My shortlist

[Fantasio]

Sir, I admire Your taste.

From now on I see you as Mr. Fleming of IWL.

[tribe125]

Very nice! Is that the current production model or a predecessor?

The current model. You can lose yourself comparing different versions and I didn't do that for long. Everybody seems to agree that the current model feels more substantial and it would feel odd to purposely buy a less substantial watch.

[tribe125]

Sir, I admire Your taste.

From now on I see you as Mr. Fleming of IWL.

Maybe a new avatar…

[tribe125]

Collection now -


I still have the Tudor Ranger but it will be going. One or two more might go as well, but not immediately.

[mlcor]

...and an enviable collection it is...

[FuzzyB]

Seeing them altogether (minus the Ranger), the Explorer fits perfectly into the rest of your collection! I think you made an excellent choice!

[rodia77]

Maybe a new avatar…

Oi, can't go around promoting smoking among us youngsters!

[geoffbot]

Attachment 132376

Yay!!

[Raza]

I’ve commented on my reasoning, but the deciding factor - the one that closed the book on thinking - was servicing. My local watch repair guy is Rolex. In no time at all, I can park up at Rolex and be talking to people with coronets on their clothing. Occasionally, they will do small things while you wait. With Zenith or IWC it would be a day’s outing just to get to an AD. I don’t want to be sending things abroad or hacking up to London.

The other big factor was this notion of nonchalance. I like watches that can be worn almost carelessly and don’t make a splash. Most of the time I hardly want to be conscious of them myself.

Something like this -


Attachment 132381

I couldn’t give a monkey’s what James Bond wore, but I am interested in what his creator wore. I couldn’t quite do the cigarette holder, though.


And then there’s this for people who think that 36 mm is for girls -


Attachment 132382

Robert Mitchum. Robert Mitchum in 1967, but still - Robert Mitchum.


And then there’s Bryan Ferry, where admittedly the nonchalance is a bit studied and self-conscious -


Attachment 132383

We’re very much alike, me and Bryan Ferry. Both working-class lads who went on to become style mavens.


Anyway, that sort of thing. A good but undemanding watch worn casually.

Nonchalance is the essence of cool. That’s what so many Rolex Professional models do so well. They just fit, no matter what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, an Explorer, a Submariner, a GMT, they always work.

I still think the first guy should put some pants on, if he went out in public like that, he’d be arrested for indecent exposure.

[tribe125]

You can just about see some shorts in this shot -





It’s Jamaica - it’s hot.

Mind you, older men should not wear shorts, unless they were fighting General Rommel in North Africa or can’t get trousers over a plaster cast.