Watch collecting, meet my synesthesia...
So as the title notes, I have synesthesia. In case you don't know about that, it's like a doubling of the senses (in my case, but different synesthetes have different permutations).
I often smell or taste words: Daniel: rice pudding! Sarah: turpentine! Or I hear or feel visuals. A cluttered room makes sounds like the tinkling Dr. Bombay music on "Bewitched" (dating myself). And the color burgundy makes a thumping noise. Just a couple of examples.
It's genetic and benign, and I don't mind it at all; it's kind of fun. But weird, so feel free to laugh.
Because of this, choosing a watch can be a bit fraught. Sunburst dials can cause a scratchy tongue-thing, like nails on a chalkboard, and pebbled ones make an unpleasant noise. And silver dials? That thing where you touch your tongue to a battery. So I generally prefer lacquered. Blued hands can act up, though: if I wear my --divine!-- vintage Louis, I often literally sprint to pull it off at the end of the day. Metallic and sticky all at once.
However, certain dials are so very delicious that I have to constantly talk myself down from the ledge. Looking at you, GS, and those blues and greens that you keep putting out there. And why do your frosty dial textures not bother my synesthesia? Not sure my savings can hold out against you much longer. Love-hate you.
And my delicious deep-blue, creamy-smooth Yema Navygraf which looks TERRIBLE on my tiny wrist, but which I can't give up right now due to how that blue "tastes."
All that said, I've recently fallen in love with the King Seiko reissue. (Yes, I'm ok with the 6R31. And I'm ok if you're not. To each...) For some reason, the lightest silver does not seem to activate the synesthesia, at least online. But is it worth the risk?
And to complicate things, I seem to have a special longing for the lavender one...Lavender, which had to be expunged from my wardrobe since it "tastes" like the most overly-sugary sweet ever.
Hope this was not all too long and boring. Anyone share this sort of thing, neurology-driven or not? We're a detail-driven bunch, so would love to hear your experiences in this arena.
My minimalism is fighting it out with my covetousness: enthusiast or collector? My retirement fund looks on in horror. Rara avis, here-- female watch geek-in-(only five years on) training. Photos will...
That is amazing!
The King Seiko is one of my absolute favorite watches! The finishing is out of this world!
I've never understood the fixation on movements. My own take is that so long as the movement is reliable and robust, I couldn't care less about beat rate, COSC or no COSC, etc., etc. Given that, the new King Seiko's are just an incredible, out-of-this-world, amazing deal in terms of fit and finish. To get equivalent finishing, you'd have to pay ~3x and buy a GS!
Beyond that, it's an absolute strap monster. You won't regret it!
That is amazing!
The King Seiko is one of my absolute favorite watches! The finishing is out of this world!
I've never understood the fixation on movements. My own take is that so long as the movement is reliable and robust, I couldn't care less about beat rate, COSC or no COSC, etc., etc. Given that, the new King Seiko's are just an incredible, out-of-this-world, amazing deal in terms of fit and finish. To get equivalent finishing, you'd have to pay ~3x and buy a GS!
Beyond that, it's an absolute strap monster. You won't regret it!
That's great feedback, thanks! It's on my list for January, although will have to battle it out with at least one other (maybe I'll do a poll).
Yeah, not sure why there is such obsession about movements/nuclear-clock accuracy. I do care about things being robust and easy-care, but that's the case in pretty much anything I own. I will never, ever own a timegrapher (have I just jinxed myself?), and my life does not run to the second. Just not the relationship I want with these little almost-living creatures, or with time itself.
I did have a GS ('nother story) and half-loved it but sold it. So not at all looking to replicate that, but still know I'll enjoy the finish, as well as everything else.
Now, if it's the January winner, I still have to choose between silver and lavender 😉
That's great feedback, thanks! It's on my list for January, although will have to battle it out with at least one other (maybe I'll do a poll).
Yeah, not sure why there is such obsession about movements/nuclear-clock accuracy. I do care about things being robust and easy-care, but that's the case in pretty much anything I own. I will never, ever own a timegrapher (have I just jinxed myself?), and my life does not run to the second. Just not the relationship I want with these little almost-living creatures, or with time itself.
I did have a GS ('nother story) and half-loved it but sold it. So not at all looking to replicate that, but still know I'll enjoy the finish, as well as everything else.
Now, if it's the January winner, I still have to choose between silver and lavender 😉
Which GS did you own and sell?
I have a special love for hand-wound and simple, so I jumped on the SBGF231 when it came out.
I may post about it at some point, but in a nutshell: took it to Paris for a month hoping to bond with it (TBH, always looking for that GADA/One-and-Done piece due to my rigid minimalism). And every day, I think I liked it less.
The Zaratsu is magnificent, but I hated thinking about scratching it....the face really didn't sit well with the synesthesia: TOO smooth, and the wrong color...and it just seemed bulbous to me.
I am thinking about the SBGW289 (yes, they are out there) for next year, but after the 231 I'm just not sure. That's why the KS seems a better fit for me overall.