Good day all, This is my first, well, second post on this forum, and I look forward to many more. Can't wait to learn from the bulk of you as well as share some stories about our watches, where they've been and what they've seen. I would consider myself a collector. A collector on a budget. No Patek's, yet. I won't bore you with the obligatory list of my acquisitions and must haves, at least not all in one posting. No, I will tell those stories in time. I will, however, post the Omega's I currently own. In future posts, I'll get more into their details. But for now, working left to right: Omega DeVille Quartz - 20mm, circa 1986 Omega DeVille - 37mm-ish, circa 1971 Omega SMP 300m-C - 41mm, circa yesterday Both of the DeVille's are heirloom pieces I inherited. Seems Omega is a family affair. I have several other watches, but as I said, I'll chat about those later. Please share your thoughts and insights. Having made a significant purchase so recently, my next is a ways off, but one can't help but debate what should be next... I definitely have the bug. I haven't been at it too long... I think I purchased my first real watch in 2011, but had been an admirer for some years prior to that. Like you, I love watches. It's not a materialistic thing, it's a what-they-represent thing. The romantic notion of some guy who sat down with a blank piece of paper, and designed a movement, with all its gears and springs... and made it so it could keep time with amazing accuracy for a ridiculously long period of time (with a minor amount of servicing). Friends bug me about how certain pieces in my modest collection cost more than their vehicles. I laugh and explain, 'Yes, they're not cheap, but, they'll also outlast your vehicle many times over.' They don't get it. It's okay. We know, it's not about the price of the watch, is it?? Hamilton makes many a beautiful watch for under $1k. And it'll have significantly more character than the G-Shock they're wearing to the wedding does. All of my watches serve a purpose. Some for work, some for diving, some for travel, others for special occasions... All have a story. And isn't that what it's about? Their stories. The bonds we have with them. The fact you can get lost with one, and using it and the sun, always know where South is, which means you know where North is, which means you should be fine. Show me the iPhone that can do that without batteries. My pieces have been all over the world and all have their stories and battle scars in one form or another. And all will earn more. My watches are mine. I don't think I could part with any of them - at least not in the form of selling any. I understand why people do this, but it's not for me. No, mine will be passed down to another branch within my family's tree. I love, like all of you, getting a compliment (or even just the recognition) on what I'm wearing, by someone else who gets it. It doesn't happen often. No, not many people out there who can spot the difference from a SMP, and a Diesel. Those rare birds who do spot it and comment... fill my heart. Not in a narcissistic way, but in a way like you just met a friend you haven't seen in years. I always make an effort to make this acknowledgement. I go out of my way to do it. Creepy at times no doubt. But if someone made the effort to make that significant purchase, on a watch, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt they 'get it' the way the rest of us on here do. Two days ago it was a kid working the register at the liquor store (I also have a penchant for scotch) wearing a rather tired Formula One... Sure it's a quartz. And sure it's all entry level and all that snobby stuff, but no one bought that by accident. And he seemed genuinely happy to receive the compliment, and was suddenly interested in the 500m Chrono of the same brand, which I had on. My passion for these albeit obsolete items includes, but is not limited to, those moments. Compliment someone on having the same iPhone as you and watch their reaction. Do the same to someone wearing the same Omega as you, and I bet it'll be significantly different. I'll call it quits for now. I want to explore some more of this community's photographic and textual offerings.