A landmark day for me horology-wise!

[ianmedium]

I will start off by saying this is probably the biggest day in watches for me in all the years I have been into watches (it started with a Timex in 1973!).

There are two brands that have always stood out for me since childhood, Rolex and Cartier. I have been fortunate to own both but the thing that has stood even higher has been an almost life long desire to one day own a solid gold watch and it had to be from either of those two companies for it to be the true grail!

I also really wanted to achieve this on or around my 50th birthday (which was last November) so I have done so within my half century year.

Well, today is that day. I now leave the world of Rolex (for a short while!) and enter the world of Cartier ( I do as you know own a small vintage tank but it never gets worn as its too small) and an 18k Cartier at that!

Now to the horse trading! Met Carl last week and we got to talking and well, one thing led to another. Carl now has the Air King (well he will when we meet up on Saturday) and I now have his gold tank solo!

A little bit about why Cartier is so special to me. Well, for all the reasons its special to most people, like Rolex it is a landmark achievement brand with a rich heritage  behind it (people often forget that Cartier has some serious horological balls going for it) but the real reason is more personal.

My first boss when I was training to be a chef was a man called Martin Hoyle who owned The Ship Inn in Cockwood in Devon. Martin was a dead ringer for a late seventies Rod Stewart and boy did he know as he dressed and did his hair like Rod and always had a beautiful woman on his arm!

But there was another side to that flash Martin side. He was to this day the best boss I ever worked for. He knew how to train staff, he knew how to make staff feel important and valued. He also had an 24K heart of Gold. He is the best person I have ever met outside of family and he is still a benchmark for me as to how one behaves in this world, and he wore a Cartier!

So, to my old boss Martin, you said I would make it one day, it took me a bit longer than either of us imagined but then all good things come to those who wait!

Thank you Carl for making this happen, I really value our friendship and I hope you enjoy the AK as much as I have mate and if not it will, I am sure go towards another really great watch you have your heart set on!

Thanks for reading this long winded post folks but this is a landmark day for me and I am so glad at long last to have this on my wrist!

Here are a bunch of quick photo's I just took, hope you like them and I hope they show off the beauty of this classic watch!












Two famous French designer brands in harmony!

[rw16610]

CONGRATULATUONS, IAN! That's a touching story and the fact that this dream came true is beyond incredible!!! You finally have that solid Gold wrist watch! Which I must add looks fantastic on you   How great it was of Carl to do that trade making this happen even sooner for you! Your collection now is out of this world! The Cartier seems to be more your style based on the other types in the collection. Truly the feel good topic of the day. It's not often we come across people like that boss you had either. Most are   but he was a class act. 

[carl]

So glad to see you back in the Cartier world, Ian! To me, this is waaaay better than my selling the Cartier to someone I don't even know, and see you get some pleasure out of it. Now, I get to see how the Air King suits me, and a Rolex in my life again! It is true that on my search for my special watch this year, Rolex Air King was pretty high on my list! Really getting quite excited to once again have a Rolex on my wrist.

What a great story you do tell, about your boss, his kindness and his Cartier! You deserve to get as much pleasure out of the Cartier, as his memories for you as the best boss you ever had. You are a great friend, and it is really wonderful to see you get so much pleasure out of this watch. We both end up winning in this situation!

Cheers,

Carl

[rw16610]

That's truly fantastic, it really could not have worked out any better for both of you! This was the best possible outcome, indeed! The hassle of selling to some stranger online can't match this in any way, shape or form. It must be nice to experience the world of Rolex again, Carl!

[aerome]

Congrats and enjoy!

[carl]

Apr 22, 2014 16:57:53 GMT -6 rw16610 said:

That's truly fantastic, it really could not have worked out any better for both of you! This was the best possible outcome, indeed! The hassle of selling to some stranger online can't match this in any way, shape or form. It must be nice to experience the world of Rolex again, Carl!

Yeah, thanks Rommel! I guess starting on Saturday I will find out about that. If it doesn't work out with the Air King, then I can always sell it and put the money toward the Seamaster 300!! I somehow think, though, that the Air King might be a better bet for me, as excited as I am about the new Seamaster.

The values of the Air King and the Cartier for resale are the same, so nothing to lose here! Nobody has to spend a cent, and just look at the pleasure Ian is having with the gold Cartier!

Cheers,

Carl

[rw16610]

Amazing! It's great to have options like this! For some reason it would not surprise me if you ended up holding onto the Air King. That new Seamaster will be tempting though but regardless you'll be happy!

[Baco Noir]

What a great story. I love your connection with your boss. My first boss was a real motivational leader and taught me a lot too. I am still in touch with her.

Congrats on the Tank - it oozes class and is a perfect watch for the big 5-0!

[ianmedium]

Thanks so much Roger. Its amazing, 34 years after working for Martin he is still ever present in my thoughts when I need to think the right way to go about something.

Carl and Rommel, it was a great trade, as Carl says the values are pretty much identical used so its a win win for both of us. I must admit the moment I strapped it on my wrist this morning I knew and then I took the AK out of the box and though I love it and think it is in many ways the perfect Rolex and if I had the money I would have both there are no backward glances for me.
I like the style though and am thinking of one of those JDM Seiko's that are so well made and look so much like the Oyster Rolex dressier watches but will see as I have the Citizen 2100 to feed any SS bracelet cravings I may get.

[rw16610]

I have to say, these two are my favourite of the bunch:





LOVELY! 

[ianmedium]

Thanks mate, you can be sure there will be more to come!

I reckon there is a good amount of 18k gold in this watch as well despite the SS case back. Just a quick feel in my hands in comparison to the Omega which is much thicker and bigger and has a bigger movement and the Cartier feels quite a bit heavier despite its smaller size.

[rw16610]

It looks like a very solid design! That picture of the side showing the crown with that sapphire stone (or what ever type it is) shows this. Looks perfect on that strap too, can't help but say how the styling of this piece is right up your alley! This one should get the majority of your wrist time now! A Gold Cartier is a huge deal!

[ianmedium]

Thanks Rommel, I really think so. I have waiting over thirty years for this day. Always loved the Tank, in fact here is a memory. Back in Devon where I grew up there is a lovely Roman city called Exeter. I remember a jeweller on the high street there that was a Cartier dealer. I remember every time I went to Exeter I used to stare in that window and look at a dozen or more Tanks, all different variations on this theme and used to lust after them but they were way out of my league!

[rw16610]

Wow, that is very inspirational. Seeing a dream come true for someone the way this did is such a nice thing. That reminds me a lot of when I had the Seamaster 2220.80.00. A bunch of people and I were away in Kitchener Ontario and in the mall there when one of them was at the TD bank I saw my favourite colour from a distance... It was Rolex green and in the display of an AD! Every time we went there I would go over to the display as you did and look in. This made it more clear to me that one had to be in my future.

[katgirl]

Congrats, Ian. That is a real beauty! Wear it in the best of health. It is great that you and Carl both make out so well in this trade. Trading is one part of this hobby that I have not tried, except temporarily with Chip. I can see that it is a great way to obtain a new treasure. Well done to both of you.

Kat