Ye Olde Watch Swap
I only have a couple of pals who are into watches. The one most guilty for feeding my addiction lives south of the 49th parallel. I live "North of the Wall." Seattle is our sometimes meeting port of call. Our relationship actually predates our watch craze by a few decades so watches are really just one aspect of what we enjoy together (obviously in this photograph, it is also fish and chips). But we are both hooked.
In any event, we swap watches for the day and wear whatever the other person has brought. On this recent occasion it was the Seiko SPB213J1 (mine) and the Nomos Club Date 38 'Pacific' Hodinkee Limited Edition (his).
This was my introduction to the Nomos and I have to say ... I really enjoyed it. I liked the size, weight, design, colour and overall finishings on it. It felt very elegant and suitable for my office life. I've never been drawn to Nomos, but after this foray it is something I can now appreciate. It is often that way for me ... I see it online and I think one thing, and then I see it in person and I feel another way altogether (both having my positive feelings reversed and negative impressions overturned).
As for the "watch swap" there is always a little bit of nervousness that goes with it. I don't know what it is. I trust my friend implicitly, but maybe I am thinking "if it gets dinged by me that's fine, but if he dings it ...!" Since this meeting, I have loaned two watches to an acquaintance who is just getting into the hobby - an Orient and a Nodus. I have similar anxious feelings (although less so), and the watches have been gone longer.
Does anyone else swap or share watches? I don't think I could do it with my Rolex, or my Vertex or my Fears!
All the world’s a stage we’re going through.
While I do not mind sharing at a watch meetup, I do not think I could swap with anyone. I am far to finicky when it comes to level of care.
Would lend a watch to a friend if they had a special occasion but that would be it
You fear loaning a friend a Fears? Don't fear your Fears with friends, fear your Fears with fiends.
😀
As to the actual question: nope, no loaning among my buddies. I would need a real life watch friend before it could become a thing, and none of my mates currently are. But it's a fun idea and I think if value was similar and you trust each other, I'd be up for it. 👍
I fear you may be right!