Has anyone else done this?
My Dad passed away right after I graduated from college 20 someodd years ago. Some years later, my mother gave me his gold watch that she had given to my father as a gift. I wasn't particularly into watches at the time (I wore a watch, liked them, but just wasn't paying much attention yet to the world of watches yet). Besides, strutting around in a solid gold watch was probably not advisable, and really just wasn't my style. So mostly it stayed locked up out of sight.
I took it out to wear it on special family occasions like my kids Bar and Bat Mitzvot. As I've gotten more into watches I've come to appreciate it more (even if it is quartz, and needs a battery change that I'm too squeemish to attempt on my own). The bracelet is exquisite and one of the most comfortable I've ever worn, and the design is unique and quite beautiful.
Ebel (the brand) is one of the only Swiss watch makers (founded in 1911) by a husband and wife. So there's some nice romantic resonance with the story of my Mother giving this to my Dad.
That said, while my modest collection has grown, I still don't often feel like a solid gold watch kind of guy... Let alone spend much time on solid gold watch kind of occasions.
But then I got an idea... Ebel have made steel versions of this watch. What if I could track one down? Then I could wear it more regularly as a kind of homage/reminder of my Dad.
So for a couple of years I've kept an eye out for a steel version of the 1911 at a good price, and I finally pulled pulled the trigger on one. It will become my always set quartz option, and totally enter the rotation.
But has anyone else ever done something like this? Get a watch to kind of "represent" another (less practical/wearable) one? I'd be curious to hear any stories if they're out there? Thanks for reading and have a great day!
#ebel #goldwatch #quartz #fatherandson
Always loved the idea of mechanical watches. But in the last few years I've spent more time learning, enjoying and diving into the more shallow end of the watch pool; building up a tidy (and growing)...
No but that’s a brilliant idea. Well done I do think it would have occured to me but th is the best of both worlds. 👍
No but that’s a brilliant idea. Well done I do think it would have occured to me but th is the best of both worlds. 👍
I second this.
That’s great you are honouring your father’s memory by continuing to wear the same type of watch.
Not exactly similar but my dad has a gold AP Royal Oak Dual Time which he’ll pass down to me this year but I’ll almost never wear so I got a Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 to match his style. We are obviously very different people.
That's so cool! Lovely watches as well!
I neither have a dad that's into watches nor something solid gold, but if you hadn't bought the steel variant I'd had probably advised you to just wear it (if it's able to handle that of course). Most people just don't care about watches and aren't able to distinguish between plated and solid gold. I'm neither :D But if gold just isn't really your thing, why not? I think you had a great idea there.
Thanks for the nice post!
Great idea and a lovely watch.
I don't have anything precious enough to warrant protecting, but I have heard of folks keeping their Rolex's in a safe at the bank and wearing a homage day to day instead.
That’s great you are honouring your father’s memory by continuing to wear the same type of watch.
Not exactly similar but my dad has a gold AP Royal Oak Dual Time which he’ll pass down to me this year but I’ll almost never wear so I got a Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 to match his style. We are obviously very different people.
That AP is stunning! And while I can admire it, it probably wouldn't be my style either. I've actually had the PRX in my sights for a bit 😎. As they say, wear it in the best of health! And thanks for sharing!