16. Omega Speedmaster Automatic | The Businessman

The businessman carefully surveys the shop before he takes his sunglasses off, letting go of the hand of a beautiful young woman, young enough to be his daughter.  Reassured, he leads the young woman swiftly past the other brands, towards the Omega counter.  He had called ahead to make sure the AD had the model he wanted to get her in stock, a two-toned Seamaster Aqua Terra, with a mother of pearl dial and diamond hour markers. At 34mm, it should fit elegantly on her delicate wrist, which he cannot stop himself from caressing, ever since she came into his life. 

The businessman had stayed true to Omega over the years.  As the young woman happily tries on her Seamaster with the energetic assistance from the salesperson, he glances down at his wrist, not to check the time, but to simply admire that beautiful dial of his first Omega – the Speedmaster Automatic.  Decades have past yet this watch still manages to put the occasional smile on his face. 

He remembers clearly that it was 1988 when the model was first released for it was also the year when he got married.  The businessman had been eyeing the Speedmaster Professional for a while, and he promised himself that once his business has taken off he would get one, as a reward.  But right now, his priority  was to get his fiancée an engagement ring.  The businessman had taken her to many jewelers, but she just couldn’t find something she liked. Until one day she announced to him that she had found a ring and would like him to go with her to have a look. As they went into the shop hand in hand, instead of going towards to the jewelry section, his fiancée led him straight to the Omega counter, where a salesperson was seemingly waiting. Still confused, she sat him down, as the salesperson brought out his watch, the very Speedmaster he’s wearing today.  Speechless, the businessman looks at his fiancée, who simply said, “you are in business, and therefore need to have a nice watch when meeting clients. When you've made it, then you can buy me a diamond ring.”

The reflection of the diamond hour markers from the Seasmaster jolted he businessman. Dazed, he getts up from the counter, the young woman calls after him, as he leaves the shop hurriedly.