私たちの最後のビデオレビュー

… Describing my passion for watches reviews …

I keep my father’s watch – a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a black dial – and I remember the day he came home with it and glowed with happiness. I was sincerely happy for him, because it was not just a new watch! Rolex brand watches marked the first successful year of doing business.

As a child, my father always drew my attention to beautiful and high-quality things: cars, motorcycles, houses and, of course, watches. After his sudden death, at the age of 18, this watch was given to me. Or I just took them myself.

This watch was just what I needed. I needed the feeling that my father was there. And, holding them in my hands, I felt that he was with me. I feel his presence to this day: every time I put on my watch, and every time I look at it. I now have many other expensive pieces that are sure to impress collectors, but the Datejusts are the most valuable to me. They keep the memory of my father. Never in my life and for any wealth would I be able to part with them.

For many men, a watch has a much deeper meaning than just a device for telling the time. They keep the memory of special events and to some extent tell others about you, your status and, if you’re lucky, they can set you up with people who will become the most important in your life.

I have always loved watches. But I managed to truly immerse myself in their world only when I became the editor of a magazine and started to study amazing stories about them: epoch-making anecdotes from the largest watch brands, personal stories of friends, colleagues and collectors with whom life began to bring me together. There is a powerful connection between all these people and their stories, whether they are alive or dead, rich and famous or just regular guys working from bell to bell. If men notice the clock, then with their help a conversation is easily started. I began to realize that they often play an important role in people’s lives. Watches keep special memories, for example, when someone from their family gives them in honor of an important life event. And it also happens that they allow a person to feel what he would like to become in the future.

“The watch tells others about you, your status and, if you’re lucky, can bring you together with the people who will become the most important in your life.”— MATT HRANEK

The book was to begin with a photograph of one of the most famous watches, the Rolex Daytona, which once belonged to Paul Newman. For many, this model is an absurdly expensive collector’s item that grown men have been hunting for years. This is the holy grail for true watch lovers.

The Rolex was given to Newman by his wife, Joan Woodward, to replace the Daytona 6239 that Newman had given the young man to their eldest daughter, Nell, in 1984.

When I took it in my hands – a real Paul Newman watch – it seemed (yes, I know it sounds ridiculous) that I was shocked. But most of all I was struck by the inscription on the back cover: “Drive slowly. Joanne” (“Drive slowly. Joanne”). When I read it, I shuddered. It still takes my breath away when I remember that moment.

Paul Newman is a legend: handsome, talented, stylish, generous; 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner and Hollywood star. But besides all this, he was an ordinary guy, a husband and father who wore a watch to tell the time. Like all of us. His youngest daughter Clea, who kindly let me photograph this piece, wears them every day. She wears the most famous wristwatch. Sell ​​them to Clea at auction, they would bring her millions, but she does not take them off even when she rides or works in the garden. After all, a watch is just a watch, it is the history that makes it unique.

With this in mind, I began work on this book. And the more he talked about the book and his approach to describing the emotional attachment of us men to watches, the more incredible stories I came across. I have spent countless months recording stories from all over the world, but as a result, I realized that I was only at the very beginning of the journey.

PAUL NEWMAN WATCH MODEL 6263 BIG RED

ROLEX DAYTONA

Eric Reaper
Chef and co-founder of Le Bernardin restaurant

VACHERON CONSTANTIN HISTORIQUES AMERICAN 1921

Looking at these watches, you immediately understand that they are not like everyone else. Initially they were developed for drivers. In 1921, the steering wheels of the cars were quite large and it was difficult to see the time on the clock while driving, so the numbers on them are slightly tilted to the right. I like their uniqueness.

Watches for me symbolize various important events. I can buy them for myself as a gift for some holiday, and maybe earlier, if I can’t wait! But this watch was presented to me.

One day, Maguile Le Cozet, my business partner at the Le Bernardin restaurant, said: “We need to meet in the evening, let’s have dinner somewhere, but not in a restaurant.” I thought that a serious conversation awaited me, but Magui was cheerful and carefree. At the end of dinner, she says: “It’s time to talk seriously.” I thought, “Well, finally!” She puts a box on the table, and in the box is a Vacheron Constantin American ’21 – I was planning to buy this watch myself! It was in 2011, just in time for my 20th anniversary at Le Bernardin.

Magui said: “You are like a driver – you lead our kitchen, you are our leader. And you deserve this watch.

So when I wear Vacheron Constantin, I think of two things: I think of the day I first crossed the threshold of Le Bernardin, all tense, not knowing what will happen next; and I remember my friend and business partner, who highly appreciates the work I have done.

Vacheron is a beautiful brand. In the world of collectors, there are classics such as Rolex and Cartier. And more complex pieces, which include the brands Vacheron, Patek Philippe and Breguet, make these watches special. They combine craftsmanship and, in a sense, art.

Cooking is also a skill. Take for example the sauce: the taste cannot be measured in grams, everything is different here. He is intangible and immeasurable. Like time. So it’s exactly the same with watches – it’s a skill until a certain level of complexity is reached. And only then the watch acquires artistic value. Manufacturers and watchmakers think: “How to make a system that will be different from all the rest?” It seems to me that the man who invented the tourbillon had a very extraordinary mindset. Just imagine: someone seriously thought about the fact that atmospheric pressure changes when crossing the equator and returning back, and came up with a solution to this problem. For most people, these kinds of things don’t matter, but for collectors, they do. After all, they understand how much work was invested in it.

Sometimes people wonder why I wear expensive watches when I work in the kitchen. In such cases, I answer that I can always send them for repair and polishing. My watch is to be worn!

“Watches for me symbolize various important events. I can buy them for myself as a gift for some holiday, and maybe earlier, if I can’t wait!— ERIC REAPER

From the Rolex Archives

Once I came across an article from Rolex magazine about the famous aviator, navigator, navigator Francis Chichester and his extraordinary Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch, which accompanied him on a trip around the world. On August 27, 1966, Chichester left Plymouth, England on his yacht Gipsy Moth IV, with a Rolex on his arm. May 28, 1967, after 226 days of sailing, with one stop in Sydney, Australia, he returned, and on his hand was still the same flawlessly working watch, eloquently confirming the unique professionalism of the Swiss Rolex masters. I knew they were in the Rolex archives. As you know, access to private individuals is closed there, so it is not surprising that at first I was denied a visit. But I was very persistent, saying: “The photo of this watch is in the public domain, so why not let me talk about them in my book?” Using a kind of American approach to business, I continued to achieve my goal. And in the end they did agree. The Rolex archives are probably the equivalent of the closed rooms of the White House in terms of the number of security procedures. But as soon as I was there, I was captivated by all the power and uniqueness of this place. I was a little worried, but the archive workers turned out to be incredibly hospitable, sympathetic and kind people. With their help, I felt welcome in this amazing place. But as soon as I was there, I was captivated by all the power and uniqueness of this place. I was a little worried, but the archive workers turned out to be incredibly hospitable, sympathetic and kind people. With their help, I felt welcome in this amazing place. But as soon as I was there, I was captivated by all the power and uniqueness of this place. I was a little worried, but the archive workers turned out to be incredibly hospitable, sympathetic and kind people. With their help, I felt welcome in this amazing place.

FRANCIS CHICHESTER WATCH

ROLEX OYSTER

PERPETUAL

Mario Andretti
Legendary racing driver

1967 GOLD HEUER CARRERA PILOT, MODEL 1158CH, ORFINA PORSCHE DESIGN, FISCHER ANCRE 15 RUBIS & HEUER AUTAVIA

1967 GOLD HEUER CARRERA

PILOT MODEL 1158CH

I have always loved watches. The first ones were given to me by my uncle when we lived in a refugee camp in Italy. My uncle presented Fischer to me and my twin brother Aldo for our thirteenth birthday.

When I went to races, I always took a case with four or five watches with me and changed them like gloves!

It was stupid of me. My watch was stolen twice when I was in Italy and three or four more times in Montreal, including a unique Gérald Genta.

In Rio, a Formula 1 representative gave me a Porsche Design watch. The first day I fell asleep on the beach after my workout, they were stolen right from my wrist! I told this story to reporter friends, after which Porsche gave me another watch of the same kind that I wore to the race. It was in 1978, and in the same year I became the Formula 1 world champion.

In fact, almost all of my watches have been donated. Motor Age magazine, sponsor of the Indianapolis 500 qualifying round, gave me a TAG Heuer Autavia watch in 1967. Clay Regazzoni, a Ferrari driver, had a TAG Heuer watch in the 1970s that I really liked (Clay was friends with Jack Heuer, the TAG Heuer heir), and after a while TAG Heuer presented me with the exact same one. I have a Franck Muller I got after Le Mans in 1995, I got another TAG Heuer when I was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in London, and I got a Rolex after the 24 Hours of Daytona. . All these watches are in the box, and this interview was a good occasion to take out the entire collection and take a closer look, exclaiming: “Oh, I remember these! And these too!”

ORFINA PORSCHE DESIGN

FISCHER ANCRE 15 RUBIS

HEUER AUTAVIA

Benjamin Clymer
Founder and Executive Editor of Hodinkee

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER MARK 40

My passion for watches and mechanical products in general is understandable and logical. My father worked as a photographer, in the basement of the house we had a dark room for processing pictures. When I was six years old, he gave me a light meter. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what it was, I just liked a small pocket device with a sensor. From that moment began the time of collecting exposure meters, which were bought at garage sales and other similar places. Later, when I became a Boy Scout, I became interested in compasses. Naturally, my attention soon turned to wristwatches – they were so stylish, small, with different sensors and dials.

In childhood and youth, my grandfather was my hero, I adored him. He was incredible and I dreamed of being like him. With several successful business ventures, he only became famous in the 1960s with a lighter company. I admired them. He also loved me very much. Sometimes I feel like we are kindred spirits.

Grandfather was not a collector, but he was very fond of watches and even had an Antiquorum auction catalog. One day, when I was 15 or 16, he said, “You know, I want you to have this watch.” He removed the Omega watch from his wrist and handed it to me. I was shocked.

It was an Omega Speedmaster Mark 40 from the early 90s with a Valjoux movement. Now, of course, this is not the most accurate mechanism, but at that time it was a real rarity – a chronograph with a triple calendar, date, and even in this size. In addition, such a bright color in the 90s was also rare. This is probably what my grandfather liked. And that’s why I love those watches so much now that I’ve learned the intricacies of the art of measuring time.

“One day, when I was 15 or 16, my grandfather said: “You know, I want you to have this watch . ” He removed the Omega watch from his wrist and handed it to me. I was shocked”.— BENJAMIN CLIMER

After this incident, my interest in watches flared up even more. But the path to what I have now was quite difficult. I did not know how to apply my passion for watches other than to go and sell them. But I didn’t want to be a salesperson.

Then I did not know that you can try your hand at entrepreneurship or in the media space. Where I grew up, everyone became lawyers, bankers or consultants. Therefore, following the same path, he began working in the field of management consulting in a Swiss bank. In 2008, with the financial world reeling and going downhill, I sat in a tie and suit in a small room in Wycohen, New Jersey, blogging on Tumblr about the watch my grandfather had given me, as well as the Rolex Submariner and other pieces. which I liked. At that moment, it was not written about – neither in GQ, nor in Esquire. I myself read the auction catalog of Christie’s and Antiquorum and told readers about my discoveries, for example: “Look, this watch used to belong to Steve McQueen!”

Six months later, I was contacted by my Tumblr subscriber [1] , who turned out to be the editor of the largest men’s fashion site. “You are the first person under the age of fifty to write about old clocks and tell their stories. May I interview you?” As a result, we came up with the article “Five watches worth paying attention to if you are young and you are interested in antique watches.” Since this all started.

In 2008, I launched the Hodinkee website, six months later my grandfather passed away. I am glad that he caught at least the first six months of my site, however, at that time the resource was in the process of being filled. That’s why that watch is so important to me, apart from the fact that it was my grandfather’s. They gave me a ticket to a life that I could not even dream of and that I love so much. I really enjoy my job and without these watches, nothing would be possible.

From the Cartier archive

The first thing I did was write to Cartier asking for a visit to their archives, as the Cartier Santos-Dumont model plays a pivotal role in the history of wristwatches and in this book. In Geneva, a visit was arranged for me, but the address was not given in advance. They simply said: “At such and such a time a car will come for you and take you to the place.” A very tactful way to take a person to no one knows where in the back of a van! The building itself – a former private bank – escalated an atmosphere of mystery and secrecy, with all the procedures for scanning the retinas of the eyes and opening the lock vaults. I had friends with me who worked at Cartier, but had never been here. But as soon as we got inside, we were met by the most hospitable, kind and cordial people – the archive workers. They were fussing and looking for an old Cartier ad I was thinking about, pulling out the drawers of watches, featuring pieces previously owned by celebrities such as Fred Astaire and Alain Delon. Their sincere interest was infectious. I left the archive with a sense of gratitude and great respect for the brand and the craftsmanship of their watches. I was captivated by the simple, impeccable elegance of the dials and metal, and the choice of font, so that same evening I bought my first Cartier watch.

CLOCK OF KONSTANTIN THE FIRST

CARTIER TONNEAU

This 1915 yellow and rose gold watch with faceted diamonds and uncut sapphire belonged to King Constantine I of Greece.

CARTIER SANTOS-DUMONT

What you see here can be considered the beginning of every story in this book. This is not only the first aviation watch (although this is worth considering), but also the first copy, thanks to which men all over the world became interested in watches.

The brave Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont became the first person to successfully pilot a heavier-than-air craft that could take off and land using only its own engine. This happened on October 23, 1906. Two years earlier, his friend, watchmaker Louis Cartier, created a special watch for him so that Alberto could tell the time during flights. In those years, pocket copies were considered the most stylish among men. But Santos-Dumont couldn’t hold the wheel and take his watch out of his pocket at the same time, so Cartier invented a small model for him that could be worn on a leather strap on the wrist. He presented a new Cartier Santos-Dumont wristwatch to his famous aviator friend, who later never flew without it. In 1906, Santos-Dumont gained worldwide popularity,

It is worth noting that Patek Philippe is credited with the invention of wristwatches, but their products are closer in style to women’s watches. It was with Cartier Santos-Dumont that the era began when men began to identify watches with courage and courage, at the same time endowing them with romantic and nostalgic memories – these feelings are familiar to true connoisseurs like no one else.

If you have ever wondered how this crazy hobby for wristwatches began, then most likely it was from this very instance.

CARTIER Alain Delona

The famous French actor Alain Delon wore this small, reversible, classic Cartier watch on his right hand, on the inside of his wrist; His initials are engraved on the case back.

CARTIER FRED ASTER

Fred Astaire presented this mischievous 1929 yellow and rose gold Cartier Tank Cintrée to his racehorse trainer, Felix Leach, Jr. The case back is engraved with “Felix from Fred ’29”.

Dimitri Dimitrov
Tower bar maitre d’ at the Sunset Tower Hotel

TIMEX INDIGLO

One evening a couple of years ago, when the restaurant was as crowded as usual in the evening, Bill Murray suddenly comes in with a company – he always comes unexpectedly – and I try to find them a table. I lead them through a rather dark area of ​​the restaurant, and he asks me: “What time is it?” I look at my watch and say that it’s about 20:40. Then he says, “Let me see your watch.”

I had the classic Baume & Mercier back then. The restaurant is always twilight, and it was quite difficult to see the arrows. Then Bill says: “Junk, not a watch!” I answer him: “Bill, but they tell the time, don’t they?” He says: “Of course, they show, but in the dark you can’t see anything on them.” Bill then removes the Timex from his hand and says, “Take it! On this watch…” He presses a button and the dial lights up. “Hold. You need a watch like this!”

I thanked him for his generosity, but said that I could not accept them, to which he replied: “Don’t worry – this watch is yours, this is my gift to you.”

A couple of days later, Bill called in the evening from his room with the question: “Dimitri, what time is it?” I told him the exact time and he laughed back, knowing that I was looking at his watch in the dark.

This is a simple, functional model. And almost all clocks in the world, even the oldest ones, tell the time fairly accurately, so what’s the difference between them? The answer is simple. in their stories. These have an amazing story that I’ve told a thousand times. When they ask me: “Why are you wearing this watch?” I say, “I got them from a friend, Bill Murray, so…”

Casio engineer and creator of the G-Shock

CASIO G-SHOCK

When I started working at Casio, the company had just launched an electronic watch. So I had an interest in the development of this direction and a firm belief that the future lies with it.

I wanted to create a completely new watch device – a durable electronic watch. The inspiration was simple things around us: a car tire and a caterpillar. I wondered: what should be the design, what main function will it carry? And at the very first stage, I realized that I wanted to make a very durable watch.

In April 1983, the production of G-Shock was launched, a year later they appeared in the United States. The Americans were the first to appreciate the new watch; one of the main reasons for the success of the G-Shock in the global market is due to the fact that they were well received in the US. It is surprising that these watches gained popularity 30 years ago, because then small, thin models were in vogue. G-shock is completely different.

But their design does not get bored with time and does not go out of fashion. It is still beautiful and still looks modern. When people ask me if I would like to change something in the original design, I answer: “No, after 30 years, and I still like this particular one.”

MODULE PROTOTYPE

One of the first prototypes of the G-Shock case looks like a soft ball, which is used to test the ability to protect the clockwork from impacts.

One day, Kikuo Ibe, Casio engineer and designer of the G-shock, was watching a ball game in the playground and suddenly figured out how to fit the movement inside the case so that the watch would become shock-resistant.

Ibe tested more than 200 prototypes, evaluating their impact-resistance properties by dropping them from the window of a men’s room on the third floor of a research center in Tokyo.

PROTOTYPE HULL

Casio G-Shock MRG-G100 all-metal body, sold 1996.

James Lamdin
Company Founder, Analog/Shift

1967 DOXA SUB 300

PROFESSIONAL BLACK LUNG

Even as a child, I knew that one day the moment would come when my life would be connected with watches. It all started with my grandfather – not with any particular watch, but with his love for them in general. He was not rich, but he was always surrounded by quality things, whether it was clothes and art or alcohol and music. I remember, as a child, I came to visit him and asked: “What kind of work of art is this?” And he answered: “I bought it in 1973 in a small shop in New Zealand. We went there after having some great roast beef sandwiches, the shop owner’s daughter was very nice, and they also had a dog.” I quickly realized that everything around him had stories. And, although I did not inherit any watches from him, my interest in them began precisely thanks to my grandfather.

In my youth, I wore mostly high-strength electronic watches, such as Timex Ironmans and Luminox Navy SEALs. With their help, I imagined myself as a traveler and a specialist in survival in extreme conditions. I first saw the name Doxa in the pages of a Clive Cussler adventure novel I read in elementary school. Cussler has become my favorite writer of escapist stories; the protagonist of his books, Dirk Pitt, is a cross between Indiana Jones, James Bond and Jacques Cousteau. He wears a Doxa diving watch with an orange dial.

After my grandfather died, I was determined to find “my” watch. And it dawned on me: knowing about the existence of Doxa watches, I had no idea what they looked like. In those days, the Internet was not as accessible as it is now, there were no thematic online communities, and eBay was just in its infancy. So I had to work hard to find information. I mostly interacted with older collectors. These people not only knew the Doxa brand, but also told stories about Clive Cussler himself. He actually had a Doxa watch that he had bought from the dive shop where he worked while writing his first book, Pirate of the Mediterranean, and simply wrote it into the story.

I, as a collector, have always liked such stories from real life. To a certain extent, I appreciate the aesthetics and relevance of modern watches, but what really attracts me are pieces that have been designed for a specific purpose. Doxa has a rich history. This Swiss company predated Rolex. She found success by producing pocket watches that were extremely accurate. Then they invented a model with an 8-day power reserve for the dashboard that was installed on cars of those years. If you’ve ever owned an old Mercedes-Benz or Ford, it most likely had a Doxa clock built into it. The company supplied the military, but in the 50s and 60s began to lose competitiveness.

At that time, sports watches came into fashion, and the director of Doxa became interested in a new sport – scuba diving. He designed a completely new model for divers, it was functional and practical, and even looked very stylish! Although the Doxa Sub 300 was not the first watch for divers, it was perhaps the only one suitable for both amateurs and professionals in this sport. Elements such as a bright, easy-to-read orange or yellow dial, a unidirectional bezel, a bracelet with an elongated clip – all this was the first company to realize Doxa.

It took me several years to find my first Doxa watch. In the end, they themselves found me. There was a man in California who inherited Doxa Sub 300 black lung. His father was one of the underwater cameramen on the set of the James Bond film Thunderball. He bought the watch in 1968 from a dive shop in Florida. Then he gave them to his son, but he, after a little scolding, put Doxa in a drawer and forgot it for 30 years. As he was about to move to Arizona, he started packing and came across this watch. He wanted to know more about them, he began to search for information. I came across my name on the net, as I am often quoted when it comes to Doxa, so he contacted me. After seeing some blurry photos, I was delighted and asked to send this watch to me in New York, which was done. Their authenticity has been confirmed and in a telephone conversation I asked him how much they cost. And I waited for him to ask me this question: “Do you want to buy them?”

At that time, I was just starting my own business, and although these watches did not cost fabulous money, it was still a real luxury to keep them. Vintage pieces are incredible chic. And here it is important not only that you have something that no one else has, but also that they keep history. The clock is like a big book with many chapters. When they get to you, you write your own stories in this book. Doxa is not that uncommon, but you still have to make an effort to find them. I never bought a watch to pick up a new book or start from scratch. I like to fit my chapter into an already existing novel. Perhaps this story will remain in history forever.

I am crazy about Doxa watches and wear them all the time. It seems to me that I became famous thanks to Doxa. But I don’t want all the existing copies of Doxa to become mine, I just love them very much and want them to be saved.

Paul Boutros
Head and Senior Vice President, Phillips Americas

ROLEX KEW A

OBSERVATORY CHRONOMETER

My interest in watches woke up when I was 10 years old. I was walking down Fifth Avenue with my father from the coin show. We stopped at the Wempe boutique, which was across the street in those days. I peered into the shop windows, admiring the beautiful clocks. They were great! It didn’t fit in my head that a watch could cost so much: $ 50,000, $ 100,000. The sales assistant, noticing our interest and the sparkle in my eyes, invited us to visit this wonderful store. She said, “What would you like to take a closer look at, young man?” I pointed to the $23,000 IWC Portofino Moon Phase pocket watch, and she opened the transparent drawer. In the light of the halogen lamps, I saw them in all their glory – rubies, gilded bridges, a moving balance. It was love at first sight and from that moment I knew that I wanted to learn more about watches. Taking the Wall Street Journal,

My father supported me in my new hobby. We went to auctions, flea markets, and retail stores together. I began to gather my own collection: I was looking for information, and he made purchases. We were no longer interested in coins, we completely immersed ourselves in the world of watches.

My father is from Egypt, from a very conservative Christian family. I was born when he was already at a respectable age. He was 42 years old, so we were separated not only by a cultural gap, but also by a generational one. We argued on absolutely everything. But when it came to watches, we had a complete mutual understanding, here we communicated soul to soul. All my happy childhood memories of my father are connected with the watch.

When he passed away in 2002, I opened the safe where all our watches were stored and a wave of emotion washed over me. It was him, it was me, it was our best memories.

I had a successful career as an electrical engineer at Lockheed Martin, I developed missile defense systems and was a real rocket scientist, believe it or not. But when I saw our entire collection of watches after my father’s death, my passion flared up with renewed vigor. In my spare time, I started writing about them and taking pictures of them. I plunged back into the world of watches and started moderating several forums on the TimeZone.

This watch became mine a year after the death of my father. I own one of the rarest Rolex models. They are the most accurate of any brand ever sold in the public domain. In addition, they are hand-assembled and finished by one of Rolex’s finest watchmakers. One piece out of a batch of 144 pieces passes the most stringent chronometric test in the world at the Royal Greenwich Observatory in England. Looking at the rare watch I own (there are only 5 such watches in the world), I realized that they used the so-called Guillaume balance – a very complex component. At that time, the world did not yet know that Rolex used this component, and when I found out about it, I carved my own niche in the world of collectors.

Doors began to open for me. People began to contact me with a request to write an article or consult. There were many negotiations with Christie’s and other companies, and I ended up working for Phillips when they opened their own watch division. This happened right before my promotion to Lockheed and my move. Now I live the life I always dreamed of.

US
Musician and entrepreneur

PATEK PHILIPPE NAUTILUS,

MODEL 5712R

When I was 17, I lived in Queens and was friends with a guy who had gold Rolex Presidentials. I heard about this watch before I saw it. I’ve never seen something like this up close before. That guy was the first of my friends to own a real gold Rolex, and this watch, you know, gave him masculinity. Subsequently, over the years, I noticed that many famous men wore similar gold Rolex: take, for example, Sammy Davis Jr. or Martin Luther King Jr.

My father never gave watches the importance that I do. No one in my family has worn pieces that I like. Then I realized that I have my own taste and style, I like other things.

I love wearing unique things. When you meet a person with a watch that you have only seen in a magazine before or have only heard about it, you always think that there is something special about him. The guy with the diamond-studded copy on his hand, in my experience, obviously likes to have fun. He prefers to have a good time.

My current favorite watch is the Patek Philippe Nautilus. I like their name and the fact that not everyone wears them. I don’t have a very wide wrist and the proportions and shape of this watch suit me. They are comfortable. They don’t have diamonds, they’re made of rose gold, on a leather strap, and go well with everything. This watch looks great in a casual look, and also goes well with a dress suit.

No matter what innovations are happening in the digital world, I like what I like. The picture quality of old movies is far from ideal, but it’s a classic and I won’t stop watching them just because movies are made in HD quality these days. Jordan’s first shoes didn’t have the support they have today, but I bought them when they first came out and still wear them to this day. Some things stay with me forever.

They say that time is an illusion. But even so, we need it. A good watch indicates that its owner is punctual, responsible and wealthy. He knows how to properly manage his time and takes life seriously, because it does not wait for anyone. You will not notice how life will pass.

“The guy with the diamond-studded copy on his hand, in my experience, obviously likes to have fun.”– US

ELVIS PRESLEY WATCH

CORUM BUCKINGHAM MODEL 5971

The yellow gold square Corum Buckingham watch belonged to the king of rock and roll himself until he gave it to his trusty assistant, bodyguard and understudy, Richard Davis, with the words that something was wrong with it.

When Davis began to inspect the watch, he saw the engraving on the back cover “To Richard from EP” (To Richard from EP).

Perhaps Elvis Presley wanted this watch to be Davis’ talisman.

PhD Jack Carlson
Archaeologist and writer

1914 WALTHAM TRENCH WATCH

I am a PhD in Roman and Chinese archeology, dealing with things that are much older than my 1914 watch. I like the idea of ​​artifacts, where history is learned through objects.

I grew up five minutes from the Waltham watch factory in Massachusetts. Every time I walked the streets, stopped by for a bite to eat or a cup of coffee, I noticed that everything in the city was either named after the watch industry (such as the beer “City of the Clock”) or had a logo with a clock. Everything here reminded us that we have a famous American watch factory. Most of the products at the plant were made for American soldiers who took part in the First World War.

My watch has a shrapnel grill that seems to tell a story about its purpose and life. In a sense, this idea is tragicomic – you will be riddled in the war, but the glass on the clock will not suffer. But at the same time, this instance has a very serious and important concept. It has meaning.

In archeology, there is a term “material culture”, which means that the object has a purpose and history. Therefore, we can talk not only about what happened to the person who wore this watch, but also imagine what happened to the watch itself – where they were made, where they were worn, what they saw.

I did not inherit this copy, I have no personal attachment to it. And when I find a coin or a piece of ceramics on excavations in Italy, I also do not have a sentimental feeling for the subject. I like to present stories related to these artifacts.

Aaron Sigmond
Journalist and writer

ELGIN

Like most twentieth-century immigrants, my grandfather came to America in the late twenties between World War I and World War II and passed through the immigration checkpoint at Ellis Island. But instead of settling in Brooklyn or the Lower East Side, like many Russian and Polish Jews, he went to Chicago. There his father and two brothers were already waiting for him, and they all went into the automobile business. One of his first purchases in the US was an Elgin watch.

I think for him the Elgin brand symbolized two things: America – a new life in a new land – and Chicago, because that’s where Elgin was located.

My grandfather wore this watch only on special occasions: weddings, bar mitzvahs and big holidays. And then put them back in the box. At my bar mitzvah, my grandparents gave me traditional gifts: a Bible, a pen, and some money. But I told my grandfather that in fact I would like to receive his watch as a gift.

When he died, his grandmother performed a gift ritual of some of his personal belongings, among them a signet ring, a star sapphire ring, and a few good watches. By that time, Elgin watches were in a deplorable state: they did not have a strap, and several numbers were missing from the dial. Nobody needed them. I thought how stupid they all are, because this watch was the embodiment of grandfather’s whole life! They seem to tell his story.

In terms of monetary value, this is the most inexpensive watch in my collection. But for me they are the most valuable. And I wear them the way my grandfather wore them, only wearing them on special occasions.

Max Westler
Founder of the All Plaidou blog and website

TIMEX IRONMAN

Matt gave me this watch. He worked as a camp leader when I was 10 years old. I thought he was very cool. I so wanted to be like him. Matt played on the varsity baseball team in Texas, and he shared some of his tricks with me that summer. It was after talking to him that I fell in love with the Patagonia Snap-T fleece sweatshirts, baggy shorts, and this Velcro strap watch. He tracked them during swims in the pool, and I told him more than once that they are amazing and I really like them. I came to the camp for four summers in a row and all this time I continued to admire his watches. At the end of my last season at camp, Matt gave them to me.

At camp, I learned how to navigate, dive, hike, pitch a tent, and light a fire. Today, when I go hiking, I use these skills, and they are all associated with this watch, which serves as a constant reminder of the best days of my life in nature.

Oddly enough, but then I liked the velcro strap the most. When it broke, I was very upset. I was saddened by the fact that a thing that should have lasted a long time quickly fell into disrepair. It still strikes me as amazing. There is something utilitarian in this watch – the copy itself and its quality. This is a stunning, simple, crisp, classic digital watch. I like their shape and color performance, they are concise. Compared to the Casio WRs I wore before, the Ironman has more features: it has a backlight, a stopwatch, and an alarm. By the way, I used the alarm clock in this watch for a long time.

From the Tag Heuer archive

I wanted to go to the Heuer archive to see Steve McQueen’s famous TAG Heuer Monaco watch from the 1971 film Le Mans. The vault contains one of three copies that ended up in the film. When you hold this watch in your hands, you are invariably filled with a sense of delight – it is one of the most legendary and recognizable in the world.

Heuer is inextricably linked to motorsport. Their archives include: the famous F1 driver Jo Siffert’s watch, a copy of the gold TAG Heuer that was donated to race winners from the Ferrari team, as well as dashboard timers and stopwatches. And all the unusual models designed by the Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, Formula 1 legend.

The TAG Heuer collection is simply incredible. Unlike many other archives, the TAG Heuer is a de facto museum and exhibition space, although it only opens once a year to locals in the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds where it is located. We are grateful for exclusive access to this extraordinary timepiece.

STEVE MCQUEEN’S TAG HEUER MONACO WATCH FROM LE MANS

JO SIEFFERT’S TAG HEUER AUTAVIA WATCH

It was thanks to Yo Siffert and this watch that Steve McQueen chose to wear the famous blue TAG Heuer Monaco in the movie Le Mans. In addition to racing, Siffert ran a sports car rental company. He was approached by a props assistant about leasing a Porsche, and that’s when he was introduced to McQueen. McQueen wanted to wear the same racing uniform as Yoh, with a prominent TAG Heuer Chronograph patch. To make the image look harmonious, he chose the TAG Heuer Chronograph in blue, that is, the Monaco model. This is how his cult image was formed.