The Art of the Gentleman - Timeless Timepieces
One of the most valuable luxuries in life is time. It is priceless and exclusive - one cannot get more despite the amount of money they may have.
(Audemars Piguet - Extremely rare 18k two-colour gold limited edition cushion-shaped minute repeating chronograph tourbillion wristwatch. )
How we choose to spend our time is up to us individually, and The Art of the Gentleman is in essence about the art of the individual. So, we ask: What are you passionate about? What inspires you? Do you just want to be part of ‘the club’, or do you want to stand out?
(Rolex - Extremely rare 14k yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with black dial and bracelet circa 1968)
(Man Holding A Watch by Maso di San Friano)
Historically, timepieces weren’t always on your wrist. In the 15th century when portable timepieces were invented, they were often fastened to clothing or worn on a chain, then they were made small and flat enough to fit into a pocket and then eventually placed on a wrist. Only the elite were able to afford such handcrafted timepieces thus it becomes a symbol of status, an indicator of a person’s wealth and style.
When I was establishing my career in New York City, I began purchasing watches. The trend at that time in the early 2000’s was large faced watches, the bigger the better, and I wanted to buy into ‘the club’. It was important to me that those I passed on the street and in the boardrooms recognized the watch I had on my wrist. It was my status symbol, ensuring that my net worth was clearly visible to everyone around me. It was the membership key into ‘the club’. I purchased Breitling timepieces new that season, and I thought I had the most baller watch, and it was just that until I learned more.
I traveled to Zurich on business confident that I would flex my wrist and impress with my new large faced Breitling, but as I looked around the table, everyone else had subtle and subdued sleek watches. Their timepieces were all unique and no one had the same one. While I recognized the brand names such as Patek Philippe or Rolex, they weren’t wearing the newest model or following the trends, they were wearing vintage timepieces, models I had never seen before. It was then I realized that there was another more exclusive club that existed beyond my awareness. Jay Z said it best in his song, 30 Something, “I don’t got the bright watch, I got the right watch.”
(Rolex - 18K yellow gold Chronograph Pre-Daytona circa 1945)
It’s better to avoid ‘the club’ that everyone knows about, and instead join another sophisticated club that has taste, elegance, history, and most importantly a respect for individuality. When you buy a timepiece you want it to say something about YOU, not the guy who has the same watch as you.
You do not want to have the same house, the same car, the same art, as everyone else, you want to have something that is unique to yourself and that says something about who you are as a person.
(Vacheron Constantin - Chronomètre Royal 18k yellow gold. Launched in 1953, the Chronomètre Royal reference 4907 was in production for only 9 years. When the watch was in production, it was known for its precision, movement finishing and overall elegance. )
My colleagues in Zurich had the same maker watch as me, but their watch was from the 1960’s, and is truly unavailable now thus making it exclusive and unique to the individual. Of course, brands have to release new timepieces annually as the companies must continue to make a profit, but my passion for collecting rare vintage timepieces came from their provenance and story behind it. It's a time capsule of a particular time in our history, that has withstood the test of time. I don’t buy watches because everyone has them, I buy them because no one has them and they mean something to me.
(Omega - Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch circa 1968)
The Art of Watch Collecting really begins with connecting to something important to you as an individual. I pride myself on finding vintage watches that are connected to a particular time, person, place, and moment in history such as the exact watch that James Bond wore in the 1969 film or a watch owned by John F Kennedy.
If you are interested in watch collecting or purchasing a new timepiece, I suggest you start by reflecting on what you are passionate about, what makes you excited. Personally, as I collect vintage watches, I continue to learn and familiarize myself with the landscape so that when I discover a rare piece, I am able to recognize it. I suggest doing research on vintage stores that specialize in classic timepieces, following the auction houses such as Christies or Sotheby’s, staying away from the hype and leaning into timeless timepieces that can stand the test of time and will continue to be passed down through generations. Elegance doesn’t have to say anything, it speaks for itself.
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