I'm doing it... but blue or black dial?

I grew up really poor.  My parents had escaped Mao's "Great Leap Forward," first to Hong Kong, and then eventually to the U.S.  They worked as a cook and a waitress in Chinese restaurants.  When us kids would ask for toys at the grocery store, my mom would calmly explain to us that if she bought those toys for us, we couldn't afford to have milk, so after that we simply knew not to ask for those kinds of indulgences.

When I was in high school, my father bought me a Marlboro Red Victorinox watch!  It probably cost him $100.  It was an insane amount of money for him to spend to get me something so frivolous!  I loved it and wore it with pride every single day.

Unfortunately, when I was in college, some friends and I hiked up to  Cedar Creek Falls.  I climbed up onto a high rock, and jumped into the pool below, and the impact must have caused one of the spring bars to fail.  My beloved Victorinox is sitting somewhere on the floor of that pool at the base of the waterfall.

It's time to buy a Victorinox, in honor of my father.  They don't sell the Marlboro Red watches anymore - probably because Victorinox doesn't want to co-brand with cancer sticks!  But, I notice they sell INOX Mechanicals.   

So, which will it be?  The black or the blue dial?  If my father were here today, after telling me to stop whining constantly about my Excel jockey job, to drink less, and spend more time with my kids, which dial would he tell me to choose?

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What color watch did he wear?  If he wore only white, black, or gold tone dials, then pick black.  If he wore any other color dial, pick blue.

That is my scientific assessment. It is guaranteed to be as insightful as a coin flip.

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Aurelian

What color watch did he wear?  If he wore only white, black, or gold tone dials, then pick black.  If he wore any other color dial, pick blue.

That is my scientific assessment. It is guaranteed to be as insightful as a coin flip.

You know...  he got a Movado Museum from the hotel he worked at in the kitchen, for 10 years with the company, and that's what he always wore.  Given your scientific method, I think I have to go with the black dial!

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Blue, in honor of the waterfall where the first one rests. Awesome backstory. 

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Well - I think there is a Red INOX too LOL: https://www.victorinox.com/global/en/Products/Watches/Men%27s-Watches/INOX/p/241719.1?mt_load=lt30

I think the conservative parent who emigrated will always opt for the safer choice when it comes to buying of watches - and for that reason my vote goes to the black.

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Actually, the $59 replacement that @roberto suggested doesn't even have any tobacco brand markings. It's a nice Victorinox watch with a red bezel and white dial. Red and white are the usual brand colors of Victorinox, if I remember correctly. But, if getting that vintage replacement will give you sleepless nights fearing arrest, instead of helping you fondly remember and honor your Dad, then go with what your Dad would give you if he were alive today. You know him best more than any of us. 😉 

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Both are great, but man the blue dial version really pops. 

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Very sweet story. 

For me the blue looks better on that strap but black will probs be more versatile and a bit of strap monster. 

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hey my family also escaped from mao "great leap forward" too back then. i guess black dial fit better with that strap

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I'd say blue for sure !!

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OlDirtyBezel

Both are great, but man the blue dial version really pops. 

Whoa!  You're online again!  Was considering sending out a search party, as I haven't seen many posts from you in a while.  Thought I'd see your photo on the back of a milk carton or something!

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hoffman010

Very sweet story. 

For me the blue looks better on that strap but black will probs be more versatile and a bit of strap monster. 

Yeah, I think at this point, for me, the #1 consideration for any watch is how well it can take straps.  Movement?  VPH?  Who cares!  How good will it look with my straps is the real question.  😂

That opens up a whole other can of worms.  You know how Europeans wear the watch with the keepers on the 6 o'clock side of the watch?  And Americans wear it with the keepers on the 12 o'clock side?  Well, with deployant clasps, you're forced to wear the watch the European way, otherwise the curve of the clasp won't sit flush against the bottom of your wrist!  But, then, to Americans it looks weird!

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Unholy

hey my family also escaped from mao "great leap forward" too back then. i guess black dial fit better with that strap

We are truly, truly blessed, aren't we?  To have randomly been born into a miraculously wealthy and healthy social situation, like what Warren Buffet calls "the Womb Lottery," or John Rawls's "Veil of Ignorance." 

It's so funny, but my mom is this crazy patriotic American now.  Like, she's got the thick "fresh off the boat" Chinese accent, but she's always talking about how great America is, how the air is clean and fresh, how good American people are...  One time, we were all over at her house having dinner, and she's got this coffee table with a sheet of glass covering the wood underneath.  And she put all these family photos under the glass.  My brother and sister and I  are looking at the photos.  There's a picture of all of us on a cruise, there's a picture of us at a wedding banquet, oh that's from that time we all went to Disneyland together...  is that a picture of the American President sitting in the Oval Office signing a bill?  WTF?  Hilarious.

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Funny the Marlboro branding was kind of attracting me possibly bidding. Mainly due to nostalgia as back 30 years ago when I smoked a Marlboro was hanging out of my mouth more often than I like to admit. 

I love the INOX I'm always surprised that it doesn't pop up more during watch conversations. How many other watches were tested by running over them with a tank. I'm guessing it's due to the size with a 52mm lug to lug. Sadly a good 3-4mm over what looks acceptable on my wrist.

 Anyway I'd go blue :)

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Mr.Dee.Bater

Whoa!  You're online again!  Was considering sending out a search party, as I haven't seen many posts from you in a while.  Thought I'd see your photo on the back of a milk carton or something!

I live! 

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great story. Your parents took their life in their own hands instead of taking what Mao gave the people. That needed much courage and vision, awesome personalities.

Hard choice with your dials. For me personally the clue de paris is better expressed on the blue. It looks more pleasing for me. But maybe it is only because it is more familiar, like on the Laureato.

If I look on the watches in your profile, I would clearly say: go with the color ;)

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Scooby

Huh. You learn something new every day 

Yeah, so if you get the watch on a deployant clasp, and it comes the European way, the clasp sits nicely under your wrist.  However, if you then switch the strap over to the 'Merican way, the clasp then goes up uncomfortably against the far end of your wrist.  So, the deployant forces you to wear the watch the European way!

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Mr.Dee.Bater

I'm gonna go for the blue!  If my father were standing here, he would be sorely disappointed at how soft and whiny I am as a human being.  

But, I also think he would want me to have some color in my life.

Hahaha that seems to be a Dad thing. My old man use to call me a wimp and soft but that's probs cus of my gut 😅

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Both look great, but I prefer the blue.

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Dangit! I change my mind. The black dial is calling my name.🙄

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artman

Dangit! I change my mind. The black dial is calling my name.🙄

Dude, you can't do that to me!  You're tying me up all in knots here!

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Black. All in! Black. Do it.

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I had one of the red bezel Swiss Army watches back in the late 80s/early 90s. Nice little watch. You can still find them on Ebay. I may have to pick one up for old time's sake. Blue dial if you get the new Victorinox.

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TheGreatEscapement

I had one of the red bezel Swiss Army watches back in the late 80s/early 90s. Nice little watch. You can still find them on Ebay. I may have to pick one up for old time's sake. Blue dial if you get the new Victorinox.

You also gotta order one of these, to serve as your watch stand for the Marlboro Swiss Army Watch:

W.H. Ford ~ Marlboro Man by James Ford Bronze-Limited Edition of 30 ~ 14" x 16"

Available here:  https://jamesaford.com/works/1447611/wh-ford-marlboro-man

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TheGreatEscapement

I had one of the red bezel Swiss Army watches back in the late 80s/early 90s. Nice little watch. You can still find them on Ebay. I may have to pick one up for old time's sake. Blue dial if you get the new Victorinox.

Also, I just ordered the watch.  Dealer said it should arrive in a couple of weeks.  I totted up all the votes on color and that's how I made my decision.  That way, I don't have to take responsibility for any decisions.  If I don't like the color, I can just blame WatchCrunch.

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Mr.Dee.Bater

You also gotta order one of these, to serve as your watch stand for the Marlboro Swiss Army Watch:

W.H. Ford ~ Marlboro Man by James Ford Bronze-Limited Edition of 30 ~ 14" x 16"

Available here:  https://jamesaford.com/works/1447611/wh-ford-marlboro-man

Thanks! I can hear the theme music right now. LOL

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Mr.Dee.Bater

You also gotta order one of these, to serve as your watch stand for the Marlboro Swiss Army Watch:

W.H. Ford ~ Marlboro Man by James Ford Bronze-Limited Edition of 30 ~ 14" x 16"

Available here:  https://jamesaford.com/works/1447611/wh-ford-marlboro-man

I checked it out. I think it's a good idea to have a $4000 stand for my $60 watch. THANKS!  Woohoo!!! 😂

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Does anyone know how WatchCrunch works?  Like, you know, mechanically?  Other forums I've been on, when a thread gets a new comment, it gets bumped up to the front of the queue.  But, I don't think that's how WC works, yeah?  

Anyway, the reason I ask is because I totted up all the votes, and I ordered the one with the most votes.  There were 9 votes for blue and 4 for black.  So, I got the blue dial.  And, also, thanks to @roberto, I actually found a newer version of the Marlboro watch!  So, I got that too!

Hmmm...  kinda feel like I'm just sitting here mumbling to myself...  Maybe I'll go ahead and make a new post?  I have no idea how WC works!

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Okay...  just talking to myself some more...  I created a new post...  because...  (crickets)

https://www.watchcrunch.com/Omeganut/posts/an-update-i-got-the-blue-dial-because-that-s-the-one-folks-said-i-should-get-6558

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I still own that red besel watch.  I never new it was called the Marlboro Man watch.  I only knew it as my Swiss Army watch .

Victorinox makes a chrono in the same color way as the "MM" maybe it would work

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Mgapagnolo

I still own that red besel watch.  I never new it was called the Marlboro Man watch.  I only knew it as my Swiss Army watch .

Victorinox makes a chrono in the same color way as the "MM" maybe it would work

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Thank you, man!