Let’s see your watch. What’s the story behind it?

[jeff]

I must be special today.

The picture shows up when I hit the edit button but not when I hit the post button. I have posted pics the same way on forums for years.

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Ok. Ok. I see it after hitting the reply too.

Nice. Very Nice watch

 

[campuhouse]

Seiko SLA081

 

[jeff]

Seiko SLA081
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I didn’t recognize this, I know enough to know that it’s unique. Just read a little bit about ir. Wow, “Grand Seiko quality…”.

What a treat.

I’m typing this without my glasses so forgive any typos.

 

[jtmason4]

My Sieko 7002 Diver's Watch from 1989. Purchased this in the Post Exchange and wore this inside the DMZ in Korea for a year. Great memories wearing this watch, and it's still going strong (with a new strap though)!

 

[ajsieman]

I’m a slut for GMT’s
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I love those Explorer II in polar. One day when I don't have 4 kids living under the roof, I will own one.

 

[Ryan Horst]

I’ve had a handful of watches in my time. Mostly Citizen and Bulova. I got this Sangin this past August right before a trip to Puerto Rico with my wife for her 40th. (We were there the week they had a little weather event… it cut our trip short.) It’s a simple [Dark] Overlord model, but it just might be my favorite. I’m a sucker for a nice field-style watch.(Can’t wait for the FE collaboration version, incidentally.) Pictured here in our nation’s capital tonight checking out the Freedom250 projection on the Washington Monument. Wife and I brought our three girls. It was pretty cool.

 

[TexasPete]

Out of my watch collection, these three are my favorites and see the most action.

1) Rolex Sub - wedding gift from my wife. Means a lot to me and I wear it often. ‘Nuff said.

2) Seiko Turtle Reissue SRPE93J - 40th birthday gift to myself shortly after this was released. I’ve always wanted a turtle and good original examples are harder to come by. This reissue was just the ticket.

3) Casio GW -5000 - ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had an iteration of the G-shock. My dad got me a multi-sensor for me in grade school and I’ve come to appreciate the OG look and military heritage of the 5600 series. This particular watch is the Japan domestic market version of the 5600 with a heavy stainless case and back, along with a nicer resin bracelet. This one is special because my buddy who is a major in the Marine Corps brought it back for me when he was on assignment in Japan.

 

[jeff]

Homebrew Pilot Watch. The Fleiger 44mm

An ETA 6498 mechanical pocket watch movement. Built by a former colleague who was an amateur horologist. I picked the case and the face, onion crown, double anti-reflective sapphire crystal. He individually blued the screws with heat.

Sadly, I cannot set the time anymore. The crown and stem pull out of the case. Cost to repair is ~$450 The same as it costs to put a Rolex on the bench. Original cost was $325.

Still trying to justify the repair in my head.

 

[coreymolinelli]

I own several watches at different price points, but for years I kept coming back to the Sangin Instruments Field Watch. It reminded me of the simple watches everyone wore in basic training in the 90s. Nothing flashy. Just something that worked and took abuse.

When Sangin released the SE version, it dropped about an hour after my first book published and went live. The timing felt right. Finishing a book is a long, lonely grind, and I wanted a marker for that moment. Not a trophy. Just a reminder.

So I pulled the trigger. It’s been on my wrist ever since. Not because it’s special, but because the work behind earning it was.

 

[coreymolinelli]

Frankly I need some serious help/advice in the watch department. I bought a luminox at the pX in 2003 and wore it for 7 years through my time in GWOT. Felling classy, flush on jump pay (and drunk) one day on the way home I bought a Tag in the international terminal and thought I was hot shit for a decade or more.

Clearly need to atone for the sins of my youth and class it up. Financially the business is doing well but I am still literally very hands on and would beat the shit out of a watch thus have been resistant (and ignorant) about a good watch to buy that I can also use and abuse.

Man so much to say about this Watches of Espionage just did a REALLY great video on choosing a watch, I'd recommend checking it out, and their straps are top notch. other than that budget always comes into play. I had a Rolex Explorer 2 for a log time then sold it and regret the why I sold it. I have an Omega now and Love it, a Few Sangins and some others. Tudor Black Bay is another good option but a lot depends on what you like and want out of a watch. For me, now that I have owned a Rolex, I am out of that phase and think my Omega keeps better time than it ever did, but a lot of that is also just personal preference. Do you want a dive watch, or not? GMT? So many questions to ask yourself. Im not helping much, But before you jump in, because it can become an addiction if you let lt. And you mentioned hands on, thats another consideration, Hell I wore my Explorer 2 on top of Massive ruble piles training soldiers Urban Search and rescue skills. It got hit a few times and even today when I hit my wrist on a wall or door I get that ohh that hurt but ehh they are tools. Use them, Plus people will think you are either a bad ass or crazy if you do.

 

[coreymolinelli]

1st Gen Seamaster Planet Ocean.

I wanted to buy myself a nice watch for graduating college, I owned a couple Seikos and a Sangin already but had an itch to scratch.

I drove down to the city one day a few months ago after my classes were out because I had seen a used Marathon GSAR on the website of a used watch shop that was also a Seiko AD. When I walked in the shop, I started to look in the pre-owned cases for the GSAR, and that was when this Planet Ocean immediately caught my eye. I thought it was the coolest looking watch I’d ever seen. As far as cost, it was significantly more, but to me that just meant I’d have to work more. I went up to the counter and asked to check it out and soon after put down 20% on it for layaway.

I graduated magna cum laude last Saturday (go pokes) and the next day drove down to the city to make my last payment and pick it up. It’s only been off my wrist to sleep and go to the gym since. I’m happy with it and proud of it.
View attachment 196

Bad ass and congrats!

 

[TexasPete]

Rolex Explorer II View attachment 237View attachment 238

Mike is going to start a bloody Rolex thread next…

 

[akhamenehpour]

Everyday watch: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) with dark gray band
Premium watch: Trump Fight Fight Fight Onyx
Special Occasion watch: Trump Victory Ultimate Jewel
Never Used gem: Trump Mugshot Suit and Tie (This watch actually has a piece of 45/47's suit and tie in it from the mugshot)
I was also recently gifted a Longines Conquest L3.777.4.

I really think the Trump watches are undervalued in this group. It means a lot to wear a watch that represents our values, and I've received a fair share of compliments.

 

[YETI]

Inspired by this thread, I decided to look into my old Seiko. For background, my first job after getting out of the Marines was a San Diego Diver's Supply. I'd been certified for years and was getting back into diving so the job, and the employee discount, made perfect sense. I quickly realized I needed a diver's watch and this was in the cabinet at the shop. It was bit more than a recently discharged Lance Corporal could afford, so I put it on the credit card to my wife's displeasure. (See @Omega Watch Guy , it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask for permission) I've had it ever since but never looked it up. Turns out these were issued to SEALs and are actually bad ass watches.

SEIKO CALIBER 7002A IS AN AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT WITH 17 JEWELS FOUND IN MANY PRE-SKX SEIKO DIVERS. THIS CALIBER WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LATE 1980S AFTER SEIKO STARTED TO PHASE OUT THE PRODUCTION OF THE CALIBER 6309 AROUND 1988. SEIKO PRODUCED THE 7002 UNTIL CIRCA 1996 – WHICH IS WHEN THE C ALIBER 7S26 WAS INTRODUCED.​

My watch was produced in May of 1992 and was the 477th watch off the production line. I'll be getting it tuned up and get a new strap for it and wear it on my Africa safari later this year.

 

[jcole.burgess]

Current everyday is my Garmin Delta Tactix w/ applied ballistics. A gift from work as it has been great to have my long range data available at any second on my wrist. It’s been all across the country, most notably on the roof top of the US Capitol during some presidential inaugurations.

However, I look forward to swapping it out for our unit Tudor & Sangin coming in 2026..more to follow.

Ugh, waiting for the moment I can grab a 43x coa!

 

[Ron Dan]

My Sieko 7002 Diver's Watch from 1989. Purchased this in the Post Exchange and wore this inside the DMZ in Korea for a year. Great memories wearing this watch, and it's still going strong (with a new strap though)!

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This is a cool story to go with this watch.

 

[Michael Sullivan]

Everyday wear and special occasion. Seiko root beer and Baume & Mercier Classima

 

[Dave Costarella]

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black.
Ceramic on rubber strap - I don't need to take it off going through airport security.

 

[Ron Dan]

View attachment 1072

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black.
Ceramic on rubber strap - I don't need to take it off going through airport security.

I love when watches are used the way they are meant to be used!

 

[Dave Costarella]

I love when watches are used the way they are meant to be used!

Agreed, but at the time, this watch was soaked in the salt of sweat and not below the waves, above 600 meters.