2018 was a fantastic year for the family collection. In February, the Grail Wife got the party started with a gorgeous 38mm PSM Serpent Calendar. I couldn't be more proud of her… how many people can say the first watch they ever purchased was an Independent?! I kinda hate to say it, but she has the nicest watch in the family! It looks amazing on her and it took some stress off of all my watches she and my son love to scratch so skilfully. Grail Baby approved. I kicked off the year with a trusty new surf companion.🤙 In its first year, the fearless Turtle survived at least 50 sessions in the water, getting tossed around in the waves and ground by sand and yet somehow it still looks brand new. Seikos really represent an unbeatable value. Next addition was the LLD, a watch I have admired from afar for many years. One fateful day in the Spring, I walked into the newly built Nordstrom in my area where I noticed inside their case of Longines an LLD with date (close your eyes, Nico🙈). I tried it on and it was all over... I naturally had to find the No-Date version. Fortunately I found it with no trouble at all from a fellow Purist. Just had to change the strap and I was good to go. Grail Baby approved! What I thought had to be my last watch of 2018 was this Habring2 COS. My first ever Indy, first ever white dial, and the closest I have ever come to a “dress watch”. If you've never experienced the operation of the COS crown, what Richard and Maria created is quite remarkable. When we regard the pushers of a 5170 or Datograph as buttery smooth, I can say activating the chrono of the COS is just as smooth if not smoother. As with any Habring2, this another watch with tremendous value. Last month while on vacation in Europe, I visited my friend Sandra at Amsterdam Watch Co. They have an enviable selection of vintage Rolex and Omega which are presently (and likely forever) out of my reach. One piece which was utterly unique from the rest was a 42mm Pontiac (a brand I admittedly never heard of) with Blue-Green dial, all original dial & hands, and best of all, a 42mm EPSA Super Compressor case with signed crowns. I left without it but obsessed every day of two weeks until I called Sandra to kindly put it on hold, intent on paying in full in January. But the Grail Wife - the amazing woman that she is - realized how much I was lusting after it and surprised me with an early Christmas present! And so with the Pontiac the Grail Family put a cap on a huge (for us) 2018. In 2019 I have my sights on the polarizing Panerai PAM779. Sacrilege to the Paneristi but I love it! After that, THAT'S IT… I'M DONE for a long, long while!!! .....but of course we'll see how long that lasts!😉 Thanks for reading, my family wishes all our fellow Purists a great end to 2018 and an even better 2019.