Q: How did you get into watch collecting?
I used to have the watch the Lone Wanderer wears in Tranquility Lane from Fallout 3, but after a year and a half of daily wear and abuse, it was a goner. As a replacement my dad gave me his practically NOS Stauer Graves '33, and the rest is history.
Q: What was the first watch you ever owned?
If you want to get technical, probably one of those LEGO watches that came with a minifigure. My parents used to buy them for me when I was a kid, because I'd only want the minifig. The first watch I ever bought with my own money was a hideous Skmei.
Q: Do you have a watch with a particularly interesting story behind it?
I got my Q Timex from a Macy's for about $50, because it wasn't selling and the people who ran the place thought it was a "woman's watch".
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for someone just getting into watches?
Start at the bottom; if your first watch is literally a Rolex it'll be hard to appreciate what you can get for $200 from a company like Orient. And buy what you personally like; too many people in this hobby unfairly dismiss watches that don't fall neatly into their preconceived notions (e.g. automatic movement, 38/39mm diameter, sapphire crystal, etc)
Q: What brands have been getting your attention lately?
I've been pretty partial to Fortis the past few months. I think their history is really interesting-they made the first automatic movement, after all-yet lots of people ignore their stuff. I also like Glycine, mostly because the Combat Sub and Airman are some of the most affordable Swiss-Made divers and pilot's watches, respectively.
Q: What is your grail watch and why?
Grand Seiko SLGA015, Longines Ultra-Chron and/or Tudor BB54: they're functional yet versatile tool watches made by people who know what they're doing, not just some doofus in his basement who makes Seiko mods that look suspiciously like Submariners.
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