The Rohrbaugh Forum

Miscellaneous => The Water Cooler -- General Discussions => Topic started by: Jack_Bauer on February 26, 2008, 10:44:38 PM

Title: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Jack_Bauer on February 26, 2008, 10:44:38 PM: I'm kind of stuck on one brand. As soon a my finances expand I can branch out to other makes I have my eye on.

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/P7M8/Panerais.jpg)

The white dial belongs to my wife. The last one is gone but not forgotten.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: tracker on February 26, 2008, 11:01:18 PM: last wife or last watch? ;)
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: ccoorreeyy on February 26, 2008, 11:07:37 PM: I guess I quit wearing watches about 8 years ago when I started wearing a cell phone 24/7. Those look very nice though!
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Jack_Bauer on February 26, 2008, 11:09:18 PM: Quote
last wife or last watch? ;)

The last watch. All the way on the right. Only one wife and she's still putting up with me. ;D
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: tracker on February 27, 2008, 12:12:30 AM: Beautiful watches; thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on February 27, 2008, 01:24:11 PM: Good looking watches and nice collection.....of watches that is. Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: DDGator on February 28, 2008, 12:19:38 AM: I like watches too. I have a Zodiac Sea Dragon, a Rado Diastar and a Breitling Super Ocean Steel Fish.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on February 28, 2008, 11:00:29 AM: I'm with Duane on the Breitlings. Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on February 28, 2008, 04:03:20 PM: I lost one of these along with a Peugeot sedan to a gang of five armed robbers while travelling alone and unarmed on a deserted stretch of road in the Middle Belt of Nigeria during the chaos surrounding the Abacha military coup of Novembr 1993:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/rolexsubmariner.jpg)

I still occasionally fantasize about going back with a few good men and true, fully armed, to find that Rolex and the SOBs who took it -- as if finding it or them would even be a possiblility. They could keep the Peugeot. The only reason to have one in Nigeria then was that they were assembled there and you could find spare parts. The thing had started to overheat and I was on the side of the road adding water to its radiator when the gang drove up in two vehicles and jumped out with weapons drawn. (It was one of those "Oh ####" moments.)

"Stuff" happens, but I do miss that watch.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: tracker on February 28, 2008, 10:12:18 PM: I can feel, to a small degree, the painful loss that you so
aptly convey to us. The PTS lasts a long time in this case.
As I have had to remind myself in the past, it is just stuff.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: MountainMan on February 28, 2008, 10:58:17 PM: Richard,

You were lucky to have still been around to miss the watch.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: tracker on February 28, 2008, 11:45:54 PM: I seem to recall that Richard's wife reminded him of that fact,
also; small consolation when you really miss something and
can't bear to pay the current replacement price.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on February 29, 2008, 11:21:03 AM: I apologize for drifting JB's excellent thread with my momentary flashback. And, Tracker and Dave, you're absolutely right.

Now, back to watches . . . .

I have my father's pocket watch stored in a vault and need to photograph it for insurance purposes anyway. Watch this space. 8)
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Jack_Bauer on February 29, 2008, 11:39:37 AM: Sorry to hear about your experience Richard. At least you got out of there with your life.

I had wanted a Rolex Submariner for as long as I can remember. Probably pre-teen years. Never got around to getting one.

My first high-end watch was a Tag Heuer s/el Stainless Chronograph that I purchased in 1995. Sold it after I got into Panerai. Couldn't see me going back to a small watch.

I got into Panerai in 2003 after seeing the one my sister bought for my brother-in-law. I couldn't believe the presentation and the quality of the watch. Within a month I had the Submersible. My answer to the long wanted Submariner.

After getting into Panerai I bought an Anonimo (Italian for anonymous). This watch is made by former Panerai watch makers who bought the old Panerai factory and equipment after Panerai was sold the Richmont Group. Here's the second one I owned:

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/P7M8/Mille2.jpg)

I traded a black dial in the same model for this one. I wish I hadn't. At the time I thought I had too many black dial watches and made the mistake of trading. I've since sold this one. One day I'll get another. Hopefully this one:

(http://www.internationalwatchclub.com/image_manager/attributes/image/image_5/_8479562.jpg)
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on March 03, 2008, 12:37:41 PM: Richard, why is the photo of your Dad's watch missing in action? Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 03, 2008, 01:48:29 PM: Tom:

I deleted the previous post due to some apparent corruption of the file. I'll try to post the photograph again after I run a complete virus scan of my system.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 03, 2008, 03:43:48 PM: After purging my computer system of some viruses and flushing the DNS cache, I can now post this photograph of my late father's Elgin pocket watch. He died when I was five years old. Other than his name and a few photographs, this watch is the only thing I now have which once belonged to him. Needless to say, it is my single most prized possession -- not for its material worth but for its sentimental value.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/ElginWatchChainFather.jpg)
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on March 03, 2008, 04:11:47 PM: Richard, very nice looking watch. I'm sure as you said, that you'll treasure it forever. What are the 2 keys? Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 03, 2008, 04:30:56 PM: Tom:

The keys are for two scholastic honors societies, Phi Beta Kappa (liberal arts and sciences) and The Order of the Coif (law). The end piece is a tooth from a tiger shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier).
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on March 03, 2008, 04:35:34 PM: Richard, thanks, you're the man. Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: MountainMan on March 07, 2008, 10:15:48 PM: Very nice and touching Richard - is there a story behind the shark tooth :)
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on March 08, 2008, 12:53:34 PM: Dave, you are right on, I was going to ask Richard about the shark tooth also. Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 09, 2008, 07:26:54 PM: Thank you, gentlemen.

Using the tooth of a tiger shark as the watch fob was simply a play on the old joke:

Q: Why won't sharks attack lawyers?
A: Professional courtesy.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: harrydog on March 09, 2008, 08:06:05 PM: At one time I had a very small "collection' which consisted of an Omega Speedmaster (moon watch), a Rolex Explorer, Rolex Submariner, IWC Mark XV, IWC Pilot's Chrono and a Tag quartz. I planned on adding to my collection as time went by but instead I seemed to lose interest.
Today I only have the Submariner and the Tag. I love the IWC watches though, and will probably get another one some day.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Jack_Bauer on March 09, 2008, 09:12:04 PM: IWCs are really nice. I like Audemars Piguet also. The APs are very pricey so I probably won't see one of those anytime soon, if ever.

Kind of interested in this one:

(http://static.blogo.it/deluxeblog/NauticfishOneThousandPVDDiver_3.jpg)

NauticFish. Anyone familiar with them?
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 10, 2008, 10:04:43 AM: JB:

Your taste is watches is as fine as your taste in handguns! That's the NAUTICFISH Pro Diver 1,000m PVD Professional.

(3,300 feet is a little deeper than this old NAUI type has ever been. ;) )
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: DDGator on March 11, 2008, 12:30:32 AM: It appears I had a burglary recently -- came in during the day through a door left open during the day.

Ironically, the only things taken that we know of was some change, my daughter's Ninendo DS, a bottle of vodka, a Kershaw knife I was testing, and my Rado watch mentioned previously on this thread. It was a present from my wife on our 10 year wedding anniversary. >:(

Luckily the guns were all locked up in a safe. They tried to grab my small 2 gun safe, but changed their minds. They were too dumb to take the $500 worth of flashlights laying around.

I was wrong before -- it was a Rado DiaMaster.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 11, 2008, 07:39:16 AM: Duane:

You have my deep sympathy on the loss of your very special Rado DiaMaster and the other items taken in the burglary. I understand the anger such an event creates. I sincerely hope that the authorities can identify and arrest the burglars. The "perps" probably have no idea how lucky they were that you weren't in the house at the time.

All the best, and "watch your six."
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: theirishguard on March 11, 2008, 12:56:44 PM: What a shame, there is never an end to dirt bags it seems. Tom
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: DDGator on March 11, 2008, 01:35:18 PM: It seems these were kids... They hit two other houses for similar stuff: Vodka (they actually passed up the good stuff!), money and knives. Also, they used minimmal or no force for entry -- these were crimes of opportunity for someone watching the house and knowing it was empty.

Yes, they are lucky I was not home. In fact, I was 350 miles away at the time!

I will be watching the neighborhood juveniles for my Rado and my Kershaw!
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: andyzx6r on March 11, 2008, 02:50:27 PM: Unfortunately when the neighborhood juveniles don't think and do something like that they are very easily shot and killed. Criminals are one thing and juveniles are another. It is very hard for someone like myself to tell the difference when they are breaking into your home and can very well could get killed.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Richard S on March 11, 2008, 07:05:37 PM: I recall once coming home from an overseas trip back in the summer of 1983 when my family was vacationing with friends at the beach. Being alone in the house, I left the bedroom door open to the screened-in rear deck, locking only the patio door from the inside. Later that night I was awakened by some unusual sounds in the back yard. Looking at my watch -- the Rolex previously mentioned [note the studious effort to stay on topic ;)] -- and seeing that it was 1:00 a.m., I slipped on my trousers and picked up a high-powered flashlight and a loaded Walther PPK from the nightstand. I then silently eased around the door of the bedroom in the dark onto the back porch. There I could make out the silouhettes of two males busily attempting to "jimmy" the latch on the porch door.

I still recall with clarity what happened next. Disengaging the safety of the PPK, I activated the flashlight, momentarily blinding the two individuals busily engaged in their attempt at "breaking and entering," and said in a low but distinct voice, "Gentlemen, you are very close to being shot."

The two individuals both froze in place, obviously terrified -- and then I recognized them. They were two of my son's teenage friends who had assumed that the house was empty and that it wouldn't cause too much of a problem if they used the place for some late night "refreshments."

I told the two boys that they were fortunate not to have been hurt, that they should run along with whatever legitimate business they might have, and that they should never try to pull such a stunt again. I also decided that I wouldn't make an issue of the matter and wouldn't even mention it to anyone. Apparently, however, at least one of the boys learned something from the experience. The next morning, I received a call from his father who said, "I just wanted to call and thank you for not shooting my stupid son last night."
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Aglifter on March 14, 2008, 02:01:17 AM: I'd keep an eye on any deficient neighborhood children -- one of my neighbor's kids has a substance problem. (apparently -- he told the police he was drunk, but he seemed to have a bit too much energy for that -- tried to smash his way into multiple houses spread out over a couple miles.) Frankly, we've had more incidents at that house in a nice subdivision, than I did in a gentrifying* neighborhood in Houston...

*It was a nice neighborhood when the WWII/Korea vets that I had for neighbors moved there, and it was a couple blocks away from very nice neighborhoods, but you could see what was either a crack house, or gang house, from the front porch... Admittedly, in the subdivision, I don't feel the need to sit up w. a dog and a shotgun when the power goes out...
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: Aglifter on March 14, 2008, 02:02:27 AM: To keep it watch related... I always wore my Rolex Submariner my father gave me in those neighborhoods.
Title: Re: Any watch fanatics out there?
Post by: marco on May 24, 2008, 09:46:38 PM: Hey Guys,

Major Panerai fan here! Bought my first in 1999. Now own five. Best watches I ever had including my IWCs. Anyone watch Grey's Anatomy? Mark Sloan played by Eric Dane had a watch on last Thursday (finale) that I loved. Been trying to find out the make since then without luck. Any help?

Marco