How my watch collection was hijacked by an Aqua Terrorist.
Some of you know that I am attempting to build a watch collection based on one example of each complication or unique function. So yesterday my wife and I were near Lancaster, PA and we found out that an Authorized dealer for Grand Seiko, Omega and others was close by. So we went to Brent L. Miller jewelers to look for a spring drive, a moon phase, a chronometer and a watch to fill any other hole in the collection.
We looked through the Blancpains, Bell& Ross', Shinolas, Omega's and very limited amount of Grand Seikos without any luck. We ventured over to a case of pre owned watches that were acquired on trade. A couple of Rolex caught my wife's eye. I scanned the balance of the case and pointed out this attractive little Omega Sea Monster 41. It has vertical grooves on a silver dial, beautifully blued and pointed hands and indices with white lume painted tops. A blue rubber strap completed the package. The display sapphire crystal on the back exposed the Omega 8900 co axial movement with 60 hour power reserve.
OMEGA SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA 150M CO‑AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER 41 MM on wife's wrist
So this Aqua Terrorist just sat upon the jewelers case sparkling under the bright lights like a puppy with big sad eyes quietly wishing that you'll take him home. Then I started to see the same look on my wife's face. I asked "Will you wear this large watch?" My wife has always hated the larger watches over 33mm but made an exception for this piece.
Needless to say the Aqua Terrorist came home with us and I had to justify it by saying that there is a need for a co axial movement in the collection. The unfortunate part is that I will have to delay some of the planned purchases for a while. Have you ever bought a watch that you did not intend to buy?
My name is Rich and I am building a collection of unique complications. I know it sounds more like the way you start a watch museum and not a personal collection. So far I have a Tourbillion, Retrogra...
Impulse purchase? Oh, without question; in fact, it was 4 in one go. All novelty watches worth next to nothing, so not sure this qualifies. Lol
Have you reported this Aqua Terrorist to Watchland Security? The last time I was attacked in this way it was by a Bulova Computron cyber-terrorist that hijacked me right away from the Vaer I was considering, created Stockholm syndrome through shared memories of the '70s, and I was powerless. Luckily for me, the cost was much less than you suffered from that Aqua Terrorist, and I eventually got the Vaer C5 Classic that had piqued my interest.
It happened to me when I bought the first watch that gave me the collecting bug. I tried it on at closing time and my wife convinced me to just buy it right then.
I love her but feel bad because I am sure she was trying to do something nice and had no idea of the hell she had opened up for herself (being dragged to ADs and odd watch shops and bombarded with my watch talk all the time).
Now if I could only get my wife into watches (esp. bigger watches I could steal), I would be kind of happy to get her one because, silver lining, my hobby would be guilt free. You are a lucky man.
It happened to me when I bought the first watch that gave me the collecting bug. I tried it on at closing time and my wife convinced me to just buy it right then.
I love her but feel bad because I am sure she was trying to do something nice and had no idea of the hell she had opened up for herself (being dragged to ADs and odd watch shops and bombarded with my watch talk all the time).
Now if I could only get my wife into watches (esp. bigger watches I could steal), I would be kind of happy to get her one because, silver lining, my hobby would be guilt free. You are a lucky man.
I am not so sure if having a wife who shares the hobby is a blessing or a curse. Probably a bit of both. 😀 My wife shares my passion for watches to some degree, although certainly not to the degree I do, and she has added a number of watches to my collection.
So much for the blessing. Here is what I have either added to her collection or she pilfered from mine.
Yes, it is nice to share watch collecting watches with my wife. What makes it hard to decide between blessing and curse is just that her idea of collecting watches is to show me a watch, say "that's a pretty dial," or something similar, and then say "I really don't need any more watches in my collection, but I do like this dial/strap, and (insert occasion or holiday) is coming up." 🤣 Further, two of the watches are pilfered out of my collection so she has two options for when she wants to wear a "boyfriend" watch (her words). Somewhere, she had found out about the trend of boyfriend watches and insisted that I give her one quartz option and one mechanical option that she could take. The Timex Marlin and the Pagani Mocktail are the watches she approved. I couldn't help but laugh when she thanked me for giving her two watches out of my own collection, like I had an actual choice. 🤣
Wow, interesting secondary discussion. My wife, fortunately shares my interest, but the likelihood of an impulse purchase is much higher when she’s there. That’s lead to:
and:
There are much worse problems! 😍
I am happy that my wife is fully vested in the hobby. Some of her choices have definitely affected my financial ability to get watches for me but I’m good with that. Seeing her get the same joy that I get from choosing and wearing her watches also makes me feel good.
Here’s the current state of her collection.
Wow, Dave, what a great collection. Thanks for sharing. I love that Zenith. The Omega and the Rados are sweet as well.
Wow, interesting secondary discussion. My wife, fortunately shares my interest, but the likelihood of an impulse purchase is much higher when she’s there. That’s lead to:
and:
There are much worse problems! 😍
Rob, Is that Alex Shorckhoff dial as stunning as it appears in the photo. The numerals and hands are exquisite.
I am not so sure if having a wife who shares the hobby is a blessing or a curse. Probably a bit of both. 😀 My wife shares my passion for watches to some degree, although certainly not to the degree I do, and she has added a number of watches to my collection.
So much for the blessing. Here is what I have either added to her collection or she pilfered from mine.
Yes, it is nice to share watch collecting watches with my wife. What makes it hard to decide between blessing and curse is just that her idea of collecting watches is to show me a watch, say "that's a pretty dial," or something similar, and then say "I really don't need any more watches in my collection, but I do like this dial/strap, and (insert occasion or holiday) is coming up." 🤣 Further, two of the watches are pilfered out of my collection so she has two options for when she wants to wear a "boyfriend" watch (her words). Somewhere, she had found out about the trend of boyfriend watches and insisted that I give her one quartz option and one mechanical option that she could take. The Timex Marlin and the Pagani Mocktail are the watches she approved. I couldn't help but laugh when she thanked me for giving her two watches out of my own collection, like I had an actual choice. 🤣
Candide,
Both your collection and your wife's collection are awesome. I'll bet the two of you are always rocking a special watch.
Rob, Is that Alex Shorckhoff dial as stunning as it appears in the photo. The numerals and hands are exquisite.
Yes, I know the AS watches are all over the place in regard to their dials. This one, however is really beautiful. My wife has worn it herself sometimes and she’s normally only a fan of very small cases. The green itself is rich and smooth and the markers are well applied. If I have a critique, the hands are interesting in shape, but are flat. Faceting would be nice. At the price point though, no real complaint. The movement (an ETA) is also finished well, with hand engraving on the winding weight.
Candide,
Both your collection and your wife's collection are awesome. I'll bet the two of you are always rocking a special watch.
Usually. She really likes mother of pearl/abalone and skeleton/open heart watches. For the two collections pictured, that is my wife's collection, but those watches pictured are only the ones she has given me. One of these days I will post a state of the collection picture (more likely to be a series of pictures) and you will be able to see just how bad my watch addiction truly is. 🤣
Of course! My wife and I picked up a Panerai Rose Gold Radiomir years ago on a fluke purchase. We still own that piece. One of only 2 Gold watches in our collection. We both wear & love it ! Cheers Enjoy!
I am happy that my wife is fully vested in the hobby. Some of her choices have definitely affected my financial ability to get watches for me but I’m good with that. Seeing her get the same joy that I get from choosing and wearing her watches also makes me feel good.
Here’s the current state of her collection.
What do you think of the GO Seaq? I've been thinking of getting it but really not sure how I feel about the low power reserve.
What do you think of the GO Seaq? I've been thinking of getting it but really not sure how I feel about the low power reserve.
The SeaQ is an exceptional piece. The finish of the case the case and dial are perfect and make it very comfortable to wear. The bracelet is a work of art and also very comfortable with it’s on the fly, push button adjustment.
The only downside is the closed case back and sizing the bracelet is kind of complex.
I have a BB58. On paper, you might think the SeaQ is comparable but in reality, the SeaQ feels and wears so much better than the BB58. I totally see why the SeaQ is more than twice the price. I would trade my wife the SeaQ for my BB58 in a heartbeat but she will have none of that.
The SeaQ is an exceptional piece. The finish of the case the case and dial are perfect and make it very comfortable to wear. The bracelet is a work of art and also very comfortable with it’s on the fly, push button adjustment.
The only downside is the closed case back and sizing the bracelet is kind of complex.
I have a BB58. On paper, you might think the SeaQ is comparable but in reality, the SeaQ feels and wears so much better than the BB58. I totally see why the SeaQ is more than twice the price. I would trade my wife the SeaQ for my BB58 in a heartbeat but she will have none of that.
yeah, I totally agree, but my understanding is that it only have a 40h power reserve? does the power reserve bother you in any way or you just keep it on a winder.
yeah, I totally agree, but my understanding is that it only have a 40h power reserve? does the power reserve bother you in any way or you just keep it on a winder.
Power reserve is one spec out of many. It’s irrelevant if you wear a watch daily. It’s irrelevant if you have more than a few watches in rotation.
My wife winds and sets her watches on a daily basis depending on what she chooses to wear on any given day. No need for a winder.
On that note, I don’t believe winders are necessary unless you have an annual or perpetual calendar. Keeping a watch running continuously is unnecessary and adds wear to gears and pinions for no functional reason.
I had a boss who kept his 1991 Rolex GMT Pepsi on a winder for 28 years without ever having it serviced once. I can only imagine how much unnecessary wear was done to the pinions, gears and jewels by the dried out oil and residue over the years just to keep it running in a box.