What's the story behind the watch with the most sentimental value to you?
🚨 Long post alert 🚨
Would love to hear the story behind that one watch that you'll never let go.
For me, it's my Panerai PAM321 (as shown here in this post) that was gifted by my father back in 2014.
To share a little bit of context about my father; he is not into luxury items of any sort. He has been wearing Apple Watch for a little over five years now, but before that he was wearing for many years a quartz watch that cost perhaps around $300 - $400 (neither of these is exactly cheap, I know) that he got as an add-on item from a suit store back when he was getting himself a new suit years ago. He doesn't wear designer brands clothes either.
Back in 2014, some of my friends were starting to get into the watches which was something I had zero knowledge of. I couldn't join any of those discussions therefore I went to watch shops and collected catalogues hoping to learn more about it, but without any actual intention to purchase one soon due to budget constraints.
One night, my father saw me reading those catalogues and asked if I was planning to buy a watch. My answer was a straight no, I told him I was just trying to learn a thing or two about watches, and really just to familiarise myself with the names of some of the popular models so that I could talk about watches with friends. In fact I was more concerned that it would upset him that I was looking at luxury items which I knew to him served little to no purpose in life.
The following day, he brought me to a watch shop after I had had lunch with him, and he asked the AD to recommend models that would suit me. I couldn't believe that was happening and he gave me a pat on the shoulder and said to me "pick one".
I eventually shortlisted two watches, one was the PAM321 and the other was a Zenith El Primero (don't remember the exact model but it was one with beautiful blue sub dials).
Here comes the thing that I (still) like about Panerai; Panerai models just have their unique design language that you can just easily spot one from across the room, whereas for many watches by other brands, you can probably mix up with other models. I remember walking many laps around the shop to see if there may be other models that I should choose over the PAM but somehow all other watches (e.g. chronographs, dress watches) seemed to look similar to each other, and there were no other watches that looked anything close to the Panerai(s). It was the PAM321 that I eventually left the store wearing on my wrist.
I have since then (unfortunately?) picked up the interest in watches and have acquired a number of watches over the years. As for the watches I have in my collection now, I think it's fair to say that some hold greater monetary value than the PAM (as you may see from my WRUW feeds). However, the PAM is the one that I'd keep if I was made to keep only one.
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So that's my story. Mind to share yours?
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Love the story and I agree Panerai date so unlike every other watch out there, super unique wearing experience and really an incredible watch/watch maker. I wore my OP 41 when my daughter was born so that’s definitely special to me and I got it nsut shortly before she was born and it was my first Rolex.
The most sentimental watch in my collection is my dad’s citizen aqualand duplex. On its British Columbia Silverfoot strap. The strap alone is older than me.
My dad used to work as a master diving instructor, among other things aboard Norwegian cruise lines. He’d guide extreme downhill mountain biking in Alaska for part of the year, and take people on sea kayaking and diving excursions in the Caribbean for the rest of the season.
This citizen was worn through most of his underwater adventures and multiple near death experiences. It’s been to far more countries than I have, and lived a life reminiscent of an adventure novel.
My dad stopped wearing wrist watches when he stopped working as a dive instructor and guide, and so the watch sat for a while. I found it one day as a toddler, and took to wearing it, even though the strap was Velcro, it was almost impossible to size to my tiny wrist. I gained a fascination and love for the sea and seafaring at a young age, and a keen interest in timepieces came shortly after that. My family eventually moved from the lovely Vancouver Island to Ontario, but I never lost my obsession with the sea. (I’m planning on moving back home to BC shortly)
My father’s watch has immense sentimental value and could tell so many stories, from lifesaving missions under the sea to island beach parties. It’s been worn on so many adventures. In addition to that, to me the watch represents change. A willingness to go on adventures and to go with the flow. Life has a way of leading us around in ways we wouldn’t expect, the Lord’s plan is a mystery to us, but that’s what makes life so interesting.
Anyway, that’s the story of my most sentimental watch.
Love the story and I agree Panerai date so unlike every other watch out there, super unique wearing experience and really an incredible watch/watch maker. I wore my OP 41 when my daughter was born so that’s definitely special to me and I got it nsut shortly before she was born and it was my first Rolex.
Argh I always thought your OP was a 36mm. Sounds like a lucky watch to you (and perhaps to your daughter too).
And amazing how quickly the number of Rolex went from 1 to 3.
The most sentimental watch in my collection is my dad’s citizen aqualand duplex. On its British Columbia Silverfoot strap. The strap alone is older than me.
My dad used to work as a master diving instructor, among other things aboard Norwegian cruise lines. He’d guide extreme downhill mountain biking in Alaska for part of the year, and take people on sea kayaking and diving excursions in the Caribbean for the rest of the season.
This citizen was worn through most of his underwater adventures and multiple near death experiences. It’s been to far more countries than I have, and lived a life reminiscent of an adventure novel.
My dad stopped wearing wrist watches when he stopped working as a dive instructor and guide, and so the watch sat for a while. I found it one day as a toddler, and took to wearing it, even though the strap was Velcro, it was almost impossible to size to my tiny wrist. I gained a fascination and love for the sea and seafaring at a young age, and a keen interest in timepieces came shortly after that. My family eventually moved from the lovely Vancouver Island to Ontario, but I never lost my obsession with the sea. (I’m planning on moving back home to BC shortly)
My father’s watch has immense sentimental value and could tell so many stories, from lifesaving missions under the sea to island beach parties. It’s been worn on so many adventures. In addition to that, to me the watch represents change. A willingness to go on adventures and to go with the flow. Life has a way of leading us around in ways we wouldn’t expect, the Lord’s plan is a mystery to us, but that’s what makes life so interesting.
Anyway, that’s the story of my most sentimental watch.
Interesting what your old man has experienced with the watch. Sounds great if it could have yours added to it.
Argh I always thought your OP was a 36mm. Sounds like a lucky watch to you (and perhaps to your daughter too).
And amazing how quickly the number of Rolex went from 1 to 3.
It’s the 41. She will have to wear it big lol 😂 I know I didn’t really expect it to change so quickly it’s o my been a few years. I never thought I was going to get the call for the OP, I was losing hope it was taking so long and then after that it’s been nonstop Rolexes