SOTC - Explorer 1 40mm
Got the call today from my local AD for the Explorer I 40mm. Had been on the waiting list for just over 6 months. Honestly, at retail, Rolex watches are good value. Compared to my neo-vintage DateJust 16220 and Explorer II 16570, the build quality is exceptional. My Rolex trio now sit alongside…
JLC Reverso Duo-face Large (OEM leather and canvas strap)
GS SBGY009 (Spring Drive - OEM bracelet)
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional (Sapphire Sandwich)
GS SBGT037 (9F Quartz)
Serica 5303 Diver COSC
Unimatic U2
Casio G-Shock GW-5000U
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Harry
Schnauzers, Allotment, Horology, Kubernetes
London
Member since
Last active: 7 hrs ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
Great collection; I love the GS 9F and Serica among the big dogs. Explorer is my grail.
Quite the collection!
What a collection! Well done 👍.
Great collection; I love the GS 9F and Serica among the big dogs. Explorer is my grail.
Thanks mate - the GS 9F, Serica, Unimatic and Casio are some of my most worn watches. Particularly when doing sports, swimming or travelling. But the new 40mm Explorer is the perfect GADA watch for me. I know people have strong opinions about the 36mm being the purists choice but … 🤷🏻♂️
That top row alone... good gravy my guy. Three of my all time favs, and two of my high likes.
That top row alone... good gravy my guy. Three of my all time favs, and two of my high likes.
Be interested to hear how you break that down
Appreciate that SOTCs can be a little douchey but I’m also too old to give many f*%ks about what people think of me these days. Watches are awesome - I love talking about my collecting journey and particularly love seeing what other collectors have acquired.
Be interested to hear how you break that down
All time favs: explorer 2 polar (I vacillate about the 16750 vs 227650), jlc reverso small seconds (I love this specific white dial model), and the omega speedmaster professional.
But the explorer 40mm is up there on my list, and the GS spring drive is something I have a lot of love for.
All time favs: explorer 2 polar (I vacillate about the 16750 vs 227650), jlc reverso small seconds (I love this specific white dial model), and the omega speedmaster professional.
But the explorer 40mm is up there on my list, and the GS spring drive is something I have a lot of love for.
So cool. The 226750 is awesome but a little big. The 16750 was a little more comfortable for me. That said, the build quality of the 226750 is going to be far superior. The JLC Reverso is uber classy and very stealthy with the travel face and blue strap - those that know, know. The Speedy… honestly, it’s been the watch that I’ve really struggled to connect with. It’s beautiful but I don’t find myself reaching for it often. Maybe it’s the size and weight? The GS Spring Drive is an engineers dream but, like the Speedy, I don’t reach for it too much. I suspect the GS Spring Drive and Speedy will be cycled out at some point maybe to pay for a no-date Sub.
Wonderful collection 👌🏻
I want to see a Serica 🌞 in person, has an indie style. It's my today's grail watch.
Congratulations on an incredible watch! Glad you managed to get the watch at retail.
I want to see a Serica 🌞 in person, has an indie style. It's my today's grail watch.
Go for it. The Serica has one of the best bezel clicks I’ve ever experienced. Supposed to be reminiscent of a safe dial lock. The updated Soprod M100 movement is fully regulated, incredibly accurate, and silky smooth. There were some issues with the previous Soprod Newton calibre but they’ve gone. 300m WR. The metal mesh bracelet has had all the kinks addressed. If you dig the styling - I love it but it’s wonderfully French - you’ll find it difficult to find a better value Swiss Made diver.
Congratulations on an incredible watch! Glad you managed to get the watch at retail.
Yeah, as much as I love it, I wouldn’t have paid £8-9k.
Ah. And this is subjective obviously. But a pop of color. The collection hits all the other notes. History, Brands, Dress and Sport. But I would like to see something pop. Maybe for your next one.
Like I've said above, I do have a couple of blue options (SBGY009 and one side of the Reverso). I've had pops of color before - MoonSwatch Uranus, several Seiko Mods I've built, Green Seiko Turtle diver, yellow Oris skin diver - but they've all left the collection (no regrets). That said, I did see the very beautiful blue JLC Polaris Perpetual Calendar in their Old Bond Street boutique a couple of weeks ago. But that's a £35k watch - need another exit event for that to happen and not get a divorce.
Ah. And this is subjective obviously. But a pop of color. The collection hits all the other notes. History, Brands, Dress and Sport. But I would like to see something pop. Maybe for your next one.
You can see the blue SBGY009 + gold applied indices and seconds hand at https://www.watchcrunch.com/flashman/posts/wruw-2023-02-02-602837f8-u0mi8ne6-109496
Hahahaa. Yes. You are like my friend Rob. He prefers his colors a bit on the subtle side. Excellent watches all around though.
Amazing collection. I can say that because there is a lot of overlap with my own 🤣🤣. The Serica, Reverso duoface, and explorer 1 grace my collection and are great pieces. I agree with you that the Serica is an amazing watch and the new movement is a star. The bezel action feels nothing like my other dive watches.
I have been thinking about adding a explorer 2 16570 (smaller case) and a spring drive grand Seiko. The sbgy007 and 011 currently taking up head space. Need a good reason to hide another watch from the wife.
You, my friend, have got some crackers in your collection. that SeaQ is beautiful. Some awesome chronos in there too - a lovely Heuer, in particular. Nice to meet a fellow traveller :)
What a great collection! I love the JLC Reverso.
All killer no filler in that watch box. What spectacular taste you have my man.
My first Rolex will be a polar explorer 2. My second will be a 40mm explorer. Enjoy it! 🍻
Appreciate that SOTCs can be a little douchey but I’m also too old to give many f*%ks about what people think of me these days. Watches are awesome - I love talking about my collecting journey and particularly love seeing what other collectors have acquired.
I don't think they're douchey at all. At least not in this environment. This is a safe space🍻
Wow amazing collection
Congrats! Great collection!
One of the best collections I've seen on here, most people just want to fill a watch box as soon as possible. This collection is well thought out and seems to have taken a few years to reach this point. Congrats!
One of the best collections I've seen on here, most people just want to fill a watch box as soon as possible. This collection is well thought out and seems to have taken a few years to reach this point. Congrats!
Wow. Really appreciate that! I’ve been collecting for about 3 years.
That JLC and grand seikos are really nice!
Go for it. The Serica has one of the best bezel clicks I’ve ever experienced. Supposed to be reminiscent of a safe dial lock. The updated Soprod M100 movement is fully regulated, incredibly accurate, and silky smooth. There were some issues with the previous Soprod Newton calibre but they’ve gone. 300m WR. The metal mesh bracelet has had all the kinks addressed. If you dig the styling - I love it but it’s wonderfully French - you’ll find it difficult to find a better value Swiss Made diver.
That’s good to hear. I’m seriously considering one after seeing it at an event recently. However, I saw some mixed feedback online.
That’s good to hear. I’m seriously considering one after seeing it at an event recently. However, I saw some mixed feedback online.
The mixed online feedback is for the previous version of the Serica 5303 with the Soprod Newton calibre. The latest version - Serica 5303 COSC - uses the Soprod M100 which is rock solid and obviously COSC certified. The old version also had finishing issues with the mesh bracelet which have now been resolved.