Grandpa's Longines Wrist Watches

My grandfather was the quiet type. He did not ever raise his voice unless it was completely required. He instead preferred to survey the landscape and drop off little reminders of how much he cared through out our interactions. He maintained a lot of collections. Memorabelia from World War II to commemorate his older brother, cassette tapes of old radio plays he remembered from his youth, paperback crime novels, Coca Cola advertisements through the years, there was a lot of stuff. His most valuable collection however was definitely his collection of watches.

He collected all manner of time pieces. He had a number Longines wrist watches, Baume & Mercier watches, Ebel watches, Movado watches, and many so old that branding and in some cases the face of the watches were worn out. The nice watches, the ones aquired as gifts from his children and beloved wife were maintained impecably. These, he knew, were fine watches from high end brand names. My grandfather may have been quiet and quirky but he knew when something had value. When he went through his collection you could tell he loved it. He would recount where each of his watches came from. He would recount the occasions, who the person giving the gift was, and why each became "one of [his] favorites."

I remember checking to see which of his beloved watch he would wear to particular family events. Would it be a Movado watch for cousin Daniel's birthday? How about an Ebel watch for Aunt Geri and Uncle Jerry's wedding? On my birthday one year, I may have been turning eleven, he displayed a series of Longines mens watches from his collection on his work bench. He lifted me above the neatly laid out watches and had me spend some time looking at each. He told me to choose one. I briefly protested but he was not going to take "no" for an answer. When I recognized this fact I quickly picked one. He told me it wasn't a race and that I should really think about which one I liked the most.

After some consideration mixed with a fear that he would somehow be disappointed by my choice I looked over the watches. I found one I had admired when he wore it a few weeks earlier. The light was hitting it in just the right way I knew it was the perfect one. When I chose it he seemed proud and happy. We went to the zoo that day and from that day on I was rarely seen without that Longines mens watch. I felt so special thanks to those moments.

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