L.L. Bean is my watch (it is made by Hamilton). I bought it in the 70's. I wore it all over Alaska for many years. I didn't wear it for actual work (Journeyman Lineman/Electrical), but it bounced around the line truck for years. I wore it hunting, fishing and even a 3000 mile bicycle (Mountain bike) trip from Bellingham Washington back up to interior Alaska (via the unpaved Cassiar route, not the Alcan). It now has an easier life here with me in Georgia, but it is still bounced around a bit.
It has been through many wristbands (both metal and leather) plus a few crystals (and many batteries). It still works and keeps good time.
When I decided to get out of the tools and get into the "chair" at a (electrical utility) system distribution center, I (like many other Operator, Dispatchers) bought a "high end" watch. A reliable and highly accurate watch was required due to switching and other critical procedures performed in a electrical distribution center. I ended up, initially, with a Rolex Submariner (about 1K at the time). It ran fast. I took it back (Zales return policy at the time) and traded it in for another model, an "Explorer", I think (maybe a bit cheaper). It too, did not have the accuracy that I needed. I ended up going back to the "Bean". It has held near perfect time since day one. One (and probably only) bad thing about it though, I hated the "Yuppie" stigma attached to the L.L. Bean name. The Rolex was even worse. People always rolling their eyes and cracking jokes (both to me and behind my back). Buttt.... work and work well it did, AND it still does. I am retired now and rarely wear the watch. It is still here, somewhere in the house or maybe the car. It still works fine. It's just a bit beat up, but not too bad.
The best part about the watch ? That's easy. It still has time for memories. Many of them, at any time.
