B.C. Watches

Before I was a watch Collector (B.C.), these were the timepieces I wore on my wrist...

University Days - This is the only clear photo I have of the Casio F91-W clone digital watch I wore back then. I can't remember the brand, but it certainly had all the functions of the legendary Casio.

It matched well with my wayfarers 😎 ...but didn't help me much with coming on time for classes, org meetings, get togethers, events, and alike hehehe...

Then in July 1989, because I still was generally tardy, my first boss suggested that I get an analog watch to help me estimate time more intuitively, and lessen coming late for our meetings and activities. So, the first watch I bought for myself was this Timex Vietnam Camper field watch. #timexvietnamcamper

I really liked its no nonsense, outdoor, GADA, tough looking, military design. The handset and text markings were all white, and the dial layout was clear and legible. It was also pleasurably lightweight, making it seem I wasn't wearing anything on my wrist all day.

The military khaki color, with its supple single-pass nylon-nato strap, made it wear so comfortably on wrist, and quite versatile for many occasions.

It was also rugged enough given the type of field work I did back then. It went with me on my many travels for 3 straight years, even to the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces.

Did it help me become less perennially tardy? Only ever so slightly hehe. But, I would say it became an integral part of my daily life and work, until finally the battery died, and I was needing a new watch.

Then in 1993, my girlfriend then gave me this watch, to replace my Timex Vietnam Camper. I just can't remember what brand it was, but it looked really nice, and was more fitting for more dressed up occasions or speaking engagements I was involved in.

After this watch, I can't remember if I bought or received another watch throughout the 1990s. Even during my wedding in 1996, I can't remember which watch I wore. :P I may have borrowed a watch from my brother.

In the 2000 - 2011 Decade...

Back in 2005, I now recall more accurately that I received my Columbia CL-1312 as a gift from my ex-in-laws for my birthday that year. It's original leather strap looked something like this one I got. #columbiacl1312

Then for Christmas 2007, my ex-in-laws gave me this Rudy Project sports watch. #rudyproject

Because it was so lightweight, and snug on wrist, it went with me everywhere! I particularly remember wearing it on the many road trips I had with my son, and on our usual weekend adventures together. By the end of 2011 though (I think), its battery finally died, and its integrated rubber strap began disintegrating.

Then, around early or mid-2012, I got myself these 2 timepieces from a thrift market seller in a mall worth $10 each.

A fake Adidas quartz watch with a rubber strap for active / outdoor activities...

...and a Cartier Pasha look alike square quartz watch with a nicely supple silicone strap, for tech startup, and other similar business activities.

Like my past watches, I appreciated their legibility, and grab-and-go qualities. I took these watches with me on my many travels helping spur the tech startup scene here in our country.

Then, in 2015, our high school class decided to make a 30th year anniversary commemorative watch. It was supposed to be a mechanical/automatic watch. This project excited me as it would be the first mechanical watch I would pay on my own. I saw it as my first "big purchase" since the target budget was about $150-200. We planned to have it made and released by the end of 2015. Unfortunately, we tabled the project for another year.

While waiting, I still used my Columbia field watch. I was also gifted with this simple quartz watch for Christmas in 2016. It was worth $10.

The significance of this watch was that for every purchase of a timepiece from this non-profit organization, a significant portion of its proceeds would go to cancer research. I was glad to wear this watch, not only because of its charitable cause, but also because it was so lightweight and comfortable on wrist. The silicone strap hugged my wrist nicely. It was my daily beater. What's more, by my estimations, its case size seemed to be about 34-35mm.

Then finally, after 3 years in the making, our high school class completed the production of our commemorative batch watch in November 2018.

To get to this point obviously took a while. Ultimately, our class decided to use the Seiko 5 Sports SRPB93. #srpb93

Though much delayed, it was this thick and fast discussions back and forth re. which type of watch, which brand, which model, which color way, which dial design, etc., that served as the impetus for my slow descent into the rabbit hole of watch collecting.

The rest is history.

What's your B.C. history? What watches did you wear? Do you still have photos of your B.C. watches?