I Got The Call!

I didn’t think it was going to happen this birthday. Last year, I was lucky enough to add a Tudor Pelagos to my collection—an incredible gift that my amazing wife, Kim, let me pick up. But this year, it didn’t seem like another main piece was in the cards. I had stopped bugging Kim about it, stopped dropping hints, and stopped refreshing listings like a hopeful collector convincing himself the timing was just right.

Little did I know, Kim had been keeping a secret. A group of the Wuddies (our amazing watch enthusiast group) had been working behind the scenes, making sure I was on the list for an allocation. They had hoped that around my birthday, I’d get the call—but they couldn’t have planned the timing any better.

To pick up the piece, I flew into SeaTac, where I was warmly greeted by Andrew—who, despite his busy schedule, was generous enough to come get me. We had some time to kill before lunch, where Corey was going to join us, so naturally, we did what any group of watch enthusiasts would do: shared a few good watch stories over a plate of nachos.

Then, it was time.

We arrived at Ben Bridge, where Conor was ready to greet us—but before we even had a chance to say hello, we were met with another surprise. Richard was there, too, picking up his own Rolex after getting the call just a couple of days prior. Talk about perfect timing.

After catching up and sharing in the excitement, it was finally my turn. That’s when it all became real.

Putting the Explorer on my wrist as my own watch was an incredible feeling. I know I’m fortunate to have this experience. I know—it’s just a watch. But I’m not someone with a ton of hobbies, and as I’ve shared before, the watchfam has meant so much to me. I’m so grateful to enjoy this moment with you all and to have friends who were there in person to make it even more special. The fact that people wanted to come along for this experience? That was just so cool.

Today, on my birthday, I got my first Rolex: a brand-new 40mm Explorer (ref. 224270).

Before I knew it, it was time to head back. Andrew, always generous with his time, made sure I got to James, who would be my ride to the airport on this whirlwind trip. We had just enough time to briefly catch up on everything happening in the podcast and watch world before heading out.

James walked me over to his fire-breathing G80 M3 CS, the Bavarian beast roaring to life, setting off a few car alarms in the process. He laced up his Alcantara Puma race shoes—rolled heel and all, even though his car doesn’t have a clutch—pulled on his race gloves, and with a dramatic flick of the wrist, engaged Sport+ mode.

We took off in a blur, carving through the city, perfectly rev-matching downshifts, hitting apexes that only we could see, all while Barbie Girl by Aqua blasted through the speakers.

It. Was. ON.

Seattle traffic didn’t stand a chance. The city lights flickered in the misty evening, my new Explorer glinting on my wrist as we weaved our way toward the airport—one last thrill to cap off a perfect day.

Okay… that’s not really how it went down.

James’ ride was blocked in, so we took his lovely wife’s car instead. And since it was 5 PM in Seattle, Sport+ mode wasn’t going to help much anyway. What we did get, though, was a relaxed ride—two friends catching up on life, the watch world, and everything in between on the way to the airport.

All in all, it was an amazing day—one that could have only been made better if Kim had been there to enjoy the experience with me. But the moment I got home, I was showing her the new watch like a cat proudly bringing in a mouse from outside. She, of course, didn’t care nearly as much as I did, but that didn’t matter. The fact that she was the reason this day happened—that she had made this possible—was what made it truly special.

This won’t be my last Rolex, but it’s a perfect place to start.