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Thoughts on passing on a watch.

wagudc
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I recently inherited my father's Speedmaster after he passed away. I cherish the watch and had it serviced and restored (it had a bad redail, generic crown and crystal). It has started me on this hobby, which I do enjoy.

The sad thing is, the person I would have enjoyed talking to about it the most with it him. He got the watch in '71 and I assume he wore it a lot through the '70s. However, being born in the late 70s I don't recall ever seeing him wear it. I wish that he could have passed it on to me while he was still alive. Not for selfish reasons, but because I think we could have enjoyed the watch together and talked about it. We did not have much in common.

I love seeing posts here of Fathers and sons sharing the hobby. I know my dad is smiling down on me while I admire his watch, but I also think he might wish that he would have shared it with me when he was still alive.
 
wagudc
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A little before and after. (I know the new dial is not correct for the watch, but I did not want to wait to find a nice step dial. This one will do for now)
20190420_202637.jpg
 
Syrte
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A moving post and perhaps a lesson for some. Sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Best regards
 
MTROIS
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First of, I am very sorry for your loss!

The topic you bring up is a very interesting one, all the more when one has a "collection" of watches. Indeed, which ONE watch will my son most associate with me? Which one will carry the most sentimental value for him??

I already know that he has favorites in my humble collection and he knows that he will inherit them some day but going back to your question: I am planning on gifting him one or two as he will be getting older so that WE will be able to enjoy them together.

This could be yet another argument for the beauty of being a "one watch only" kinda guy.

Thank you for your post OP!
 
MTROIS
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wagudc wagudc
A little before and after. (I know the new dial is not correct for the watch, but I did not want to wait to find a nice step dial. This one will do for now)
20190420_202637.jpg

I must admit that I would have only replaced pushers and crystal with Omega ones and would have left the dial on, even if a poor redial job, as this would be part of the "soul" of this watch. In other terms, I would have preserved it rather than restoring it, but that's just me.
Thank you for sharing with us!!
 
wagudc
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MTROIS MTROIS
I must admit that I would have only replaced pushers and crystal with Omega ones and would have left the dial on, even if a poor redial job, as this would be part of the "soul" of this watch. In other terms, I would have preserved it rather than restoring it, but that's just me.
Thank you for sharing with us!!

I guess since I never saw him wear the watch, I don't have much memory tied up in the dial. I still have it and it tells an interesting story. What is more meaningful to me is the caseback that my grandfather engraved with my dad's name and his graduation date. It was a gift to my dad when he graduated with his master's degree. Somehow the caseback is more personal to me; it is something that others don't see.
 
wagudc
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MTROIS MTROIS
First of, I am very sorry for your loss!

The topic you bring up is a very interesting one, all the more when one has a "collection" of watches. Indeed, which ONE watch will my son most associate with me? Which one will carry the most sentimental value for him??

I already know that he has favorites in my humble collection and he knows that he will inherit them some day but going back to your question: I am planning on gifting him one or two as he will be getting older so that WE will be able to enjoy them together.

This could be yet another argument for the beauty of being a "one watch only" kinda guy.

Thank you for your post OP!

You are already building that connection with your son, and he will have a choice of watches that remind him of you.
 
Larry S
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Reminds me to pass some of the collection to the kid before I move on. Beautiful post.
 
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