I took my daughter to a Laser Tag birthday party today, and I noticed the birthday girls grandfather was wearing what appeared to be an older Speedy. I worked up the courage to say, "Mind if I ask about your watch?". "Sure!" He quickly replied and began removing it to show me, "My dad gave it to me when I graduated in '73" he added proudly. "It's a chrono..." I commented to which he replied, "No, it's an Omega." "Very cool!" I added. "Thanks. It has a stopwatch," he explained. I used it as an Engineer when timing different processes" "Do you mind if I take a picture?" I enquired nervously. He went on to explain he'd had it maintained a few times and that it still works great. It was a very cool experience for me. We ended up having a good 5 to 10 minute discussion about manufacturing processes and corporate cultures. Thought I'd share with you...
Very cool story, and that's awesome that you got a picture. I wussed out in a similar situation about a week ago. Good on you!!
Good story. I'm still waiting to see my first speedmaster in the wild. Did he have any idea that it is collectible?
Great story. I would probably have tried to correct and educate him. I think your more gracious way was a better approach.
Really cool spotting, and so rare! Thanks for sharing that. p.s. you might have told him about the magical liquid called Polywatch
I remember your story, to be honest, it gave me the "nudge" to just go for it and ask. I'm glad I did, as he was proud as could be.
When I was leaving, I told him it was and that many people would love to have it. While this clearly made him smile, he was quick to point out he had no intention of selling. He made mention to his grand daughter that it might be hers some day, and I told her she'd be lucky to have it!
Ha! Not a chance, this gentlemen was the essence of the person who gets a watch like this as a prized gift, and uses it for decades all the while appreciating its robustness and utility.
Yes, I thought about it, but didn't know how to do so without feeling like I was somehow pointing out his prized possession was "flawed". On some level I felt the wear gave it real character. While holding the watch, it was obvious the bracelet was very stretched. I couldn't help but think that I would clean the face and replace the original bracelet with a cool strap... But then it wouldn't have the original charm anymore...
Yeah, that was probably the right call. If he's an engineer he's smart enough to know he could easily replace or polish the crystal.
I did not, his father gave this one to him and my assumption was this is the only one he has. I made my interest in watches pretty clear and I'm sure he would have brought it up if he had more.
This is a nice topic for a continuous thread. I will contribute my best "spotted in the wild". I have been into vintage boats a lot and at the marina, some years ago, I met a guy wearing this as his beater: A gilt GMT on a extremely stretched jubilee - on the brink of falling apart. We talked about it and I gave him some advise. He was not into watches but thought it a nice watch. He was of course aware of it being a Rolex and as such an expensive watch - but nothing more than that. A good watch. I - myself - am really looking forward to being spotted. As I have written earlier that is a part of my tactic in the future and as a retired old bloke. And I have prepared a series of bewildering answers for the young guys trying to lure me (as an innocent old guy not knowing what I have) into selling it to them.
In a similar vein, I once saw a guy with a Pepsi gmt. Conversation went Me: nice Pepsi! Him: no, it's a Rolex Me: oh, ok. Gave up after that.