Finally Got the Call For My Father's Birthday Gift
My father is turning 60 this year, and in Asian culture, the 60th birthday, called Hwangap in Korean, signifies the beginning of a new life in the 60-year calendar cycle of the lunar calendar.
My father brought me and my siblings as little kids into the U.S. to further his studies for a second degree, but by the time he finished his studies, he recognized that the lives that my siblings and I were leading in the U.S. were more balanced in terms of the education and activities than we had in Korea. So he decided to sacrifice the life he could have led once he returned to Korea, and instead opened up a coin-op laundromat and gave us everything he's got, working day in and day out, despite the language barriers and the racism.
For the time and money he invested in me and my siblings, I felt that a watch would be a fitting gift for him. All of my father's siblings, cousins on both sides of the family, and my grandparents had nice timepieces (i.e. Rolex, Patek, etc), but my father always only had a simple quartz timex expedition because he'd rather spend the money not on himself but on his children. So I felt that he finally deserved to have something everyone else around him seemed to have, especially now that he is moving back to Korea.
I decided on the Rolex Explorer for several reasons:
He is a very low-key person, doesn't like flash; so a black dial steel watch is about as low key as it gets
Dresses mostly casual, but always has a nice suit dry cleaned and ready for any dress-up occasions.
Likes to go swimming every day in the pool during the summer, so the 100m WR gives a bit of confidence
He fell into depression while raising us in the U.S. and one of the ways he overcame it was through hiking up mountains throughout the year with people he knew from church. So the mountain climbing tool watch mantra of the Explorer fits him well.
Thanks Dad, for all the sacrifices you've made for me, my little brother, and my little sister, and hope this watch can be an everyday reminder of the great man you are, and that all the time and money invested in us were not for naught. Hold your head up a little higher when you meet up with your friends and family back in Korea!
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What a nice story and great gift for what sounds like a wonderful dad.
What a nice story. Cheers from a 60th man in Mexico.
A great story and a thoughtful way of recognizing your father's sacrifices...well done!
Great story, the world needs more people like your dad. As well great way to celebrate a good man.✌🏻
great story, all the best for your family 🍺
Thanks for sharing this great story tony! and this is going to bea very special gift! ✨
Beautiful story, beautiful watch. Here’s to good health!
Amazing story of a dad who raised an even more amazing son 💪🏻 Your dedication to family is a testament to the legacy that your dad has created. I’m sure he’s very proud 👏🏼
I’m Korean as well. I didn’t know about the 60th, but we’ve planned on getting our father a Grand Seiko when he retires in a year.
Your post was very heartfelt, and the icing on the cake is the fact you have a modest collection and have decided to get your dad the most expensive piece yet.
Cheers to him! 🍻
Great story! Great father, great son!
A wonderful story. Your father sounds like a great man who raised a terrific son. Happy birthday to him
Thank you for sharing! Congratulations to your Dad on his Bday. You are an amazing son. Blessings to you all.
Great gift and salute to your Dad. Tell him that he is an inspiration to many of us Dads!
Very sweet of you to gift him such an amazing, astonishing gift. Pester him to wear it, ‘cause I know people like him usualy are resistant to expensive gifts like this.
What made you go for the 224270 over the 124270? Regardless, you’ve gotten him one of the best iterations of that watch yet. Great lume, amazing technical upgrades, and some of the current best in material longevity for this kind of mechanical watch.
As an aside, I noticed that there is more than one new Explorer in this picture. Considering matching? 😉
Lovely
That is awesome - congrats!
Fabulous well done
I’m Korean as well. I didn’t know about the 60th, but we’ve planned on getting our father a Grand Seiko when he retires in a year.
Your post was very heartfelt, and the icing on the cake is the fact you have a modest collection and have decided to get your dad the most expensive piece yet.
Cheers to him! 🍻
Yeah dropping that kind of cash on a watch definitely had me quaking in my boots haha
Cheers to your father as well! To Dads, the most terrifying yet selfless and caring individuals! 🍻
Very sweet of you to gift him such an amazing, astonishing gift. Pester him to wear it, ‘cause I know people like him usualy are resistant to expensive gifts like this.
What made you go for the 224270 over the 124270? Regardless, you’ve gotten him one of the best iterations of that watch yet. Great lume, amazing technical upgrades, and some of the current best in material longevity for this kind of mechanical watch.
As an aside, I noticed that there is more than one new Explorer in this picture. Considering matching? 😉
So the other explorer on the background was the 124270! It was really close, but upon seeing it, the current version of the 124270 appeared to have a very dramatic taper of the bracelet that appeared a bit dainty. His wrist size is about the same as mine (7”+), so the lug-to-lug was not an issue, and I think the modern sizing will work better for when he wears t-shirts in the summer! ☺️Believe me I wanted this watch for myself too haha; maybe one day, I’ll pick one up as well haha
Sounds like an amazing dad. And a great watch.
Miss my dad. Cherish every day. ♥️
This is real. Just becomes harder and harder to see the parents as time passes by and each day you realize there is less time available to spend with them 🥲
Wonderful story. I'm sure your father feels that every sacrifice he made was worth it. Your father is a fortunate man. (Speaking as a 63 year old father & grandfather myself.)
So the other explorer on the background was the 124270! It was really close, but upon seeing it, the current version of the 124270 appeared to have a very dramatic taper of the bracelet that appeared a bit dainty. His wrist size is about the same as mine (7”+), so the lug-to-lug was not an issue, and I think the modern sizing will work better for when he wears t-shirts in the summer! ☺️Believe me I wanted this watch for myself too haha; maybe one day, I’ll pick one up as well haha
Nice ☺️
Amazing story
What a story and what a nice Birthday present! Great choice 🙌
All the best to you and your Dad!
So the other explorer on the background was the 124270! It was really close, but upon seeing it, the current version of the 124270 appeared to have a very dramatic taper of the bracelet that appeared a bit dainty. His wrist size is about the same as mine (7”+), so the lug-to-lug was not an issue, and I think the modern sizing will work better for when he wears t-shirts in the summer! ☺️Believe me I wanted this watch for myself too haha; maybe one day, I’ll pick one up as well haha
Ah ok. That makes sense. My wrists are about 16.5 cm, so naturally I am drawn to the 124270. Call me crazy but I like the dramtic taper, even tho it results in a surprisingly small clasp. It makes the Oyster bracelet so much more elegant in presentation, which is not easy to do.
Hope you can get this awesome generation of Explorer one day, too. I hope so as well but I don’t see the costs shaking out in my favor. I still window shop tho 😁
You rock dude, good on ya
Well earned watch.👍
Really great story and really great watch choice. That will be an amazing moment when you give it to him. Enjoy ✌️
I'm betting he's a very proud Papa. What a wonderful and thoughtful thing to do for your father. ❤😎👍