The Second Iteration of the Watch that Finally Trapped Me in the Rabbit Hole
I guess that I have been in the rabbit hole long before I realized that I am in there. My journey started in primary school with mechanical watches (I broke springs when winding them up), I got automatic watches from my grandfathers of which I lost one in the school bus, I remember digital Casios on my wrist at school and we had discussions among peers about what is better quartz or automatic movements. I learned to hate the over intensiv ticking of Swatches.
We argued about the overwhelming power of time keepers. First reactions were to free oneself from time controllers by putting watches aside. Only the one who doesn't wear any watch is really free you know. I think that it was in this time when we could read in magazines and journals, that the real CEO, the "manly" manager, the "alpha" will not wear a watch, because he is the one in power and not the one under control. Probably it was not only the quartz that almost killed the mechanical watch industry but the perception of the relationship between time keeping/controlling, power, masculinity and watches as instruments of slavery. So it was essential for the mechanical watch industry to attack this mindset and get back the attention of the rich and powerful. It was the time of rising concerns about environmental issues too. Back to nature became an important thought.
I had my timeless time too. Tissot did exactly the right thing to hook me and get me back. They put a watch on the market that had a direct connection to nature and that did away the indices. That way they merged "back to the nature" with a "feeling of getting rid of time control". Quartz for a Swiss brand was quite innovative. But the deeper innovation was not technically but psychological engineering. To be honest I misread the time more than once, so I escaped the controlling time keeper ...
When the Tissot Woodwatch was released and came in the show cases the first time I immediately knew that I will buy one. At that time they were expensive for me but it didn't take long from seeing it, to getting the money together to buying it. That was the moment when the rabbit hole trap snapped.
I tortured its first iteration three decades long as if it was a G-Shock. Remember that all other watches were far from nature and items of control. I forced it through the icy cold north of the polar circle down to the scorching heat of Greece, through Taifuns of Japan and over rolling seas, fighting unprotected on my wrist thousands of kilometers against rain, storm and thunder on my bike. Its first iteration and I have been countless times dripping wet to the bones, cold, boiled and beaten up by natural forces. When it finally died the watch makers were like "Man! What the hack have you done to this watch? Did you freeze it in a fridge? Did you try to bake it in an oven? Have you been scuba diving with it? Did you throw it down the Everest? The case is reduced to a muddy mess on the inside!" Well, and on the outside it had so many scars as if I ran with a truck over it 🤷🏻♂️.
I kept interest in watches over the years, but I put my ressources into other collectibles like fountain pens and knives.
Smart watches, means of even more control, took over the market. In their face a usual watch seems to be out of power. The mindset changed. Woodwatches by Tissot were discontinued. How to replace the loss? I started searching for the next perfect watch even before the final day of my first Woodwatch came. But it turned out that there is not one perfect watch but a bunch of them that want to follow in its footsteps. I shifted down the rabbit hole a bit deeper. I found myself searching the web for an old new Woodwatch too. It took me almost three years to find one, that appeals me, that is in a good condition and sold for reasonable price. And here is the second iteration of a Tissot Woodwatch in my collection.
Do you remember that time and the discussions among peers about the power of time keepers? The journals and magazines of that time?
What watch trapped you in the rabbit hole?
I have been there, when the first Lamy Safari fountain pen hit schools. I have been there, when the first G-Shock came into the classroom. I have been there, when the ticking of my classmates' first S...
I have to admit that I read your deeply personal post twice, that is not at all how I regard watches and my personal relationship with time but nevertheless appreciate your points of view. I have always loved the simple feel of a watch on my wrist, not overly concerned with the brand or cost. I used to meet an older fella most Fridays at a modest diner for a coffee before the weekend. He appreciated the fact that I knew about the brand of his inherited watch: Eterna which probably begat ETA movements. It was just two guys drinking a coffee talking a little about watches. We never bothered to even introduced ourselves. He was the Eterna guy and I was the guy hip to the brand.
I think it would be my first watch which was a Timex Mercury(?) that I had as a child. When I grew up most children wore watches because we had to. We had to be on time for school, know what time to come home in the evening, etc. That was a long time ago, but I think I still remember what it looked like. Sometimes I'll do a half-hearted search on the Internet, but I've never seen one.
That Tissot is one of the oddest watches I've ever seen. On my screen it looks like I'm seeing through the watch and there's your arm underneath.
I think it would be my first watch which was a Timex Mercury(?) that I had as a child. When I grew up most children wore watches because we had to. We had to be on time for school, know what time to come home in the evening, etc. That was a long time ago, but I think I still remember what it looked like. Sometimes I'll do a half-hearted search on the Internet, but I've never seen one.
That Tissot is one of the oddest watches I've ever seen. On my screen it looks like I'm seeing through the watch and there's your arm underneath.
This Woodwatch is the first one, my original. It's an old picture. The colour of the wood and the leather have been even lighter by purpose. It almost camouflaged on the wrist like a watch that was there without being present.