My Constellation by Devon Rosga

If you are reading this then chances are you remember your first watch. Mine was a yellow Timex that I received when I was 10 years old. At that time I thought it was the coolest watch in the world, it was bright yellow with a digital face. I thought it looked like a true explores watch. I would play in my backyard for hours pretending I was on a wild adventure in the misty jungles of the Amazon just like my hero Jeff Corwin. For those of you who do not know of Jeff Corwin, he was a T.V. personality on Animal Planet. He hosted a show called the “Jeff Corwin Experience”. A show which took him all over the world looking for rare and fascinating animals.

I was hooked! That show consumed me. I read all the books I could about far away places and the strange and dangerous animals that lurked there. It was the only thing I cared about! However, being only the age of 10 and not having parents willing to let me be a world traveler. I had to settle for the backyard and nearby woods for my adventures. Just me and my yellow digital Timex. Don’t be sad though that yellow Timex and I had great adventures running away from wasps and chasing very unhappy snakes. This is when I first formed my connection with watches. The way they make you feel. The confidence they bring out in you. A watch is so much more than just a fashion accessory It’s a mechanical friend that is always there steadily ticking away. Keeping track of the time. Being by your side in all life’s moments.

The next time you look down at your wrist to check the time just take a moment to thank that little mechanical wonder because it has been there faithfully ticking away by your side. For me, the love of vintage watches comes naturally. I love the way they look with their patina hands and face. I love every scratch and mark on the case for each one has a story. But what I love most about vintage watches is talking to the owner, the owner who has owned that watch from the beginning. To imagine someone wearing the same timepiece for 20 or even 50 years is just amazing. I think that is a testament in favor of watches being more than just fashion pieces. They instead become a part of you. Apart from my very faithful yellow Timex, my second favorite watch would have to be my 1968 Omega Constellation reference 198.15.

This was my first “luxury” watch, however, this is not the reason why it’s one of my favorites for it’s the way I acquired it. I received this watch as a gift from a man named Tom, a family friend. One night at a family party I noticed Tom wearing a speed master. So naturally, I asked if I could see it just like any good watch enthusiast would do. After exchanging stories about watches for about half an hour I returned to the party still in awe that I just saw a speedmaster. Well just before the party was ending Tom made his way over to me and told me that he had an Omega Constellation at his house and he wanted me to have it. At first, I told him no I could not take that. After not much persuasion Tom convinced me to take it. I was over the moon with this. I could not believe that I was just given an Omega Constellation. Once Tom got into his car and left the party I swiftly ran over to my wife and just like a kid on Christmas told her all about what just happened.

For me it's not just a watch that invokes this feeling it’s the story behind it. Tom served in the Vietnam War. While overseas he told me that he had won a few games of poker one night. So, when he came back to the states he used that money to buy himself the Omega. He went on to tell me that this Omega was his daily watch for a few years until it stopped working. He then gave the watch to his brother who had it serviced at a mom and pop shop. Tom’s brother then wore the watch for a few months until yet again it stopped working. From which at this point the watch remained in a dresser drawer. That was until the day I received the watch. Within the first few hours of me receiving this watch, it was on its way back to Omega safely packed in a hard case and bubble wrapped. After what had seemed like two lifetimes I got the phone call that my watch was ready for me to pick up. I rushed over right away to find this red soft-shell case with my name on it. I slowly zipped it open. The anticipation was killing me! The wait was well worth it. Safely tucked in a piece of softcore foam was my watch shining and ticking away much like it had just awoken from a long slumber. What caused my little Omega to stop working was the lack of routine maintenance and two non-omega gears that the mom and pop shop replaced to get it running the first time. I am proud to say that my Omega had received a full service from Omega and the two bad gears had been replaced with proper Omega gears. I have been wearing this watch every day for almost a year now and I am glad to report that she keeps amazing time. Just like my hero, this Omega has had many advantages and I am excited to see what we will go through together in the next 50 years. All watches start as new and become vintage. So, go and take your watch, whatever it may be, on as many adventures as you can handle so one day it too can have a story to tell.