End of the year thanks to everyone on TRF

[tomilg]

I've had a busy year......

After breaking my left wrist in a motorcycle accident 3 years ago, followed by a wrist surgery, I quit wearing watches for the last year......ahh, but this year was different....my inner watch geek came out.

At the beginning of the year my small collection included a TAG Indy that I'd gotten for my 40th birthday and a 1957 Mido Multifort that I'd had refurbished after inheriting it from my dad. He had bought it new in '57 for $100 and wore it everyday until his death in 2008. My mom said that in those 51 years the watch had never been serviced.

I'd never really had any exposure to Rolex and began researching the brand after realizing, Oh, I can afford that!

My decision was narrowed to a newer sport model...it was between the Subc, BLNR, and the SeaDweller 4K. Well, it was the SD4K that sang the loudest, kind of like the cutest puppy at the pound....I just had to take it home. My first transaction was through this website with a fellow TRF'r. I'll admit, it was hard to wire that amount of cash to a distant unknown, but, I've learned to trust my gut and it has never led me astray. The watch arrived the next day and it was perfect. Thanks again to jimmypark for a great transaction this past September.

Sea Dweller with my trusty steed:


Fast Forward two weeks into October.....I had the opportunity to buy a Rose Gold 1601 Datejust for a ridiculously low price. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth...I jumped on the deal and rode away fast....right down to my local jeweler, whom I flipped it to for a perfect little GMT Master II 16710 Pepsi and cash in my pocket.

Damn, this Rolex thing is starting to get fun. The Pepsi, in my mind was always an iconic and easily recognizable Reference. I just love the colors and the style, it's just a classic.

16710 "Y" Serial:


I really didn't intend on buying anymore watches this year but somehow found myself standing in the showroom of Robert Wesley, our local AD in Scottsdale. What a selection they have.......and I never considered myself a Daytona guy, but......Wow, I was smitten with this one. Can anyone guess what I did next?



Yep, you guessed correctly. I gently handed it back to sales person, so he could put it back in the case! Nope, I didn't buy it. I must say, I'm still not a Daytona guy, but that watch is absolutely gorgeous, and being Platinum, has some real heft to it.

No, I went to try on the Explorer II Polar and the Milgauss, white dial. I like both and thought that if I could get a good deal on either I would jump on it.

That day came last week when a nice looking Explorer II popped on Craigslist locally...and on TRF. Hmm, it was the same watch and at a really good price, but by the time I responded the Seller had sold it. The next day a white Milgauss came available on TRF....and again I was minutes late pulling the trigger. Chris, the seller did say he'd contact me should the buyer fall out. Three days later Chris contacted me to let me know his buyer fell out and asked if I wanted the Milgauss. This time I didn't hesitate and jumped on the deal....it arrived yesterday and I couldn't be more happy with my decision. Thanks Chris, aka clpski, for another great TRF transaction.

My new Milgauss:




That's it for the year...no more watches til 2016.....the next is the Explorer II Polar.

I just want to thank all the TRF's here. This website is such a great resource for everything Rolex. You've been patient with my questions and research and I truly appreciate it.

[Jerodp716]

Congrats on a great year!

[Micha]

enjoy...

[sea-dweller]

Congrats! Great story!

[R.car]

great acquisition for the year

[AK797]

You've had a great year, but I bet next year will be even better here on trf!

[SemperFi]

All in all, a pretty good year for you Tom. Hope that 2016 goes just as well. Congrats on your acquisitions.

[tkerrmd]

Awesome year!! Need to add that Platona next year!!

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Awesome year!! Need to add that Platona next year!!

Yes he does!!! I plan to.

[GerardoG]

Bravo! Great story!

[Eric Chan]

Congrats on a great year. May 2016 be even better for you and all TRF members.

[OmegaJJH]

Great collection!

(I did think you'd added the Platona for a second)

Thanks for sharing.

[bkertzer89]

Great post :)

[BNA/LION]

Congratulations!

[sickened1]

Very nice collection, Tom. Congrats.

[jrs146]

Now that's a solid year! Congrats on your growing collection!


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[JRT]

Congrats!
It is a good story for sharing.

[rolexnub]

Great story and very nice collection.
Congratulations!

[carwash66]

Strong year! Congratulations!

[nick c]

Great story congrats

[brandrea]

Congratulations on a great year

[watchve]

awesome acquisition for the year... nice post

[Racerdj]

What a great story, congratulations!

[Nek]

Congrats! Fabulous year for you.


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[rollee1]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story.

You got a very neat collection, 116600, 16710 and a 116400
Diver, GMT, dressy, black dial, white dial, iconic bezel, ceramic bezel, all 3 lume colours chroma light blue, super luminova green and orange, glide lock, flip lock, date and no date.
Buddy you are all set. What a great 2015.
Have you thought to pick up a jubilee bracelet and a coke bezel as well?

Your next target is very fine, adding 42mm and orange hand.
Cheers!

GS1200 that's no joke

[rollee1]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story.

You got a very neat collection, 116600, 16710 and a 116400
Diver, GMT, dressy, black dial, white dial, iconic bezel, ceramic bezel, all 3 lume colours chroma light blue, super luminova green and orange, holes, no holes, glide lock, flip lock, PCL, date and no date.
Buddy you are all set. What a great 2015.

Have you thought to pick up a jubilee bracelet and a coke bezel as well?
Your next target is very fine, adding 42mm.

Cheers!

GS1200 that's no joke

[HL65]

Great story, great year and congrats!

[tomilg]

Thanks everyone.

I bought the Sea-Dweller as my everyday tool watch to compliment my lifestyle, as my everyday watch. When the GMT Master II showed up I found myself wearing it everyday for work and the SD4K on the weekends....Hmmm, now the Milgauss has arrived. It will neatly fill the gap when I'm just not feeling either of the other two.

For me, the Sea Dweller is my ultimate adventure watch, a do everything watch (at least my needs) that just keeps on going.

I had the good fortune of taking three months off from work in 2013. At that point I had just went through the break-up of a 10 year relationship, I was tired of work, and I just needed a change.......so what was the logical thing to do.....get on my motorcycle, and do a 10,000 mile trip around Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize by myself! My watch at the time was a Casio G-Shock. And while it is a great little beater, it just didn't survive the trip. Ultimately, thats what lead me to the Sea-Dweller......I would rather buy a quality piece one time and have it for a lifetime, then continue to buy cheap over ,and over, and over.....

Here are a couple of pictures from the trip.....

Guerro Negro on the Pacific Coast in Baja Sur. If you've never been, it's a scrappy little salt mining town which happens to have a large lagoon where a significant number of Gray Whales migrate to give birth and to mate. You can take a 25 ft. panga into the lagoon to whale watch. It was a breathtaking experience to say the least. That day we seen over 150 whales, a dozen of which approached the boat and we were able to touch several of them....they were as curious about us as we were of them......

[Ticknaway]

That's awesome!!!!!!

[firstOwatch]

Congrats!
The Rising Star