There is a reason and a tale, tall or not, behind every time piece that earns their spot in an enthusiast’s rotation. Watches become sentimental for various reasons – some we obtain and use for key milestones or specific occasions, whilst others are organically gifted to us as family heirlooms. This week, we are deep diving into the arsenal of Keith Causey, Atlanta native and local watch enthusiast. He is a man of classic tastes and classic watches, and his headliner, a vintage Rolex Air-King, is the hidden gem amongst the lot.
At my core, I have always loved a good story. Yours truly is unfortunately a mediocre narrator at best, so I seek out others in the world who are more interesting than I am to hear about their own adventures. To be more specific, I love stories because of the joy that people experience when the well of remembrance springs forth. History is kinetic, forever in motion at a fixed point in time, and in recalling it we can once again experience the warmth of those memories. Watches help us to recall both the fond and bittersweet moments; they don’t just tell time, they store time.
As I dive deeper into watches, I am razor focused on why watch collectors and enthusiasts love the watches they do – materialist or sentimental in nature, I aim to record the how and why of the pieces that mean the most to them. No specific number of watches or types are required, either; I just want to know about the ones that matter. My inaugural interviewee and guinea pig for this project, Keith Causey, is a personal friend of mine. Keith is a well-credentialed architect who enjoys a good fishing hole on the weekends. His office is home to a slew of impressive looking technical drawings, a leather working station, a camera or two, and perhaps most importantly, his watches.
Keith’s core watch group is objectively classic. The watch that started it all was a Rolex Air-King 5500, which he vividly remembers being on the wrist of his grandfather Charles while growing up, and this experience has informed the overall style of Keith’s collection. It is hard to go wrong with Rolex, and even harder to go wrong with an emphasis on Rolex watches in the 4-digit and 5-digit serial range. In a world where the modern brand has been coopted for flex culture, I can really appreciate when someone is focused on crafting a vintage collection. That being said, I think there is someone else better equipped to walk you through the lot – Keith, enter stage left. The floor is yours.
Rolex Air-King 5500
I have known few bonds stronger than the one between my grandfather and I. His name was Charles. His friends called him Charlie, but he was always just Grandpa to me. As far back as I can remember and up until he passed, Grandpa was known for his pride in being an Air Force serviceman and for having a wonderful sense of humor. In addition, he was among the most humble and generous of people I have known in my lifetime. He was a ‘no-frills’ type mostly, but he did have an appreciation for the finer things. He notoriously drove a spacious and spotless tank of a car, usually a champagne-colored Lincoln Town Car, because he “needed space for golf clubs.” Car aside, he also had a special love for his watch… a Rolex Air-King.
As nosey kids often do, I asked enough questions to know Grandpa bought his Air-King while stationed in Guam for the Vietnam War in the late 60s. The cost of a Rolex could have been the price of a candy bar or that of a house and I would have been none the wiser. Doubly so, Rolex’s prestige was certainly over my head at that age too. I did know, however, how much Grandpa cherished his watch. Because it was significant to him, it was automatically significant to me too. I knew this watch was special.
Playful goading ensued over the years regarding this watch. I’d explain my Mission-Impossible-esque plan to make the watch my own and he’d waste no time explaining the various ways he’d thwart my efforts. After I reached adulthood, we would still joke but Grandpa began to discuss the watch and its fate more seriously. The day he came out and said I’d inherit the watch on my 30th birthday is one I will never forget. This is a bittersweet memory for me – it symbolized an eventual and inevitable changing of the guard, but it also meant the Air-King would be safe with me for the rest of my life. The Air-King would continue to be something he and I share, even after he was gone.
Unfortunately, Grandpa didn’t live to see my 30th birthday, but my grandmother did. She carried out my grandfather’s promise. This particular Rolex Air-King is symbolic of all the good Grandpa brought to my life and my family; it represents my relationship with my first and truest best friend.
Rolex Datejust 1603
I see watches as parts of life’s story, especially luxury ones. They remind me of fond memories, commemorate milestone achievements and symbolize the strength of relationships. This is especially true with family heirlooms like the Air-King.
The first Rolex I bought for myself was a vintage Datejust with a dark blue dial. It is my first luxury watch purchase and a reward to myself for graduating architecture school. It is symbolic of one of my toughest yet proudest achievements. A secondary reason for this purchase is to have an everyday watch to wear so that I may take better care of my grandfather’s watch.
Rolex Day-Date 1803 (“President”)
Some purchases can still be impulsive despite being years in the making. That is the story of my Day-Date. For those unaware, the path to becoming a licensed architect is extremely challenging. It takes passing 5-7 exams (each being its own little special kind of hell) and several hundred hours of on-the-job experience.
To put it short, licensure is a big deal. Naturally, it seemed appropriate to me that I should commemorate my own licensure with a watch – one that has an air of sophistication and timelessness not unlike the profession of architecture itself. Purchasing the Day-Date seemed natural and fitting the day I came across it at an antique market. It felt right, and sometimes that is all that matters.
Rolex Explorer II 16570 ‘SWISS Only’
Some relationships can only be described as lust until proven love. That is my relationship with the Rolex Explorer II. It has had my attention for the better part of a decade… not the newer ones, not the black dials, but specifically the vintage Explorer II with the polar white dial. It just does it for me – there’s no better way to say it. Stylish, but minimal enough to not be flashy. The 16570 is the ultimate tool watch, easy to dress up or down, and is so damn crispy and clean. I lusted over this watch for almost 7 years during which hundreds of watch designs caught my eye, intrigued me, and tempted me to buy. Through all that, my thoughts stayed loyal to the Explorer II and so here we are.
At 36 years of age, I have few regrets. My relationships are strong with those who mean the most to me. My career treats me well. I have the love of an amazing woman, my future wife. The purchase of the Explorer II symbolizes the good in my life and a coming of age. I see in this watch all the hard work, sacrifice, and discipline put forth to reach my goals, strengthen relationships with loved ones, and uphold values most important to me.
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