Comments:
Let's get rollin' with Father's Day Wristscan! . . .
. . . time to share both the watch(es) we remember our Dads by along with what we're wearing this weekend.
My Dad . . .
[photo taken Sept '88]
. . . was quite a guy. A family man to his core; he had no hobbies or time-consuming interests, just concern and attention for us. In this photo you can see him wearing a simple quartz watch, even though he could have afforded better. For Pops, a watch (or car, or golf clubs, you name it) had no value if it took away from others close to him. His parents, siblings, and in-laws all benefited from his care.
The watch he wore for almost forty years was this '65 Seiko Sea Lion.
Acquired in Kuwait January '66, this was Dad's everyday watch until he passed it on to yours truly in '04. In all that time he had it serviced once.
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When he asked how much I spent to have it serviced right after he gave it to me, he exploded. "That's ten times what I paid for it! What are you, a millionaire?"
$
"Sorry, Pops, but that's what servicing with parts and a new crystal costs now. I had to get it running again."
A good thing he never asked about the custom shark skin strap and deployant added several years later.
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Around ten years ago it stopped running accurately and then to the point it couldn't be worn. After languishing for a few years I finally gave it to the watchmaker I was using at the time.
Big mistake: he not only couldn't get it running, but apparently caused even more damage. When I finally gave it to my current watchmaker for restoration, he ended up having to replace not only movement parts (which he fortunately had, having trained at Seiko in the '60s) but also two missing jewels. It now runs well enough to wear . . .
. . . and will be on my wrist this coming Sunday in his memory.
The watch on my wrist today is a sea lion of a different sort.
Let's honor our fathers this weekend by sharing watches, ours and theirs, and photos of them, too, if you're so inclined.
Art
Good evening Dr No.
Some of my most treasured memories of my Father are by the sea. Growing up on the coast had its advantages and the sea was always an inexpensive day out.
Hereās me with my elder sister getting ready for a dive! Circa 1970
Dad was an enthusiastic scuba diver and occasionally brought home tea which apparently I wasnāt too keen on.
Dad was a year round sea swimmer (before it became fashionable) regularly training with others including channel swimmer Godfrey Chapman. Here we see Dad, (John) on the right and his mate (Ralph) to the left. The gent in the middle was a visiting Cockney who offered to have his photo taken with them in awe of people swimming in February!
Fast forward ā© 1983
My first serious watch from my parents (web picture) which i foolishly lost whilst waterskiing of the back of a jet ski in the early 90ās.
2009 started a new job and one of my coworkers had this in their toolbox. I no longer have the original but I now have this cherished piece.
All the best,
Kurt.
Hereās me with my elder sister getting ready for a dive! Circa 1970
Dad was an enthusiastic scuba diver and occasionally brought home tea which apparently I wasnāt too keen on.
Dad was a year round sea swimmer (before it became fashionable) regularly training with others including channel swimmer Godfrey Chapman. Here we see Dad, (John) on the right and his mate (Ralph) to the left. The gent in the middle was a visiting Cockney who offered to have his photo taken with them in awe of people swimming in February!
Fast forward ā© 1983
My first serious watch from my parents (web picture) which i foolishly lost whilst waterskiing of the back of a jet ski in the early 90ās.
2009 started a new job and one of my coworkers had this in their toolbox. I no longer have the original but I now have this cherished piece.
All the best,
Kurt.
Forgot to mention his watch..
ā¦ or lack of watches. Dad was never really a watch guy. We clubbed together one Xmas and got him a Seiko Sports 100 which he tended to only wear on special occasions. I have no photos of him wearing it and no idea what happened to it, but itās the same as below.
(Photo credit for both watches to Mornington watches)
Kurt.
(Photo credit for both watches to Mornington watches)
Kurt.
I think our Dads would've gotten along . . .
. . . famously, Kurt. Dad wasn't much of a swimmer, but was a keen football (as in soccer, not American gridiron) player when he was young.
I fondly remember him running circles around me and a few of my pals trying to play soccer. This was in the early '70s, when soccer was hardly known in the States. Dad would've been pushing forty, but his footwork was still there.
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Completely agree Art.
Dad could match or even better me at most things right into his early sixties. Unfortunately I didnāt inherit his mid life stamina. š
Oh! Interesting and surprising to know that your Dad was a football (soccer) aficionado dear Art! Surprising considering that even today soccer is not as popular in the States as American football.
As you know soccer football is very very popular down here in my land. I must confess IĀ“m not very fond of soccer except when the time of a World Cup a period I like to view the matches.
Surprisingly my eleven years old grandson is a true fanatic of soccer. He knows everything about the teams around the world and of course of the local ones. And a fan of Messi! Lol!
Probably the arrival of Messi to the USA will push up the popularity of this sport there.
Cheers! Abel
Surprisingly my eleven years old grandson is a true fanatic of soccer. He knows everything about the teams around the world and of course of the local ones. And a fan of Messi! Lol!
Probably the arrival of Messi to the USA will push up the popularity of this sport there.
Cheers! Abel
Dad was born and raised in Jerusalem and Amman, and played soccer . . .
. . . on his school team.
When he emigrated here to attend college, he had to sign up for a P(hysical) E(ducation) class. He looked at a list of options.
"Football? I'll teach these guys how to play football!"
He goes to the PE class. The coach looks him up and down.
"So, where did you say you played before?"
"Terra Sancta College*."
"Terra Sancta? Never heard of it. What position did you play?"
Dad is thinking, what the hell is this guy talking about? "Uhh, I played all the positions, coach."
"Really? You played all positions?"
Dad weighed about 140 pounds.
"Yeah, we all played every position. Is it different here?"
"Yeah, kid, here at LA City College we specialize. So does every other college, high school, and pro team I know of except Terra Santca, and I don't even know where the hell it is."
Coach looks at Dad, sizing him up.
"You like like a wide receiver. Go out for a pass."
Dad has no idea what he's being asked, but sees the eggplant-shaped football in the coach's hand ready to be launched downfield.
Coach throws the football downfield, and Dad figures out he has to catch it. He runs toward the arc of the football and it drops into his hands.
He turns around to see three huge linebackers chasing after him.
He said he stood still, faced the oncoming defenders, and dropped the ball. The three linebackers stopped in their tracks.
Coach shook his head. "Go run four laps, kid, then take a shower."
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* Terra Sancta is a high school in Amman, Jordan. One of Dad's classmates was King Hussein.
Ha ha ha ha!! ThatĀ“s a GREAT story Art!! I imagined and "viewed" the scene while reading it! Lol!! Fantastic anecdote!!
And your Dad had an illustrious classmate at Terra Sancta School!
That story reminds me of something which happened to me when I was a little boy of around eight years old.
My aunt had taken me and my little sister to a picnic in a public park just by the side of a golf field. We were sitting in the grass under a tree having a light meal when I heard a noise nearby and viewed that a little white ball had landed on the grass a few yards from the place we were camping.
Then I viewed a group of persons walking toward us from more than a hundred yards from the place we were sitting. They surely were the owners of the ball and were looking for it I thought.
As I was taught I should be polite with elder people and had no idea of what these guys were playing to I went for the ball, took it in my hands and run to the group to handle it and save them the long walk.
When I was near the group I could clearly listen their shouts (canĀ“t repeat what they shouted me but you can imagine!) so I dropped the ball right there and turned running to where my aunt and sister were waiting with my sandwich, Lol!
Thank you for sharing your DadĀ“s story Art! I enjoyed it so much!
Best cordial regards, Abel
Hello dear Kurt! How nice to share with us these memories around your Dad. I was delighted to read and know he was an enthusiast SCUBA diver in the 1970's and viewing some pieces...
... of gear typical of that era.
I admire those sportmen/ladies who are brave enough to swim in cold winter waters. Though I love to dive or swim in the ocean I donĀ“t comfortable in cold waters and need a wet suit to really enjoy it.
Thank you for sharing those pictures and telling us about your Dad. Have a nice weekend and Happy FatherĀ“s Day! Abel
I admire those sportmen/ladies who are brave enough to swim in cold winter waters. Though I love to dive or swim in the ocean I donĀ“t comfortable in cold waters and need a wet suit to really enjoy it.
Thank you for sharing those pictures and telling us about your Dad. Have a nice weekend and Happy FatherĀ“s Day! Abel
Hello dear Art! So nice to make this edition of WS a celebration of ā¦
ā¦ of Fatherās Day remembering our Dads and of course their watches.
It was nice to know about your Dad and about his watches. You made me laugh loudly when reading his comment when he learned the cost of servicing his Seiko.
Iām sure that this Sea Lion gives much pleasure, fond memories and nostalgia when you wear it.
I also have many good memories around my Dad. He liked watches though he owned only two: a Datejust and a Cartier Santos.
He loved the brand Rolex and he instilled in me the love for the brand since I was a kid listening him praising them.
When my Dad passed away the Cartier went to my son and I kept the Datejust. It was bought at a local Rolex AD with a full steel Jubilee bracelet.
I regret not having a shot of his Cartier. But I share a pocket watch from my Grandfather which was brought from his original home in Valencia, Spain. It was made in his homeland, I guess in the late 1800ās and it still works!
Now I share a shot of my Dad and me taken some 25 years ago. He was a very good amateur painter and drawer and he contributed to one of my books about knives drawing a lot of vintage knives in scale to illustrate my book. In the picture he is sitting at his desk working in one of his detailed drawings.
Thank you for hosting and this great theme dear Art!
Happy Fatherās Day to all Dads in our site celebrating with our Dads and children. And as our dear Captain Scarlet well said for some of us that day may bring good memories of someone very special who is no longer with us
Best cordial regards
Abel
My cousin has a similar Rolex Datejust . . .
. . . that was gifted by his elder brother. The most precious watches are those handed down (or across, in my cousin's case) by family.
Thanks for sharing the picture of you and your Dad, Abel.
Warmest,
Art
Thanks a lot for your kind comments dear Art. It is my pleasure to share my DadĀ“s picture. What a coincidence your cousin owns a similar Datejust. This type of dial with Roman numerals...
... and the rail minutes track is popularly known as "Buckley dials" among collectors, so named after a well known New York watch dealer and it was very popular in Datejusts from the 1970's and 80's (my DadĀ“s watch is from 1981 and is a reference 16013).
I also own a Rolex Oyster Quarts ref 17000 with an identical dial to your cousinĀ“s which I bought in a Rolex AD 1983 but was made in 1980. I show it below.
Absolutely agree that the most precious watches are those handed down -or across- by family. I would add also those which came from a good friend as well.
Thank you again for this great theme dear Art. Enjoy your weekend my dear friend. A big hug for you!
Abel
I also own a Rolex Oyster Quarts ref 17000 with an identical dial to your cousinĀ“s which I bought in a Rolex AD 1983 but was made in 1980. I show it below.
Absolutely agree that the most precious watches are those handed down -or across- by family. I would add also those which came from a good friend as well.
Thank you again for this great theme dear Art. Enjoy your weekend my dear friend. A big hug for you!
Abel
I love the pocket watch ā¦
How wonderful that you still have this family heirloom.
Wonderful photo of you and your Dad.
Thank you so much dear Captain!
Appreciate so much your kind comments.
Yes Iām happy to have this old pocket watch which belonged to my grandfather and father. Iām the third generation owner and will pass it to my son or daughter some day.
The photograph always reminds me of fond happy moments shared with my Dad.
Have a nice weekend and Fatherās Day tomorrow my dear friend!
Best
Abel
Yes Iām happy to have this old pocket watch which belonged to my grandfather and father. Iām the third generation owner and will pass it to my son or daughter some day.
The photograph always reminds me of fond happy moments shared with my Dad.
Have a nice weekend and Fatherās Day tomorrow my dear friend!
Best
Abel
My dad wore a quartz watch most days but saved his DJ for special occasions
As it was bought in the 80s it was a two tone DJ, with a tapestry dial. Quite representative of the 80s!
Since then, he's gifted it to me about 6y ago and it remains a precious part of the collection ā¤ļø
Since then, he's gifted it to me about 6y ago and it remains a precious part of the collection ā¤ļø
Uncle Jake owns the very same Rolex . . .
. . . and I'll try to snag a photo of it this weekend!
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Uncle Jake has taken it out of his safe . . .
. . . and I'll drop by the ranch tomorrow to take a photo.
ThatĀ“s great dear Art!! I wish Uncle Jake will keep enjoying his Datejust so much!! Cheers! Abel
Beautiful watch NT931! Iām sure it will always beā¦
ā¦ a very special watch for you.
Interesting to note that two tone Rolex (and other brands at well) were very popular in the eighties. Tapestry dials are beautiful!
Keep enjoying and loving it so much!
Hagwe
Abel
Interesting to note that two tone Rolex (and other brands at well) were very popular in the eighties. Tapestry dials are beautiful!
Keep enjoying and loving it so much!
Hagwe
Abel
Here's Uncle Jake's two-tone Datejust . . .
. . . that's similar to yours, N. And his Day-Date . . .
. . . for good measure. He's owned them for 30+ years and never had them serviced.
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The first watchmaker I employed to work on Dad's Seiko said . . .
. . . "I can tell he's a hard-working man," presumably because the movement was worn out. He was right: Dad wasn't a big guy, but his arms and wrists were like Popeye's.
Art
Ha ha ha!! Great descpription dear Art. IĀ“m happy that you could rescue the Sea Lion so you can enjoy wearing it and reminding your Dad with it.
By the way: The Ultra Deep is fantastic. IĀ“m still waiting for mine. I entered my order more than a year ago, but due to the local economic status and import restrictions it still didnĀ“t arrive. I need to be very patient indeed living in my Country! Lol!
Hagwe, Abel
Hagwe, Abel
I've been wearing the UltraDeep since Friday . . .
. . . and will switch to Dad's Seiko tomorrow morning to properly mark Father's Day.
Here's hoping yours comes soon, Abel!
Art
The Ultra Deep is a very impressive watch for sure and IĀ“m eagerly waiting for it. Mine will arrive sooner or later and I feel I will enjoy it so much.
IĀ“m happy to know you are enjoying yours so much and I feel itĀ“s a great idea to mark FatherĀ“s Day wearing your DadĀ“s Seiko. I will imitate you with my DadĀ“s Datejust today.
A big hug for you my dear friend.
Abel