I have bought my perfect watch a few times over the past decade. An Oris Aquis, Tudor Pelagos LHD, Black Bay Red, Black Bay GMT, Black Bay 58, Hamilton Murph and so many more that felt like big purchases at the time. They have all been sold as time passed and I realised that they were, most often, too big or too colourful or the novelty simply went away.
One thing you realise as you buy watches is that the less it stands out, the more likely it is to stay with you because it becomes a more versatile choice to wear on any occasion. If you own a suitably sized watch which does not send beams of colour from your wrist it will work with a suit, a T-shirt and any other garment.
My latest offload was the Tudor Pelagos LHD which I managed to sale for the same price as I bought it for 5 months previous. I was too concerned about wearing it in certain locations (see various watch crime articles) and it started to feel heavy as the weather got hotter.
The intention was to leave the world of watches alone for a while and get something special 'one day'.
And then my wife and I happened to visit our favourite watch shop, About Time Watches, while on a trip for our 25th wedding anniversary. Scott always has a decent selection of interesting watches at reasonable prices other dealers would not even contemplate and this time he had an Omega Seamaster for sale from the year 2000. This was the year my son was born and the sales receipt showed that it was the month of his birth as well.
I had always looked at this model and hated it for a variety of reasons. The bracelet is incredibly well made and very comfortable, but the design annoys me a lot; no taper, too fancy and very 1990's. I hate the way it looks.
However, I then tried it on and was immediately taken with the watch. The dimensions are perfect for me and the way it hugs the wrist makes the Tudor feel like a brick when worn. The skeleton hands, which I always previously disliked, suit the dial perfectly and that dial is subtly deep depending on the lighting conditions.
Even the date is easily viewable which is unusual and so I had a decision to make. It didn't take long and the purchase was made for approximately half the price of my old Tudor.
I had no idea of the James Bond history of this watch and why it is viewed by many as a pivotal moment in the history of watches, one of those models that kickstarted the popularity of luxury watches today. I really do not get the desire to buy a watch because James Bond, a fictional character, wore it. I mean, grow up! But I don't worry about that because it has proved to be perfectly suited to me and what I need it for.
As it happens it is running at less than 2 seconds out per day and appears to have been service recently so I feel lucky to have found this watch and to now own something I always disliked. I hope this is the end of my watch buying and now understand why so many say that this semi-vintage watch is the biggest bargain in the industry today.