Why Collectors Collect (#1)

- A Post from a watch collector in Northern California, U.S.A.”

“The two mechanical Seikos from my teenage years have faithfully fulfilled their duties and earned their revered positions in my safe. They are not my first watches, but the only ones that survive! A few decades elapsed and I am now a proud grandfather to four beautiful grandchildren. Despite my early exposure to watches, I did not begin collecting watches seriously until about 30 years ago when a small jewellery store at the edge of town where I lived caught my attention. I finally ventured inside one evening after work. Seeing a wide array of Rolexes on the shelf got me into thinking that someday when I saved enough, I would get a pair for me and my wife. That ended up being our fifteenth wedding anniversary gift!

Time marches on and our careers blossomed. The visits to this little jewellery store became more frequent and my knowledge in Haute horology also improved. Many beautiful timepieces passed through our hands over glasses of wines and chats with fellow collectors and visiting watchmakers. My collection also evolved from Rolex to Blancpain and gradually to independents such as Vianney Halter and Lang & Heyne.

These micro-mechanic marvels have a way of tugging at one’s heartstring. To me, it is a perfect way to celebrate an occasion. During my professional days, I strived to acquire one significant-to-me piece a year to commemorate my hard work and professional accomplishment. Contrary to popular myths, I never received a gold watch from my employer when I retired! Nonetheless, my passion for watch collecting continues. Through my long collecting years, I met and became friends with many wonderful collectors and watchmakers. To me, this is an integral part of pursuing this wonderful hobby.

Today, my collection includes chronographs, sports and dress watches from independents to big brands such as Lang & Heyne, Vianney Halter, Pascal Coyon, Urban Jurgensen, Habring2, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Lange & Sohne, IWC, Rolex and of course the two Seikos. Aside from my chronographs, my preference is highly legible and classically designed time-only models, many of them with enamel dials.

Every time my 3-year-old grandson climbs on my lap, he would remark “grandpa, you are wearing a clock!” And when he rests his ear against my wrist to listen to the tick-tocks from my “clock", I can envision at least one of my old Seikos on his wrist in the very near future. Let’s hope these micro-mechanical wonders and their appreciation will last for generations to come.

- A Post from a watch collector in Northern California, U.S.A.”