Seems it wasn’t that long ago that GaryG wrote his first “Objects of Desire” article about the watches of Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, finishing with: given the prices of their watches, he was unlikely to be able to buy any of those he truly lusted after anytime soon. Gary’s observation at the time was “go big or go home.” As you will see, he ended up going big and is now the proud owner of a Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 1.
GaryG’s first rule when it comes to collecting is to avoid setting too many exclusionary rules. With watches, he believes that it’s the passion that separates collectors from investors and accumulators. Which brings him to another rule: deriving the full enjoyment from the things you own.
As our regular readers know by now, GaryG and a few watch pals have made it a regular practice to trek to Geneva for each year’s November watch auction weekend, do some bidding, and perhaps return home with a treasure or two. This year was no exception, but with the bonus of him being a jury member of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève as well. Here Gary shares how it all played out.
When it comes to the watch hobby, for GaryG it’s really all about the people! In his home area of California, in New York, and elsewhere he has had the pleasure of joining up with members of RedBar Group, the rapidly expanding global network of watch enthusiasts founded by Adam Craniotes, who he interviews here to find out more.
GaryG looks at, and listens to, Patek Philippe’s splendid References 5074P minute repeater. He considers the 5074P to be one of the finest contemporary wristwatches; it is a piece that awes him every time he handles one. And now you can look at it in every detail right here.
Standing before his eyes was the most perfect of God’s creatures, a wonderful mix of Audrey Hepburn and Penelope Cruz. What Makes Me Tick thought his heart had skipped a beat, and he heard the chimes of every single minute repeater Patek Philippe had ever created – all chiming at exactly the same time! Six months later the gentle creature and he were married. This extraordinary story reflects the marvelous world of vintage watches: finding the rare bird, linking it to a story, and never letting it go.
We tend to forget that the production of straps is an industry in and of itself, which functions both reactively and proactively. Manufacture Jean Rousseau not only offers prêt-a-porter watch straps, but also crafts custom-made products. Learn more about it here!
Good customer service has been a hotly debated topic in the watch industry for decades. The increase in both service intervals and warranty periods is certainly a welcome one, but it does beg the question what changed? In the years leading up to 2015, what dramatic horological advancements were discovered to make longer service intervals possible? Watchmaker Ashton Tracy investigates.
Many watch enthusiasts dream of owning at least one timepiece by Omega. And maybe even a second or a third. The Swiss brand definitely ranks among the most popular watch firms ever. To give you an idea of the overwhelming variety in the current Omega watch world, Sabine Zwettler has put together a guideline of references.
As the resident gentleman of Quill & Pad, Martin Green feels that the time is soon approaching to write an obituary announcing the death of the dress watch. He thinks that its passing is coming and it’s not an isolated event, but it still hurts.