We’re pleased to introduce you to our brand-new series, Meet The Owner, and welcome @Watch_1505 for our first interview with a collector. We’re excited to give you a glimpse into the life of a true watch collector and watch aficionado. At the end of the interview we will share some pictures of his best pieces with you…they're definitely worth a look!
TCC: When did you begin your watch collection?
Watch_1505:
My passion for watches and mechanics started in 1979, during my first year of undergraduate degree in finance at a university in Switzerland, and it has continued to be my hobby since then. Generally, a collector is interested in the quality in watchmaking - the talent and perfection that assures each component has its functional purpose and how it displays on the dial.
The most important rule for a watch collector: the word “quartz” does not exist in fine watchmaking.
TCC: What was the first watch you purchased?
Watch_1505:
A Rolex with simple acrylic glass -this model was the first waterproof Oyster shape watch. And then in 1980, I bought a Rolex Sea-Dweller which was inspired by the story of the experimental deep-sea special watch dive at 10,916 meters depth.
TCC: What made you want to start collecting watches?
Watch_1505:
There is no specific reason why anybody begins a watch collection. Some take it as investment. Others do it for self-rewarding one’s achievements And then there are others who pursue luxury fashion or just anthropeia uniqueness.
For a real collector though, there is a passion for the art of watch making where you have a strong bond-feeling towards the complexity of micro-mechanical objects and how they accurately interact.
The architectural magic behind the perfectly constructed and aligned working mechanism of the caliber and how it fits into a small case on your wrist to measure time is the collector’s pulling trigger to select a masterpiece. The collector’s emotional attachment adds to their passion for the artisanal crafts (e.g. engraving, skeleton, dial enameling, guilloche, fluted patter, perlagè, engine-turned motifs etc.) which all require a lot of patience, sharp eyes and steady hands from the watch maker to create such a piece.
TCC: What are your favorite brands?
Watch_1505:
TCC: How would you describe your collection strategy?
Watch_1505:
A real collector does not fall in love with a quantity of luxury or horology watches. Rather, they take an avant-garde adventure to pursue selected horology pieces made and hand-assembled in limited quantities by a skilled watch maker. The collection gradually emerges over the years and only the best pieces are added to the collection.
TCC: What’s your favorite piece in your collection and why?
Watch_1505:
I do not have a favorite piece. Selected horology pieces from Patek, Vacheron and Audemars Royal Oak are my top-notch pieces, ranging from simple to grand complication ones. The “repeaters” are always the best choice - simple in look and hard to craft. From a robustness and durability angle, I would choose a Rolex due to its case properties and caliber performance. Other pieces of my collection are the perfectly crafted Laurent Ferrier square steel case and the modern FP Journe bleu.
TCC: Can you tell us about some ideal pieces that you’ve been looking at?
Watch_1505:
Master pieces like Philippe Dufour, Roger W. Smith, vintage Patek Philippe like 1518 and 2499s would be welcomed. The Greubel Forsey is also under consideration due to their ground-breaking innovations.
TCC: Imagine that you can keep only two watches from your collection - one for the daily use and one for special occasions (e.g. weddings). Which two would you pick?
Watch_1505:
Keeping two watches is beyond the collector’s mindset as the goal is own several masterpieces with a range of different complications made by a real watchmaker.
What’s your favorite complication?
Watch_1505:
A watch complication is any function that exists in addition to time display on a timepiece. The Chrono and GMT (or dual time) are the ones I use most often as these are the most useful tools for a jet-setter person who has business or leisure spread across the world.
TCC: Do you have any inspirations (e.g. celebrity)?
Watch_1505:
It is worth mentioning that “Ambassadors” are a versatile tool to raise a brand’s product sales rather than light-shedding to the history, quality-make craftsmanship or heritage awareness of a watch.
TCC: Do you see watches as an investment or as a hobby?
Watch_1505:
Passion for watches is an evolving process which grows while experiencing pieces' beauty and functionality. It starts as hobby for enjoyment. And a carefully selected hobby may develop to investment by default, especially if it relates to hand-craftmanship. And in the modern world, any dedicated hand craft is globally admired like Persian carpet, Belgian diamonds, Burgues script calligraphy, “Interchange“ oil-canvas paint by William de Kooning and so on. That said, the watchmaking art is a dedication and hobby to some extent and it is attractive to future generations, and people definitely take risk of investing on such time pieces. I foresee some horology brands fading through time either due to not evolving or competitors advancing and differencing themselves.
TCC: Where do you see the future of the watch industry from your perspective as collector? Rising prices or watch bubble?
Watch_1505:
The study and science of time measurement is called horology and through history, different nations invented different devices to measure time. Time measure is always a growing science and continues to evolve due to its importance in life. Therefore, the future of the watch industry rises proportionally over the time.
Technology may pose a threat to the watchmaking industry and lead to loss of traditional watch-making historic techniques, but meanwhile, the independents are those that most dare to challenge such threats and balance the risk equation.
We’re thankful that our dear friend @Watch_1505 shared his insights with us. Do yourself a favor and follow @Watch_1505 on Instagram! He definitely has one of the best watch collections on IG!
All pictures from Instagram account: @Watch_1505