I am a bit of a watch afficionado in that I can appreciate fine watches, but I'm not a collector in that I only currently have one working watch that I wear 24/7. It literally stays on my wrist even while sleeping. The only times it really comes off are at bathtimes (it's waterproof but soap isn't good for the rubber over time) and during sparring. It's an Omega Seamaster Professional Titanium with the rubber strap. The things I like about this particular watch are that it's mechanically very nice and accurate and the Super Luminova glow-in-the-dark can be very easily read. It's made for diving and even though I haven't had a need for one in years, it has a helium escape valve for saturation diving. I also like the simplicity of the dial's design (which is very large for a wristwatch).
I'm one of those who is looking for 'The Watch' and by that, I don't mean a watch that everyone else wants or will admire (I specifically chose the rubber strap version because it's innocuous. Most folks don't have a clue unless they're watch afficionados), by 'The Watch' I mean the last watch I'll ever buy. something that I can wear 24/7 for all occasions. No batteries to die and require changing, waterproof for diving (the rare occasions I get the opportunity), tough and fairly shockproof for the rough and tumble abuse I put it through.
Might have found the perfect watch (for me) but I'll wait till the pre-owned prices come down a bit. The watch is the new version of the Rolex GMT II. Always liked the GMT II with its multiple timezones (if you set it correctly, you can track 3 simultaneously) for travelling but it only had a water resistance rating of 100 meters. The new one should be good to 300 like the Submariner. I had a Rolex Seadweller for a time, but sold it. I also like the GMT-series ability to adjust hours independent of the minutes and seconds. Allows for ease of adjustment for things like daylight savings without having to reset the atomic clock calibrated minutes and seconds.
First watch was a Disney watch. I think I had Donald Duck and my brother had Mickey Mouse. Wore it till the hands fell of (seems they had a tendency to do that). Had a quartz Timex, appropriated an antique Hamilton military issue from my dad's collection till I accidentally melted the acrylic crystal (thought it was glass) while trying to charge the GITD hands under a halogen lamp.
Had a couple of Casio G-Shock watches, one of which I wore for 7 years till the rubber case cracked off resulting in the glass being cracked when I inadvertently hit the uncovered edge of the glass against a wall. The watch subsequently drowned shortly thereafter. Tried a titanium Seiko Kinetic, which lasted 3-4 years and then one day I finally took it off and it would neevr hold a charge again. Never bothered trying to get the capacitor replaced. I got the Omega to replace it about 7 years ago now and have been happy with it. had to replace the rubber strap a couple of months ago because it finally cracked, but other than that, it's great.
Max
