Big Watch for Graduation

[KBayDog]

The perfect cheap pilot watch for everyday use. By that, I wear it everyday. Bag, civvies, SDBs, etc. For those of us who are not making the lawyer/hinge money.

+1.

I am a simple man. The only requirement I have for my watch is that it tell time. A chronograph is a nice plus (I use a GPS for running).

I feel that there are much better uses for that kind of money. $1-5000 is an awful lot of money to spend on a watch; I would be too worried about it getting scratched/smashed/dented/lost/stolen/etc to be able to focus on my daily routine. If I were to spend that kind of money on what amounts to an heirloom, I would only wear it on very special occasions (which come along too infrequently to justify spending that kind of money on a watch). If my Ironman du jour breaks, gets lost, etc. the $20 to replace it will not break my bank. To each his own.

Besides - To my knowledges, nobody has ever been mugged/robbed/beaten solely for their Ironman watch.

 

[Harrier Dude]

+1.

Besides - To my knowledges, nobody has ever been mugged/robbed/beaten solely for their Ironman watch.

One of my students when I was at the RAG had his Ironman stolen by a bum on the streets of Savannah. No shit.

Why? I dunno. He was a bum and hence a little "off".

 

[KBayDog]

One of my students when I was at the RAG had his Ironman stolen by a bum on the streets of Savannah. No shit.

Why? I dunno. He was a bum and hence a little "off".

Wow. Just....wow.

I stand corrected.

 

[Single Seat]

Were you wearing you Blue Angle watch with you G1 at the bar when I saw you last?

I would have publicly ridiculed him until he DOR'd from flight training.

 

[Schnugg]

+1.

I am a simple man. The only requirement I have for my watch is that it tell time. A chronograph is a nice plus (I use a GPS for running).

I feel that there are much better uses for that kind of money. $1-5000 is an awful lot of money to spend on a watch; I would be too worried about it getting scratched/smashed/dented/lost/stolen/etc to be able to focus on my daily routine. If I were to spend that kind of money on what amounts to an heirloom, I would only wear it on very special occasions (which come along too infrequently to justify spending that kind of money on a watch). If my Ironman du jour breaks, gets lost, etc. the $20 to replace it will not break my bank. To each his own.

Besides - To my knowledges, nobody has ever been mugged/robbed/beaten solely for their Ironman watch.

You may reach a point in your life when you can afford one or more fine watches.

If that happens, great, if not, a Timex does tell time.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Wow. Just....wow.

I stand corrected.

Your point is still valid, though. I was a staunch ironman advocate until my first cruise when I caught the expensive watch craze.

My Omega X33 had the crown fall off. I sent it into Omega, and while they'll repair the crown for free, here's the rest of the story:

Complete Maint. Svc. Quartz Chronograph........340.00
Titanium crown micr......................................0.00
Steel pusher................................................0.00
Steel pusher................................................0.00
1-faced anti-refl.sapph.cryst..........................154.00
Kevalr black X-33/20 x 18..............................132.00
Buckle sat.steel X-33-18mm...........................13.00
Sales Tax....................................................35.78
Shipping/insurance........................................20.00
Total..........................................................694.78


Bottom line is everything is scratched and they want to replace it. I'm going to call them and have them fix the crown and send me the watch back. The band is trashed, but I have the titanium one to put back on it. I wear it everyday, so I expected this to happen. What's the point of having a great watch if you don't use it?

Either that, or I'll just replace it all and take the money out of my bonus.:icon_smil

 

[loadtoad]

I would have publicly ridiculed him until he DOR'd from flight training.

Na... Its obvious he doesn't give a shit about what people think of him:icon_tong


On a side note I love my Omega...

 

[KBayDog]

You may reach a point in your life when you can afford one or more fine watches.

Trust me, I have been there for quite some time. I just prefer to save/spend my money differently than other people.

Watches simply do not mean enough to me to spend that kind of money on one.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Trust me, I have been there for quite some time. I just prefer to save/spend my money differently than other people.

Watches simply do not mean enough to me to spend that kind of money on one.

I got my first expensive ($3000ish) watch during OIF 1. We were on the boat for an undetermined amount of time and we were getting tax free money with no port calls. When somebody organized a group buy with our squadron logos on the back and OIF 1 stuff on it, I figured WTF? It was only about $950 for a $3000 watch on the deal. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have done it either.

Every squadron does these group buys, so hang around and you'll have a chance at it later when you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and no place to spend it. When you combine that with a keepsake that will last a lifetime of an organization that you give a shit about, maybe you'll change your mind.

Then again, maybe you won't. There are definitley more productive ways to spend your dough, but I'm glad that I did it.

 

[Junior]

Speaking of expensive watches and a major threadjack here: What is the most expensive watch you have actually seen? Not on the interweb or on TV, but actually seen in person. Personally, I saw one (I can't remember the brand, something swiss with all handmade mechanics) for $46,000 last week. It didn't have any diamonds on it or anything, just a plain watch. I also saw a blingin' Rolex with a pricetag of $63,000. Anyone else?

 

[bb1125]

Besides - To my knowledges, nobody has ever been mugged/robbed/beaten solely for their Ironman watch.

Actually..about 10 years ago when I was an Airman Recruit, I was walking back to the border with my friends after a long night in Tijuana and got robbed. I had my money in my shoe (my usual TJ precaution), so all he could get was my Ironman...ah the memories

 

[KBayDog]

I got my first expensive ($3000ish) watch during OIF 1. We were on the boat for an undetermined amount of time and we were getting tax free money with no port calls. When somebody organized a group buy with our squadron logos on the back and OIF 1 stuff on it, I figured WTF? It was only about $950 for a $3000 watch on the deal. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have done it either.

Every squadron does these group buys, so hang around and you'll have a chance at it later when you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and no place to spend it. When you combine that with a keepsake that will last a lifetime of an organization that you give a shit about, maybe you'll change your mind.

Then again, maybe you won't. There are definitley more productive ways to spend your dough, but I'm glad that I did it.

HD, what you are describing is a bit different. A special keepsake, heirloom-type memento of a memorable, life-changing event (your OIF watch, a commissioning gift, etc.) is one thing...and a bridge I will cross if/when the opportunity presents itself. Case-in-point: Dough was shamelessly spent on engraved gold Wings for "my" event. They are a keepsake, and only broken out for very special events - the anodized ones are worn day-to-day.

I cannot justify going out and spending that kind of money on a (insert brand here) watch just to own one...or just to say I own one. I understand that in some circles those kinds of things are important status symbols (the same with particular brands of suits, shoes, etc.), but in my small slice of the world, they don't mean anything. My practical Ironman does the job.

(Also, just to clarify (things get lost in translation on the interweb) - I am NOT criticizing or passing judgment on anyone for their choices in wristwear; I am simply stating how I feel about it.)

 

[KBayDog]

Actually..about 10 years ago when I was an Airman Recruit, I was walking back to the border with my friends after a long night in Tijuana and got robbed. I had my money in my shoe (my usual TJ precaution), so all he could get was my Ironman...ah the memories

Getting mugged in TJ does not count.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Na... Its obvious he doesn't give a shit about what people think of him:icon_tong..

I would disagree. He has obviously taken on board all the shit he's gotten and improved. He made it through OCS with a lot of extra pressure that most never experience.

I'm not going to say he's the greatest since slice bread, but he's learned and made to where he's at through sheer determination. I respect that.

Further, there is a fine line between not caring what others think and learning from constructive criticism. Me, I could give a shit what 90% of the world thinks of me. The other 10% I respect and take their opinions seriously.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Speaking of expensive watches and a major threadjack here: What is the most expensive watch you have actually seen? Not on the interweb or on TV, but actually seen in person. Personally, I saw one (I can't remember the brand, something swiss with all handmade mechanics) for $46,000 last week. It didn't have any diamonds on it or anything, just a plain watch. I also saw a blingin' Rolex with a pricetag of $63,000. Anyone else?

I was in Maccau in 2000 and saw a jewel encrusted Rolex for well over $100,000 in a casino. It was priced in local currency, so I don't know the exact price.

For the life of me, I couldn't imagine who would spend that kind of dough on a watch. Plus, even if you gave it to me for free I wouldn't wear it. Shit, Snoop Dog or Liberace wouldn't wear this thing. Heinous. WAAAAAYYY too much bling.