Getting the old friend back

Master 1011 posts

10 Jul 2017, 9:06 p.m. 10 Jul 2017, 9:06 p.m.

It has been more than 2 weeks since I have my new watch but I still could not
find the right words for this post. And I am still not sure I will write it
right. But I can't hold the reveal for you guys for that long, so let's get
started.

Many of us have had the pleasure of meeting our fellow collector and truly
great friend as Giovanni Ambrogio for sure was. I was happy to meet him during
two SIHH events in person, which together with some online communication, was
enough to mark an unforgettable print within me. The sad news about him
passing away has opened the possibility to secure also a physical piece of
memory through obtaining a watch from his collection. I was very sure I wanted
one. Unfortunately I was either late for models I wanted or they were over my
budget. I had to let it go then.

When suddenly, after another year has gone, a simple mention, that there is
one specific model still "free", many of things have suddenly fallen together
to create an inevitable image of me wearing this watch. Very hard to
explain...

I have never felt like wearing a divers' watch. But guess what, I was wearing
a titanium watch, mentioned for "water activity" for 15 years a daily wearer!
Just before coming to IWC and putting this watch for the needed rest. Whoever
remembers THIS post knows.

And here it was. A special watch, from a special friend, reminding me of a
fellow collector, reminding me of a watch which was with me literally every
day, no matter what, office, trekking, biking, rafting, military service, you
name it. A watch that I was missing back in my mind, for purposes I needed a
companion since then. Suddenly oh so beautiful and wanted. Don't get me wrong,
this was no impulse purchase. This was a sudden urge to have an old friend
back. Both of them, Gio and watch. To stay with me, to accompany me when times
get hard. This watch can withstand that.

From that "awakening" moment it went as fast as possible. I have contacted our
dear fellow Mark "8541" to help me arrange the acquisition. Which he gladly
did. And has done even more. He has helped me, together with two other great
guys Lucio and Fritz, to get the watch to me as soon as possible. Really,
there are people within our community, may-be not active on our forum, who are
willing to go an extra mile to help the others, to help to create happy
moments for fellow collectors, organising events and whose work is often
hidden in the background. I thank you all dear friends, your efforts are truly
appreciated. And I don't mean only helping me in this case!

Now let's back to the watch itself. Its history has started here:

A SIHH DOUBLE REVEAL

Fast forward to June 2017, the watch was picked up by a very fast travelling
courier at the dinner in Dusseldorf, handed over in Amsterdam to another
Italian first, Austrian guy second, who took a diversion through London to
hand it to a guy from Slovakia in Vienna. Which would be me. As simple as
that.

DUS pickup was a teaser for me as this was all I was allowed to see: