No 255 - Rolex Submariner 14060M

Let me take you back to the spring of 2015. This is where I made my final attempt trying to find a keeper for myself.

OK, so the first true keeper attempt (the JLC Reverso that I wore when I got married) was a failure. And the Explorer II that replaced it was also sold. How on earth could another Rolex then be the answer in my search for a lifelong keeper? I remember reasoning something like "the nodate Submariner being an icon that set a standard among dive watches and that the four lined COSC version in my opinion was one of the most clean looking newer dive watches you could possibly get your hands on". And everything about is perfect. I still think so. But the fact of wearing a Rolex finally killed me. I was lost in the vast sea among all other Rolex wearers and became anonymous. I’m pretty sure I have explained this feeling writing about Rolex in the past but I had never felt it so strong before. The feeling of “being stuck” with this Submariner for life was horrible (I know, boohoo, what a silly "problem" but you know what I mean). I was of course hoping that this watch would cure me from the watch flipping madness but instead it just made me realize even more that I’m far beyond from being saved. And believe me when I say I tried. I tried so god damn hard. But it was impossible. It didn’t matter that the money from the watch was originally the money from the Reverso that my wife gave me. Keepers just aren’t for me and that’s it. No need to try anymore. A hopeless case of a kid in denial.

#255 - The Rolex Submariner nodate COSC, ref.14060M.

 

I think I really learned my lesson this time. I haven’t owned a Rolex since I sold this one back in the summer of 2016 and the thought of buying another one haven't even crossed my mind. I had it for almost 18 months and it really was my main watch during this time. I tried to spice it up with a Rubber B, which I think suited it great, and sometimes I threw it on a nato strap, but it wasn’t enough to make it more interesting. The watch said nothing about my true passion for watches. No watches beyond this point were ever bought for myself as promised keepers. Some have instead been bought as potential keepers but with the option to sell if not satisfied. Great solution, huh? I'm a frikkin' genius!

Here’s a bunch of random wrist shots from during the time that the Submariner was my number one watch.

On my way to work riding the bus.

Riding that bus again.

Guess what I'm doing here!

That's right, on the bus again! Reading Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving. Great book!

Did you know Nike made special running sweaters custom made to fit Rolex?

Out for a walk around the Royal Djurgården Park in Stockholm.

The classic ten past ten shot that you always try to score.

On a gray nato. Didn't have a Phoenix available at the moment. Would have been much better.

Really good on the Rubber B.

Taken in the car this time believe it or not.

With the camo sweater on ready to go hunting! (actually I was in the grocery store..)

I know you weren’t reading this post expecting a history lesson about the Submariner. Neither were you interested in reading about its specifications because 99% of you already know that. No, that’s not what this blog is about and you know that as well. Instead I tried to share some feelings that perhaps (hopefully!) I’m not the only one having. I hope that there’s at least a few others who can relate to what I’m describing and if so it might be nice to know that you are not alone out there. And to all of you who still enjoy reading this blog without thinking that I’m crazy, this blog is for you!

At the bus station in the fall of 2015. Had my Don Felder 70's look going on here.

A couple of days later when the long hair was gone and beard had been trimmed down.

The final picture of it before it was sold.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

No 166 - Tudor Submariner 79090

What the hell is happening? I know that everyone has a story of how they bought a watch a couple of years ago and now it is being sold for a ridiculous amount. I got tons of stories like that. I feel like that is happening to me ALL THE TIME. Sometimes I’ve even been struggling to get things sold and have even accepted a low ball offer just to get the goods start moving. Then, a couple of years later, it’s a goddamn collector’s item and sells for $XXXX! Jeez...

Here is another perfect example for you. Got this Tudor Submariner in March 2013. Bought it head only for about $1500. Now these fuckers sell for around $3500! The reference 79090 of the Tudor Submariner were made in the early 90’s so we’re not even talking about a vintage watch here. I’m sorry but WHAT THE FUCK?! It’s a steel submariner from Tudor made in the 90’s! And people are actually paying these figures. Seriously, enough with the hype! There are plenty of funnier watches to spend that kind of money on.

#166 - The Tudor Submariner ref. 79090.

Case back.

On a blue nato (which looks more like purple).

OK, so it basically is a light version of the Rolex 1680. Matte dial with painted index and an acrylic crystal. It sure does play the part of being a vintage sub I give it that. And for $1500 I think it was a great watch. I tried it on an aftermarket oyster bracelet but quickly realized it was much funnier to have a bunch of nato straps to switch between just to get some variety. But wearing this model gave me mixed emotions. Tudor has a whole line of watches with their own design that I’d rather wear instead of this one. Don’t try to convince yourself that a Tudor 79090 will satisfy your need for a Rolex 1680 because it won’t. 

Here on a blue & grey Bond nato.

 

Sideview showing the Rolex crown.

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.

One year anniversary

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I started writing. Actually everything began much much earlier than that with sorting all the pictures and putting together the chronological order of this large puzzle. 70 different watches have been presented during this year, or 126 if choose to count all the doublets, and it feels like I now have gotten over some sort of hunch. Looking at the list of watches to come I feel much more excited about them than about the watches I’ve already written about. I know I haven’t been 100% consistent when it comes to categorizing all the watches. Perhaps the two Breitling Seawolves should have been in the same post but to me it felt like two different watches and the thought of bunching them together in one post didn’t occur to me until later when I wrote my latest post about the Rolex Datejust 16030 only a couple of days ago. Originally I was planning on presenting the Datejust’s separate as well but somehow it just didn’t feel right. They belonged together somehow. But would it have made sense to bunch all the Seiko SKX diver’s into one post as well just because they basically are the same watch but with different colored dials? Their reference numbers aren’t the same and also to me they have felt like different watches so I have to answer no in that case. To be fair, the three 16030’s would also technically have different reference numbers when they have different dials but they are always referred to as the 16030 regardless which dial they are fitted with so that’s why I changed my mind and chose to keep them together. I have at least a couple of similar dilemmas coming up in the future and I haven’t really decided how to tackle them. I guess it’s going to depend on whether I have something interesting to say about each watch that will determine if it’s getting its own post or not.  I’m not sure you’re following me on this one but what I’m trying to say is that I’m aware of my inconsistency.

The fall has been all about being home with my son, playing in parks and preparing him for kindergarten. I’m still collecting new material but during the last six months I’ve only been flipping about two watches per month. I’m really looking forward to reach the present day instead of writing about watches I don’t have in my possession anymore. It’s sometimes really hard to remember everything correct. Sure, I can Google most of the technical details but I rather try to describe the watch as I remembered it. If I’m unsure about a fact I usually say so or choose to not mention it at all. Anyway, it will be much easier giving an accurate evaluation writing about something I’m actually holding in my hand. During the fall I have pretty much been wearing my Rolex Submariner 14060M every single day with the exception for a day or two when a new watch has arrived that has to be tested. 

#255 - The Rolex Submariner 14060M. A gift from my beautiful wife and therefore a given keeper.

I have an incoming watch that I have been looking forward to for so long and I’m so excited about receiving it. It usually pops up quite often on forums like Watchuseek so it’s not an uncommon watch it’s just that I’ve always missed them for different reasons whenever they have been for sale. Usually they have sold fast or the seller wouldn’t want to ship overseas. This time though I managed to convince the seller to put his trust in this humble Swedish watch enthusiast! Since it’s going to be a while until I can write about it here on the blog I might as well let you know that it’s a Korsbek Oceaneer. In my opinion it’s one of the coolest dive watches from a micro builder ever made. The minute hand must be the meanest looking ever. Perhaps not the most interesting watch among dive watch fans, I don’t know, but I have really been looking forward to try one and from what I have read about it it’s supposed to be really great. I’m sure it will be one of this year’s highlights.

Thank you for following the blog and stick around for more watches to read about. Feel free to contact me with questions!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

© All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.