A Watchful Sentiment

~ snakesinthegrass2014
Source: New Yorker

Let’s start by agreeing that we all get carried away now and then. Don’t try and argue the point with me because otherwise you’re just not being honest. We’re here today to discuss being transparently truthful, warts and all.

Perhaps for some of you it’s the three lumps of sugar in your coffee instead of two. No one’s looking after all, and there are the recent lab results showing that you’re fit as a fiddle. Besides, those usually too-tight tan slacks fit just fine only three weeks ago, right? For the five minutes you wore them anyway. You, staring in front of the full-length mirror muttering, “Yeah, this’ll work, this will definitely work. Tomorrow for sure.”

The question I therefore submit to you today is, what’s the harm in a little self-rationalizing? To be specific, don’t we all need to splurge now and then? A little devil character on your shoulder is constantly whispering in your ear for you to do something completely at odds with what your conscience is warning you against. Sometimes you just have to ignore him.

Psst! You deserve this!

And if YOU deserve something, then I do too.

Isn’t it you and me, after all, who figuratively always come to a complete stop when driving? Aren’t we the ones who never fail to wave the person with only two items behind us to go ahead to the front of the line? We’ve even been known to press the 25% gratuity button on occasion, am I right? We are the stalwart remnants of an ever-disappearing civil and gracious society. Surely we’re allowed a crumb of a reward now then.

And so begins my own sordid little tale of self-rationalization. I leave it to the six of you out there to decide just how gluttonous my behavior actually was. What I can share is that it all started out so innocently, what with a simple requirement to replace a watch battery. From there things got a little ugly, fiscally speaking. Embarrassingly so actually.

A very brief explanation as background: I have a lot of watches. As with most excess, it began with very nimble aspirations: a sporty model for everyday errands and road trips, an elegant one for evenings out, and an even more elegant one to expand on that JFK Jr. resemblance for which I’m so famous. Three watches, easy as pie.

Then, sometime during the early aughts, things happened. Specifically, deaths in the family. First my dad died, and his Seikos, Rolexes, and one Wittnauer all passed down to me. Then my Uncle Bob, a jeweler by trade, also passed away and somehow I ended up with one of his watches too. Dad bought watches only though his brother Bob, so there was quite a bit of style and brand overlap in what they each owned. Several years later, when my eldest sister’s husband died, she gifted me a few of his watches, all of which were quite nice and even included one that is solar. I slowly had a lot of something I hadn’t previously even coveted.

Prior to the watches, the only thing I was ever really collected in the way of styling was jackets. I had all types: rain, poplin, bomber, jean, parka, canvas, etc. The front hall closet at one point became not so much a place for a few articles of outerwear, but rather a stark warning to guests that they really weren’t welcome. I had a jacket for all weather conditions and personal moods. It was all a very middle class status-signaling. Much less expensive than owning multiple cars.

Eventually I was forced to shed most of the jackets. Life’s changes such as divorce, remarriage, retirement, and a cross-country move necessitated lightening the load. Besides, between me and thee, maybe keeping the bomber jacket and relocating to a tropical climate was never going to be practical.

Image via Microsoft Designer

But l did keep those watches. Beginning with lockdown, I stopped wearing them for the most part, and they remained in a case on a shelf in my closet. When I pulled one out a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that it had stopped and needed a new battery. As I looked over the rest of them, I saw that not a one was actually working anymore. Neglect had led to decay. My twinkly agglomeration was a depressing assortment of dead batteries, torn leather bands with whole loops missing, and some scratched faces to boot.

The ones with metal bands offered the most grief, which turned into a rather personal and cruel realization: With their shiny clasps thankfully still opening and closing correctly, they were unfortunately sized to fit someone other than the 64 year old man I am now. They did once fit perfectly on the 30-to-40 year-old dude who acquired them. Now, though, they hung on my wrist like a woman’s bracelet. I’ve lost a bit of weight in recent years, and my arms, wrists, waist, etc. are all smaller. (It’s the “etc.” part that I find the most troubling; Gorgeous regularly delights in mocking my ever-shrinking gluteus maximus region.) So in addition to battery replacement, all of the metal bands needed to have links removed to fit the increasingly shrinking me.

Every single watch therefore required some kind of attention. My precious swag was replicating my own current life journey.

I scooped all of them up and brought them to a local watch repair. The leather and metal bands were the easiest to either replace or repair. Unfortunately, the jeweler noticed additional problems as she began replacing batteries. While a few of the watches started right up, others had tattered movement mechanisms which no longer worked. Parts needed to be replaced, some of them thankfully right there in the shop. Two of the watches, however, required being sent out to another facility for a higher level of repair.

One of those two was my beloved gold Citizen, bought on an early nineties international flight from London, back when flight attendants hawked duty free goods in addition to Chivas Regal and Tab soda. It was the first quality piece of jewelry I had ever bought for myself. When the jeweler told me it would cost $120 to repair, I didn’t even blink.

Nor did I blink when she told me the Movado would be $85.

Ditto for the $60 repair of my Dad’s quartz Seiko, which I was told could be done right there in the store. Convenience!

You can see where this is going, dear reader. I was listening to the little devil on my shoulder and not my conscience. I actually held one watch back, the ESQ, which would also require being sent out å† an estimated cost of $70. Maybe next year.

Not one of my watches are actually worth anything (I’ve checked). But they are sentimental, and as you no doubt can relate to from your own life, sentiment can be the worst kind of expense sometimes. Sure I can let it all go. Except I can’t, and therefore I won’t.

I spent a small fortune. Not enough to atone during Yom Kipper later this year, but enough to have to do visual gymnastics in ignoring Gorgeous’ eyebrow-raising after the three –count ’em — three return visits to the jeweler.

Memories are priceless after all. And so is having the ability to cut a dashing figure…

Until next time…

42 thoughts on “A Watchful Sentiment”

  2. Good to see you back and it’s especially gratifying to see that you haven’t lost any of your Marty-brand of humor.

    Your post reminded me of a favorite line in The Big Chill: “Don’t knock rationalization; where would we be without it? I don’t know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They’re more important than sex.” (If I was really clever, I’d know how to imbed the link.)

    Enjoy your watches… maybe you could set each to a different time zone.

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    1. Janis, no kidding, I was literally thinking of the Big Chill only yesterday a few hours before you commented. Isn’t that crazy? You know that film like I know some lines from Albert Brooks’ “Lost in America.” I love your idea of different time zones — maybe my missing weight is one of them. 😆

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  4. This all sounds very familiar! Over a period of years I acquired a handful of old watches with dead batteries and just put them in a drawer until I had three or four. One day I bought batteries for all of them. Then my son gifted me a couple of well-used Seiko “Railroad Approved” watches because he remembered I had one when he was a kid. (I lost it at work.) Then he gave me a couple of diver watches that were basically knock-offs (or “homages” if you prefer) of Seiko or Rolex diver watches. Then I got the fever, and bought a Hamilton that was featured in a movie, (Hamilton’s big on that.) Wait, what? A solar powered Seiko diver watch that is water proof down to 200 meters?? That’s me in a nutshell, there. Etc. etc. etc. I tell myself it’s cheaper than three or four motorcycles, or a bass boat. The weirdest part of all is that pretty much NO ONE notices what watch a person is wearing, unless it’s another watch person. A watch speaks only to its owner. That’s kind of what I like about it.

    PS: I bought a watch tool kit so I could remove links myself. Then I had to buy stronger reading glasses, and then re-assess my fine motor skills.

    I like the look. You just need a long overcoat and you can open up your own watch store on a street corner in the Bronx.

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    1. Roy, I read your comment aloud to my wife just now and she snorted at buying stronger reading glasses to use the watch tool. 😆

      The solar one I was gifted is a Seiko too, and I decided to not even bring that one in. It too has stopped since lockdown, and I’m not sure why. I’ll probably sucker myself into getting it fixed at some point because, well, it’s a solar watch! As you point out, still cheaper than multiple vehicles.

      If you’ve got the backing capital, I’m game for that store in the Bronx. 😉

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      1. I guess you could lay the solar watch on a window sill in the sun, provided you don’t live in Seattle or Portland. Otherwise, I was going to say it’s probably significant that I set all my watches by the $39 Timex that I suspect will never die.

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  6. I liked having a selection of watches to “adorn” my outfits. Then I found Fitbit. I got so into the “steps” thing and all the cool stuff it can do. Now all my “nice” watches are dead. I don’t have any ambition to upgrade batteries or bands. Gotta see if I hit 10K steps today. Oh look! I had a good night’s sleep! 🙂

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    1. I definitely can see the value of the Fitbit, which I’m guessing also offers one the time too? (I’m so ignorant about most of this stuff now.) I know the iPhone can count steps too, but I’ve heard its app for it is wildly inaccurate. Thanks, Kate!

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      1. My fitbit does a lot more than steps and yes, it has the time and day. It’s not quite as pretty as some of my “dress up” watches but I’m in a casual stage of life without much opportunity for true dress up.

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  7. Love the picture.

    You didn’t mention any reconditioning the Rolex. If you did fix it, I hope you didn’t clue Gorgeous in on that expense. If you passed on fixing it, you’re a wise man. I stupidly brought mine in for a tune-up 5 years ago and felt like a lamb being led to slaughter. I’d dinged it so many time in the eons I’ve had it, so at the suggestion of my brother-in-law, I brought it to Doud’s in Ft. Lauderdale (may they rot in Hell) and they ended up basically telling me that the lack of care I’ve taken of this fine timepiece is the equivalent of never flossing your teeth your entire life. $560.00 later they proudly presented me with it all it all bright and shiny, with a new face, and like yours, removing some of the links for my shrunken wrist. The watch was the only thing of value gifted to me (besides my children) from Voldemort, I wear it daily and think of it as just a piece of jewelry that happens to tell me the time. It’s amusing to me that I own one and yet have to drive around in a bottom of the line Toyota Yaris with peeling paint now. . Btw, I didn’t have it two weeks before I put a new ding in the crystal worse than the one I brought it in for. It will forever be chipped. If I wanted to unnecessarily spend that much money again I’d buy myself a ticket to see The Stones. Hmph!

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    1. Hilarious as always, Sue! I got lucky with the Rolex. It was one of two that actually only needed a battery and a new band. So that was fortunate because I’m not sure I’d have forked out anything close to what they charged you. There are still two watches I have to fix at some point, though thankfully one is actually a wind-up that works fine and just needs a band. That one I think I can probably get to later this year. I probably should re-think having so many of these, but I guess they still give me pleasure.

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  8. Welcome back, and thank you for the chuckles. I have two watches, one for everyday and one for special events, and I hardly wear either. If I do wear one, and the younger generation sees it, they always ask me why I’m wearing it when I have a phone and why don’t I just buy an Apple watch so I can take calls and read messages and emails. I just smile because carrying a phone around at all times is enough technology for me, I do not want one sitting on my wrist. Then I’d need trifocals to be able to read it. 🙂

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    1. I know, I have to laugh that for some a phone is all the timepiece they need. Well, sure if you don’t mind taking it out of your pocket. Somehow to me just glancing at your wrist is quicker. I guess I’m old school. I do think the Apple watches are neato-keen, but it’s just another techie toy that I probably don’t need. I’m connected enough, thank you very much!

      Thanks, Judy! I’ve struggled with blogging and reading since the start of the year, but once again I’m hoping to get back on the saddle. Looking forward to seeing some beautiful scenery from you soon.

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  9. Marty, Your blog posts always “remind me of story…….” I work at a charity resale store and am in charge of jewelry, including watches. I have 2 men’s seiko’s on my desk right now. We get lots of watch donations. At first, I thought it was because they were considered obsolete, but then I started thinking that people just didn’t want to be bothered with replacing batteries and paying repair costs. Either way, they don’t resell well in our store. Some of them end up in “craft bags.” You’ve confirmed this for me with your repair estimates. I think your watch collection is a good way to be sentimental. They don’t take up much room and you can wear the stories. Welcome back from your break. Tracey

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    1. So interesting, Tracey. I think with the advent of the Apple watch, etc., that younger people definitely aren’t interested in them, and I get that. From this experience, I probably would never buy one as a resale shop because you never know what exactly is wrong with one. But I would buy a used one from a quality jeweler or repair facility (if latter places even exist). I enjoy my watches for their sentiment, and I also have to admit I still like wearing one. My favorite it actually an old wind-up from the forties that still works great. Thanks, Tracey!

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  11. hahaha – I love the picture! You are starting a new fashion trend!

    A few years ago, I did as you did, I took about 10 watches to get batteries. After spending more than I had intended, I promised myself to star using watches again. 

    I never did! and guess what? they all stopped working again. 😦

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  12. That picture says it all! 

    We had a similar situation with a vintage mantel clock. A bit sentimental and a bit I really, really like it. Getting the entire thing fixed and running again was twice the value of the clock, mostly because no one wants clocks anymore. But we decided, jointly, that it made me happy to have it running. 

    As for watches, I put my mom’s in a shadowbox. (She was the one who had many.) So, I don’t worry about them running, and I get to be sentimental about them.

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  13. I always loved wearing a watch and then went to college again in the early aughts and all the students used their flip phones as timepieces. I persisted for a few years, fuddy-duddy me. No longer. Well, all my jewelry was stolen in 2013, so no looking back! But you’re looking rather stylin’ with those sporty “sleeves” of yours!

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    1. How awful about your jewelry! I’m so sorry to hear that, though I guess that would be a forced-motivating way to change things up obviously. I actually tried to only use my phone to check the time, and I hated it. You can’t glance at something in your pocket! 😉. Thanks, Eilene!

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  14. Loving that photo! I can never be without a watch. I take mine off for a bath/shower and then it goes straight back on. It’s like its a part of me. I do only have the one watch at a time though.

    Fountain pens are probably my equivalent of your watches… although I always have one or two out to write letters with.

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  16. I never wear my watches anymore, just this week was thinking about selling them but then I got sentimental. They each have some meaning to me, glimpses back to who I was, so maybe keeping them is the right thing to do.

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  17. I haven’t worn a watch in years. I have killed a lot of watches in my time, none hugely good or expensive, through battering them on desks, dunking them into water, and generally treating them with disregard. I did eventually get one – a good and expensive (for me) one which lasted a long time. But the bracelet needed attention, and I never quite got round to it… hence the not wearing it in years.

    When my Dad died, my mother brought out some watches of his she’d had in a box in a drawer. And they were all good watches. My sister took the one my Dad wore daily (an Omega), my brother already had my grandfather’s gold Rolex, so I took the others. One Omega for each of the grandchildren when they get older. There was also a Tudor (which belonged to my other grandfather) which I took for my daughter as she was his favourite. Unfortunately all of them needed work, so I found a watch smith and spent a small fortune. And yet I still don’t have a working watch… as my expensive-to-me watch now seems not worth fixing.

    Your watches all look fab btw 🙂 And your photo made me nearly spit out my tea!

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    1. My uncle had a beautiful Omega one that my cousin deservedly has. Your dad had good taste! An old college roommate of mine had a Tudor that he inherited from his his grandfather, and I always thought that was a classy looking watch.

      It’s still good that you fixed up all those watches for everyone — they’ll appreciate them in later years.

      Glad you only nearly spit out the tea, Debs! 😆

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  18. Thanks Marty, he did indeed. The crazy thing is I never realised, as he never acted precious about them, which I now really appreciate.

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  19. Okay, Marty, I cheated…to be transparently truthful I scrolled through your post and looked at the pictures first. I see the debonair, dashing figure at the end with the possibly stirred, not shaken cocktail, and I immediately think about…my brother (my favourite family member!) I have known him all his life (he is younger) and I learned recently (10 years ago) how he has a collection of fancy watches he keeps in a fancy box.

    I did go back to the top and read all…not wanting to miss a word of Marty’s wise and witty take on life. I nod my head, yes, to “self-rationalization.” You remind me how North America is not known for repairing items. Possibly a resurgence in other countries? Beautiful gold Citizen watch! As you know, sentimental value is priceless. An interesting and relatable post, Marty. I hope you and Gorgeous are enjoying a beautiful Spring.😊 (3rd time to attempt a comment here…hope this works 😊)

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    1. Erica, oh no! Sorry for the struggles in commenting. Ugh, WP. So solidarity with your brother then, eh? I have a watch box also, though it’s old and probably needs replacing at this point. Currently all of the repaired watches are sitting out on top of a table in my office, awaiting a spring cleaning in the closet where they usually are housed. Except I can’t clean the closet until the screened-in patio is cleaned because I keep the patio cushions in said closet during the winter; and I can’t clean the patio yet until they finish painting our condo building. So the watches sit out looking quite out of place. Bottom line? I’ll use any excuse to avoid a chore! 😉

      I think you’re right that we do live in way too much of a disposable society. I felt good fixing all of them, even if my wallet continues to smart from the pain incurred.

      Thanks, as always, for commenting. Hope all is well!

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