A huge chunk… I would take a guess at around 80%… of content and conversations in the watch community is about one thing…
Reassurance.
Either asking for it, or providing it.
We watch YouTube reviews, seek advice from watch forums, read through articles…. The more people we can find who agree with our choices, that better we feel about shelling out the cash for a new purchase. For the most it’s all part of the process of doing our research and due diligence when watch buying….
…though… if we were really going to analyse things today we could discuss if it’s actually the watches we are seeking reassurance about at all, but rather acceptance for ourselves….
…but let’s save that for another post and keep it light today shall we!
I did promise you mermaids after all, so let’s talk mermaids!
This is Tristan…
Tristan (@redrivermerman on instagram) is a recovering drug addict living in Florida, who started a side hustle of dressing up as a merman to help him recover from his crippling addiction.
And this….
…is The Blixunami (@the.blixunami), a non-binary merm (yep, that’s what non-binary mermaids are called, every day’s a school day) who has been obsessed with the fantastical creatures since he was young. He followed his dream and is now a full-time merm and Mermaid Doll Influencer on Instagram.
These are just two of the members of a thriving community of merpeople which I recently found out about thanks to the Netflix documentary ‘MerPeople’.
Before you scroll back up the page to check that this is, in fact, a watch blog, let me tell you what these amazing individuals can teach us about watch collecting.
1. Never feel weird.
I don’t care if you love 60mm Invicta behemoths, 10mm vintage ladies ring watches, Ali Express specials for £1.79 or edgy experimental Kickstarters. Never think that you are too weird or too edgy.
Embrace whatever it is you’re passionate about with 100% commitment, because….
2. You are not alone. No matter what you’re into, your tribe is out there.
You may sometimes feel like you are the only one out there who loves 1930s American pin pallet dress watches, but you absolutely won’t be. In a world as vast and fantastically varied as the one we live in, there will be someone else out there who shares your passion.
The merpeople found each other. You can find your people too.
3. Stand by your choices.
Some of the merpeople Netflix spoke to in their documentary did not have an easy time in life.
The Blixunami had to have a discussion with his parents that he was a queer, non-binary merm. It didn’t go well. But still, he lives the life he wants to, unapologetically.
Wouldn’t it be a strange watch world if we all did the same?
Not asking or seeking reassurance, but simply sharing our knowledge and passion.
….What on earth would we all talk about???
Mermaids, perhaps….
WRUR? – The watch in the photo is a Direnzo DRZ 05
The Escapement Room 