Hello from Toronto

[JY0607]

Hi everyone,

I was recently introduced to this community and this is my first post. I heard about this as I was chatting with my cousin (another follow enthusiast) about the next piece that I'm interested in and hunting for. He suggested I join this community.

I've been a watch lover and collector my whole life. I'm extremely grateful to have ~20 pieces I have in my collection currently. I'm a very sentimental watch collector and rarely let pieces go. My collection includes watches from when I was a teenager and pieces that I've inherited as heirlooms and currently in my stewardship until I pass these pieces on as well one day.

I'm an equal opportunity collector and watch lover. My collection ranges from pieces that are $1 to $15K

I would love to share more about myself through my watches and was wondering if I should continue that here or start a new thread?

To all my Canadian brothers and sisters, wishing you all and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving.
Live each day with an attitude of gratitude and wear your watches in good health!

I look forward to being part of this community.

John

 

[Watchoman]

Welcome! Please share pictures and your watches' history.

 

[Slowfred]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[BigFatPauli]

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well and welcome!

Let the horological pettifoggery rip! It's what sustains us, after all.

 

[Ferrariben65]

Welcome and let see it ! pictures of the collection are a must !

 

[Snowballs]

Welcome from the Free State of Alberta

 

[JP(Canada)]

Welcome! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[JY0607]

Watch #1



Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I hope all of your hearts and bellies are full.

I am going to share my collection one at a time in chronological order of when they were added to my watch box.

Starting with the first, is my Wenger Titanium Quartz Watch, 36mm.

This was a gift on my 18th birthday and my first watch. It’s from 2003, yes go ahead and do the math

I love the watch because it’s titanium so it wears very light and comfortably and it’s hardy and durable.

I love that the dial is textured and you can see the gridlines and texture only from the right angles.

I love that the hour markers are polished and add a little bit of sparkle against the dull titanium

I love that the second hand is red and adds a pop of colour

At that time, I was finishing high school and working part time at Shoppers Drug Mart as a merchandiser (stock boy). I was pretty rough with this watch and it took a beating. So much so that the security folding clasp fell off during a shift. I kept the piece and only recently fixed it after finding the right rivet (thanks Amazon)

As I look at this watch now, I can’t help but think of all those shifts working at Shoppers and checking my watch every 15 seconds, especially near closing time. I swear I’ve seen time stand still, slow down and even go backwards in those moments hahaha..... yet this watch keeps perfect time and has been for 21 years.

 

[Brandrea]

Welcome aboard John!

 

[maudeson11]

Welcome and enjoy.

 

[MrYYZ]

Welcome to the forum @JY0607 !

 

[JY0607]

Watch #2 and #3


Both these watches were added to my collection at the same time. (around 2005-2006) while I was in university.

The opportunity came to me through one of my best buds. At that time his mom was working for Seiko in some way and she had a catalogue for discounted staff purchase. She asked if I wanted to take a look and of course I did. I recall it being a binder and it was sectioned off by the amount of discount available for staff purchase. The highest was 50%, 25%, 10% and 0% (something like that). Being on a student budget at that time meant that I did a George Costanza and flipped right to the 50% section and stayed there.

That’s where I picked out watch #2 and #3 to my collection

• Seiko SGG717
• Seiko 7N32-0CP0

My decision was purely based on dial colour and shape. At this point in my life, I only had the Wenger as my only watch, and part of me inside wished it was a dark dial instead of a light dial (as you will see later in my collection). So I picked one that was black and one that was dark blue. The SGG717 has a beautiful dark blue sunburst dial that changes in different light and angle. Keeps you looking at it. and I think the shape of the watch just appealed to my eyes a lot more than a rectangular shaped watch. So the SGG717 got most of the wrist time (maybe 90/10)

I believe I paid sub $200 for both watches. Which seems like a really good deal but I still remember that amount being a lot of money for me at that time. It really was a once in a lifetime opportunity as it never happened again. In hindsight, I wish I bought a lot more!

I have very special memories with the SGG717 but it was also the watch that brought me through a lot of stressful moments too. I wrote most of my university exams with this watch including professional exams post grad. I remember the last minute scrambling at the end of exams and looking at this watch to see how much precious time was left (time speeds up in those moments) I wore this watch during my first years of my career and my first “real” job. But I also have a lot of happy travel memories with this watch as it accompanied on my grad trip backpacking through Europe, going to Cuba with the boys and Alaska with my family.

It doesn’t get any wrist time anymore but I make sure it’s running and keeping good time. It will forever be a very special watch to me.

 

[JY0607]

Watch #4



Baume & Mercier Classima 8689

This was added to my wrist and collection around 2009/2010. It was at a point in life where I had worked for a few years and had some disposable income/savings. It was also at a point in my life when I had achieved a key milestone (completing professional exams) and I wanted to treat myself.

If you remember, it was also during a time when CAD was on par if not slightly stronger than USD. I purchased this from a US retailer and I paid less in CAD than the USD amount. Also came with some big discounts at that time. I should have bought more. But this was a huge purchase for me at that time and was my first time breaking into 4 digits on a watch purchase.

I had a lot of influence from my peers/coworkers at that time and wanted to up my watch game with a leather strap watch. After some shopping around, I narrowed it down to the Classima 8689. It’s the open heart window and being able to see just enough of the movement that always got my attention and kept me thinking about it.

I loved the colour scheme of the watch (black and sliver) and felt it to be neutral enough to be able to wear it everyday. I love that you see just a hint of gold from the balance wheel and 1 jewel, just enough. It was really the swift second hand of an automatic watch that impressed me the most. Before this, I only owned quartz watches with the tick tick tick and seeing a swift second hand was really sexy to me. Everywhere I looked on this watch was quality and was a new level for me and it made me happy.

I wore this watch everyday once I had it and I put it through everything. I’m glad it survived. After a year or so of daily wear, I learned that water and moisture will deteriorate leather strap pretty quickly. It was cracking and splitting. It was probably after a few snowstorms/rain that I went through with the watch. I also learned how expensive OEM replacement straps are.

I have some of my most cherished memories wearing this watch. It travelled with me in 2011 to South Korea for my best friends wedding. He was the first of the pack to tie the knot and from then on this was the watch I wore at weddings (including my own)

 

[philskywalker]

Love the Baume! Welcome to CWC!!

 

[JY0607]

Watch #5



Omega Seamaster

What can I say, this is my beloved Omega Seamaster. I cherish this watch a lot. It was my daily for about a decade of my life. I can’t help but have a flood of memories and emotions when I think about my Seamaster.

After wearing the Classima for a year or so, I quickly learned how “durable” a leather strap is. After replacing the strap, I was a little more eager to switch to a steel bracelet.

I grew up loving the James Bond films and I grew up with Pierce Brosnan as 007. He had the Seamaster and that was a big influence on me wanting to get one. At the time of my search, this was after Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and I absolutely loved Daniel Craig as James Bond (I think he had the Seamaster on in Casino Royale).

This watch was a dream and I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of buying it, wearing it and all the memories I’ve built with it. I’m just thinking back to all the people that it’s helped me connect with, many because we noticed we were wearing the same watch

I wore this daily for a good 10 years. I can’t even begin with memories I have with my Omega, I would never be able finish this post.

I remember hesitating over this purchase for a while and I am so glad I pulled the trigger. To have a dream watch to wear and journey through life with is priceless. If you have a dream watch and you’re hesitating, I say just do it (as long as its within your means). Money you can always make back, but memories you can’t buy back.

I love my Omega, it’s been such a friend and companion.

 

[JY0607]

Watch #6





$1 watch

This watch was a gift from my girlfriend then (now wife) when we first started dating. She worked at an organization way back that would have merchandise as giveaways, etc. and would also have employee sales. She found this for $1 and got it for me.

It was an out of the blue gift and found it’s way into my watch box.

I think I’ve only worn it once or twice and an hour marker fell off (you get what you pay for) It was this watch that I learned to open up a watch, take off the crown and remove the movement. Thanks to Youtube and my interest in building models as a kid, it was an easy fix. And I learned how easy it is to replace your watch battery.

This watch is no frills, no brand and all around cheap. It can barely justify the Loonie but is still priceless to me and will always have a special place in my watch box.

Not for sale, in case anyone was wondering…

 

[Slowfred]

Nice collection of watches with memories.

 

[JY0607]

Watch #7




Hamilton Khaki Field King

Along the way, I started noticing that many collections from other enthusiast seemed to always include a Hamilton. I was also very interested in the field style look and was eager to give a leather strap watch another try, but one that can be a bit more adventurist

I went with this configuration since the black was more stealth and sleek to me and that’s what I was looking for.

This has been my camping, hiking, cottage watch and I have really enjoyed it.

It’s also my first watch with an open caseback and it’s kept me up at night.

All around great watch and highly recommended

 

[JY0607]

Watch #8





Rolex Datejust 36mm Ref. 16013

This watch is by far the piece in my collection with the highest sentimental value. If my home was burning down and I could only rescue one, it would be this.

This watch was purchased by my Grandpa in December 1981, and this is the watch I best remember him for wearing while he was with us.

When he passed in 1997, this watch was left for my Dad (his son in law) and my Dad wore it daily from then on until it was passed on to me. It was probably back in 2019/2020 when I noticed that my Dad wasn’t wearing it. It had been on his wrist for 20+ years. He told me sheepishly that it wasn’t working.

I took a look at it and the crown was not functioning. The crystal was also cracked pretty good. And the Jubilee bracelet was pretty beat up. My dad wore the watch hard in those 20+ years.

I got it properly restored and my Dad then asked me to take it over. It gave me a chance to gift him a watch and I got him an Omega Constellation quartz which suits him better as he never has to fiddle much with the watch. Even when he puts it down for a few days. He also loves the bracelet on the Constellation, it’s very comfortable.

I had to search for an authentic replacement bracelet (took a while) and I do wear this watch from time to time on special occasions. What is most special to me about this watch is the dial and the patina over the years. It was a blue dial that’s faded to a bit purple and has developed speckles all over and the lumes are crusted over. I think my Dad wearing it with a cracked crystal has something to do with how it aged. Just my guess.

This one cannot be replaced and my hope is that I take really good care of it until it gets passed on.

 

[JP(Canada)]

You’ve got a nice collection!

 

[haven_seeker]

Wonderful collection. It’s nice to see that each one has a unique story!

Thank you for posting!

 

[JY0607]

Watch #9





Rolex OP 26mm

This is a watch I never wear and sits in the box but is a very close second when it comes to sentimental value. If I could only rescue 2, this would be 2.

Shortly after my Dad asked me to take over Grandpa’s Datejust, my mom went to the bank and asked me to take over her Rolex and to keep Grandpa and Grandma’s watches together. I was shocked to hear “Grandma”. Just for context, I never got to meet my Grandma as she passed from cancer years before I was born (even before my Dad met my Mom). I was so naïve all these years and thought this was my Mom’s Rolex all these years (I thought it was a wedding gift or something) Not realizing that this actually belonged to my Grandma before she passed and it was passed down to my Mom. I never got to know her. I don’t know her voice or anything. Just a few scarce photos of her. But knowing that this was her watch makes me think about her sometimes. I wonder what she was like. She was 49 and mother to 3 teenagers when she passed.

I almost forgot about this watch as she had it put away for several years. She got tired of setting the watch every time she set it down for a few days so she has been wearing a quartz Longines instead for the past while. It also does not have the quick set for the date so I think my mom just didn’t bother, the date was always off.

But seeing this watch again, and the black pink strap that it was on, I was instantly reminded of all those years that my mom was wearing this watch on the black pink strap. I thought it was hideous then and still think it is, but I’ve come to love and cherish it in a special way because it was how I will remember my mom wearing it. It’s on the strap that it’s currently on only because it’s a 13mm strap and they are not popular. I got something off Amazon just so it will sit in my box. The black pink strap is too short.

Unfortunately, taking over this watch also made us discover that we were scammed. The bracelet pictured is fake. I found it in the box wrapped up in a lot of plastic. The bracelet did not look familiar at all as its all gold and the original is two tone. What likely happened we think was my mom brought her watch to someone to switch the bracelet to the leather strap and they pulled a fast one on her and took her authentic band and swapped it with a fake one and wrapped it up real good. Nobody knew for decades. Oh well. We have pictures of my mom with the watch before she changed out the bracelet, it was two tone. My mom cannot remember where she did the strap swap, she can’t even remember which country, but our guess was overseas.

 

[JY0607]

Watch #10





Must De Cartier Vermeil

This was a watch in my Dad’s rotation before he inherited the 16013 DJ. I remember him wearing this watch quite often in the 80’s and 90’s growing up. He had a few that he rotated between but this one got a lot of wrist time. This was gifted to him.

He did wear this a lot at some point, then never once he started wearing the DJ. When he pulled this one out, it was still on the original Cartier strap, but hanging on by threads. I searched for a while to find a replacement strap, was hoping OEM. But what Cartier was asking for was too much. It has very unique lugs and makes it very difficult to find the replacement strap. I eventually went to a local watchmaker that made the strap for a very reasonable price.

Its quite a small watch and does not get wrist time from me. At least not yet. It’s only a 30mm watch but my Dad wore it at a time when watches were generally smaller. It’s a two hand quartz watch and I love gazing into the details. It’s a very simplistic dial but taking a closer look will show you the Cartier charm. I love the blue hands and the blue cabochon crown. And seeing the very fine detail in the security writing on the VII hour marker amazes me.

Vermeil I believe means it’s gold plated silver. It tarnishes quite easy and often. I’ve only given it a gentle wipe and reluctant to give too much elbow grease.

This is my only 2 hander watch. I have to say that I feel a little bothered looking at the watch and not seeing a seconds hand (something moving). But it has a certain elegance and calmness to it because of that.

 

[CalgaryJim]

At that time, I was finishing high school and working part time at Shoppers Drug Mart as a merchandiser (stock boy).

As I look at this watch now, I can’t help but think of all those shifts working at Shoppers and checking my watch every 15 seconds, especially near closing time.

Did you say Shoppers? That's music to my ears, I had a collection of their watches, down to only one now.
Thread 'Horological House of…… In Depth Review' https://canwatchco.ca/threads/horological-house-of……-in-depth-review.86626/

 

[JY0607]

Watch #11



Moonswatch Mission to Jupiter

This is my fun watch and just brings happy memories when I think of this watch.

I got this at a time when there was all the hype over these and they were impossible to get. I did my research and knew what I was getting, and I had a few lucky friends that were able to get their hands on one so I had a chance to get hands on before getting one for myself.

I did not like the Velcro strap that it comes with so I knew that I would be swapping it out right away once I got one. As this was just going to be a fun watch, I wanted to go with colours that were more “fun” and out of the ordinary but still appealing to me. I narrowed it down to the Jupiter on a blue rubber as my config.

Once I decided on the Jupiter, It came down to the hunt for one. I’m very grateful that my wife works near Eaton Centre as she was able to drop by from time to time to inquire. I can’t remember how long the search took, it felt like a long time, maybe a few months? But it was pretty special to get a surprise from my wife one day. She got her hands on one and surprised me out of the blue.

This watch and all the variations probably was and still is the most spotted watch on wrists in the wild for me in the past couple of years. I see it around everywhere and I’m happy I can be part of the club. This watch reminds me of a fun time and a time when a plastic watch got everyone excited for one and wanting one. It’s a 20mm strap monster and I had a lot of fun testing it out on different straps. Get one and have fun.

 

[JY0607]

Did you say Shoppers? That's music to my ears, I had a collection of their watches, down to only one now.View attachment 222672
Thread 'Horological House of…… In Depth Review' https://canwatchco.ca/threads/horological-house-of……-in-depth-review.86626/

Thanks for sharing. Not bad at all for the price of a McDonald’s meal and a 2 year warranty too! Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Shoppers I worked at never stocked these or just watches in general. These are priced right in the sweet spot for my paycheques at that time and I’m sure most of the money I made would have gone right back to these watches.

 

[CalgaryJim]

Thanks for sharing. Not bad at all for the price of a McDonald’s meal and a 2 year warranty too! Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Shoppers I worked at never stocked these or just watches in general. These are priced right in the sweet spot for my paycheques at that time and I’m sure most of the money I made would have gone right back to these watches.

Just a guess but maybe they only started carrying these watches within the last few years.

 

[JY0607]

Watch #12



Tissot PRX Ice Blue

This was a gift from my wife to mark a special milestone for us. This was a watch that took a little more tries to get the bracelet feeling right (playing around with the full links and half links). But once I got it configured right, it is such a comfortable wearing bracelet. The integrated bracelet hugs the wrist so well. If I had to be picky though, I would wish there’s some sort of micro adjust.

This watch has done a little bit of travelling with me since. My favourite travel memory would be wearing it in Miami (it was also a trip to celebrate our milestone) and going to visit the guys around the Seybold building that I watch on Youtube. It was great meeting them and funniest is when they said “Nice AP”. Hahaha. I think this watch was the inspiration for some content afterwards.