What was your gateway watch?

Seems Omega needs to thank TH for getting so many of us hooked

This 1003 inherited from my late father and refurbished by Rolex.

I was impressed that this watch was solar powered and synced with the atomic clock. At the time I bought it I thought it was expensive.

Tag Aquaracer -- quartz...because I had no idea what I was doing at the time and the "Automatic" sounded scary..no battery? what? how?

Well, I've been wearing a watch since a little kid; in my primary school I wore a Wostok with an awesome grey dial, which I still have and cherish ; then I got a Casio from my classmates for my 18th birthday (still have it); afterwards, bought myself a Seiko 7t92 chrono from my scholarship, which I wore for my entire university and residency years (wedding included, pic below). Ironically, this Seiko (which I still own), seems to have deprecated the least - recently found one for sale more expensive than the one I purchased back then 😀



Then my wife decided, in 2012, to purchase me a mechanical Philip Watch equipped with the Peseux 7001. Seemed extremely expensive and I was against it initially. How very foolish of me. This could very well be my first "gateway" watch for it opened my passion for mechanical timepieces with a price tag above a certain amount. Will never leave my collection as well.



Sizing the bracelet led me to a watchmaker; researching info about it led me to watch forums. Then the hunt began and my expectations grew considerably.

A final and most important breakthrough was passing the "psychological barrier" of owning a reputable brand, at a high financial cost. So enters my first Omega, the quartz Bond Seamaster. This final gateway passed, and afterwards, the game-play changed, as I had to sell it to get my next pieces - another barrier crossed 😀 This was my "gateway" watch to the "big boys" league, and the start of my current collection.

My first automatic, what can I say -- it's blue! Love the noise it makes when it auto winds. Original black band with blue accent stitching, band is getting worn but I really don't want to swap it out. Still wear it on occasion.

This.

A pocket watch given to me in 1973 or 4 by my grandmother's friend (I was seven). It didn't work but I was fascinated by it.
Around 1978-9, my grandfather took it to several jewelers to try to get it fixed, but parts had been unavailable for decades.
In 1985, I was at the library and stumbled on two books (wasn't looking for watch books!)


From these, I was finally able to identify my 12-size, green gold filled, Hampden 15-jewel Nathan Hale model from 1915. I devoured the books, and put my newly attained education to good use. On Jan. 2, 1986, I purchased from a pawn shop a 16-size gold filled Illinois 23-jewel 60-hour Bunn Special. Asking price was $60, but I got it for $50 (just like another member in an earlier post!).
After a few pocket watches (including some Keystone Howards), in November that year I bought a LeCoultre chronograph wristwatch in steel, circa 1960, with a freshly serviced Valjoux 72 for $125.
And that's how it all began...

No joke. I bought this one in Dec 2012. Up until this time I had not worn a watch in 15+ years. I was able to negotiate a screaming deal on this and was very proud of the price I had negotiated. I think it was originally $399, but I walked away with this one for $79 and it came with an extended warranty. like 5 years or something for $29. Basically the watch was $50. I since sold it on ebay, I think for $30 or $40.

The Tag Heuer Carrera 1887 was my very first mechanical watch and it got me hooked.



Just purchased my very first Omega this past week. Brand spanking new and I couldn't be happier!

my first watch was a omega pocket watch i got for my 18th, still one of my favorite watches 😀

omega 3570.50.... then rolex, then vintage rolex, then back to vintage speedys 😁

Mine was this (pic was taken right after I got the watch):