because over here, every 13 year-old instantly became a watch nut when he got a watch for his Bar-Mitzvah. Now, you have to remember, this is pre-Quartz time, and a watch has a perception of being an object of value, even if not luxurious.
For my Bar Mitzvah I received a 'Seiko 5' which was the dream/benchmark of my time. I come from a family of very little means (luckily things are slightly better now,,,) , and I know it was not an easy purchase at $150...that watch was handed over to my brother 3 years later...
at 16 My grandfather gave me his 'Heno' automatic, a plain and simple, but amazingly accurate piece, that I cherish and keep until today. That watch was on my wrist throughout my military days (on a Spartacus strap with cover) right up to my first purchase...
1986, I use my military discharge funds to get my dream watch, 16800 Submariner (Rolex was actually the only Luxury watch I knew about). That watch was in my dreams since seeing De Niro with it in "The Dear Hunter"....ok guess it was a 1680 back then,,,lol
In 1987, I visited Switzerland for the first time. I proudly walk into the home of my girlfriend's father in Appenzel (he was a very famous Israeli writer named Ephraim Kishon, sadly – passed away last year –
, living in both Israel and Switzerland ) flashing my Sub around, when Ephraim sarcastically calls me a vulgar person to be wearing a Rolex, and explaining to me that if I ever consider a REAL watch - Jaeger LeCoultre.
Needless to say, I never heard of it, couldn't even pronounce it....
6 months later, in an auction-house named Joseph, on the Koenigsalle in Düsseldorf, I snag my first JLC Memovox for 500DM. It has been downhill from there......
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