xx1j.ahtohallan
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Q: How did you get into watch collecting?
In 2016, I went to a store in London when a salesman showed me a Patek Philippe World Time 5230R and I get to try it on. At the time it was £34000 and thought it was ridiculous for a watch. Fast forward some many years later, I saw the watches from Vacheron Constantin (particularly the Fiftysix collection), I was prepared to buy the Fiftysix Self-winding originally but hesitated because it didn't have the Geneva seal. So I thought about the £5000 difference between that and Day-Date but couldn't get it because it was just too expensive for me at the time. This was 2019, so as a result my dad gave me his Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra (1st gen, two-toned) and it felt like a test to me in terms on whether I could take care of it, and whether I really like watches or not. Almost a year later, I found out about Grand Seiko (their watches, and history of the company) was deciding between 3 of their models (Snowflake, Skyflake and the SBGY003), or the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer to be my first ever watch. I went w/ the Skyflake since I've decided that I will buy/ own a Credor one day. Eventually I got the Omega Worldtimer too, and the Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Day-Date (for a bit, but I no longer have it since I've sold the watch). I just found the movement to be really small for its size, and it didn't felt like a "true" Vacheron Constantin watch for me in terms of the movement, that's why I sold it. But I'm planning to get another VC in the future. Fast forward to today, and I'm a watch collector in a way, who actually likes watches in general 😊
Q: What was the first watch you ever owned?
In terms of given: a swatch irony (2004) In terms of what I bought: Grand Seiko Skyflake (2020)
Q: Do you have a watch with a particularly interesting story behind it?
It's really hard, because all the watches I have got some interesting story behind them. Some of them got multiple stories I could write about. But I'll write about the one watch I have which I think barely anyone will know about. The brand is called "Marathon" and the model is "Large Diver's Automatic (GSAR) - 41mm". They're a Canadian company who makes their watches in Switzerland. When I recieved it, I never knew anything about the brand or the watch...and I have to say it's probably one of the most solid watches I've ever owned. I went through a lot of bad times prior to recieving that watch, and I took it as a sign that there are still good people around this world. So prior to the decade, Marathon actually doesn't sell their watches. It's only given to the military originally...mainly for Canadian soldiers and their country allies, and that was the only way to get them (their watches were built FOR the military). But now, they're available to the public but I can guarantee that barely anyone knows them. I only have respect for these guys, and their ethos behind making Marathon watches. It was awarded to me by Watchpro when I attented Watchpro Salon (kinda like a raffle but I didn't have to pay anything for it, nor knew anything about it). I got the invite to Watchpro Salon from Grand Seiko as they gave me tickets for the show too. The one I have in particular got a Maple leaf on the dial, and everything is just packaged in a solid nice box, and the watch is built like a tank. Looking on how much it costs online, I find it to be ridiculously cheap for what it is...the watch is actually built more solid than any dive watch I could think of (Tudor Black Bay, Rolex Submariner, a lot of the Seiko dive watches to name a few). I think if the particular watch I had just had a Rolex logo slapped in to it, it's going to be 10x the price. When you buy a Marathon watch, the cost is basically 100% for the watch.
Q: What is one piece of advice you have for someone just getting into watches?
Don't be a sheep. Be the trend-setter. Because a watch brand doesn't define you as as a person, but you may be judged by what you wear. Another thing is, get what you want. You'll know what watch you want and don't let anyone affect the watches you've always wanted to get just because others said it's a "bad watch" without really knowing anything. Finally, the price of the watch doesn't matter. But the value you get out of it does matter. You can be in a room wearing inexpensive watches to a room filled with people wearing some of the most expensive watches ever made, and you'll still be respected by the right people for it. The watch you wear also shows a reflection on the type of person you are, I think the best thing to consider is that when you like a watch and want to get one, you have to think about things like "Is this me?", "Does this watch reflect me as a person?". A true watch collector/ enthusiast/ connoiseur (name it) will respect watches from different scales of luxury and price tags. I guess that's the one piece of advice I could give. Sorry if it's a bit long haha.
Q: What brands have been getting your attention lately?
Laurent Ferrier, Czapek, Charles Girardier, Zeitwinkel and Moritz Grossmann. The way they make their watches are insanely amazing, I'm hoping to own one from each brands one day. Tudor as well actually, I started 2022 getting a Tudor watch. Cartier also got my attention lately too, but that took me a while. But since I started collecting, my top (favourite) brands (including split brands) in order would be: Credor, LUC Chopard, Vacheron Constantin, Grand Seiko, Patek Philippe [Top 5 for me]. Then it's Omega, A. Lange & Söhne, Laurent Ferrier , Czapek, Jaeger-LeCoultre. The thing is, the more you learn about these, the more your thoughts will change haha. The ones that are still some of my fav. brands but not in my top 10 would be Breitling, Jaquet Droz, F.P Journe, H. Moser, Tudor, Cartier (no particular order).
Q: What is your grail watch and why?
I actually have a "realistic grail" watch list (which are basically the goals I've set for myself to collect), and a "dream grail" watch list. "Realistic" means I actually have a shot of getting one in my life time, while "dream" would take an absolute miracle for me to ever own. If it's only one watch, and I can only have one watch in the world of my choosing (my No. 1 "dream grail" watch), it's the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque. I believe it's the greatest watch ever made. There is no other watch company/ watch maker that can convince me that there is a better watch than this (with their existing products). It's THE definition of GOD-TIER. Usually I really care about finishing; especially Swiss watches to Geneva seal standards...but this is the only watch I'm willing to give a pass to. My dream grails are (in order): Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica 185. Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600/ Les Cabinotiera Grand Complication Bacchus. Grand Seiko Kodo. LUC Full Strike Sapphire. Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon.
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