A story of a decade long desire…
In 2001 a movie came out called Vanilla Sky. In it, Tom Cruise plays an extremely wealthy individual. (That’s all you need to know in the context of this story.) At one point, he checks his watch and the camera gives us a close up of it for about two seconds.
I didn’t notice it when I saw the film in theaters, but when I got my hands on the DVD and began to study the film (honestly, I watched it many, many times) I noticed the watch again. I paused the movie during that close up and examined the watch.
It was simple, sleek and sexy. I knew that one day, I wanted to wear one too.
After a couple months of on and off searching, I found it.
The IWC Mark XVI Pilot’s Watch.
(Granted, he’s wearing the Mark XV and the company has since moved on to the Mark XVI. We’ll go with the XVI because it’s still being made and I actually like the changes made.)
I’ve almost always worn watches. And I’ve always been trying to find a watch similar to the Mark XVI but it has always left me feeling like something was missing. I was always trying to find a watch that would satisfy my needs. But I’ve found fault in every watch I’ve ever owned, simply because they are not THE watch.
It’s been ten years since I first laid eyes on the THE watch…
And today… I wore it…
I finally found it at Tourneau at the Natick Collection. I had a great conversation with the assistant manager there and I shared my story with him. It was a wonderful moment.
And now I know why this has been, and always will be, THE watch.
As Wayne says of his ideal guitar, ‘It will be mine… oh, yes… it will be mine…’
Editors Note: THE watch costs $4,000…
