It was July of 2010. I had just finished work, and it was a hot summer day as I rode my bike home from the grocery store. Having just graduated high school, I was working as many hours as I possibly could to line my pockets for college in the coming fall. Needless to say, after a long day of helping customers and pushing carriages, I just could not WAIT to get home...

...and break into the box my mom told me had arrived.

I knew what it was - it was something I had been promised as a graduation gift, and waited for anxiously for the whole five days it shipped. I came into the house, sat down at the table, tore open the box, and looked inside. There, sitting right in front of me, was a watch that I had only seen in pictures, but knew it by heart: a Citizen BL-5250!

That was almost two whole years ago, and I have since worn that watch five or six days a week, even though I have many others. It's the best one I have in a couple of ways:

1) QUALITY. Citizen has unparalleled features and longevity for a watch at this price point. I've worn this watch through everything from a 3-hour long gig I played at a club to an 8-hour day stocking shelves at a grocery store. (Yes, the same one!)

2) VALUE. You will not find a better watch for $240 anywhere.

3) APPEARANCE. This watch, while being plenty sturdy and rugged (large case, rotating bezel), it is still quite refined, and can be worn with a shirt and tie/a suit if you're James Bond.

To sum it up, ceteris paribus, this is the best watch I've ever owned, hands down. If you're looking for a phenomenal Father's Day gift, birthday or graduation present, or something awesome for yourself just because, congratulations: you have arrived!