The New Guy is Watch-ing

When I started dating my girlfriend, there was a conversation about gifts and I told her “don’t buy me a watch, I just don’t get it.” We are currently laughing as my IG explore feed went from cameras and food to watches and food. I have been making photos for 1MoreTime Watches for over a month now. I am learning at a good speed, here are some opinions from a newbie…

I am 6’3” 215 pounds and yet I can’t stand a huge watch. There is a Panerai that I like but typically the 40mm size is my favorite. Even smaller can catch my eye. I dress nice but I wouldn't say I am fashionable so a subdued watch that blends in, that's what I like. That Grand Seiko though...

Keep it simple. No need for diamonds. I also prefer when the watch just tells me the time, maybe the date. IWC Portuguese Automatic? Yes please. Too many complications on the dial and it looks crowded to me (Moon phases are cool as hell though).

The mechanics of luxury watches are really incredible. Looking at all the gears visible through an Audemars Piquet Openworked Royal Oak with light shining through it! Pretty amazing. Did you know there are Rubies in mechanical watches?! For real. Look it up. They are synthetic but still, rubies are like some Indiana Jones type stuff! I found myself recently watching video after video of a guy taking apart Rolex's and Patek's, cleaning, replacing parts, all at this macro level that was just soothing. Shrug emoji.

I have to say though, my favorite part has been noticing watches on peoples wrists and asking them about it. 9 times out of 10 there’s a story. Rarely does someone say they just liked it. I was photographing an event in CT recently and an older lady told me how she thought the Cartier her husband bought her was a bit much, now she can’t imagine not wearing it everyday. I noticed a young guy with a Submariner and he went on to tell me how it's been to multiple continents, has taken quite a few hits but it keeps ticking. A tool that he hopes to someday pass onto his children. It is reassuring that people are still looking for craftsmanship in a day in age where everything is increasingly digitized and looks the same.

Do I have a luxury watch yet? Nope. Do I see myself getting one someday? Absolutely. As an artist, I should walk the walk. I want to support craftsmen that create art, that make something tangible that can be shared with random people I meet. A watch person noticing a great timepiece on your wrist...instant conversation. Photography has always been an avenue to meeting people and sharing what this life is, and while watches are new to me, loving personal stories and sharing what it is to be human, will never get old.