A Longines tale...

A Longines tale...

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srob

Original Poster:

11,650 posts

239 months

Friday 11th September 2009
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A quick tale of my first watch purchase:

I'm one of two brothers. As with all brothers, we were always trying to 'outdo' each other. So, when my older brother anounced that he wanted a 'proper' watch (as in a non-digital one - this was the late 80's!) when he was about 10 (and I was 8) I did what any decent little brother would. I got in there first, knowing that if I had one he couldn't have one - old brother pride wouldn't allow it! When we were at a school carboot sale and I saw what I thought looked like a 'proper' watch, I bought it for the full 50p asking price (haggling has never been my strong point).

When I took it home and showed my Dad (and furious brother), Dad said that it looked like quite a good watch. The face said Longines, so the next weekend we took the watch to a local Longines dealer, who said that a replacement would cost about £450. I was keen to cash in and buy a new Spiderman bike, but Dad wouldn't let me. I kept the watch wound, and always kept it in my bedroom - never on my wrist. My brother asked me constantly whether he could have it. I always said no, telling him that I wanted to keep it as an investment.

My brother and I get get on pretty well now, so for his 30th birthday last year I put the watch in a box, in a bigger box, in a bigger box, in a bigger box, wrapped it and gave it to him. The look on his face was priceless.

It was his 31st birthday on the 9th, and the watch has been worn by him every day since I gave it to him. The most expensive thing I've ever given away, but I have no regrets as he loves the watch.

I've just made my second watch purchase, a Tissot PRC200. I'm hoping the new one gives me as much pleasure as my old one gives my brother smile