The Unbearable Lightness of Buying–or Remembrance of (Bought) Things Past

This is the Fossil Belmar three-hand date black stainless steel watch. It's the very first watch I ever bought, believe it or not, at the not-so-tender age of 42. I didn't know anything about watches. I had a general idea of specific brands like Omega, Rolex, and TAG Heuer but I wasn't interested in getting… Continue reading The Unbearable Lightness of Buying–or Remembrance of (Bought) Things Past

Three Questions: Wittnauer

1.  What vintage brand would make the best dress watch for the money? At various times I would have answered that question differently. Hamilton, Bulova, and Gruen all make perfectly serviceable “dress” watches. If you want to pay a little more, Le Coutre, Longines, and Omega were great options, but prices have jumped recently. To… Continue reading Three Questions: Wittnauer

Save One: Round Table No. 12

Sherwin: It's been a while since the last round table. Let's get to it: What's the watch you will save if you ever get to a scorched earth situation? Let's say you have to--you don't want to but you have to--what's the one timepiece in your collection that you will keep? And no cheating. You… Continue reading Save One: Round Table No. 12

Little Star: Typical Greg Content

Command economies work so well. One day the big boss decides that the perfect society needs a watch for women, and like Athena from the forehead of Zeus, a new watch is born. This is how we got the Zvezda ("Little Star"), the Cartier of the U.S.S.R.  Aggressions in Europe have cooled my ardor for… Continue reading Little Star: Typical Greg Content

I swear I thought she was older…

I like the forgotten and the overlooked and today Wyler has those very qualities in excess. It was a major player once, from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Wyler made watches that were tougher than the average Swiss brand, but were affordable, and maybe a little stylish. Wyler has had a couple of relaunches in… Continue reading I swear I thought she was older…

On Building a Relationship with a Vintage Watch Dealer

I don’t know if “buy the seller” originated from the watch community but it’s certainly there that I first heard it. It’s one of those useful advices that don't only apply to watch buying. But how do you buy the seller? No one tells you that.  The more astute watch buyer would merely investigate the… Continue reading On Building a Relationship with a Vintage Watch Dealer

Watches That Matter Don’t Matter

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of clickbait-y articles online listing the top ten this or top ten that of watches. Best watches of all time. Must-have watches for every collection. I’m not mad at it. I think these lists are often entertaining and I honestly don’t think people fall for them as much as… Continue reading Watches That Matter Don’t Matter

Vintage Rolex: Perfection as a Hipster

I’ve been teased as a hipster ever since that word became part of the lexicon decades ago. And it somehow stuck even though I don’t consider myself one. I do, from time to time, display characteristics of a hipster. But those outbreaks of self-important indulgences were few and far in between and—I’d like to think… Continue reading Vintage Rolex: Perfection as a Hipster