Omega

Not too long ago, I placed an order for some custom straps from Aaron Bespoke. I prefer a custom length as a personal pet peeve of mine is when the tale of the strap is too long and sticks out the other end so much that you can see it when you are looking at your watch. I also appreciate the ability to customize the distance between the holes for finer strap adjustment on a traditional pin and buckle, and even deployant. Living in Texas, you can be outside with intense heat and humidity, and then enter the frigid Arctic that is our air conditioned spaces. Such extremes and temperature often require some adjustments, so the ability to fine-tune the strap pin placement for the perfect fit that needs minimal adjustment throughout the day is ideal. 

Building upon my klutz factor, I knew early on that I would not be a surgeon. Hence, I transitioned into another profession. With that in mind, my favorite watch dealer begged me to bring him any watches for which I wanted to change straps to avoid the butchery of the cases and lugs that I could easily induce. So, I had brought him a Breguet and a Patek to change the straps with these new custom straps. He promptly changed them with surgical precision and placed one watch in each of the two red Omega boxes for me to transport safely home. 

I get home and I promptly take out one of the boxes from the bag and store my watch away. I close the box and put it away. I have a phone call come in which I take and pace around as I customarily do when on the phone. After about 15 minutes when my phone call, concludes, I return to continue putting away my other watch. I opened up the red box and to my dismay – it is empty. 

In a panic, and having a flashback of last year when I had my vehicle broken into, I thought was I robbed? But I came straight home and nothing could’ve tampered with the vehicle. I call my watch dealer and he begins looking around his shop and then begins to get his staff to help him rewind security cameras to see if we could see what might have happened. 

A few moments later, I hear a familiar laugh from the corner of my closet. My five-year-old son appears. He is laughing and laughing and says “I cranked you” - his familiar term for pulling a prank. Confused, I asked what does he mean and he said “I switched the red boxes.” I open and reached for the drawer where I had stored the empty red box. Lo and behold, opening it up, there was the other watch. 

Instantly relieved that I did not lose my Breguet - I look at my son as he exclaims “April fool’s!” and asked me if he cranked me good. Without a doubt, he got me, my watch dealer, and a few other others really really good.

Happy watch collecting and memories is what it is all about. I can say that I will never forget this moment with my youngest son.

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