What watch are you wearing today?

Here's a long story that's worthy of my 1000th post.
I hope you find it interesting.

I spent much of my life working so much that I only had time for two things, work and partying .... I lived in NYC so cars weren't a thing and had no knowledge or interest in watches. About a decade ago, sold my businesses, retired, and my wife and I moved to Charleston SC. That's when I started becoming passionate about cars and watches as I had the time and space to enjoy the fruits of our blessings.

As I started my watch journey at some point and like most folks decided that I wanted a Nautilus, but predictably regular Patek ADs wouldn’t give me the time of day and many literally laughed me off. As an example, eight or so years ago I walked into Wempe in NYC (we still keep an apt on the same street), inquired about a Nautilus telling them if they didn't mind putting them on their waiting list I don't mind waiting my turn, and the SA asked me if I had grandchildren because they would be the ones getting the watch if they put me on the list. I don't take these kinds of things personally, and the comment was so unnecessary that it actually made me laugh, so I just smiled and walked away leaving him alone with his karma.

Then I gave up on the brand, not because of my AD experience but because it seemed a fruitless endeavor as I had no entry point, but unbeknownst to me my wife who's not a watch person decided to walk in the Tiffany's 5th ave store a few months later and just asked them for a watch for me having no sense or clue of how improbable a thing she was asking for. Since then she called or went by once or twice a year to remind them, and I also went in a few times to say hi and try pretty things, and as expected they were always courteous and noncommittal, especially as they transitioned to LVMH. But out of the the blue two days ago they called. and offered me a Nautilus. It’s beyond amazing and honorable to me that they kept their word. Of all the people that did this for me it ended up being Tiffany's!!!

Over the preceding years they didn’t even make me buy an entry piece, or any jewelry, so I honestly have no idea how or why they did this for me other that maybe they sensed that I am truly passionate about timepieces and that I am an honorable person, but not knowing me deeply that's a huge leap of faith from their end and for that I will be forever grateful. And whereas I was never going to buy stuff like jewelry I didn't want as a condition, now that they did this for me unconditionally I will buy pieces for them. That's the difference between showing my appreciation and being blackmailed, and as a person of principle that means the world to me.

More importantly none of this is about the money. I am blessed and can afford to have any of these watches grey market if I want to. But today was the culmination of a journey that included patience, impatience, frustration, anticipation, hope, a journey shared with my lovely wife without whom I would have never dared walk in and asked, a journey that included new friendships along the way, and so today when I first opened the box and put the watch on, I was wearing both the road trip and the destination, and it was emotional, which sounds silly when speaking about an inanimate object. All of that would have been missed if I had just bought it second hand, and it would have meant so much less to me.

Anyway, sorry to bore you guys with my ramblings, it was just a wonderful moment for me today and for my wife who is even happier for me than I am for myself, and to see the joy and sense of accomplishment on her face for making me this happy means more to me that the watch. Honesty I can't actually quantify what means more than what, or who's happier for whom, all I know is that it all means a great deal to me and today I am filled with joy.

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Heck of a nice piece.

 

Awesome story and congrats! Thanks for sharing it.

Enjoy in good health and happy 1000th post!

 

That's awesome. Gorgeous watch, great story. Very happy for you, and so nice to hear that Tiffany did the right thing for you and your wife.

Enjoy, and congratulations!

 

Yum

 

Nice and congratulations. Talk about having a conversation piece, if the Tiffany stamp alone isn't enough.

 

I had a great time reading your post. Thank you and congratulations !

 

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Fantastic story! Congrats, very excited for you!
Can’t wait to see what you do for your 1001 post.

 

Fantastic & super cool!

MDS

 

Congrats my friend! Good things often come to those who deserve it.

 

What a great post and to a good guy yet!

 

Thank you everyone for your comments. I’m a little humbled by the whole thing. Also slightly disoriented. What happened to the mean internet I’m used to?

On a separate front, I’m invited to a Grand Seiko event at my local AD tonight and decided to wear this for it. I know it’s quite the change of pace from the last post, but this little watch makes me smile and happy, so I love it too.

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The GS event was lovely last night. It's at the same store that's my local Rolex AD who's a good friend and far too generous with his offerings to me, so I try to support him as much as I can during these events because the heads of the companies are usually there. I never buy something that I don't care for just to be supportive, but I will if there's something I really like I will purchase it during the event. I've had my eye on the new bamboo gmt for a while, it's more fun and whimsical than most GS pieces which tend to be more subtle, so here we are.

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Exquisite timepiece and a great story.

 

My humble Seiko 6105-8000 is my most cherished watch, simply because of our shared history.

 

That dial is stunning.

 

What an amazing story. Very happy for you.

But watches aren't inanimate objects; they beat and have a soul...

 

what an amazing story! Big congratulations! Sometimes just being genuine pays off.

 

Picked this up at my AD during car week in Monterrey....White Gold/Stainless
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Beautiful!

 

Congrats man! What a fantastic watch!

 

Picked this one up today,..
A small work of art.
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That's breathtaking ... congrats RC.

Yes I don't like change so I refuse ur new username.

 

Lol….thank you! You can use my old username certainly….but I won’t be using it, ever again.
It was a combination between my, and my ex-wife’s, first names.