Hobbies Are Better When Shared
Who else shares their hobbies with their partners?
Since I met my wife nearly 11 years ago, I’ve converted her into the best dog mom and she is now a certified car nut. In return, I garden with her and she introduced me to the world of fine wine and craft beer. I love that we share our hobbies, cook together, and do home renovation projects together. Of course, she doesn’t participate in all my hobbies, but she enjoys the ones that count.
Earlier this year I started collecting watches again, this time with a different approach. I aim to add watches that have significant meaning for me instead of buying whatever I can to fill the watch box. My first watch box has been filled quicker than anticipated, but most of the watches are pieces passed on from family. As such, most of my collection is vintage so most of the cases are smaller.
While I’ve been bringing some of these vintage time pieces back to life and sprucing them up with new straps, I think I have caught my wife’s eye. I know that vintage women’s watches are much too small and barely legible; she also doesn’t like the style as much. As luck would have it though, many of the vintage men’s watches I’ve acquired are on the small end of what I can wear, but they are the perfect size for her wrists. She likes my Timex Marlin that belonged to my grandfather, and she also likes the Bulova Accutron that I recently added.
So it’s official, I’ve bought my wife her first watch box. This Seiko is the first addition.
Real Estate investor based in northern New Jersey. Though I have loved and owned watches since 2010, I decided to start over in 2023. My goal is to build a collection that is meaningful to me. My tast...
That’s so sweet! I should start sharing my vintage piece with my wife too and get her into watches as well.
That’s so sweet! I should start sharing my vintage piece with my wife too and get her into watches as well.
It hadn't even crossed my mind to be honest. But the other day I got a new strap for my grandfather's Timex and the strap match my wife's outfit so she tried it on. It was at that point that I realized vintage men's watches are the perfect size for women.
I care about watches and my wife cares about other things that I don't care about.
Everyone needs some personal time to be with their own "stuff"
Neither did my wife. And to be honest, she still doesn't. It took 7 years of going to shows and events, meeting people, building friendships, and going on drives for my wife to get into cars. It used to be my hobby; I'd go to multiple shows each week, walk around and look at all the cars, talk about all the cars, talk to other people about their cars, and I'd drag my then-girlfriend around with me! It took her 7 years to get into cars because it took me 7 years to realize that sitting in an asphalt parking lot for 6 hours on a 90 degree day is not fun for her. Now when we go to shows we take a beautiful drive up from NJ to CT in our vintage BMW, we take the pup with us, we see more classic European cars rather than American muscle cars that my wife doesn't care about, we get a delicious cup of coffee, we spend only 30-45 minutes looking at cars, we go for a nice brunch, and we've built some wonderful friendships along the way. What's more, by having my wife enjoy the hobby, I am enjoying it more than ever.
So when it comes to watches I realize that the Apple Watch will likely remain my wife's go-to watch for some time. It's also very practical for what she does for work. But when I noticed my new watch strap matched her outfit perfectly I seized the opportunity to have her try it on. She liked the vintage look of the watch. Within an hour of that, I had her looking at vintage watches for herself on Ebay. Then she was looking at watch straps for another 30 minutes. From experience I know that this is how it starts. Give me another 7 years and she'll be talking about main springs and pointing out Omega Speedmasters on wrists across the room.
I care about watches and my wife cares about other things that I don't care about.
Everyone needs some personal time to be with their own "stuff"
Oh we still get plenty of alone time. And I have a few hobbies that I know she will never be into. I'm okay with that, and we do need our own "stuff." She'll never sit down to play a game of chess or cards, and she definitely won't be running through the woods with a paintball gun. And I don't see myself painting or picking up knitting needles any time soon. But we love spending time in the garden together, we love going to BMW events together, and I definitely won't complain if she starts enjoying a spectacular collection of watches.
That's a very cool Seiko! Could be unisex if I'm not mistaken so then you could steal her stuff LOL
That's a very cool Seiko! Could be unisex if I'm not mistaken so then you could steal her stuff LOL
Thank you! It's actually a vintage men's watch technically. But it fits her wrist much better than mine. I just got her a Waltham which I may have to sneak onto my wrist every now and then.
We share our love of art, with slightly different tastes. She's enjoying having a few nice watches now. When I got her a case she filled it immediately with all her fashion watches (colour coded to match outfits), so her nice pieces are in the expensive box alongside mine.
My wife thinks all my watches look the same. I suppose they do really. She likes dogs. I like watches. And we share an interest in nature and old movies.
Yes my Better Half is into watches too - she has a Hamilton khaki king, 62Mas reissue, Tuna & Cartier Balon bleu.
We watch YouTube reviews together every day and she's slowly accumulating tools so she can have a go at watch repairs and servicing. 😊👍🏻
My wife thinks all my watches look the same. I suppose they do really. She likes dogs. I like watches. And we share an interest in nature and old movies.
That makes it easier to hide when you get a new watch haha!
We share our love of art, with slightly different tastes. She's enjoying having a few nice watches now. When I got her a case she filled it immediately with all her fashion watches (colour coded to match outfits), so her nice pieces are in the expensive box alongside mine.
That's great! I know my wife will never enjoy watches as deeply as I do. But if she has enough interest to enjoy a few pieces that is a win in my book.
Yes my Better Half is into watches too - she has a Hamilton khaki king, 62Mas reissue, Tuna & Cartier Balon bleu.
We watch YouTube reviews together every day and she's slowly accumulating tools so she can have a go at watch repairs and servicing. 😊👍🏻
That is awesome!!
This looks like early 80s ?? Beautiful and elegant. Thanks for sharing.
This looks like early 80s ?? Beautiful and elegant. Thanks for sharing.
That would be my guess as well. It's a neat piece for sure, I'm glad that you appreciate it!