The Journal
Rodeo Drive Revisited
Rodeo Drive Revisited
Read Time:
2 min
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ACCOMPANY JOSH SIRLIN AS HE PAYS A VISIT TO THE NEWLY REDESIGNED IWC FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE ON RODEO DRIVE – WHERE HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS FAVORITE WATCH THE BIG PILOT’S WATCH PERPETUAL CALENDAR “RODEO DRIVE” REF. IW503001
Rodeo Drive is packed with people. Well, it is the mecca of luxury shopping - it’s Beverly Hills. As expected, people are dressed to the nines; it fulfills what one would imagine. Rodeo drive is perfectly described by the bright yellow Rolls that’s always parked on the strip. I don’t exactly look like the typical person on Rodeo Drive - especially on my 1948 Panhead chopper that’s a bit rough. But as I park my chopper up on the sidewalk by the door, no one was bothered at the least... (maybe I do fit in, but I sure don’t blend in).
Fitting in I guess is in your mind... who knows really if we do or don’t. I can say that I feel pretty comfortable in a wild variety of situations (throw me into the wild west, in a race car, down a ski mountain, into a corp executive meeting, or out of a plane... I’ll likely have a grin on my face).
— Black Bear Brand’s Josh Sirlin in front of the redesigned IWC Flagship Boutique Rodeo Drive
THE FUN BEGINS
I walk in the IWC Rodeo Drive Boutique for the 1st time in 3 years. My favorite watch is a homage & special edition to this boutique! As soon as I walk in I’m surrounded by the very Big Pilot and Perpetual Calendar watch I love. I remember putting the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Rodeo Drive” on my wrist for the 1st time here a few years ago. From that first time I knew, “This is the one!” It instantly became my dream watch and now it’s on my wrist every day.
My memory of the place is an exciting collision of familiarity and newness combined with the anticipation that the boutique has just been remodeled. I’m super happy that it feels new and exciting while holding onto the memory of my 1st time here. It’s super cool, from the height of the ceilings and openness to the California sun light filling the floor to ceiling window. It’s cool and brings a smile to my face.
QUEST FOR THE DREAM WATCH
I look to the right, and I get a flashback from the first time I saw the Perpetual Calendar Rodeo Drive. There it is, the wildest coolest watch, the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL. I haven’t seen it in person yet. The Shock Absorber is displayed perfectly: by itself and in the center of a large glass case on the wall. There, the story of what goes into that shock absorber is laid out, from right to left, which is super cool. It’s an experience! A quest to be triggered, excited... I hunt for it. The cherry on the top of seeing this watch was that I actually get to try it on. Yep, this is the wildest coolest watch I’ve had on my wrist to date!
And my dream watch tour continues... following the XPL my full attention shiftes to the Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillon! A watch that I’ve tried on in like 4 different boutiques around the world. It is just beautiful. The purest watch, hand-wound, 18 ct Armor Gold® case with the silver-plated dial and the prized tourbillon! It feels like I’m either following this watch around the world or it’s following me!
— Josh Sirlin getting acquainted with the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL IW357201
— IWC Flagship Boutique, 329 North Rodeo Drive
WILD WORLD OF WATCHES
The watch line up of IWC is so fun... it’s got everything, from the wild technology of the Shock Absorber, the rugged & refined craftsmanship of the PPC Rodeo Drive, to the beautiful piece of functional art of the Portugieser Hand-Wound Tourbillion. It’s awesome to be able have all these together in one place.
The Boutique is the perfect setting for an adventure into the wild world of watches; pristine, no fluff... it feels Swiss, giving you the perfect environment to see what you should, the watches! This perfect setting is married with guides for a watch escapade... the boutique staff are like chaperones on this grand expedition that step in offering insight and guidance at the ideal time.
Well, it’s time, time to go... thank you Rodeo Drive boutique, until next time.
As I leave, I look down at my PPC Rodeo Drive and reminisce about all we’ve been through over the last few years... flying in helicopters in Colorado, crossing the country on my motorcycle, multiple adventures throughout Japan, I’ve even crashed a motorcycle wearing this watch. It’s my partner in crime, my copilot. Here we go, what’s next? The sky's the limit!
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