The Story of My 4 Watch Collection

Here is my four watch collection.

In order of acquisition, the watches are: 

1969 Omega Constellation

2008 Rolex Gmt master ii 

1970 Omega Speedmaster mkii 

2021 Tudor BlackBay 58 (925)

1969 Omega Constellation Day Date Linin Dial

It all started with the 1969 Omega Constellation I got in either 1998 or 2000. 

I can't remember which trip to Nigeria West Africa it was, but I remember I bought and was wearing a citizen watch which has a white luminous dial. I didn't know much about wristwatches at the time. I think I must have paid £100 for what I thought was a good-looking watch.

While on my trip, my mum came home with this old beat up Omega she had found on the street and gave it to my younger brother.

He said what an ugly watch and proceeded to try to open it up.

I just happened to come into the room at the opportune time to save the watch, I had a look at it and swapped my citizen watch with it.

After having the watch in its nonusable state for a while in 2001, I decided to have it fixed. 

I had the watch taken to an Omega AD in Reading England for an evaluation for repair.

The lady in the shop took it in and promised I would be told how much it would cost to fix, but the standard service was £260.

I left it with them only to be called a few months later to be informed that my watch was ready.

I got to the shop and was told it was sent to Watches of Switzerland, and they carried out a service and repairs to the watch, including crystal and crown repairs but forgot to inform me so I only needed to pay for the service.

On inspection, much later, when I became watch aware, I noticed they also changed the original linen dial and relumed the hands that had the original tritium lume.

Anyway, as I said, I knew nothing about watches at the time and thought Lucky me!

2008 Rolex Gmt master ii 

In 2008, I was burgled, and a lot was stolen from my place, I believed the Omega was part of what was stolen as I couldn't find it, and it was valued at £1000.

I was given a voucher for £1000 to replace the watch.

I went to Earnest and Jones to pick up an Omega Seamaster with the blue wave dial but was advised by the sales lady to get a Rolex instead. However, that branch did not carry Rolex, so she directed me to another London branch.

I then convinced myself I would go for a Sub. On getting to the branch I was referred to, they had just sold their last Sub but had this funny-looking Rolex with a red and blue bezel.

The rep said oh this is a Rolex Gmt master ii it is a very nice watch! I said hmm I am not sure I like the red and blue bezel."" Can it be changed? She said sure sir but I would advise you not to, and besides, this is the last GMT-Master with the aluminum bezel in Earnest and Jones in the country So I begrudgingly bought the watch for £2780.

Now going back in the recesses of my memory that wasn't the 1st time I had seen a GMT Master, a colleague of mine had one and told me of how he bought it in Harrold London for £1800 and that it was celebrated with a bottle of champagne!

How things have changed over the years!  

I later found the omega when we were carrying out work in the house. However, I wore the Rolex as my daily watch for years. It is so robust and versatile, that I have swam in the sea, carried out gardening wearing it, and lately wore it diving.

1970 Omega Speedmaster Mkii 

By 2019, I was a proper watch guy, aware that I had a real gem of a watch with the GMT and a lovely dress watch with constellation, I now started to get the itch to acquire another watch. I wanted something to replace the GMT as a daily since the value had gone through the roof!

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch was on my radar. I had been offered a big box edition in Harrolds for £3900 but didn't go for it, I just didn't want to spend that much!

By 2020, the itch was strong, and I came across an Omega Speedmaster MK2 on eBay. It was old with a tropical dial, which wasn't perfect but had turned chocolate brown with age. It was a few days before my birthday, so I decided to treat myself. 

I put in my maximum bid of £1400 and got it for £1380. I was elated! 

I thought it would replace my Rolex, but vintage watches don't take a daily beating like the GMT, and I soon found it needed TLC, which I am happy to give it. The Mkii came with a mineral glass crystal, which, while supposedly tougher than the acrylic crystal on the original speedy, is still not as strong as sapphire crystal. I cracked the crystal! I managed to acquire an after-market sapphire crystal after carrying out research in the Omega forums, but I have yet to replace it. It will be part of a future restoration project, hopefully later this year.

2021 Tudor BlackBay 58 (925)

In April 2021, I was excited about the new watches that would be unveiled in Watches and Wonder.

Then Tudor unveiled the BlackBay 58 925. It was love at first sight!

I went to the Tudor Boutique to have a look, but of course, they had none in stock! I promptly put my name down on the list!

I had a big birthday coming up, a day before my birthday. I got a phone call from Tudor saying they had a 925. If I wanted it. I did some man math and convinced myself it would be a great birthday present, and it was a sign.

I picked up the watch on my birthday and have loved it ever since.

It's my everyday watch. Finally, given my now so-called vintage GMT a break ( yes, it was called vintage when I took it to Rolex for a service)