My next watch purchase

If there is one thing I have learnt in my journey it's 'don't settle'.... I've also learnt that it is a journey where your destination isn't clear until you get to stops along the way..... wait, that's two things.

Joking aside, once you get to your Explorer - you might then want to acquire a PP, VC, AP or ALS - then an FPJ/De Bethune etc. Other factors can all play a part in what and why you want a particular timepiece - it'd be like trying to predict the trajectory and outcome of your life when you are young, when the journey takes weird and unforeseeable twists and turns :)

Thank you for the insight! 

Just curious watch crunchers - with this post being my first poll post is there a way for me to look at the results without voting on the poll? I had to “vote” for one of the choices just to see what other watch crunchers voted for Haha

I voted on the titanium Spirit because it's going to be different in terms of actual case material and "feel" compared to whichever Rolex you end up deciding to buy later down the road.

G-Shock looks fun too, but we're entering the colder seasons (if you're up North) so maybe you can hold that off as a fun purchase for next year?

I voted for colorful plastic, as it seems to be the horizon expanding choice. But if you must do the Explorer, can I nudge you toward polar, aka white?

Those sure some great points I’ll take into consideration - I do love the idea of having a titanium watch as it offers that “something different” in terms of case material.  I do think I’ll eventually get one of those Rolexes in the future - let’s see how it goes I’ll definitely hold off on the yellow GShock as you suggested 

Tbh it is the Polar that I’ve been wanting since I was 13 years old.  It’s taking me long to save up for one as the second hand market prices have shot up in the past 5-10 years so I am not in a rush to get one anytime soon, I just posted the poll to help me make a decision 👍🏼

Hi there, I personally would recomend you to save up,for the watch you really want.

My personal choice would be the 16570 Explorer II black dial. Saw it recently and it is just beautiful. One of my favorit Rolexes ever made,the contrast with the red gmt hand and the black dial is just gorgeus. But it's your choice😉

Would pick up the yellow Casioak anyway,just inbetween, you know😆

Have a great day!

Thanks so much for the insight and for taking the time to comment - I will take these into consideration 

Have a great day as well!

If its the rolex you want,save and get the rolex. There's no substitute for your hearts desire. You've already looked at,and hopefully tried on the longines(would be my personal choice in all honesty((my price range)), but you still want the roly,2nd best won't do all you would be doing is taking funds away from your dream watch. So go for it get the rolex and forget the substitutes, far better proposition in the long run.

I hear you, since I am not in a rush I’ll most likely save up for the Rolex - be it the explorer 1 or 2  🤘🏼

You already know the answer, your heart wants the Explorer II.  Buying any of these other pieces likely takes you further from your goal and dream watch.  My vote is go after that one. You’ll get so much more enjoyment from that one than any of these others. 
 

And if you don’t, you won’t have any problem offloading it, most likely for a profit. 

It’s a done deal, I’ve got to muster the patience not to stray away from my goal 🙏🏼

Had my eye on that Longines Spirit Zulu Time for awhile now. So I'm going to be biased about it. If you feel you'll be 'settling' to buy it then don't. If you think the Explorer II is your holy grail, then get that. But believe me, that is not going to be your only 'holy grail', Many holy grails are going to come your way once you have that Explorer on your wrist.

I love both longines, I'd get the titanium spirit, zulu is great but too big for my wrist, but the point is that you always wanted the Rolex, so my advice would be to save and work until you get the Rolex.

There are some good advices from fellow crunchers 😇and here is another perspective. You already know what you want - #rolex Explorer II Polar🥰. Make that as your goal that you achieve on your own and better yet tie it to another life achievement. You will feel that  satisfaction every time you look at it. But in meanwhile enjoy other watches, buy one with a beautiful dial or complication or display back or a skeleton and admire them for the art, engineering and beauty they are. Enjoy the journey of waiting, working hard, watching endless reviews, feeling humiliated by Rolex AD, buying alternatives. Before you know you will have the watch collecting disease and need a therapist who will be wearing the expensive watch you were lusting for.  Did I just self-reflect? 🥺
 

I digress.. wait for the Rolex if you have patience or just buy what make you happy now. Seize the moment.

Btw I voted GMT, it’s my favorite complication and I use it as a day night indicator.  

It's simple wait for the explorer if it really is the watch you want :) 

But all the watches i see above are cool! Clicked on the G Shock because this won't impact the Rolex purchase haha 

You folks are right. Try to keep your eyes on the prize and be a little more patient, to get what you really want. You don’t want to be the guy talking about the watch on your wrist, knowing deep down that you’d rather it was actually something else. Otherwise, it’ll come back and bite you. 
 Good luck !

ps buy once, cry once !

Love the Explorer, but considering price and availability, I would go with the Longines Zulu GMT