A Demon of a Watch

This is a story of how my humble Seiko Sports Watch changed from just being part of a collection to a milestone watch in one night.

Time has an immense influence on our lives, and for watch fans the connection between watches and special time events (i.e. life events) is a sort of spiritual one. There are many really good reasons for the existence of milestone watches with weddings and first-born way up high on the list.

        But in this case it was a sporting event, and not just any sporting event. It was a 57 year wait for the holy grail in Australian Rules Football - a win in the annual Grand Final Premiership Match.

As a young 15 year old I was firmly entrenched as a supporter of the Melbourne Football Club, The Demons, The Red & The Blue.

        Back in the 60’s the Demons had an enviable track record with a fistful of premierships. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I had selected “a winner” as my team. Back then I made the easy choice of a guaranteed, sure-fire performer that would give me bragging rights for years to come, or so I thought.

What followed their last premiership in 1964 was years of hardship, frustration and disappointment. Memories of disappointing on field performances weigh heavily and when you admit to being a Melbourne supporter, other supporters will nod knowingly. It has been a painful relationship.

Don’t get me wrong - over those years there were memorable moments. Some amazing wins, two (unsuccessful) Grand Final appearances and some amazingly skilful players. But the overwhelming emotion was realising that the Dees never met their potential. All that changed on Saturday 25th September 2021 when the Melbourne Demons won the Grand Final by an all time record margin after 57 years in the wilderness.

So, why is this particular watch a suitable milestone candidate? The Seiko

SRPB17J1 is a fairly large watch with a mesmerising red dial. It has a 70’s vibe which sort of translates to decades of club membership and it is a mechanical watch that can be expected to last a good number of years before needing service. It is also unpretentious, which despite the fact that Demon members are often bagged as being elite, is appropriate for the majority of us long suffering unpretentious supporters. There is nothing elite about sitting in a rain-soaked stadium watching your team getting thrashed.

And the watch is a bit of a strap monster, meaning I could swap its steel bracelet for a beautiful blue leather band that meets the “Red & The Blue” standard.

        So there is my milestone watch. It has been transformed from a respected but unexciting place in my collection to a Grand Final Watch, the watch that signifies success over frustration, and says good things come to those who wait, perseverance pays off, and never give up. And all because I wore it during one of the most exciting sporting events in my life and shared that wonderful experience with my family and friends.