My 3 piece collection.

My current 3 piece collection.

The BB58 was my first attainable target, grail even. Was supposed to get a BB41 red bezel for our wedding but timing and life it just didn’t work out. Waited a few years and 58 came out. At the time I lived in Texas and a new AD in Glasgow Scotland just became a Tudor AD, and the Scottish Watches podcast mentioned a young lad started working there and they got one in if anyone was interested. I messaged them and a week later it was on my wrist. I later messaged them to order up a bracelet and he said they got a slap from corporate that they should have sold it mailed across country lines. 😂. My silly grail is a Rolex 6538, but I like living in a house, and this is a wonderful compromise.

Next came the Doxa 300T, and this was heavily influenced by The Grey Nato boys. I love how they worked with Rolex and codeveloped the HEV valve and beat them to market. I would have gone 300, but it’s dome crystal is too domed for me, and the dial to case sizing is better on the T. I also enjoy having a tank of a deep diver.

Lastly is my Explorer 2. The modern sub is nice, but I didn’t want to be another finance bro with one, and I wanted a GMT / dual time, but I didn’t want a GMT Master 2. The Polar EXP2 is just a delight, its so much more casual than other Rolex offerings I don’t feel threatened wearing it and it goes with everything. I got on a waitlist here in CT after the wife encouraged as I thought it would be 18 months or two years, and 6 months later I got the call. It could easily be my end all be all watch, but I enjoy the collection. I thought she was going to be big, but she wears perfectly.

Next up is a Omege Speedy Pro - hesalite. Appropriate as I work in the space industry. And possibly my last “spendy” watch as I would like to dive into the more reasonable vintage route.

(This write up originally appeared over on WatchCrunch.)