Q: How did you get into watch collecting?
I never got rid of most of my old watches, and then I turned 50 and wanted new watch, and then another, and then another!
Q: What was the first watch you ever owned?
I don’t remeber the brand but it was black with red LED/ Digital. I was kid in the 70’s
Q: Do you have a watch with a particularly interesting story behind it?
In December 2022 I went back to the Chicago to spend the holidays with my dad. My dad is a watch guy but doesn’t know it. He bought one really nice watch once ( story for another time) but loves to buy inexpensive watches from cruise ships. I asked him for one of his watches because I wanted something connected to him. He told me he had a lot of watches and also had his dad’s watch. His mother gave it to him . He said it was a 100 year old Chinese watch and that it was an Omega. I was confused and figured it was either an old Chinese watch or an Omega, which we all know is Swiss. It turned out to be a vintage Omega Speedmaster. It was pretty worn but it wound right up and starting keeping time again. I couldn’t believe. I looked at every scratch and thought about a man who is my Grandfather and never had the opportunity to meet. When I got to California, I took it to Omega to have serviced. I’m a big fan of the Omega Boutique at South Coast Plaza. Omega had the watch for about 9 months but they did an excellent job on it. I wanted to make sure it would survive another 50+ years. Grateful to have this in my collection.
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for someone just getting into watches?
Do a lot of research, get your watch, and then stop researching
Q: What brands have been getting your attention lately?
Grand Seiko, Seiko, Omega, Breitling, Glashutte Original, Zenith, JLC
Q: What is your grail watch and why?
Don’t really have one. Currently content but we know how that goes.