OK, Heuer friends . . . I posted a version of this message on the Timezone Vintage Rolex Forum, so I'll post it here, as well. No secrets from your guys; no tip-toeing around, hoping that my secret affair will not be discovered.

I have decided to purchase the vintage Rolex Explorer (shown below), and in response to the question of why I selected this one, here is the answer, in 17 parts:

1. beautiful design, to my eye -- clean and simple [I saw one (circa 1968) on a colleague's wrist a few weeks, and couldn't stop staring at the thing . . . it just looked perfect . . . I don't have this reaction very often]

2. black / gold colors are absolutely amazing looking . . . I like patina / natural aging, and have never seen a prettier range of tones

3. great size and balance, on 6-7/8 inch wrist

4. no cyclops!!

5. it doesn't look a Rolex, to the average eye [I wore it for a week; my wife never noticed it; when I pointed it out to her, she said, "it just looks like a watch" . . . sometimes it's nice to wear a watch that just looks like a watch]

6. no trauma that everyone at the office or in corporate meetings has one / knows what it is / thinks that "Jeff got a big, fat Rolex like everybody else"

7. I like the "origin of the species", earliest forms of most watches [this one from early 1956]; prefer the "OCC" to the "SOCC", as the "S" seems like bragging; prefer dials with no adjectives

8. I like the history of this model . . . Everest connection . . . long-running series, with variety of looks / movements / price points [just in case I might want to collect Explorers]

9. built as a rugged, reliable tool watch . . . long before that term was invented

10. close to my YOB [september 1955]

11. reasonably priced, compared with the Rolexes from that era that have bezels (and I already have plenty of bezels)

12. did not want to take the plunge on Rolex chronograph . . . yet

13. will be interesting way to begin to learn about the vintage Rolexes

14. will be a way of seeing what this vintage sport Rolex community is all about

15. seller seemed like a great guy / reputable dealer / worth establishing relationship with . . . he had first child last week, and named her "Georgia" . . . could this be a coincidence?

16. I received this one on approval, and was dispondent as I began to box it up to send it back (because of some minor flaws on the dial) . . . this is when I knew I was in love

17. and did I mention, Beautiful Design with Amazing Colors and Perfect Balance [and no cyclops]!!