Supportive spouse?
The wife can't believe I'm taking another watch photo...
To be fair, she's very supportive and even learns the names of my watches. So, for example, she could tell you that my Sinn is pronounced Zinn, that's it's a U50 and it's made with tegimented submarine steel. She totally talked me in to buying my first two 'proper' watches. She will even guess which watch I'm wearing by touch when it is hidden up my sleeve. We're equally nerdy, though she doesn't wear a watch. I'm a lucky guy!
I often see threads joking around about the kind of misery that would be imposed if a spouse knew what you spent on watches, and I get it, there are more important things in life after all. But my wife honestly couldn't be more supportive. As I say, I'm a lucky guy!
To illustrate what I mean, I should start by explaining that she's an artist. She studied sculpture at the Royal College of Art and is constantly building stuff. Our house is part workshop and part laboratory, and I never know what I might find her up to the elbows in.
Anyway: back to the watches! I have long moaned that she has a more comfortable garden chair than I, so she set about printing the material and then creating a new sun lounger for me. Bless her, she realised almost as she finished that she'd done it upside down and is now contemplating taking it all apart and starting again. The chair has images of three of my favourite watches, as well as a reproduction of the Christmas card image we sent this year - a portrait of us sporting beards of lichen (also made by her). Make of it what you will.
Another of her 'watch curio' creations (this one for Christmas a couple of years ago) was a homemade watch-shaped watch box containing a watch-shaped book featuring pictures of me taking pictures of my watches with locations and dates... How weird is that!
Weird, wonderful and one of a kind! As I say, I'm a lucky guy!
So, after a veritable essay, I get back to the original question: how supportive is your spouse?
An admirer of shiny wrist art. I've recently arrived at a fairly settled collection after years of flipping. That could all change at any time... IG: @tickerstickers
First! Can she make me one of those flip picture books shaped of the watch!!! that’s so cool! And yeah you guys are weird 😂…btw I dunno about you that is marketable!!
My wife is supportive enough but she is also my checks and balances. She‘s the logical one and I’m the stupid one so we balance out. 😁… someone has to be the adult right …
and yes you are a lucky guy
The wife handles the finances in the house as I am too much "see shiny, buy shiny", but she has yet to get mad at me for buying a watch.
Guess I need to up my game 😈
You're a lucky guy!
My wife simultaneously supports and has no interest in my hobby. I'm pretty much okay with it. We've come to the conclusion that we share so many interests already (food, wine, travel, business, etc) that it's okay for us to have things which we are separate on (shoes/purses, watches, types of literature, TV shows).
She only has a couple rules which I think are eminently fair.
That said, she does have an appreciation for fine luxury goods so she intuitively gets why watches are interesting....she just has zero interest in them for herself.
You're a lucky guy!
My wife simultaneously supports and has no interest in my hobby. I'm pretty much okay with it. We've come to the conclusion that we share so many interests already (food, wine, travel, business, etc) that it's okay for us to have things which we are separate on (shoes/purses, watches, types of literature, TV shows).
She only has a couple rules which I think are eminently fair.
That said, she does have an appreciation for fine luxury goods so she intuitively gets why watches are interesting....she just has zero interest in them for herself.
For some reason I picture you and your wife sitting down and addressing the fine details of the marriage contract 😜
First! Can she make me one of those flip picture books shaped of the watch!!! that’s so cool! And yeah you guys are weird 😂…btw I dunno about you that is marketable!!
My wife is supportive enough but she is also my checks and balances. She‘s the logical one and I’m the stupid one so we balance out. 😁… someone has to be the adult right …
and yes you are a lucky guy
She says she controls supply tighter than Rolex, so you'd better get saving if you want the watch book. Put your name down and you might get the call in a couple of years. However, like any AD, you stand a better chance if you lavish us with gifts and compliments... 😂
The wife handles the finances in the house as I am too much "see shiny, buy shiny", but she has yet to get mad at me for buying a watch.
Guess I need to up my game 😈
Must have more shiny! I totally get it. ✨
You're a lucky guy!
My wife simultaneously supports and has no interest in my hobby. I'm pretty much okay with it. We've come to the conclusion that we share so many interests already (food, wine, travel, business, etc) that it's okay for us to have things which we are separate on (shoes/purses, watches, types of literature, TV shows).
She only has a couple rules which I think are eminently fair.
That said, she does have an appreciation for fine luxury goods so she intuitively gets why watches are interesting....she just has zero interest in them for herself.
I love the parenthesis on rule 1, which suggests a loophole you think she's missed (I bet she hasn't). 😂
Wow, how talented is your wife?! 😳Amazing 👏 She sounds very awesome and supportive, and you are one lucky guy!
Actually, she seems almost as cool as my husband's wife.
She is...and as she stated, " it is much better than many other endeavors (hobbies) possible." Very fair. But don't drain the checking account.
She says she controls supply tighter than Rolex, so you'd better get saving if you want the watch book. Put your name down and you might get the call in a couple of years. However, like any AD, you stand a better chance if you lavish us with gifts and compliments... 😂
Let’s start with compliments…I think your wife is very thoughtful and ultra creative!! And expect some fruit baskets within a day or two 😂 and I would purchase garden watch pillows as well 😁
My wife insisted I buy my grail and has been a good sport and supportive when getting my grail got me into obsessing over (collecting) watches. That being said, short of being a watch collector herself, your wife wins!
From the responses, it sounds like most of us are pretty lucky (but then again, maybe we wouldn't be on watchcrunch if our spouses weren't as supportive).
I love the parenthesis on rule 1, which suggests a loophole you think she's missed (I bet she hasn't). 😂
No way she's missed it. It's just a subject of a future negotiation 😜
My husband loves my fascination with watches because A. I’ve turned it into a business B. I get him nice watches and C. When he randomly asks me, “What’s that guy wearing?” he’s still impressed with my watch-id capabilities 😂
Your wife is very thoughtful!
You seem to be as lucky as me and others in this thread to have a supportive spouse. My wife teases me relentlessly about my collection, but she is supportive of me and always tells me, "as long as the bills are paid, you are good." She has also given me a number of watches as gifts over the years.
These six watches are her contribution to my collection. 🥰
For some reason I picture you and your wife sitting down and addressing the fine details of the marriage contract 😜
Hah, you're not far off. We're both pretty low emotion people so I'm certain a conversation like that happened at some point.
thats super sweet! love the story.
My wife has a 1WC. I got her a brand new IWC spitfire 12 years ago and it has become her daily banger ever since. She totally respects it as a tool watch and wears it like a G-Shock with dings and scratches all over.
Good or bad, she never questions why I m getting a new watch. And in most cases can’t really tell what’s on my wrist. I bet she can’t tell how many pieces I have in my collection.
You are lucky, and an excellent write-up, @Calumets! My wife does not mind and encourages me to buy high-tier watches and hates my obsession with low-tier, less expensive watches, e.g., Casio, Seiko, etc. 🤷🏽♂️🤐
Ditto!
My wife hates low-tier, Kickstarter, G-Shock, dive watches, most moderately priced vintage watches, etc.
Her famous last words "You will regret having bought those watches one day."
So far, no regrets...
Yeah, Baby - KISS Army
My wife would never go to see KISS, but it's OK because my music buddies are all fans of the band. Before Covid, we would take in about 10-20 shows of different bands in a year.
KISS and Def Leppard was pretty awesome - and the last show before lockdown was also pretty awesome (though Paul's voice ain't what it used to be - sounds kinda like a Jewish grandmother from Queens, NY now)
Very cool and I agree about Paul's voice. Still great to go and bring back the memories of the 70s Kiss, now they are Kiss in their 70s. lol
Let's just all raise our glasses to celebrate our wonderful and supportive spouses. And for those of you who still have bumps on the road, don't fret, it will all smooth out. Just pay the house bills first ;)
My wife keeps telling me, "remember we can not afford another watch" as I follow her into a watch boutique.
Gf is sorta supportive she totally talked me into getting my red casioak.
I have been into watches for a couple of decades, but during the pandemic, we decided to share the hobby and she got on board. Our deal is, if one gets a watch the other one does as well. It helps when we get a watch we can both wear!
Very cool and I agree about Paul's voice. Still great to go and bring back the memories of the 70s Kiss, now they are Kiss in their 70s. lol
I noticed you were wearing the Rock and Roll Over T-shirt - is that your favorite album? It's definitely mine when considering the complete album. That and the first KISS album are my favorites.
I was able to pick up the limited edition picture disc they released last year - did you see this one?
I noticed you were wearing the Rock and Roll Over T-shirt - is that your favorite album? It's definitely mine when considering the complete album. That and the first KISS album are my favorites.
I was able to pick up the limited edition picture disc they released last year - did you see this one?
It is my favorite both the songs and the artwork. I also do love Destroyer and Love Gun would be my third. Of course their first 3 Kiss, Hotter than Hell and Dressed to Kill will always be special because they are the albums that introduced me to them. Alive is what put them into the stratosphere. If it wasn't for that breaking through, there may not have been a Kiss. By the time Alive came out they owed so much money to Casablanca that if Alive didn't do it for them it would have been over. Thank God it wasn't. I would hate to think of growing up in the 70s without the soundtrack of Kiss in the background.
Dude you've got a KEEPER!!! I've got a Sugar-Mama ... I've been blessed for days LOL! BTW, your wife is smarter and more well knowledged than me with watches 🤪 And definitely more talented 😂🤣 Don't ever let Wifey go Bro! Stay Thirsty My Man 🍺🍻👊🏽
I’m not sure which “my wife is in the hobby” story to tell. We can choose from:
She loves watches but she won’t do forums or social media. I kinda wish she would.
That book is the effing bomb! That is one of the most creative watch related things I think I have ever seen. What a great SOTC snapshot!
My wife had better watches (Swiss Army, Movado) before I even thought of getting into them as a collector. I had a Casio and wore it as a tool. She bought me the original Seiko Arctura Kinetic back in the 90s when we were still just dating. To her they were things to tell time… or so I thought.
After I bought my first Rolex she had to be around me as I consumed every Hodinkee article I could and every YouTube video I could. She didn’t understand the obsession and told me she wasn’t into watches but always told me to get what I wanted. Then I got my second and third Rolex, still watching/reading lots of watch content it’s about at that point that she gently dropped a few hints to me about how she had come around and what she liked.
I eventually picked up her cues (eventually) and acquired a nice DJ for her. When she said “for my next piece I want…” I knew I had her hooked too. 🤣
She gives me a gentle ribbing for just how much watch content I consume but then she’ll surprise me with a comment/opinion as I watch a YouTube video and it always impresses me how much she herself has picked up. I think it’s cool we share an appreciation for watches.
Thats very nice that you wife supports you on your hobby and best part very creative. My wife is not a watch person she more big on expensive hand bags, belts and sandals. I collect affordable watches and she notice it keep me happy and out of trouble. She makes fun of me sometimes when I open my watch box and start cleaning and admiring my collection. I told her I take good extra care of my things. But she knows I'm responsible I always pay my bills on time and I don't let hobbies take over my daily responsibilities. As long wife supportive of you is fine. If not oh well I pack up and leave I make sure I take all my watches with me and for sure TIME will be on my side!
My wife is supportive as long as it doesn't take up her time too much (like waiting for me to take a pic my watch with our food).
What's more amusing is when a friend's wife is a fan of my Instagram and tells me to use her new DJ and Tank in a pic. I obliged her 😂