If you have a cell phone (and who doesn't?) a watch is the most expensive and least effective time keeping device you will ever own.
However ... my dad was a conductor on the Rock Island and growing up I gained an emotional attachment to his pocket watch. It was necessary for his job and he had to make payments on it from a local jewelry store. He had to have it serviced / accuracy certified every few months and was proud to own it. This combo has surely traveled a million miles, I'm proud to own it.
When Bulova came out with their railroad approved wristwatch, my dad wanted one real bad. Many other railroaders had one but he never could manage to save enough for one. Too frivolous when raising two kids on a blue collar salary. Between my junior and senior year in HS I got a job working full time at a truck stop on the interstate. Used two weeks salary and bought this watch for his birthday August 73. Backside of knife is the same one as above after he broke off the scale and filled it in with epoxy after Case wouldn't repair it for free. They rightfully termed it abuse.
In my time living in underground silos we used 8 day mechanical clocks for a reference to coordinate WWIII launches. Had to time hack them every 4 hours and make adjustments as necessary. Timing was important, also wore a cheap Casio with built in stopwatch / timers. When I was able to afford a decent watch, I purchased a no name ETA Pilot watch with a see through back and easy to read face. Looked cool, but sucked keeping time. So I upgraded to SINN watches, still have a 656 that needs serviced but costs more to service it than it's worth. Always wanted a Rolex Submariner.
SilverAlert
is spot on, it's the one you want. So when I retired bought the cheapest Rolex Submariner made, a stainless no date. I liked the symmetry of the no date and since I was retired I didn't care what day it is anyhow. I wear it everywhere, exercise 6 days a week in water, salt water for years, and it still looks great.
Decided the date might be important so bought a blue / gold two tone submariner. Daily wore for a few years until I decided it was too flashy for daily wear, a little afraid someone will want to hit me in the head for it. Service was $1K but it looks new afterwards.
Because of the hysteria surrounding stainless ceramic Daytonas, had to buy one. Three year wait from Rolex authorized dealer, much longer today, even a submariner is a three year wait. More comfortable than a sub, I should wear it more often.
Have been on the list for a Rolex RLX Titanium Yachtmaster since the day they were announced. List has been moving one spot a year and I started #7. Over 125 names on the list, they go for double MSRP on the secondary. I'll wait. I also have my Great Grandfather's 1893 Waltham pocketwatch in a silver hunter case, he paid for it with a bale of cotton, surely his pride and joy. That's my journey with mechanical watches. The Rolexes are all worth more than I paid for them new but none keep better time than my cell phone. I must not be the only afflicted soul.
. I wanted to make a bunch of recommendations reading your earlier post but that's a great watch you have there! Can't go wrong with a classic military design.
