The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Biggest regret of my life.....

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Hello All,
I was reading some amazing stories here - slow Monday in Australia....

It got me thinking.... about a regret in my life..... and I blame knowledge for this downfall....

DOES KNOWING THE VALUE OF A WATCH REALLY HELP YOU? PERHAPS IT IS BETTER NOT TO KNOW....

When I was young (18) I wanted a Rolex badly..... no particular model... JUST A ROLEX.
I had a customer in the Jewellery business and the buying group he was in ..... they had a member who was a Rolex agent.

I said to him 1 thing - BUY ME THE CHEAPEST ROLEX YOU CAN GET ME.

With that.... he made the call and a few weeks later he rang to say it arrived.....

I was so excited.... I could not wait... I did not care what model it was..... I was thinking mid size Air-King with white dial.....

Well... it was an L serial number 1016 Explorer 1..... the last of the plastic explorer 1 models....

I remember thinking a few days later (buyers remorse) .... I wish I had of got the sapphire model.... oh well... he was a customer/friend... I could hardly complain to him to say I was unhappy....

At the time my dad said... why did you spend all that money (AU$1585- on amex) for a plastic glass watch with no date...... My dad proudly displayed his $1500- Omega Seamaster Quartz in steel and gold (Gold plated actually)......

A friend at the time laughed when he saw it,.... why the Rolex logo is so small on the explorer.... (I wish I could find him now).....

Anyway....I experience many joys in life...... bought a new BMW 318i (e30 model - last of the last also... I must of had a thing for last of the range models)… I got married.... had a child... a house....... a business.....another child... a commercial property.... good money......

Then I did something silly.... I found TimeZone and realised that my 1016 was worth money..... serious money.... how cool is that... I paid $1500- for a thing that I used everyday.... and it is worth so much more......

I craved a Day Date..... then I sold it.... I remember selling it to Mark "The Hammer" for US$3500-? in 1998. Sadly The Hammer never got the watch as it was stolen in transit ...... (insurance covered my loss) ... but the Chicago mafia is what it is.....

I bought an 18K 18038 with blue dial...... not a minter ... but nice enough.... then I flicked the 18038 when a mint 18238 with diamond dial came up.....

Then I needed money... business fell off..... SO I SOLD THE 18238. (yes I made a profit).......

I then got divorced.... went overseas..... tasted many exotic women.... but something was missing.... MY EXPLORER 1

If I never knew the value of the watch I would still have it today...... since that time I have had 50, 60 luxury watches (selling 1 to pay for the next)..... None of my current watches have more than a year or so of history with me..... ( I have 3 watches now - DateJust, Speedmaster, Navitimer)

I would give anything for that L serial number 1016 watch.... unfortunately the US Mafia would have long sold that watch...... I will never get it back.....

I miss that watch.... unfortunately it did not go to a friend - so I can not visit.... it was lost by a thief at Chicago Airport (may you die in hell).....

I got married again in 2004.... but I have since sold the Cartier Steel Basculante I worn on that day...... I had another son in 2005 - but I sold the 5513 I was wearing on that day....... I had another son in 2006 - but I swapped the 16234 I was wearing then......

My grandfather died this year.... he has left me a small inheritance...... I will buy a TT Blue sub or 18K Day Date with some of the money.....

That will be watch I will keep forever. I am seriously thinking of engraving the back - TO STOP ME RESELLING!...... I want this watch to break the bad cycle I have of being a collector/trader/mini dealer....... I want something I can give to my son/s later in life and say this was a very special watch for me.......

I have 4 sons (yes I am blessed) - 2 with my first wife and 2 with my current wife. That means I will need 4 special watches..... I currently have 3. I am thinking another Rolex will complete the set......
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My watches:-
Rolex 16233 with diamond dial, Omega Speedmaster Pro, Breitling Navitimer - Old Navitimer II

nice post- v interesting read. you won't regret the day-date (they make a bigger model 40mm now which looks mighty tastey)

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Breitling Super Avenger Blue dial
Breitling Emergency Mission Black dial
Cartier Tank Francaise Chronoflex Bi-Color
Cartier Panthere Bi-Color
Rolex Oyster day-date 18ct
Rolex GMT II S/Steel
Tag Heuer F1 Chronograph
CVSTOS Challenge Chrono steel/rubber

Interesting indeed.

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This is the reason i am holding on to my manual wind Rolex cosmograph,and no it does not say Daytona on the dial.

Wow, amazing story. More of these!

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Breitling Chronomat Evolution - Blue dial
Seiko Samurai Velatura - Black dial
Breitling Super Avenger - Blue dial
Rolex Submariner 16613 Z Series - Blue diamond dial.