Watches

A word from a watch collector

in ,

A watch is a machine that lives on your wrist, and it has a heartbeat. It’s with you in moments of stress, in moments of happiness, in moments of sorrow. That creates a bond that’s almost impossible to quantify or explain to someone who doesn’t feel it.

As Patek’s campaign declares:

“You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”

This sentiment resonates deeply with collectors who view their watches not just as personal possessions, but as part of a larger, ongoing narrative that transcends our individual lifetimes.

If i had just one watch and one watch only~

in ,

It would have to be the perfect accompaniment to what I consider to be a perfect state of being. As I get older that state has come to mean more by way of reclusive contemplation. I want to expand the uncluttered space around me to savour mastery of form, material, colour, depth and balance. I want to be able to look at that one watch and see it as a symbol of human successes and failures, accolades and set backs: a watch that represents pioneering spirit, an uncompromising approach, and fragile beauty. Through all of this I want a watch that minutely captures romance, classicism and a purity of vision that separates it and its wearer (me) from mundane reality. It must be able to transport me not just outside of myself, but into levels of stillness within.

Mimetic Theory of Desire Humans are like sheep.

We don’t know what we want, so we imitate each other. Instead of creating our own desires, we desire the same things as other people. The entire advertising industry is built on this idea. This does not even need an explanation! Resist the temptation to buy watches simply because they’re deemed popular by other collectors. Cultivate your own tastes and preferences, and focus on acquiring watches that genuinely resonate with you.

Decision - Decision - Decision ~

There are only a handful of watches that will never get bored with in life!

in ,

Personally, I do think Patek Philippe ruined their flawless perpetual calendar after the reference 3940 (as shown in the photos above). What drew me into vintage Patek was their subtle elegance that you feel when wearing it. It's just so great and well-proportioned, which is something I hardly find in modern Pateks.

I used to own a smaller, rather more "vintage" Ref. 96 with Breguet numerals, but there are certain points you might want to consider before getting into vintage pieces.

  • Serviceability and the cost of servicing. That's only if you can find someone with the skills and know-how to service your timepiece without messing it up. As far as I know, Patek will not reshape the case unless absolutely necessary. I sold my Patek reference 96 mainly because of the uneven case shape - it's just the little frivolous details that a watch enthusiast like me would notice, even if others wouldn't care too much.

  • Resale value. Not everything has the upside appreciation once you fall out of love with it. Then you realize there is no market for it. That's why people suggest buying a Rolex as your first watch, just in case you might want to sell it later on.

  • Fragility. Wearing a vintage watch doesn't give you the same peace of mind. You might want to wear it with extra care and avoid getting it near water.

Don't get me wrong, I love vintage watches, but these are a few points to think about before getting one. It's your call, your watch, and your wrist. After all, no one buys an expensive timepiece just to tell the time anyway. DD.