Why I'm Still Here: A Collector's Journey

Ares501 - Mr Green · 2012-01-02T13:16:26Z

Ares501 - Mr Green reflects on his 3000 posts, sharing his watch collecting journey and the enduring appeal of the WatchProSite community. Discover why collectors stay.

Ares501 - Mr Green

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

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Ares501 - Mr Green reflects on his enduring passion for watches and his journey within the WatchProSite community, marking his 3000th post. He shares personal anecdotes, from discovering an Omega Speedmaster after a war to being mesmerized by complicated movements and independent watchmakers. This introspective piece explores the deep connections collectors form with watches and the vibrant community that fosters this shared enthusiasm.

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Well where to start .....
Maybe in 1995 when War for Independence in my Country was over
and we won after too much blood and tears ...hot Indian summer and I'm walking around hometown without air raid warning … calm for the first time after 5 years… in window of my local watchmaker (with whom I became friend later) was Omega Speedmaster Professional .... or 4 years later watching End of Days with my future wife in cinema and then flash of watch in scene on window ... OMG what is that!!! Forward to 2011 Exit Wounds...suddenly scene in which DMX is looking on his wrist.. oh my what is that watch!!!!
I want it so BAD! Yeah yeah as my dear friend Nicolas said I'm victim of media

Or maybe fast rewind 30 years before to my grandfather’s pocket watch...but that is story you already know....or the first watch I bought in 1st grade of high school saving pocket money….. in the end what a man bedazzled with watches can do but start looking for more and more watches and more and more information… so where to go where to look, in country deprived of ADs and retailers of all brands but Omega, Rolex & Breitling until few years back, but on the net.

From that point story is very much straightforward. When I was looking on the net via AltaVista for things that at that moment occupied me about watches majority of results (80%) forwarded me to network54

as I perceived it wrongly in beginning alias to The PuristS…. I was stoned I was mesmerized I was exalted I was exhausted of joy PuristS changed my life …lurking for some years scared to post of amount of knowledge and erudition that (without any intention to omit someone) Lord Arran, Jack Forster, SuitbertW, SteveG, Jaw, Peter CDE , Marcus Hanke, MTF, AlexG, Art, Bernard Cheong , ei8htohms, Bill, Anthony and of course our one and only ThomasM) expressed in every post and response.

I can still feel the thrill of discovering what’s Tourbillon and how it work’s …what’s MR and how it work’s….how to read supercomplicated Astronomical watches from UN… who is Dufour, Halter, Voutilainen, Gerber…..
Finally I find some guts and made my first post in 2007 when “new platform” was on… 5 years later of posting + couple more of lurking and here I am …. Still …
so back to the question from title of my jubilee post….why?
Because:
I have nothing better to do

– that would be my wife’s answer

…
“Dear don’t you have nothing better to do all day and all of the night???”

My response is – I never dreamt that I will ever feel so much camaraderie (thank you Art

respect, honor, pride, solidarity as with you my dear Purist friends.

After 7-8 years around PuristS & PPro I’ve witnessed joy & sadness, divorces & marriages, burglary & child birth, pieces that makes your mind boggle & some that make you smile but all that time one thing is constant and that is dedication to passion, opinion & information.

Of all ups & downs in every day life with all problems and situations that comes along I cope much easier knowing that when I come home there is HoMe - place closest to Shangri-La in this imperfect world. There is so much to learn here and not only about watches much class & style without boasting, great sense of humor without profanity, firm point of views and sense of justice without underestimation in one word there is Zen.

To conclude just one (selfish) example what being Purist is for me and why I am still here.
We had our little contests when Football World Cup was on. That was in 2010. Thanks to Alex Sunrise and DRMW I won one of contests so prize was mine. After few months nothing …. couple more and I send PM to DRMW it turn’s out that there is some postal problem…unknown until now …because of which my package returned 2 times to LA….OK no need to push it any more fate wanted it other way I thought....BUT…. to cut the long story short what happened is that these 2 little things made in China traveled to Germany & Switzerland from there to USA precisely from Glashütte & Le Locle to Los Angeles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas from Las Vegas to Paris and finally from Paris to Zagreb more than a year after a contest. That is dedication, passion and ethics. Genuine Friendship is seen in little things in my book.

Best part is that these two items, so dear to me now, have deeper meaning then what might look at firs - they are compass & digital voice recorde - you are never lost as long as you have your Purist friends and always remember what being Purist stands for!

It is not about how many watches you have, how rich you are, from where you are, what is your age, skin tone, belief or gender …. and that is why I’m here.

Thank you for that my friends
Cordially
Damjan

Key Points from the Discussion

The true value of watch collecting lies in the joy of interaction and discussion about watches within a passionate community, rather than solely in the objects themselves.
The forum's early contributors and their vast knowledge were instrumental in 'contaminating' many members with the horological bug, making WatchProSite a special place for learning and discovery.
Despite the commercial realities of the watch business, the passion for watches and the community interaction provide a compelling reason to continue engaging with the hobby.
The sense of community and personal connections formed through the forum are highlighted as a primary reason for continued participation, emphasizing the friendships built over shared interests.
The original poster corrects a detail, noting that his initial fascination with a Panerai (specifically a PAM50) was in 2001, not 2011, showcasing how his knowledge of references evolved over time.
The forum provided a crucial resource for watch enthusiasts in countries with limited access to authorized dealers and brands, making online communities vital for discovery and information.

The Discussion

sancerre

Jan 2, 2012

That your post gave me a smile, thanks for sharing --Sancerre

amanico

Jan 2, 2012

And me among them. 3 000 posts, this may be nothing, and that may mean a lot, when there is content, humour, friendship, generosity. I am happy you mentionned some names at the beginning of your 3 000th post, as many here will be able to remind that because ( or thank to ) of them, they were irremediabely contaminated by the horological bug... Lord Arran, that was something, and someone! As well as all the others you mentionned, who made of this place such a special place. Some small corrections

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jan 2, 2012

you are right they also took trip to Trst & Brtonigla but I didn't showed up my paternal vacation was over this just adds more spice to my story and thank you for great idea about voice recorder... it will be very useful this summer when we meet D P.S. As I believe that everything in life happens for a reason I feel that time and place you gave me goodies in Paris made them more special.... after you carried them across half of the World

ThomasM

Jan 2, 2012

Thank you for posting that. Warms my heart, and lifted my spirits. Cheers, and to a wonderful 2012. TM

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jan 2, 2012

I could do just for once and for little moment something in return Sincerely dear Founder Damjan

ThomasM

Jan 2, 2012

That was a "good Un..."

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