M Segal
58
My Nautilus
Sorry I have no pictures to post but I will contribute my story.
Before I really got this watch disease I lusted after a fancy watch. My father owned a RO and this only added kindling to my fire. The finely finished case, the wonderful sound of the movement winding and the incredible obscurity really made my heart race.
Having completed my residency I walked into my local jeweler in town looking to replace my TAG 1000M Super Professional which had served its duty well but needed replacing.
I had read about all sorts of fancy watches magazines but besides my fathers Audemars I had only seen Rolex in person. MY local jeweler carries a WIDE assortment of watches including Rolex, Patek, Audemars, Vacheron, Blancpain, Jaegar and FM to mention the major players. The year was 1998.
The salesman (who has since become a friend of mine) was really pushing hard for me to buy one of the two remaining 5015's they had in stock. $19,100 for a watch was out of the question. I still kick myself to this day but cest la vie.
He told me there was no brand better than Patek but a new watch that was up and coming was Frank Mueller. I really liked their design with the exploding numbers, day/date complication or my favorite was a jump hour.
Also in the same vein I put a VC 1912 on my wrist. Beautiful but too delicate I thought.
What could I afford in Patek?
Mainly an assortment of hand wound watches, the 5026 was too expensive, the original Aquanaut left me cold (about $5,000) but the Nautilus with the new Roman numeral dial caught my attention. I much preferred this dial to the stark original slate dial (I know I may stand alone on this). The watch was superbly thin. The contrasting brushed and polished steel seemed to defy ones ability to accomplish. The strap was comfortable and the little button on the clasp (now not available I understand) added that extra bit of class.
The wonderful sound of the rotor winding the watch (which I can actually feel sometimes and not even hear) provides a comforting reassurance of the little Swiss Elves keeping time in check.
I admire the raised applied white gold roman numerals and soft leaf hands with luminescent filling, enabling the watch to be read in ANY light condition.
But the price of $9,400, for a SS "sport" watch seemed exorbitant.
I left the shop with nothing but my wife later returned and conspired with the salesman. She presented me with my brand new Nautilus the next day.
Despite my ever growing collection of watches including a Daytona, Langematic, IWC 5251, Omega 1950's Cosmic and a Patek 3940 my Nautilus still garners about 50% of my wrist time, the rest share the remaining time.
Mike S.
