My Scottish Papas watch. He was a Military man and very Dour (If you’re Scottish, you’ll know what I’m talking about). But a character who loved Swiss watches, and while most people would turn their nose up at this Solid 9ct Gold ‘Quartz’ Dennison cased Roamer, to him it was an amazing innovative 80’s Swiss timepiece.

“It’s a Swiss watch, and they put a battery in it, like those shite digital watches the wee’uns are wearing (Casio’s lol), and I don’t huftee pay a tonne to get it serviced..aye ya wee Dancer!”

He might say while admiring it. He was very excited to get it, especially as it was a gift from my Uncle Brian, his Son. Now I have it and I adore it, but it doesn’t work. I’ve taken it to several watch repair shops and they won’t….yes ‘won’t work on it’, Unless it starts as immediately as a new battery is installed, they said it’s useless! This is West Kentucky, and I like the people and the land. Love some of the people…but not a lot of watch fans. Nor a lot of watchmakers. For example: I had a Bulova that cost me $200 (now worth $1200, but that’s another story). People were interested in it, but when they asked how much I paid for it, they would gasp and ask if I was a drug dealer or something, with all that cash to spend on a watch! That was 2007. Things have changed, I even saw a Surgeon wearing a Panerai once back in 2012.

So I look at my Grandpas watch with much sadness and have decided to find someone to work on it, because I want to wear it. So if you have a watch in your drawer or safe, that was worn by someone you loved, wear it! As sad as this sounds, I wear this watch, even though it doesn’t run. He was a hell of a man, and a Blacksmith by trade. His dark humor was hillarious, & his eyes would light up when something interested him. I miss him, Old Tam! SGT. Thomas O’Rourke RIP. I’m fixing your watch Papa xx
Roamer are famous for their 60’s Stingray diver!

I wrote this after listening to the Fifthwrist podcast, that mentioned something similar, about getting Heirloom watches up and running instead of sitting in a drawer.