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Ares501's "Purist of the Month" series continues with an insightful interview featuring Abel, known as Subexplorer, from Argentina. This feature allows the community to delve into the personal journey and collecting philosophy of one of its esteemed members. Abel shares his path to WatchProSite, his approach to selecting watches, and the profound meaning the community holds for him, offering a rich tapestry of personal connection and horological passion.
My name is Abel and my nickname at PuristS is Subexplorer which encompass two of my favorite Rolex models.
IĀ“m 68 years old and live in Argentina. IĀ“ve
been married to my wife for 43 years and IĀ“m father of two children
which had
gifted me with the blessing of four grandchildren. IĀ“m a CPA and for the last
40 years
I work at a family owned company established by my late father-in-law 65 years ago.
2. How did you discovered WatchProSite and what it means for you to be one of PuristS?
I discovered PuristS around year 2008 while
searching the internet for info about Rolex. At first I was rather shy
to join
and participate because I was amazed by the high level of knowledge of the participants
and I was a complete rookie
beginning the exploration of this marvelous world of watches. Thus I only read and enjoyed the place for about three years till I finally joined in January 2012!
I will never regret that! I discovered a group of nice guys who generously donated time and knowledge to share
with me and helped me to open my eyes to new models and brands I had never thought before about having on my wrist.
I feel honored to be able to meet personally some of these nice persons who warmly and kindly treat me as an old friend in spite of the distance between our real homes.
I feel PuristS is an special place with a
unique spirit which stands out among the many Watch Forums in Internet,
a retreat to find some rest, enjoyment and understanding of our passion for these little mechanic marvels we all love. I feel honored to belong.
3. What watch are you wearing today and how you choose watch āof the dayā?
Today IĀ“m wearing a Rolex 6238 (a.k.a. Pre Daytona) steel case and silver dial from 1962.
I find this watch so charming and understated. I really love it and it is one of my favorite watches.
I donĀ“t have any specific plan of rotation
of my timepieces. It all depends on my mood, my humor,
a sudden desire or just
the feeling that this or that watch is asking me: take me for a ride!
I usually change of timepiece once every two or three days, but sometimes I change of watch in the same day!
4. What is your favorite watch/brand/complication?
My favorite brand is Rolex, and my favorite
model is the Submariner.
The love for Rolex was instilled by my dad who was a big fan and admirer of the brand though he only owned just one: a Datejust.
My first serious watch was a 5513 gifted by my Parents for my 18th birthday in 1966.
It was my grail! Regrettably that watch
was stolen at gun point some years later and immediately
replaced by my Submariner
1680 bought brand new in January 1977.
I still own that 1680 and it was almost my only watch (or at least the watch I wore 95% of the time) till I begun collecting watches in 2008.
My favorite type of watches/complications are Divers and Chronographs.
Though I always liked watches, up to year
2008 I only owned my Submariner and three or four other watches
(two of them were Rolex too) but as I told before, the Sub was on my wrist 95% of the time.
In 2008 I was reaching my 60th birthday and I decided to gift myself a watch: an Explorer ref 114270 so
I searched the internet looking for reviews of that model which I finally bought.
At my 60th birthday I was also gifted a book
about Rolex History. I feel that the book, the new Explorer
and the discovery
of PuristS was a very dangerous cocktail which fired my first steps along
my meandering road as collector of watches.
6. What element of the watch is for you make it or break it factor?
Dial and case size are important factors to me.
Dials are the first thing that calls my attention! Also: I donĀ“t feel comfortable with watches with cases larger than 40 mm. May be 42 mm in some few watches.
Panerai is the exception which confirms my rule as it is the only big size watch I like, love and feel comfortable with, may be it is so because that big size is part of their DNA.
I also donĀ“t like very formal and thin watches. I tend to prefer sporty or casual timepieces.
But most important, the piece has to ātalkā to me and I say this with the risk of those who read this thinking IĀ“m definitively mad! Sorry I canĀ“t explain it!
But definitively there are watches which I would never own no matter its brand and others which make me feel
I would die if I canĀ“t get one for me right now! These are the ones which talked to me and asked: Take me to your home!
7. If you could design your own watch what would it be and what it would look like?
You surprised me with this question as I never thought before about designing a watch myself.
I prefer sport watches,
steel case of no more than 40 mm diameter and a transparent case
back to view a
nicely decorated movement. I like both manual and automatic winding.
I guess it would look very similar to a Submariner, or a JLC DSA or a Polaris!
8. What is the watch that will last leave your collection and why?
ThatĀ“s not easy for me. I tend to get very passionate and attached to the different objects
I collect which I do with some obsession and a bit of madness.
I know
thatĀ“s bad, but I feel uneasy when IĀ“m asked: what if you were to own just one
of your xxx object??
To own just one example of anything could be something terrible for the collector of objects I am!
Anyway... I would say that my Submariner 1680 of 1977 and
the gold Date gifted by my wife more than
30 years ago would be the last ones I would surrender. The Submariner in special tells a lot of things about my life and passions.
I shared 50 years with a Rolex Sub! I definitively feel it is my signature watch!
I hate all the bling and the big size race
of last years.
My favorite brand Rolex now polishes their cases so bright
instead of maintaining the classic ābrushedā finish
of vintage models and
increased the case diameter of their classic models like the
Day Date which went from 36 mm to 41mm! Other brands offer watches so big and tall on the wrist!!
What I love?: the trend of some brands like Tudor paying homage to their classic models, e.g. the Black Bay.
I also applaud Omega for keep offering a classic model the Speedmaster. And I love when a brand launches
a new model which I have been expecting for long time. It doesnĀ“t happen often, buy it happens some times! Lol!
10. What was the evolution of your collection and how do you see it in next decade?
I started collecting Rolex watches: Bubblebacks first, Explorers, Submariners and GMTĀ“s later. Then I focused in chronographs.
PuristS fellow members opened my eyes to other Rolex models IĀ“d never had paid attention before, as well as to other watch brands I never thought to own before.
Most of my horological education I owe to PuristS members and their passion for different brands and models.
I feel that the connecting line among the
pieces of my present collection are the sport models,
but my evolution came
through the discovery and appreciation of other brands other than Rolex:
I learned there is an awesome world beyond! Though I still love the brand and IĀ“m specially fond of their
vintage pieces, I presently own a nice collection of
Omega, JLC, Longines, Panerai, Zenith and other
brands, and developed a true love with Speedmasters.
My future as collector for the next years: I feel I
need to depurate my collection. I need to reduce the quantity.
I need to mature
as collector to have the inner energy and courage to let go some pieces which
do not fit in the overall spirit of the collection.
I am not a sportsman but have been very fond of scuba diving since I was
16.
I have witnessed the evolution of sport scuba diving since the mid 1960's to the present. This has a deep connection with my love for the Submariner and for diving watches in general.
I collect vintage diving gear and statuettes of deep sea divers.
I
have been a passionate collector of antique firearms and knives for more than
40 years,
and IĀ“m author of five books about Knives published in Spanish. IĀ“ve written articles for magazines
in Brazil, USA, Spain and France. I love to
shoot both pistol and rifle at the range.
I
also love photography and to travel abroad with my wife and we try to arrange a
couple of trips per year when my job allows.
Discovering new places or returning to our favorite ones, and meeting friends in foreign Countries is a big big pleasure and reward.
12. Your life motto and life philosophy isā¦
You surprise me again with this question! I never thought about a motto!
I feel that ĀØLife is Goodā could be a good one! I guess my philosophy is very
simple:
to work hard and share and enjoy my time and my interests with my
Family and friends
wishing to make feel happy those who are near me. I hope to earn a simple epitaph when
IĀ“m finally called to the Big CollectorĀ“s Club in the Sky: ĀØHere lies a good guyā.
Cheers!
Abel.
The Rolex reference 6238 is a manually wound chronograph produced in the early 1960s, preceding the introduction of the 'Daytona' designation. It represents a transitional period in Rolex's chronograph lineage, characterized by a more refined and less overtly sporty aesthetic compared to its successors. The model is recognized for its clean dial layout and absence of the external tachymeter bezel that would become a hallmark of later chronographs.
This reference typically features a 36mm stainless steel case with pump pushers and a smooth bezel. It is powered by the Valjoux 72B manual-winding chronograph movement, known for its robustness and reliability. The dial is often silvered, with applied baton hour markers and dauphine hands, complemented by three recessed subsidiary dials for the running seconds, 30-minute counter, and 12-hour counter. Some rare examples exist with black dials.
For collectors, the 6238 holds significance as the last of the 'pre-Daytona' chronographs, offering a distinct aesthetic that appeals to those who appreciate a more classic and understated design. Its relative rarity compared to later Daytona models, combined with its historical position, contributes to its desirability in the vintage market. The Valjoux 72B movement is also a point of appreciation for its mechanical heritage.
Enjoyable reading. Thank you.
Congrats Damjan on this series, it really is interesting to find out more about our members and people we chat to virtually and often might never meet. Cheers Andrew PS. Amazing set of pictures too! Almost a weekly wristscan by itself!
... pleasure to answer to our friend Damjan interview and agree he must be congratulated for this monthly series. Glad you enjoyed the pictures!! Thanks a lot my friend! All the best, Abel
...It was my pleasure to participate here! Cheers! Abel
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