Unexpected arrival.... with thanks to a friend and this wonderful community

Syrte · Dec 21, 2019

Year ends are a period of reckoning, people slow down and look back on the past year and think about what’s ahead.

History has been unfolding at maddening speed just this week wherever we look. In the US the UK and Europe, in France where I’m sitting now, in Asia, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq...

And just as I was having coffee in a rare moment of quiet, the post office delivered a little packet from a forum friend. I knew he’d shipped something, and I was supposed not to get too excited. I figured it might be a bunch of old straps or buckles.

The packet contained this darling little watch, for which I had the perfect double wrap strap.

This gentleman will know who he is — for this year end I’d like to thank him and this wonderful community.
Please post presents you’ve received from watch friends if you have!

aap · Dec 21, 2019

Syrte
Year ends are a period of reckoning, people slow down and look back on the past year and think about what’s ahead.

History has been unfolding at maddening speed just this week wherever we look. In the US the UK and Europe, in France where I’m sitting now, in Asia, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq...

And just as I was having coffee in a rare moment of quiet, the post office delivered a little packet from a forum friend. I knew he’d shipped something, and I was supposed not to get too excited. I figured it might be a bunch of old straps or buckles.

The packet contained this darling little watch, for which I had the perfect double wrap strap.

This gentleman will know who he is — for this year end I’d like to thank him and this wonderful community.
Please post presents you’ve received from watch friends if you have!

Great post, S! And of course, great new acquisition!

allwoundup · Dec 21, 2019

Received this Cortebert made for the Turkish railway from an OF member and friend....A very kind gift, and an incredibly accurate timekeeper.

Radiumpassion · Dec 21, 2019

Lovely watch and story @Syrte

I got this Enicar from my ex-girlfriend so I guess it wasn`t all bad😗

simonsays · Dec 21, 2019

I need to get better friends

S.H. · Dec 21, 2019

Nice! Joyeuses fêtes!

Syrte · Dec 21, 2019

aap
Great post, S! And of course, great new acquisition!

Thanks for the kind words, @aap, @S.H. and have a nice holiday too.

@allwoundup and @Radiumpassion those are very cool watches!

T., your GF knew what she was doing ! (Perhaps she received a bit of help picking the watch ? 😉)
I wouldn’t mind this as a gift watch either 😁.

sdre · Dec 21, 2019

Congrats! Lovely pieces all around

DaveK · Dec 21, 2019

I need to get better ex girlfriends

Radiumpassion · Dec 21, 2019

Syrte
T., your GF knew what she was doing ! (Perhaps she received a bit of help picking the watch ? 😉)
I wouldn’t mind this as a gift watch either 😁.

Actually she moved back to Sweden and bought a old house, witch she
found the Enicar and a couple of other watches in a drawer. She put them
in a envelope and sent them over to me knowing (to well) I was a WIS🙄

Deltatango · Dec 21, 2019

beautiful , the story that piece could tell

JwRosenthal · Dec 21, 2019

Love the Mido @Syrte - I don’t think I have been quiet about my love for this undervalued and under-appreciated marquis. Lovely to see it on the Hermes strap and the fact that it was a gift makes it all the more special.
I have been the recipient of several acts of kindness on this forum during my short time here - members who have reached out to me when I am in need of parts for low budget projects (I like rescuing unloved watches) and just send them to me. Friends who I have never met who reach out when they know I am in a rough spot personally and inquire about my well being. The generous sharing of information and kindness both on and off public forums is amazing.
This is an incredible community- some of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

And this was a gift from fellow member- started my love for vintage divers.

UncleBuck · Dec 21, 2019

JwRosenthal
I have been the recipient of several acts of kindness on this forum during my short time here - members who have reached out to me when I am in need of parts for low budget projects (I like rescuing unloved watches) and just send them to me. Friends who I have never met who reach out when they know I am in a rough spot personally and inquire about my well being. The generous sharing of information and kindness both on and off public forums is amazing.
This is an incredible community- some of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Well said, JW, the holidays are a good time to reflect and our community here is definitely a blessing.

Syrte · Dec 21, 2019

Radiumpassion
Actually she moved back to Sweden and bought a old house, witch she
found the Enicar and a couple of other watches in a drawer. She put them
in a envelope and sent them over to me knowing (to well) I was a WIS🙄

That’s a good side benefit of parting in good terms. And a great story. 👍

Larry S · Dec 21, 2019

Lovely surprise Syrte. Members here are a class act. These original magazine adds just showed up one day from an OF member who thought I might like them. Parts, straps, logistics, advice and fellowship. I’ve done favors and have favors done for me. It’s all here and appreciated.

argonbeam · Dec 21, 2019

allwoundup
Received this Cortebert made for the Turkish railway from an OF member and friend....A very kind gift, and an incredibly accurate timekeeper.

I've been looking for one of those, but the ones I have found are all so beat up. That one looks great, and the AS Schild movement is top notch too. Great watch!

Syrte · Dec 22, 2019

.... And still running and keeping pretty damn good time 👍

allwoundup · Dec 22, 2019

argonbeam
I've been looking for one of those, but the ones I have found are all so beat up. That one looks great, and the AS Schild movement is top notch too. Great watch!

I'm not one of those collectors that obsesses about how many seconds my watches gain or lose in a day. That said, when this watch was gifted to me by NJNJcfp88/John, he mentioned that it wasn't running well, so when I got the watch home I set it to my iPhone and figured I would monitor it for a few days then send it to my WM for service and adjustment. Twenty-four hours later, the watch is keeping time to the minute. I texted John, joking that perhaps he would like the watch back as it seemed to be running well. Two days later, the watch is still keeping good time. Three days, four days, five days, six days.....still keeping good time....my daily update texts to John became a running joke. Long and short, I wound the watch daily and didn't reset it until the daylight savings time shift nearly two months later.....and the watch was still keeping time to the minute with my iPhone. John has dubbed me the "watch whisperer", but all I did was wind it. I love the watch. Thanks again John!

CaptainWinsor · Dec 22, 2019

I don’t have a picture handy but I owe another big thanks to @CJpickup57 for the Disney Star Wars pins he sent my son back in the fall. True gentleman

Walrus · Dec 22, 2019

Nice you guys do that for each other. I’m into performing magic and have been on a magic forum for years. Many of us collect playing cards (regular cards not those magic cards that people are into) we do send each other decks for Christmas. It doesn’t sound like much but some decks of cards are quite valuable as they are limited runs of 500 or 1,000 decks and can be worth hundreds or in some cases thousands. I’ve sent and received cards from and to Sweden and and the UAE. You can’t help but build relationships on these forums after years on them. I’m giving two watches as gifts this year and thinking about it it’s quite cool to give someone a watch that will potentially last a lifetime, even if it gives you a little twinge parting with them.