What got you into watches?
Growing up back home in Australia, we have a lot of open space and wide roads, so I went through about 13 cars over the years - modifying them, tinkering here and there, servicing the engine and all that. My dad was into bikes himself in his younger years and anything on two wheels with an engine. Anything mechanical I find interesting and the relationship between the different mechanical items… who thinks of this, some of it is pretty genius.
My very first mechanical watch was a Seiko SRP701K1, and then a Seiko 5 SNXS79. Moving to the UK a few years ago where car culture isn’t the same (in my opinion), tiny roads, the push to electric, tariffs on everything… I found my interest in watches evolved quickly, becoming my new ‘mechanical outlet’ and reading a ton of watch content that I still find fascinating to this day. Fast forward to 2022 and a few more purchases…. I’m in deep now. (Send help 🆘)
Aussie Ex-Pat living in the UK, grew up with cars and anything mechanical… thus here we are after my first automatic Seiko many years ago 👋
I got into watches because my government became even more hostile toward my previous hobby, firearms. It made no sense to keep putting money into firearms when the government might ban them on a whim, so I started looking at spending my "play" money on other things.
I've always worn a watch, so it seemed a logical place to spend some cash.
Always wore a watch, but only became an enthusiast/hobbyist after getting into knives and EDC first.
My husband. He has liked watches for a while and I wanted to buy him one for Christmas as a surprise. I don't like to buy on impulse and didn't want to buy him something rubbish so spent hours and hours researching brands, movements, watch history etc etc. I went from knowing absolutely zero to being able to recite Seiko model numbers in about 4 months of obsessive research. After this, I was addicted. 🤦
I was given a cheap watch as a kid, I’ve worn a watch on my wrist for the past 16 years of my life? So I feel empty without one. I personally think that a watch is a way that a man can make himself look better - a form of jeweller. I’ve always walked by watches in stores and just liked the way they look.
it’s more recently that I’ve been actually finding out about the inner workings of watch making and appreciate watches. I blame YouTube for my deep dive but it’s provided me a deeper found appreciation for watches
That's a great question!
I've never really been able to identify what got me into watches. However I can trace back my steps somewhat:
My parents have had a rolex on their wrist for as long as I can remember. They got it as a gift to themselves when they immigrated to Canada.That wrist presence always resonated with me.
I also always liked covering my wrists with bracelets because I was self conscious of my wrist size. Then one day, out of boredom during COVID, I bought my first watch as an adult (a GSGOCK GWM5610) on Amazon which propelled me into this crazy world of horology.
So, combine Rolex's prowess in the watch world and COVID-induced boredom, and voilà! You get me - an obsessed watch nerd 🤓
It was two things...
Now i can't stop...
🙄
It was two things...
Now i can't stop...
🙄
Was it the Tudor x Hodinkee restoration video by chance? That one really left a mark
I lost my grandad when I was quite young and inherited his jewellery, through which was an Omega. Fast forward to when i was in my early 20s, and I was going through some things, rediscovered the watch, and took said Omega to get serviced because I thought it would be nice to have something to remember him by. Once it was restored, I kind of wanted another watch so not to ruin that one wearing it all the time, and then it sort of went downhill from there.
Boredom would be the most honest answer in my case.
My husband. He has liked watches for a while and I wanted to buy him one for Christmas as a surprise. I don't like to buy on impulse and didn't want to buy him something rubbish so spent hours and hours researching brands, movements, watch history etc etc. I went from knowing absolutely zero to being able to recite Seiko model numbers in about 4 months of obsessive research. After this, I was addicted. 🤦
For me, it started when I got really into hiking and camping. I did So. Much. Research. on all different kinds of gear that it’s become my default for just about everything at this point. I LOVE doing this kind of research, though, so it’s an addiction I do get a lot of pleasure out of.
I love analog stuff in general, which all started when I got really into records/vintage stereo equipment years and years ago. Watches became a natural extension of that, with the added bonuses of being able to wear them around and being mind-boggled that mechanical watches can even exists. Then there’s the aesthetic aspect, and the fact that I can get lost for hours doing research (something I love to do). With all that, it just makes sense that I’d be obsessed with watches.
before watch i always like gadget like smartphone, smartwatch, etc. and then suddenly i realized that kind of thing arent meant to last forever, it is a disposable tool. and someday i was introduced to rolex by one of my friend. eventhough i didnt own expensive piece, my curiosity began there.😂
My godbrother planted the seeds. A couple of years ago a YouTube video titled “Why Watch Collectors Hate Timex” or something to that effect popped up in my recommendations. Not sure what compelled me to watch it, but it was like everything clicked and I understood why enthusiasts appreciated mechanical movements
Always enamored by them knowing it was one of the few/only accessories a male typically wears
What drove my enthusiasm into high gear, the first John Mayer talking watches episode and reading publications like Worn & Wound
TGV, Reddit and the SKX
Was it the Tudor x Hodinkee restoration video by chance? That one really left a mark
I'll have to watch that, but I think it was just something short form. I can't remember
For me it was the dials.