RobbieG

Agree with Stephane. If you are successful and you have good taste don't hide it. If the guy interviewing you is going to be affected by your image in that way trust me, you don't want to work for him anyway. Just the tip of the iceberg. Successful men tend to frive nice cars, wear nice clothes and wear nice watches. If anyone is going to perceive you as flaunting these things simply because you dare to wear them or even talk about them if they interest you isn't worth your time. However, I am always amazed just how many people there are out there that are like that so you always have to expect it to some degree. Usually IME, people who would judge you for such a thing are unhappy with their own station in life so they try and "take the shine of others down" in order to somehow make themselves look better in judgeing you. So I say not only should you wear the GMT - wear it proudly and if you should one day have a twenty thousand dollar gen and a hundred thousand dollar car or whatever, you should wear and drive those proudly too!

Yeah, I guess I got a few years on you brother. Funny to see how fashions change over the years. Watches and otherwise...

Also for those who are interested, the watches were also available with micro linked steel bracelets in a sort of Rolex Jubliee style and they measured 38MM including crown. Oh and yes, the are quartz watches, but back then I didn't care! At 18 I was more interested in teasing my hair with Aqua Net, leather pants and looking pretty for the girls (or looking like a girl depending on how you look at it) as can be seen here. 140 lbs soaking wet, primed and ready to rock before a show God knows where in 1986 - the year the F1 came out and I got mine. I only wish I had the watch on, but alas I can't seem to find any pics from that year that do. One thing is for sure and that is I look like I could have used a cheeseburger or three...

A found one of these while poking around on the Bay and felt compelled to find others. I had two of these, including one from the first run released in 1986. My first was a grey watch with yellow accents. They came in many colors and were quite comfortable. You could even mix and match colors which was a cool thing to do in the 80's. Remember the original Oakley Razor's with the interchangeable nose and ear pieces? I even found a guy selling OEM straps in all the colors to this day and not only that, there were actually some auctions selling NIB versions. Imagine that? Untouched and as new from 23 years ago! A blast from the past for me for sure. Anyone else have one in the 80's?

I like the Classic Carrera racing watches on rubber and I like a lot of the special edition Monaco watches too. Like the Gulf oil one. Cool colors. I have had a few over the years - including this special 2000 chrono with a guilloche dial. Not sure if they make it anymore though...

Yeah it is the 45.5MM. You can tell by saving and zooming the pic easier if you find it hard to see. The space distance between the datewindow and the edge of the 3 o'clock marker is the easiest tell as becks mentioned. Also the space between the center post and where the block of "writing" starts above the 6 o'clock marker is another. It is always interesting to me how much smaller the watch wears on rubber than on steel. Still, he makes it look pretty small besides. How tall a guy is he, anyone know?

Great piece Corgi. Congrats. Although I am very happy with my M serialed DJ, I share some of your sentiment in that all the improvement are not necessarily that. I think the new Oyster bracelets are in that the solid mid links and Rolesor clasp make the watches feel better and are of higher quality over all. But I do like the older cases with the narrower lugs. The new square shouldered case design is a bit of a mystery to me. Those who like a beefier watch I'm sure appreciate it, but its shape is not as elegant as the original. For some reason they never changed the DD cases which are just like yours, but the new DJ's all have the bigger lugs which make the watch a bit less sleek and elegant than it was. So if you want that extra sleek look these days on a new watch you have to get a DD unfortunately in a new watch. Personally, I do prefer Roman dials and smooth bezels generally to sticks and fluted bezels, but of course both of those are an easy fix and just an individuals choice as they have been for some time. I will say that in yellow gold I do like the fluted bezel though. When I think of the quintissential Rolex dress watches I always picture yellow gold and fluted bezels. I think the Oyster bracelet is a nice change for your watch. Typically, you see most of the TT iterations of those with Jubilee bracelets which definitely don't do it for me as a rule. All in all, I think you hit a home run with this one on every front and most of all you have a watch that is less than typical which is a breath of fresh air. When it comes to DJ's both vintage and modern there tend to be groups of the same combos we always see and I tend to be drawn to ones that you don't see so much. Some of the combos for DJ's and DD's are so cool. Just endless. And in the future you can always drop a new dial in for fun. I'm going to always keep a DJ, as I always have, regardless of other purchases and have fun in that way to keep it fresh. In the future I'll probably try a salmon and an MOP dial in mine at some point. Now that I have seen yours I wouldn't mind seeing what a silver (not rhodium - silver w/lume sticks), a white, or even a black dial looked like in yours. Cheers Corgi!

Dani - the Emergency is such a special piece and talk about functional. Certainly a "Personal" piece and not a "Collection" piece for most who would own one. Do you have the kind of job that makes you happy to be wearing it as it provides for you in that capacity?

You know I have to say that while the PO bracelet is nice because it is curved and that part is very comfortable, it is the least comfortable overall in my box because of the shape of the case back - and while all that relief engraving looks cool it doesn't help that matter either. The watch feels better with the rubber strap, but you know, I didn't realize until just now that I actually wear it less than the others because of the comfort factor. Hmm. I have known for some time it wasn't getting as much time - now I know why... The MMD is really comfortable despite being quite heavy because of the smaller links (and talk about pure silkyness in that bracelet - yum) and also the nice wide flat caseback. The weight of the case also helps make it sit nice and flat... The AT bracelet also fits like a glove. In this case although the case is quite thick and bulky, the Ti does the job at making it nice and light and comfy. Hardly know it is on - even though it does have a bit of a "wedged" hump on the caeback like the PO. But like the MMD I can't say enough about the bracelet. Just so comfortable... But still the DJ takes the comfort cake. The smooth white look and silky feel of the 904 steel is just wonderful. The DD with its weight and the smaller links in the Pres bracelet will be even better if I finally end up getting one. But in the meantime, I could wear the DJ forever and a day and never take it off...

Nothing new or exciting here - and lately that's just the way I like it. This one is destined to become an old friend...

I should also add the if we had it to do again - and we do kind of because there is always more jewelry for the girls, we will never buy real stones again. The only exception is if I was really loaded and could buy her like a neckless with those raw diamonds from DeBeers or something. That place is the nuts. In which case it is just as much about the setting design as it is the stone - but in any event they have great stuff. Problem is everything in there is over a hundred grand that you would want so you have to be well heeled and prove it or they won't let you keep coming in there. I think we have worn out our welcome at the Rodeo store. The last time we stopped in there the manager all but told me that when I come back I'm going to need a black Amex and I'll have to slide it under the door so he can do a pre-auth before buzzing us in. I figure hell might freeze over before that happens so I suppose DeBeers is off the list unless I hit the lottery...

Yeah, you are both right IMO. Noel is right when he says the DJ and DD reps don't feel like the gens so much. Night and day really. And when Bytor said about reps feeling the same he was I think only talking about the flimsy Sub/GMT/EXP style bracelets that are brushed and have hollow cenetr links. The rep ones don't usually match up out of the box but with a bit of "working" and oiling you can get them close - although to someone picky it still may not be quite right. Oh, and I would for sure agree with TJ that of all the Rollies, the Sub really has the worst feel. It never felt like an expensive watch to me. Cheap and rattling and flimsy for sure. I always loved them though - just for different reasons. Meanwhile, the new GMTIIc whith its poished center links, new case, and improved bracelet and clasp feels like a million bucks... And while the clasps on the Subs, etc. are cheap and flimsy and always have been the new rolesor clasp used on the Oysters for DJ's is anything but. On of the nicest, sturdiest and most comfortable clasps in my box. For what it is worth, the hidden snapping clasp on the President bracelets are the nuts too. That bracelet is wonderful. The weight of the precious metals and the smaller symetrical links just melts it into the wearers wrist and the clasp is both snug and esy to use. That can be an issue on the reps because the President design is meant to be heavier to feel right with the smaller links. In SS on the reps it just feels cheap and rattles to much. Which is why it is better to get a DJ rep instead with a Oyster/Rolesor clasp instead. Or a Jubilee bracelet DJ rep. The rep Jubilee is quite nice. My dad has a rep Jubi bracelet on his gen DJ and he loves it. Of course, for sturdy clasps, I prefer the locking button release type, like on the Omega PO that TJ mentions. My UN MMD has that style too and for sheer strenghth you can't beat that design...

Nope. you had it reversed. The CZ is in the center, the other two are of the diamond. The CZ was made to the exact same size as the original stone (just under 2ct) and is on the exact same setting which is a special vintage scroll design made by Scott Kay. The settings each have around 3/4 of a carat of small VS / G stones including one on the side. These pictures are crap of course. In person both are stunning and impossible to tell apart save for a little nick in one of the settings I can find. Otherwise even I need a loop to find it...

Do tell Corgi...

My fiance and I have bought A LOT of jewelry for her and set it with high quality CZ's. If you know where to find the good stuff they are equal to diamonds in every way. If there is one fault it is that they are too perfect actually. We both love that they are totally colorless. IMO, all diamonds, even included ones are the same as long as you get D or better color and a great cut. I think it is silly to pay through the nose for a flawless diamond. An S or an I which is cut perfectly and a D color is preferable to a VSS G with just an ok cut. The cut is where the sparkle comes from not how flawless it is. Inclusions can't be seen to the naked eye anyway so I have no idea why people pay through the nose not to have them. And the lack of color is the depth and what draws you in. The icing on the cake. Because of all this well cut and colored CZ's are amazing. We actually enjoy telling people some of her stuff is CZ which we have to do because we would never get called out in a million years. Even a jeweler would need a loupe and a test kit for the ones we are getting. People will tell you that all CZ's are the same as it is a perfect chemical formula but it is just not true. The quality of the raw material does matter as does how the finished product is cut, just like a diamond. Here are three pictures. We bought two of the same settings of her engagement ring. Some or one is a VSS/D real stone and some or one is a CZ which she wears when we travel. One cost a sh*tload of money and one didn't. LOL. Can you tell the difference. I honestly can't in person without a loupe...

Hey TJ, is this your watch? I couldn't seem to find the model number of your watch and was wondering if it just had an updated number or something now... http://www.prestigetime.com/item/Omega/Sea...0m/2220.80.html

Always a pleasure to hear your views TJ. You obviously are like me in that you enjoy giving lots of thought to the most minute of lifes decisions and details. My little nephew asked me recently what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I finished laughing at how cute that was I told him I wanted to be a professional ponderer. Giving more thought to things and as such trying to better undertstand what really inspires me is something I enjoy doing more and more as I get older. As a result, I have so much less waste and baggage both tangible and intangible in my life now than I did even a year ago. I'll know I have achieved nirvana when I just have one watch, one suit, 3 pairs or jeans, one pair of shorts, a bathing suit, three T-shirts, 3 button downs, a pair of sneakers, a pair of flip flops, a pair of dress shoes, room service and send out laundry - and you guessed it, I'm living in a hotel. It won't be long now. When I can "move" for a season to Newport or Tuscany or Napa with a days notice and a carry on, I'll have as much stuff as I want to own. And when I feel like a new shirt it will be just like the watch thoughts. I'll go buy one, but not until I stop at the Goodwill box on the way to the store and give away one of the others. Accumulation is just pointless IMO...

Yeah TJ I agree with a lot of what you said, although we differ in perceived value considerations a bit. I don't guy gens for their (no doubt unjustified)inflated prices unless I see major differences in the subtle details which I feel are quintessential in all fine things. In my current collection I can't quite get that in any of the pieces I now own. The UN's of course can't be had, Close one on the PO, but the 45.5MM won't work and the rep 42MM isn't where the gen is at, the AT isn't repped in Ti (although a modded steel one like Siesta's would do - I just needed the Ti one to fill that exact hole in the collection, and in the case of the DJ, no rep could ever cut it with that model unless I went franken and so the gen came about there too. But in all cases, I'm never just getting the gens without a lot of thought. Unfortunately something else is happening too and that is my collecting is drawing to a close as I see no need to move beyond the core pieces so I keep moving backward instead of forward and also devoting more time to the "Personal" piece. I also want to note that I'm most definitely NOT someone who feels WG and PT look like SS so there is no need to consider them. The finish and look of them is very much something I notice. And to that end I actaully usually don't like the patina of platinum on all pieces but only certain ones. Also Rolex white gold is the only I know of that is alloyed with platinum removing the need to be tied to constant rhodium dipping to keep the watch looking fresh over the years. That said, in most cases if there were that alternative I would prefer SS for any larger sporty watch as the weight of precious metals there becomes kind of silly IMO. So it will only be in strapped or otherwise smaller braceleted watches where I would consider it. In the case of a GO Pano watch I had it just felt cheap to the touch and to wear in steel being so light and that was a leading reason why I bailed on it. In the case of the DD's, I think that the WG add a richness of patina that is slightly better than the DJ counterparts and the platinum is off the charts. The subtleness of the greyed brushed PT patina contrasting with the polished PT makes that particular version just sail with a capital S. And the glacier dial to me is just perfect, but I would also to consider other dials as well and wouldn't only get the PT because that dial can't be had in WG. Rolex platinum os WAY overpriced IMO but its look is dynamite. However, if not for the contrasting polished surfaces I would pass on another dress watch as I tend to like WG better if the watch case is basically all polished as you see on a typical strapped watch from say Lange or VC or someone. Anyway, I also wanted to make the distinction that for me, it is always a feel thing and I never have really allowed any consideration of "worth" into an analysis of price. If it moves me the only decisions affecting whether to buy it for me are going to be do I have the cash right now and since I'm spending this money will I wear it alot and cherish it so as not to be wasteful. And that is why I sold a whole bunch of my collection. It was too wasteful to have that kind of money into something when it got no use. But the money didn't drive the decision. If I loved them all truly I would have kept every one of them no matter how overpriced or not they were if that makes sense. So to that end TJ and I agree that if you love it spend the dough. You only live once right? BTW TJ, that Stargate style theme is cool. That is something I am going to need to consider soon myself. Ah, marriage the final frontier... But in the end, I think the personal nature of the watch opens up a lot of leeway in all these decisions for most. It is awefull tough to lay out a bunch of cash for something that just looks cool and you "wouldn't mind" having in your collection...

And if you consider yourself skilled in that art there few people on this forum who I (and my circle of immediate friends here) feel might benefit from something like that. I'm sure we would all be willing to create a nice pool of funds for you to draw from so that you could be well compensated for providing such a valuable service to us...

Yeah, and I'm really not resisting but rather embracing the iconic nature of these watches and the brand. Instead of being critical of it, which is the WIS/collector in me, I just woke up and realized that DJ's and DD's are immensely popular for a reason and that the reason isn't that the masses don't know what else to do - which is what I used to think. They have evaluated all all the options and choose them because they are timeless and beautiful and iconic - and because being that they are not all that interesting but rather classically "plain" is kind of the whole point. Less is more as I am seeing in all things lately - not just watches. Maybe it is part of getting older I'm sure. They are unmistakeable yet understated, rich yet basic, gleaming yet subdued all at the same time. A true paradox. And all you have to do is look at the 41MM versions to realize that the whole thing I am talking about doesn't work unless it is a 36MM watch as well. Nothing against big watches and I have my share but they can never accomplish all this IMO. Not that the 41MM DD for example is a bad watch if it is your cup of tea (not mine per se) but it leaves the understated and comfortable parts behind and is rather overtly blingy and chunky and will garner the "Hey look at me and my shiny watch vibe" that all of the men I spoke of in my OP, including myself are trying to avoid. We want it all - but just a little...

He also owns Ronco. If he ever comes back to the forum I need to thank him for my "Set it & Forget it" prime rib experiences.

First off, let me say thanks to Lani and Siesta for inspiring this thought as I started to ponder some changes occuring inside me when comtempating what to post in their "What kind of watch are you" and "Which watch started it all" threads they started respectively. Instead of posting in those I thought I would devote a thread to it so I could get some other views on this. I would have chosen the Rolex Datejust for the watch that started it all for me. As I have said before, I have had one DJ or another and a nice mix of gens and reps for 15 years or so. For me the watch represented a sort of right of passage to manhood. All of the people I looked up to who were older than me either wore Datejusts or Daydates and the Iconic nature of the Rolex brand was always a real draw until I had my first - a gen. I think if we surveyed the membership here we would of course find an overwhelming number who came to watch collecting by way of Rolex. That said, what happend to me is a common tale. When I got more into collecting I sort of drifted away from Rolex as I started to get snobby I suppose. You know, when you go through that period where you think Rolex is so 1970 and there are so many other "cooler" designs that are cutting edge and Rolex is so "lowest common denominator" and owned primarily by people who know nothing of watches and own it just for status. And during that period I bought and sold a ton of watches - equal numbers of reps and gens - certainly more than 50 pieces all told. And to this day a few key pieces remain which are dear to me and represent a nice cross section of function, materials, and design. I am very proud of and attached to my collection pieces. But as I get older, a funny thing has happend. I have realized that I very much like and want to embrace the iconic nature of Rolex and in particular the Datejust and Daydate again. I have realized that they are still the watches I see on my peers and clients and business associates and it may sound silly, but when I gaze around a room and see them all and then my own, I feel like I am a part of a club or something. When I'm in a restaurant and glance at wrists, they are still the ones I notice and admire the most. They look great on everyone. Understated yet commanding all at once. These watches are small by todays standards yet they just leap off the wrist and into the room with their subtle combination of polished and brushed surfaces. And Rolex metal - whatever it may be - is always leading the industry in appearance. Nothing shines like Rolex alloys. It is also of note that due to their size they can be blingy but it doesn't look stupid like big shiny watches do. Elegant and distinguished and never loud. And all those guys I see go in the same AD's as I do and see all the other brands and are way past needing to show anyone they have arrived and yet they still wear these. So I started asking these non-WIS guys about them and they said exactly what I have just said about the iconic nature of the brand and how they aspired to own one when one day they became successful and to that end their watch means something to them. All of them. Very interesting. They don't own them for status in the eyes of others, but in their own eyes - the same as me. So I realized that just because I am a WIS and collector, in the end I'm really no different than they are in terms of identifying the "one" watch out of a crowd of thousands and comtemplating what it means to me... As a side note they also said that the comfort of these pieces is a big draw and I had to agree. They just disappear into the wrist and it is a pleasure to not even know you have a watch on until you think to look at it. And yet they still look and feel substantial and never feminine or flimsy in any way in SS or gold or platinum. So I have to say that any "one" watch for me could never be too big or bulky almost be definition and could also never be too loud or flashy. So now you probably think this is a praise of Rolex thread but it really isn't. That is all just the backstory really. I realized that for me, there is a difference between the pleasure I get from my "collection" watches which of course I try to wear in rotation and my current Datejust which has become my "personal, lifetime" watch. The watch that I would own if I didn't have a collection. The watch I could wear every day for the next 50 years and never tire of because it is a part of me. Comfortable and iconic and a symbol of my life history and achievements and failures and memories. I guess I just realized how important it was to me aside from all the collecting stuff to have a "One Watch" like my father and grandfather before me did that has some meaning. And for me it will always be a 36MM Rolex. I have decided to take the plunge and reward myself next year with the highest level of the family and trade up to a platinum President with a glacier roman dial. I always wanted one. It is an extravagant purchase I know but when I think of the amortized cost over the next 20 years even it seems like a song. The point being that cost becomes less of a justification when you are thinking of a watch as an heirloom. I asked one of my clients who has a DayDate in WG with a rhodium dial and Oyster bracelet why he bought that at 25K instead of a DJ like mine for 5K as it looks the same. He said it felt more comfotable because it was heavier and he thought the gold shined more. And when I said, "yeah, but the cost difference for basically the same thing...", he basically answered that question with what I had said before. That he was going to wear the watch for the next 20 years so what difference does it make. He said he wouldn't buy a silver Dodge instead of a silver Benz just because it was cheaper and the same color if he really liked the Benz better. For me it is important to make this distinction because I would never spend much more than the entry level on a gen "collection" piece. As an example, I have a PO and wouldn't give it up for the world, but the price is right for the level of interest. Even if I had all the money in the world I wouldn't buy an $20K Omega specialty piece that I like a bit - even if I was rich which I'm not by a long shot. I just would think it wasteful if it were just another collection piece that had no real meaning. In fact, I just got rid of all those pieces in my collection that I didn't wear enough to justify the dollar into them just sitting collecting dust, but for the "One" watch I can easily justify the additional expense. Anyway, I have two questions for you all and the first is could you ever see (or do you now) having one watch that really means something to you in the way I describe? One which you sort of hold seperate from the rest of the collection that come and go - or could you see yourself doing so in the future sometime? If so, what watch is it for you and what is your experience with it so far? Secondly, do you look at prices in a vacuum regardless of the piece and its status in the collection, or do you feel as I do in that spending much more is justified for what you know is to be "the" personal long term companion watch for you? I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts about this stuff and I thank you in advance for taking the time to respond with all your differing points of view...

Nice man. Congrats. Gotta love the Chief. Hail, Hail, all hail the Chief!

Found some YM dials for you in case the project does work out assuming you are even going to do it. Pretty expensive of course, but the gen dial is PT so it will have to be. Good luck to you whatever you decide... http://www.limitedwatches.net/yachtmasterdials.html

So you are saying TJ shouldn't replicate Dave's turd-in-a-sack move then Cats?