! __________________ - AP Royal Oak Offshore 26401RO - Rolex Yacht-Master II 116681 - Rolex GMT-2 116710BLNR

14 October 2015, 04:47 PM	#24
mike "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 22,683	Wonderful collection and story. Thank you for sharing

14 October 2015, 04:55 PM	#25
IT Nerd 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: VA Watch: me flip Posts: 1,021	Great story and collection!!!

14 October 2015, 05:22 PM	#27
Hairdude1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Alex Location: Chicago Watch: AP,PP, Rolex Posts: 37,156	Thanks for sharing your journey and collection __________________ Instagram: @Hairdude Watches in Collection 5070R, 5522A, 214270 MK1, 228238 16750, 26401, 5711, 116718, 116710LN, 116300, 16710"Coke", 372, 15300, 15703 (All Flipped) Official Member "Perpetual 30" Las Vegas GTG 2016 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2017 Official Member 'WIS-CON' Las Vegas Int'l GTG 2018

14 October 2015, 06:33 PM	#28
steveclocks "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: Geert Location: Belgium Watch: rolex/JLC/panerai Posts: 5,612	you just proved that 'building' a watchcollection never really stops! great journey you've had and thanks for sharing it here with us. I think a passion like ours is even better when shared with likeminded people...and that's where TRF comes in. __________________ Instagram: @wristwatchcollector

14 October 2015, 07:02 PM	#29
Paul_81 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: England Watch: Exp 2 polar white Posts: 1,147	Thank you for that some great shots and wow what a experience to get to your collection as it is now

14 October 2015, 07:10 PM	#30
travisb 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Real Name: Travis Location: FL / NYC Watch: Yes.. Posts: 33,448	Great journey! I love these kinds of posts. You've filtered through some great pieces and ended up with a fantastic collection. Was there an issue with the 5170 that caused it to be sent in?

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