The Last Time

One of the things a newbie will do, when they fall into the rabbit hole of watch collecting, is to fall in love with often disparate watches. For instance, I fell for the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Titanium watch. But I also really liked the Certina DS Action GMT, which cost a tenth of what the Bulgari did. My watch guru was real good about encouraging me to go for it when I mentioned the Bulgari, the Tudor and the Omega. But when I mentioned I was interested in the Certina, while he wasn’t discouraging (“Certina watches are well- known for precision, reliability and sporty character”), I could tell he wouldn’t be the one to recommend that watch to me. But he didn’t channel his inner Mick Jagger and recycle old song lyrics:

♫ Well I told you once and I told you twice
But ya never listen to my advice ♫

I noted his neutral stance. I realized he wasn’t recommending the watch, but he also wasn’t holding me back from buying it. If it was a mistake, it was something I had to learn on my own. In other words, he was being a good guru.

I labored over the decision, for weeks. And then I found one on sale, so ridiculously low, that I realized I should probably buy it, if only for the learning experience. So, I did.

And you know what? I really like the watch. It ticks off a couple of boxes. One, it is dark, black and green. Two, it is a GMT, so if I ever travel again, I’ll feel really comfortable, anywhere, with this watch on and not worry about getting “jacked” for it. So, if someone takes it from me, it’s replaceable and not at a dear price.

It is a tool watch; in that I can use it to tell time in several places at once. It’s rugged, and sporty. It’s not a diver, but it is rated to go as deep as 200 meters. But I don’t plan on intentionally going into any body of water with a watch on. Ever. That ain’t me, babe.

What really sealed the deal was its movement. It has a Powermatic 80.661 automatic caliber, which is based on the ETA caliber C07.611. It has an 80-hour power reserve and is self-winding. It’s a good, sturdy movement, found often in watches costing two to three times what I paid for the Certina.

I also liked the black PVD coating, which appeared to be pretty tough and durable. I might not be going scuba diving with this watch, but I might be doing long hikes and rock climbing. I need durability. And who cares if it gets scratched up, that apparently gives it character, according to folks in the know.  

If I have any one gripe, it’s the strap. First of all, it’s 21mm wide, which makes all my 20mm straps look a little chintzy, if doable. And the strap it comes with, while I like it, it really doesn’t fit well on my wrist. It fits somewhat asymmetrically on my wrist, which seems odd. But when I find the proper strap, that should solve that problem.

The major problem I have is that I think I like it too much. I wear it more than the Bulgari, for sure. But I feel comfortable with it, knowing it isn’t so precious. But that has caused me to examine what it is about watches that interest me. I think I really like them more for utilitarian purposes than as jewelry.

I know my guru tells me that Rolex is not jewelry, that it is a tool. But for some reason, a Rolex seems too precious for me to consider it that way. Oh, and finding a Rolex from an authorized dealer is near impossible these days. No worry, I realize I’m not the audience Rolex is aiming for. I never was, why would I be now? They got me to buy a Tudor, and I’m good with that. Real good.

All this to say it probably won’t be the last time I buy a watch my guru isn’t totally orgasmically enthralled over. I’m a big boy, I can handle that. And it surely won’t be the last time I buy a watch that isn’t perfect. Not that many really ever are. And it probably won’t be the last time I buy a watch I have to really debate myself over.

But the last time I bought a watch, I did the same thing. And while I like the last watch I bought, I could someday see selling it and moving on.

I have this thing I do when I taste a wine. I ask myself “If this is the only wine you would ever be able to drink for the rest of your life, how would you feel about that?” I do that exercise to see how well that wine would fit into my life over a long period of time. And I have found more than a few wines I could live with if they were the only wines I would ever be able to have to drink. And so with watches I have also asked myself that question. And when it comes to the Certina, I could live with it, and it only, if that were the scenario I was facing, not a problem.

But I don’t have to, right now. It can live with my other choices and be in rotation upon my fortunate wrist, day by day.

I wore the watch on Monday. It won’t be the last time, I guarantee you.

♫ Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time, I don't know
Oh no  ♫

 

 

written and photographed by Alfonso Cevola - limited rights reserved  

[ Lyrics by Mick Jagger ]