This could go lots of different directions, clearly, considering the barrage of watch infomercials I seem to be encountering online these days.
No matter, what that barrage of information did for me was to help me to focus on what I find myself reaching for when I head out the door these days. Like many men, I suppose, I find myself now with a battery of watches I can wear. Some I bought, some I inherited, and some that were gifts (from my bride & otherwise). I am grateful for them all and give them the care and concern that they deserve (as I do with most of my personal possessions).
Something that I have noticed lately is my preference for using a smaller, lighter watch with a cloth band. Especially when I'm doing outdoorsey things. That includes work in the yard, cleaning up the various parts of the house (garage & kitchen) and of course shooting (& hunting). I wore a fairly expensive watch for years as a younger man (and I'm sure for all the usual reasons). I still like that watch very much, but... when it came time to service it after a few years of hard use, the cost from Omega to do so nearly caused me to pitch a fit. I finally had them do the necessary repairs and service, but I haven't worn it since. It sits in it's original box in my gun safe awaiting the proper moment to be either gifted on worn again. Amongst other things, my father made his living buying and selling private aircraft for most of my childhood and accordingly he owned and wore a Breitling's pilot watch for many years, so my interest in such things isn't anything new in my family (& my grandfather wore an Omega Constellation).
So it seems a bit unusual now that I employ a cheap, plain, & light field watch...a better than average Timex(egad!). I use it to hunt and shoot almost exclusively now and when I get blood on it while cleaning a deer (or a bird or a fish) I don't even give it a second thought (because I won't be spending $800 to get it serviced!). It cleans up easily with soap and warm water and then I'm back at it shortly thereafter. I also don't miss the added weight of my other, bigger, mechanical (tool) watches with their heavy metal bracelets when I'm shooting (probably an old man's complaint) as I'm more interested in comfort than I am in impressing anyone. The added weight when shooting is nothing a stronger young man would even notice but...I seem to do so now, sadly. My better (fancier) watches are now treated like jewellery, and I use them for more formal affairs (church, dinners out, etc.). I still like them just fine, but not for "play" anymore.
Does this subject have any resonance for the other denizens here?
Last edited by Lloyd3; 12/06/24 12:27 PM.
