Q: How did you get into watch collecting?
Watches have been a big part of my family, so it was a natural progression to start creating my own collection. My dad and his middle brother both solely have 36mm Datejusts on jubilees that they wear every day, but his youngest brother started to collect fashion watches like Burberry and Michael Kors first, eventually working his way up to a GMT Batman and now a Panerai Luminor GMT. When I got my first Fossil, I realized that while it may not be the best watch (brand) ever, it was certainly the first that fit my own style and one that has evolved as much by itself as it has with me.
Q: What was the first watch you ever owned?
The first watch I ever owned is this vintage styled automatic Fossil watch I got on eBay for $50 in high school. It looks like a vintage Omega in some ways and I paired it with a modern leather strap and it’s actually quite nice. The first big purchase luxury watch I got is my Omega Spectre which I got when I started college after working odd jobs all summer just to afford the down payment!
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for someone just getting into watches?
While this hobby has the largest range of incomes, do not be afraid or shy of starting off humbly. As long as we're all enjoying each other's watches, there is no need for judgment or elitism as we are all on our journeys to collecting The One.
Q: What brands have been getting your attention lately?
Outisde of Omega, the two brands that have been gaining my attention the most have been Panerai and Tag Heuer. For Panerai the new Quarranta series of Radiomirs has really been a departure of the traditional image of Panerai, leaning fully into the 20rh century vintage as opposed to the evolved modernist that their Luminor series has had. The same goes for Tag Heuer and their new Glassbox Carrera and Carerra Skippers. Even last year I would’ve been dissuaded to consider Tag Heuer due to their overly large and loud designs along with their strange range of quartz and meager in-house calibers. But it seems like these brands are leaning heavily into their heritage while also evolving as modern brands for a wide range of consumers.
Q: What is your grail watch and why?
Like any collector this is a very tough question. My original grail was the Omega Spectre which I have had in my collection for a while now. I would rank my current grails along the lines of: 1. Speedmaster Alaska Project (with the thermo shield) 2. Speedmaster Apollo 17 45th Anniversary 3. JLC Reverso Medium Duophase (white dial with a brown leather strap)
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