Watches in the Wild (Wedding edition)
Disclaimer: I am writing this watch spotting travelogue in response to @Deeperblue 's and @thekris 's injust lampooning of my watch watching capabilities 😂😉😂😉
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Deeperblue/posts/rank-your-watch-identification-skills-15374 for further context.
Disclaimer 2: My wedding watch appended above for the engagement.
I have to confess, I'm a complete sap for weddings. I love heartfelt vows, I love teary eyed family and friends, I love the beautiful union between two people and the beginning of their lifelong (fingers crossed) adventure.
As with most things, Ron Swanson put it best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIkHxhyryt0
But another, more selfish reason that I love them is that the watch game at weddings can be intense. People are dressed up to the nines or maybe they're looking to impress.....it's a beautiful combo for watch spotting.
The wedding I attended last weekend in SoCal was one of the best watch watching nights I've had in a while. Of course there were plenty of Garmins, Samsung Galaxies, and Apple Watches. Very functional, not very celebratory. But on Saturday, by and large, people brought their watch game and it was beautiful.
Some watches were crazy expensive. Most were not. Almost all were cool as hell.
Pictures aren't from the wedding (not down with the violation of privacy, yo) but representative pictures appended when I could find them.
In no particular order of enjoyment
Omega Constellation Pie Pan in Rose Gold - I didn't even know Omega made 1960s ish constellations in rose gold. I badly want to be best friends with the owner so I can borrow this watch.
Grand Seiko SBGY002 - have you ever had a moment where you thought you needed to up your watch game? Not money wise but coolness wise? That's how I felt when I saw this one. This watch is a masterpiece.
Halios Fairwind - how do you tell a serious watch nerd from someone who just drops a ton of money? They own a Halios. Apparently, the dude who wore it has not missed a watch drop since Jason Lim started the company.
Dan Henry 1937 in Black- worn by a close friend. It's so nice in the metal, to the point where I am debating one for myself. @Aurelian would argue that watch design peaked in 1960. I think he might have been 3 decades too late.
Casio Oceanus Solar Atomic - probably the coolest tech for an analog watch out there. Spring drives and high accuracy quartz might as well be sundials. We measure our time using the vibration of f*cking caesium atoms.
Sinn 104 - appropriately worn by a pilot. Countdown bezel > Dive Bezel. Fight me. But you know, some other day.
Citizen Promaster Tsuno "Bullhead" - worn by a semi- pro go- kart driver. I love how silly this watch looks and how high it sits on the wrist.
Tissot PRS 516 - I don't love fixed bezels but I like these ones. Sporty, smart looking, with a red seconds hand for a pop of color.
Seiko SPB295 Urushi Dial - now I know why @Ichibunz is insistent on buying out the production runs of these. The Urushi lacquer dial is breathtaking in person.
Krayon Anywhere in Blue - FP who? I never honestly expected to see this one in person. I couldn't even tell you how to start going about buying one. It's not really to my taste, but the sunrise complication is hilariously over the top.
Unknown Longines Tank in Salmon - picture is inaccurate but captures the feel. It was tiny and pink and beautiful. If I were a fan of tank style watches, I'd be searching this one out.
Oh and just one more story. I've been friends with the groom for around 20 years now, going back to college, and it's been an up and down journey for him that really started picking up when he met his now wife.
When he got engaged, he sold his beloved Goldeneye era Omega Seamaster 2541 to buy his then fiancee an engagement ring. I remember talking with him about it at the time and, while he was a little saddened by the sale, he was ready to take his next step.
His groomsmen and I began to scheme on a way to replace it before he suddenly told us to hold off, citing wedding stress.
On a rainy Saturday, he married the love of his life with a Titanium Seamaster 300m (from No Time to Die) strapped to his wrist, a thoughtful gift from the beautiful bride completely without input from his watch nut friends.
Turns out, the bride has some serious watch game herself. He's a lucky man.
Cheers.
By day, investor and father. By night, Seiko nut. #justgooutsideandtouchgrass
Great stories, great watches! Makes me want to go to a wedding. I seriously haven't been to one in close to 10 years, and I wasn't into watches back then. Anyway, I have no idea how you identified all those watches, but well done sir. I would have been all "there was an Omega something, and a Rolex probably DJ, but maybe OP, and a few Subs. Or maybe they were Invictas."
You and this sappy love wedding stories 🥹😢🥰… I’m a sucker for great endings 🥳🍻…
A fine collection of friends and acquaintances with fine watches can’t go wrong with that!
Great post filled with great watches! Thanks!
Some lovely metalwork on display,really taken with the Dan Henry. And a lovely story,what a way to start a marriage, both into watches sounds like a match made in heaven.
That's quit the gathering of wild watches. We should have a NatGeo style short takes of Watches in the Wild or Wondering Watches of the Streets. Johnny Da Spot roaming select cities streets looking for time tellers!!! Yeah, I see academy award!!
Very cool wedding story and sounds like an even cooler bride.
Great story! And what a lucky man! That 007 Titanium Seamaster is awesome.
my wedding watch also happened to be a Cartier Roadster :)
It looks like you were fishing in a well stocked pond. That is quite an array of watches. You must also have the ability to talk watches in the wild. That's a rare skill. The groom seems like a really lucky guy.
I went to a funeral over the weekend for a local lawyer who was taken too early by colon cancer. I said in jest the other day that I could always recognize Rolex and Panerai but defaulted to Breitling when I didn't know. In watch spotting terms I was able to pick out a couple of older Datejusts and a Panerai (which was easy because this one guy always wears a Panerai). I talked to another lawyer at the reception afterward. We always talk pens. He had a new bronze fountain pen to show me (brought a fountain pen to a funeral). And then we talked about his....Breitling.
I still think that watch design peaked in mid-60's. Dan Henry creates homages that are really not one to one copies, but rather borrow elements from several watches in an era. I agree that model is beautiful. However, there is no golden past where you could find something that looked like that, maybe with some elements, but not exactly like that. Chronographs were very rare and rarely in any dial color other than a shade of white. Dan Henry can bring the very rare look to the modern market.
Great stories, great watches! Makes me want to go to a wedding. I seriously haven't been to one in close to 10 years, and I wasn't into watches back then. Anyway, I have no idea how you identified all those watches, but well done sir. I would have been all "there was an Omega something, and a Rolex probably DJ, but maybe OP, and a few Subs. Or maybe they were Invictas."
I had a small advantage this time. Along with being a wedding, ot was a convocation of watch nuts and tolerant friends. I wasn't the only one staring at wrists😉
Some lovely metalwork on display,really taken with the Dan Henry. And a lovely story,what a way to start a marriage, both into watches sounds like a match made in heaven.
I love the art deco look of those old patek chronographs, but I can't imagine how much of a headache they are to live with day to day. The DH nails the vibe perfectly.
I think there's something to be said for an homage watch made by someone who understands and loves the original.
That's quit the gathering of wild watches. We should have a NatGeo style short takes of Watches in the Wild or Wondering Watches of the Streets. Johnny Da Spot roaming select cities streets looking for time tellers!!! Yeah, I see academy award!!
I'd subscribe to your streaming service.
Very cool wedding story and sounds like an even cooler bride.
The groom and I are long term watch buds but I didn't know the bride really well at all.
I think if you had told me that the bride was going to buy a watch for her husband without some guidance (or strong prior watch knowledge), I might have been a little concerned. Watches are very personal especially for a long time watch enthusiast.
But she nailed it. Omega diver with a Bond connection in a lighter metal to compensate for the weight of the automatic movement. Its literally the watch I (or half a dozen of his watch buddies) would have chosen.
Great story! And what a lucky man! That 007 Titanium Seamaster is awesome.
my wedding watch also happened to be a Cartier Roadster :)
A man of class!
It looks like you were fishing in a well stocked pond. That is quite an array of watches. You must also have the ability to talk watches in the wild. That's a rare skill. The groom seems like a really lucky guy.
I went to a funeral over the weekend for a local lawyer who was taken too early by colon cancer. I said in jest the other day that I could always recognize Rolex and Panerai but defaulted to Breitling when I didn't know. In watch spotting terms I was able to pick out a couple of older Datejusts and a Panerai (which was easy because this one guy always wears a Panerai). I talked to another lawyer at the reception afterward. We always talk pens. He had a new bronze fountain pen to show me (brought a fountain pen to a funeral). And then we talked about his....Breitling.
I still think that watch design peaked in mid-60's. Dan Henry creates homages that are really not one to one copies, but rather borrow elements from several watches in an era. I agree that model is beautiful. However, there is no golden past where you could find something that looked like that, maybe with some elements, but not exactly like that. Chronographs were very rare and rarely in any dial color other than a shade of white. Dan Henry can bring the very rare look to the modern market.
Bronze fountain pen?
That's quit the gathering of wild watches. We should have a NatGeo style short takes of Watches in the Wild or Wondering Watches of the Streets. Johnny Da Spot roaming select cities streets looking for time tellers!!! Yeah, I see academy award!!
Great story and great watch spotting.
The groom and I are long term watch buds but I didn't know the bride really well at all.
I think if you had told me that the bride was going to buy a watch for her husband without some guidance (or strong prior watch knowledge), I might have been a little concerned. Watches are very personal especially for a long time watch enthusiast.
But she nailed it. Omega diver with a Bond connection in a lighter metal to compensate for the weight of the automatic movement. Its literally the watch I (or half a dozen of his watch buddies) would have chosen.
That was my point exactly. I don’t know if I’d trust my wife of 3 years to nail my taste without discussion. She deserves all the props here as so does the groom for the original sacrifice.
That was my point exactly. I don’t know if I’d trust my wife of 3 years to nail my taste without discussion. She deserves all the props here as so does the groom for the original sacrifice.
I've been married to my wife for about 10 years now (and together for 15). I trust her with watch gifts about as much as she trusts me with purse gifts.
Never the twain shall meet.
Awesome watch spotting, man!!!
Too funny, because it's too true. We males really are complete savages, and it's the institution of marriage / family that finally domesticates us. I remember my now-wife's horror at visiting me in SF and seeing the futon I slept on in my apartment. Her response was, "WTF is wrong with you? We're not in college anymore. You're not allowed to have a futon at the age of 34!" She literally made me go buy a bed and mattress that very day.
I'm thinking there is no way she nailed that purchase without some insider knowledge or digging, but I could be wrong. Like others I have not been to a wedding in probably 20+ years, but I bought a new suit for all the funerals now. I always bust out my Tag SEL on the brushed "S" bracelet. I got that watch when I graduated from university in the early 90s and I sometimes wonder why I wanted it so much. Very comfortable watch though!
Awesome watch spotting, man!!!
Too funny, because it's too true. We males really are complete savages, and it's the institution of marriage / family that finally domesticates us. I remember my now-wife's horror at visiting me in SF and seeing the futon I slept on in my apartment. Her response was, "WTF is wrong with you? We're not in college anymore. You're not allowed to have a futon at the age of 34!" She literally made me go buy a bed and mattress that very day.
My wife still tells spooky stories to the children about my first apartment and the layer of pot smoke ash on every surface from my roommates.
I'm thinking there is no way she nailed that purchase without some insider knowledge or digging, but I could be wrong. Like others I have not been to a wedding in probably 20+ years, but I bought a new suit for all the funerals now. I always bust out my Tag SEL on the brushed "S" bracelet. I got that watch when I graduated from university in the early 90s and I sometimes wonder why I wanted it so much. Very comfortable watch though!
Totally. But she didn't ask any of the usual suspects. I wouldn't discount her knowing someone with great watch taste (at the very least getting a No Time to Die Watch isn't the first thing you'd get steered to in a store) but no one who knows the groom as well as we would.
I prefer to think of it as happy kismet.
My wife still tells spooky stories to the children about my first apartment and the layer of pot smoke ash on every surface from my roommates.
The lies that we tell....
Awesome spots, that krayon is insane!
That Krayon and THAT ending was brilliant.
I like all these watches. I have a question. did you asked people if you can try their watch or maybe it is not polite ?
I like all these watches. I have a question. did you asked people if you can try their watch or maybe it is not polite ?
I tend to go by the following etiquette.
Of the above, I tried in the Dan Henry (because it was a very close friend) and the Omega (using my Daytona as collateral).
That Krayon and THAT ending was brilliant.
I have to say, the Krayon was much nicer in person than I ever envisioned. That said, I didn't really feel the look.
As for the bride and groom, I think what made it amazing was the fact that she cared enough to get to know him in a really deep way, at least watch wise (not that this is the most important thing in the world). There was a beautiful symmetry to the sacrifice and then the gift.
Sort of a" I'm willing to give this thing I love up for you." And the response being," I fully accept this part of you." I am a complete softy for that kind of thing
This needs to be a regular thing. Hodinkee had some articles about watches they spotted at the NY public basketball courts. The idea of seeing real people wearing real watches is amazing. It'd be nice if you had spotted or had those people do a watch shot!
This needs to be a regular thing. Hodinkee had some articles about watches they spotted at the NY public basketball courts. The idea of seeing real people wearing real watches is amazing. It'd be nice if you had spotted or had those people do a watch shot!
I will think of making this a little more regular but it's rare that I get watch game of this level.
The one thing I don't do is ask for wrist shots. I think it can be intrusive to people.