Where did it all start for you?
Discussion
As in, what was / did you consider to be your first proper watch?
For me, I’d always had an interest in watches as my Grandfather & Dad both had Omegas (which I inherited in 1988) but my first purchase was an incredibly fashionable slate Grey dialled Gucci 9000m.
I followed this up with a Champagne dialled 9000m in 1990 & wore both regularly until I bought a Seamaster Professional 300m chronometer in 2003.
The rest, as they say, is history......
The 2 x Guccis & 2 x Omegas reside in my dress watch box
For me, I’d always had an interest in watches as my Grandfather & Dad both had Omegas (which I inherited in 1988) but my first purchase was an incredibly fashionable slate Grey dialled Gucci 9000m.
I followed this up with a Champagne dialled 9000m in 1990 & wore both regularly until I bought a Seamaster Professional 300m chronometer in 2003.
The rest, as they say, is history......
The 2 x Guccis & 2 x Omegas reside in my dress watch box
Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Sunday 2nd December 17:54
When I was 12 my friend bought me a fake gold Rolex back from Malaysia as a laugh. I wore the thing for a year before it broke and was gutted.
Fast forward to my late teens and reading car mags I took a real liking to Breitlings but thought I could never afford one.
After the first year in my apprenticeship I got a Xmas bonus and bought an Armani Exchange watch, I was made up with it, still wear it to this day!
As I carried on in my apprenticeship I started to earn a little more and my interest in watches snowballed. Next watch was a used Seiko Monster in Orange, then a black one, then a few old vintage watches, g shocks, a few odd balls.
I’d worked pretty hard for a few years and moved out of home, I had a collection of decent low end watches but fancied my first proper watch. Initially it was an Omega Speedmaster, then a Tudor Pelagos but a watch stopped me in my tracks, a 16600 Rolex Sea Dweller. I debated whether splashing out that much was valid, but I worked extremely hard over 4 years and felt like it was a reward. I bought the watch with cash and it arrived a few days later. I’ve continued to buy other watches, have a vintage Speedy and a few more Seikos the collection is around 15 now. But I still have the Armani Exchnage watch that started it all, and I’m wearing the Rolex right now I’ve had it for 3 years and it’s taken a beating and can see it being with me forever.
Fast forward to my late teens and reading car mags I took a real liking to Breitlings but thought I could never afford one.
After the first year in my apprenticeship I got a Xmas bonus and bought an Armani Exchange watch, I was made up with it, still wear it to this day!
As I carried on in my apprenticeship I started to earn a little more and my interest in watches snowballed. Next watch was a used Seiko Monster in Orange, then a black one, then a few old vintage watches, g shocks, a few odd balls.
I’d worked pretty hard for a few years and moved out of home, I had a collection of decent low end watches but fancied my first proper watch. Initially it was an Omega Speedmaster, then a Tudor Pelagos but a watch stopped me in my tracks, a 16600 Rolex Sea Dweller. I debated whether splashing out that much was valid, but I worked extremely hard over 4 years and felt like it was a reward. I bought the watch with cash and it arrived a few days later. I’ve continued to buy other watches, have a vintage Speedy and a few more Seikos the collection is around 15 now. But I still have the Armani Exchnage watch that started it all, and I’m wearing the Rolex right now I’ve had it for 3 years and it’s taken a beating and can see it being with me forever.
Edited by AmosMoses on Sunday 2nd December 21:26
1989 with a Tag Heuer Fomula 1. Had it up until 4 years ago when it went missing in a house move.
The next one was an Omega Speedmaster Reduced followed by a Seamaster Quartz. Both since sold.
The collection currently stands at around 30 or so comprised of watches from H Moser, Graham, Panerai, Omega, Longines, Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, Mühle Glasshutte, Dan Henry, Magrette, Gruen, Suunto, Motorola, Accurist and TAG.
The ones with the most wrist time are 2 Bulovas, a Magrette and the Mühle.
The next one was an Omega Speedmaster Reduced followed by a Seamaster Quartz. Both since sold.
The collection currently stands at around 30 or so comprised of watches from H Moser, Graham, Panerai, Omega, Longines, Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, Mühle Glasshutte, Dan Henry, Magrette, Gruen, Suunto, Motorola, Accurist and TAG.
The ones with the most wrist time are 2 Bulovas, a Magrette and the Mühle.
I became obsessed by watches in the mid Seventies when LED Quartz watches were all the rage. I think the first one I got was a Trafalgar from Woolworths.
My first "proper watch" is this
I got it around in the very early 80's buy saving up my Saturday job earnings. Still have it, but it hasn't run for many years.
My first "proper watch" is this
I got it around in the very early 80's buy saving up my Saturday job earnings. Still have it, but it hasn't run for many years.
First “nice” watch was a medium 36mm diameter Omega Seamaster bought in 2012. Realised within a year that I preferred the 42mm one so bought that I 2013 and managed to sell the original one for £200 more than I paid for it.
Then bought an Omega Snoopy as a wedding present to myself in 2016.
Then bought an Omega Speedmaster meteorite in October this year.
All four watches bought second hand but came with boxes and cards etc.
Edit - all iPhone photos, sorry.
Then bought an Omega Snoopy as a wedding present to myself in 2016.
Then bought an Omega Speedmaster meteorite in October this year.
All four watches bought second hand but came with boxes and cards etc.
Edit - all iPhone photos, sorry.
JapanRed said:
First “nice” watch was a medium 36mm diameter Omega Seamaster bought in 2012. Realised within a year that I preferred the 42mm one so bought that I 2013 and managed to sell the original one for £200 more than I paid for it.
Then bought an Omega Snoopy as a wedding present to myself in 2016.
Then bought an Omega Speedmaster meteorite in October this year.
All four watches bought second hand but came with boxes and cards etc.
Edit - all iPhone photos, sorry.
Really nice selection. Then bought an Omega Snoopy as a wedding present to myself in 2016.
Then bought an Omega Speedmaster meteorite in October this year.
All four watches bought second hand but came with boxes and cards etc.
Edit - all iPhone photos, sorry.
A white Snoopy Is on my wish list...
Aged 12 I use dto take the inside back page off the Times on Saturday Magazine - it was always a full page Gucci watch advert.
For my 30th I was given a gucci chronograph - loved it but it wsa Quartz and twice I've snapped the crown winder off it.
My first 'proper' watch was a Seiko 5 auto (bright yellow) that I bought earlier this year, followed by a TAG carrera auto chrono a week ago.
I've always liked watches just never been able to bring myself to spend on them - cars / bikes always come first!
For my 30th I was given a gucci chronograph - loved it but it wsa Quartz and twice I've snapped the crown winder off it.
My first 'proper' watch was a Seiko 5 auto (bright yellow) that I bought earlier this year, followed by a TAG carrera auto chrono a week ago.
I've always liked watches just never been able to bring myself to spend on them - cars / bikes always come first!
Always had an interest in watches and only bought TW Steel type gear. I then lost my driving license due to an eye problem and GF said "why not buy that Breitling you've had your eye on for years" - A Navi World I saw in Ernest Jones years before. So I did!
Now I have upgraded that to a Breitling 01 GMT Navi, Omega Albatros, Tag James Hunt, another Omega from 80s, and a Tissel. Collection growing slowly. Daytona on order and possibly this weekend a Speedy or Master coaxial.
Now I have upgraded that to a Breitling 01 GMT Navi, Omega Albatros, Tag James Hunt, another Omega from 80s, and a Tissel. Collection growing slowly. Daytona on order and possibly this weekend a Speedy or Master coaxial.
I've always loved watches to some degree! During secondary school, I had a titanium Fossil with carbon fibre dial, as well as a few titanium Seiko quartz models. It was only when I turned 22 years old I made two rather nice purchases; a TAG Heuer Link Calibre S and an Omega Planet Ocean. Both from Dominic Hackett on here!
I sold the TAG some time after due to issues with the early Calibre S movements, which TAG were not willing to resolve under warranty. The Planet Ocean remains in my collection 10 years later and is a definite keeper ...
I sold the TAG some time after due to issues with the early Calibre S movements, which TAG were not willing to resolve under warranty. The Planet Ocean remains in my collection 10 years later and is a definite keeper ...
Only had a Bering quartz (sort of dressy affair) that I wore up to about two years ago, then bought my first automatic an SKX007.
Fascinated by the movement and the sweeping second hand, I really started looking at and reading up about different watches.
Have a 12 box now with 4 quartz and 8 manual/automatics: Bering, Skagen, Tissot, Seiko x 2, Alpina, Longines, Stowa, Christopher Ward, Swatch, a one and only venture into the vintage world (Girard Perregaux) and something French I bought in France because it was a nice blue.
No values like some of you guys, but there are still quite a few on my must have list, enough for another 12 box I'd say.
Wants for the time being: Marlow Coniston, Longines Hertiage Legend Diver, Brellum Wyvern Classic, Traska Freediver, Stowa Flieger Classic and a few others that bubble under and over my want list like a Magrette.
Fascinated by the movement and the sweeping second hand, I really started looking at and reading up about different watches.
Have a 12 box now with 4 quartz and 8 manual/automatics: Bering, Skagen, Tissot, Seiko x 2, Alpina, Longines, Stowa, Christopher Ward, Swatch, a one and only venture into the vintage world (Girard Perregaux) and something French I bought in France because it was a nice blue.
No values like some of you guys, but there are still quite a few on my must have list, enough for another 12 box I'd say.
Wants for the time being: Marlow Coniston, Longines Hertiage Legend Diver, Brellum Wyvern Classic, Traska Freediver, Stowa Flieger Classic and a few others that bubble under and over my want list like a Magrette.
It all started for me a long time ago with my father.
After the war he started regularly visited Switzerland for work and each time, he brought back a watch.
I'm sure that back then he was not aware of fashion or investment, but they happened to be
makes such as Vacheron, Patek, Audemars, etc. and my brother and I still have them.
Below is some paperwork from the retailers of his first purchase - my first 'proper' watch.
Actually it may have started, but it never really got going for me -
I'm happy to have, and wear them, but I really really don't see how stupidly
expensive new watches represent 'value'.
After the war he started regularly visited Switzerland for work and each time, he brought back a watch.
I'm sure that back then he was not aware of fashion or investment, but they happened to be
makes such as Vacheron, Patek, Audemars, etc. and my brother and I still have them.
Below is some paperwork from the retailers of his first purchase - my first 'proper' watch.
Actually it may have started, but it never really got going for me -
I'm happy to have, and wear them, but I really really don't see how stupidly
expensive new watches represent 'value'.
Started when I was stuck alone in Gibraltar for a week after having my appendix removed there. Boredom and nosing in the watch shops ended up with me buying a TW Steel (Lucas Di Grassi special edition) loved it at the time and it led me down a path of watch research, with which I quickly realised I’d bought a pretty naff fashion watch.
From there I got into vintage Russian military watches, picked up a few G-Shocks which I still love and also went down a rabbit hole of modded Seikos...
Then I bit the bullet and got myself a speedy pro which I’d lusted after for years but always subscribed to the theory that ‘spending ££££ in a watch is crazy, they all tell the time!’... soon got over that and added a few more pieces to the collection.
11 in the collection now, including a couple of G-Shocks and a coupe of other quirky pieces that I try and wear as often as possible.
I fancy a Bremont or an IWC in the new year then it’ll be a 1 in 1 out policy I think!
From there I got into vintage Russian military watches, picked up a few G-Shocks which I still love and also went down a rabbit hole of modded Seikos...
Then I bit the bullet and got myself a speedy pro which I’d lusted after for years but always subscribed to the theory that ‘spending ££££ in a watch is crazy, they all tell the time!’... soon got over that and added a few more pieces to the collection.
11 in the collection now, including a couple of G-Shocks and a coupe of other quirky pieces that I try and wear as often as possible.
I fancy a Bremont or an IWC in the new year then it’ll be a 1 in 1 out policy I think!
For me it was late 80’s
I was a very young car trader in Yorkshire and spent time at car auctions at least once a week. This activity involved much waiting around especially in the car park. Carb Boot lids were open frequently with low quality jewellery and genuine fake watches. Within months, sales of fake Rolex, Cartier, Gucci, Breitling became a more lucrative income than Metro’s Maestro’s, Sierra’s , golfs etc. I spent that much time learning what differentiates a bad too good fake I started to visit dealers. Fast forward years hence I then gained ability to purchase the genuine watches I traded and spend too much time visiting official dealers !
Not surprisingly, my ever changing collection is almost always steel as my memories of genuine fake gold is not great, given the ongoing paint tarnish these fakes provided!
Cliche with my background, Rolex, Brietling, Omega is goto interest of mine.
I was a very young car trader in Yorkshire and spent time at car auctions at least once a week. This activity involved much waiting around especially in the car park. Carb Boot lids were open frequently with low quality jewellery and genuine fake watches. Within months, sales of fake Rolex, Cartier, Gucci, Breitling became a more lucrative income than Metro’s Maestro’s, Sierra’s , golfs etc. I spent that much time learning what differentiates a bad too good fake I started to visit dealers. Fast forward years hence I then gained ability to purchase the genuine watches I traded and spend too much time visiting official dealers !
Not surprisingly, my ever changing collection is almost always steel as my memories of genuine fake gold is not great, given the ongoing paint tarnish these fakes provided!
Cliche with my background, Rolex, Brietling, Omega is goto interest of mine.
Started with a Casio for Christmas in the 80s, a Swatch in my early teens, and a chunky Seiko (would have had a Tag if I could afford one!) in my 20s. I went through a short-lived retro 80s phase in my late 20s.
After that, once I got cash in the bank it was Rolex first, then another Rolex, an Omega and a PP.
Slowed right down now...have what I want and am in a resting phase
Edit: I always think people who go for Omega first are v classy...Rolex buyers like me are uncouth heathens.
After that, once I got cash in the bank it was Rolex first, then another Rolex, an Omega and a PP.
Slowed right down now...have what I want and am in a resting phase
Edit: I always think people who go for Omega first are v classy...Rolex buyers like me are uncouth heathens.
Some brilliant stories on this thread.
My Collection has grown considerably since my Seamaster 300M in 2003.
A pretty full set of Heuer branded re-releases, Chopard, Omega, Maurice Lacroix, Longines, Tudor, Seiko, Tissot, Oris & most recently, a Breitling.
Still can’t bring myself to buy a Rolex. I do like the Daytona’s history though. Perhaps in 2020 for my 50th........!
My Collection has grown considerably since my Seamaster 300M in 2003.
A pretty full set of Heuer branded re-releases, Chopard, Omega, Maurice Lacroix, Longines, Tudor, Seiko, Tissot, Oris & most recently, a Breitling.
Still can’t bring myself to buy a Rolex. I do like the Daytona’s history though. Perhaps in 2020 for my 50th........!
When my business took off in the late 90's, I bought myself a Longines and then bought my OH (now ex) a Tag and then a Cartier.
I got ripped off by an online dealer over a fake Rolex a couple of years ago and, although I got a refund, was still out of pocket at the end of it. Now I'm looking at an Omega de Ville for myself, maybe for Xmas.
I got ripped off by an online dealer over a fake Rolex a couple of years ago and, although I got a refund, was still out of pocket at the end of it. Now I'm looking at an Omega de Ville for myself, maybe for Xmas.
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