Happy Accidents in Watch Collecting

Have you ever experienced any 'happy accidents' in your watch collecting journey? Let me explain.

In December 2019, I was deep into my second year of college, cramming for winter exams before the start of Christmas break. Late night study sessions on campus were a nightly occurence for my friends and I. When we were not studying or procrastinating together, you could most likely find me looking up watches on the internet.

Only months earlier, I had purchased my first ever mechanical watch, an Orient Bambino, and I was hooked on the hobby! On one fateful evening of cramming, I found myself overwhelmed by business math and economics that I took a break to brows watches on Amazon. My latest obsession was Orient's exquisite moonphase watches. At the time, I knew little about moonphase complications or their significance in high horology, but I couldn't resist the allure of yet another magnificent dress watch from my favorite brand. The price on Amazon was just over $215 CAD, a significant stretch for my limited student budget, especially considering I had already spent $120 on my Bambino a few months earlier. Curious about the total costs, I clicked through the order screens to view shipping and taxes, though something wasn't right. 'Why does my screen say Purchase Confirmed?' Immediately a sense of panic washed over me. I had accidentally clicked the purchase button, mistaking it for the confirmation page. 😱

This impulse buy was far more than I had intended to spend, especially so close to Christmas when I was saving for more essential expenses like bus fares, gifts, and schoolbooks. After regaining my composure, I decided not to cancel the order. Instead, I convinced myself to try the watch first. If it didn't live up to my expectations, I could always return it if absolutely necessary.

When the watch arrived at my doorstep a few days later, I brought it to campus to unbox it with my friends. They had witnessed my initial panic and were eager to see what the excitement was about. I vividly remember the moment we opened the watch box together, and all our expectations were instantly exceeded! This was the most stunning watch any of us had seen at the time! The intricate dial textures and layering of complications were mesmerizing. The black Roman numerals, paired with the elegant stick hands, contrasted beautifully with the clean white dial. The slightly domed sapphire crsyatl gave a wonderful distortion effect when viewing the watch from the side. And of course there was that gorgeous MOONPHASE, an admittedly impractical feature that I would never need for its intended purpose, but it was undeniably captivating. From the moment I held it in my hand, I knew that I would be holding onto this watch for many years to come, and I was immediately relieved by the fortune caused by my grave 'mistake'. But the happy accidents didn't end there... Since then, this watch has been reserved l formal occasions. Notably, I chose to wear while serving as best man at my best friend's wedding. He, too, was a watch enthusiast and had recently purchased himself new navy blue leather strap with an alligator pattern. When us groomsmen decided on blue suits for the wedding, he graciously lent me the strap to try on my Orient Sun and Moon. I eagerly attached it, only to realize that the spring bars were the wrong size, and the pins were pushed too far into the lugs, making them completely inaccessible by hand. After hours of attempting to remove them with a spring bar tool, it became clear that the strap was irretrievable without cutting off the spring bars entirely. Once again, panic set in as I had inadvertently stolen my dear friend's beautiful new strap. Fortunately, he fully forgave the mishap, as it looked perfectly at home on my watch and matched our suits impeccably. He even allowed me to keep the strap, a gesture I would repay with several other straps later on. 🤵

The sentimental value of this timepiece has grown exponentially. Whenever I glance at this watch, it transports me back to the cherished memories of that special day. I continue to wear it for weddings and other significant milestones, celebrating the accomplishments of friends and family, as well as my own personal growth. It's remarkable how a watch purchased by accident has become one of the proudest pieces in my ever-evolving collection. Perhaps it's a testament to how life surprises you, often for the better, when you least expect it.

To those who have read this far, thank you for entertaining me! This watch has taught me seize every small moment in life as an opportunity to make a positive impact on yourself and others, sometimes the bst opportunities in life come when you least expect them. Have you ever experienced a 'happy accident' with your watches? Tell me all about them below! 🌞🌛