PERSPECTIVES ON THE WATCH HOBBY / COLLECTING / WIS / STATE OF MIND PART 1

Having been enamored by watches from an early age, sometimes I do wonder how it all started. 

The first step into this world of micro engineering, artisan craftsmanship, meticulous artful designs... Ok... Enough about all this "justifications" some might say...

If a non-WIS stumbled upon this post, it will probably scuff and say "pffftttt... please... it's a watch... worn on the wrist... it tells time... they are in it for the status, the showing off, the proof that they have made it..."

In a way, I don't disagree... 

Yes... Some people who consume luxury watches do go in with a certain kind of mindset.

The above generalization would be one...

Who can blame the general view when everytime news about rising luxury watch sales and export figures seems to coincide with good economic times?

Tumbling watch sales and watch exports figures from Switzerland seems to signal an economic slowdown of sorts...

So that must be IT!!! Good economic times? People made money, people spend money on luxury watches.

Well, you know what they say about opinions right?

It's like a certain body orifice and everybody has one...

I would just say this is mine... (not literally referring to that specific orifice... but my opinion just to be clear)

Maybe it will sound shallow, pointless or even fake? gasp...

But nevertheless... it's mine...
A quick note... this will not be a picture heavy post...

THE BEGINNING

I remember when I was a boy in school.

You know... enjoying childhood experiences and tribulations...
Comparisons with what friends have will undoubtedly creep in at one point or another...
I remember seeing friends with G-Shocks and Swatch watches and I have... well... nothing...

I did pester my Dad for a watch and he balked at the price of a G-Shock and Swatch... understandable now that I look back as that time coincides with one of the worse recessions... the late 80s and early 90s...
I can only imagine what my parents are going thru at that time...
But nevertheless, he still got me my 1st watch...
A quartz Q&Q watch.
How I wish I have a picture of that watch to share but unfortunately I don't.
I do however remember the watch in my head clearly.

I am not too knowledgeable in the history of Q&Q but what I do know is they still make watches today and are owned by the Citizen Group.

THE PROGRAMMING PHASE?

Then came the next phase of adolescent and teenage years...

Whereby the focus switches to a more concentrated consumption of entertainment... namely movies, music, video games and maybe some trendy fashion and such...

As these things take up hours upon hours at a time...

Not much is focused on watches and time because hey... who cares about time? I need more of that stuff... not keeping track of how much is left...

Then come the what I would like to call "Stepping into the real world with responsibility" period...

Work commitments will need to be honoured...

Transport schedules will need to be adhered...

Appointments and dates will need to be kept...

Then suddenly... keeping track of time seems like a very important aspect of real life...

All this when smartphones were still non existent and is a mere figment of imagination from science fiction...

With my measly salary... I still managed to purchase a watch bearing the brand "25 Hours"

I am certain not much have heard of this brand... but when talking to some WIS friends, one have owned the same brand of watch previously... 

Fast forward now? I am not sure if the brand even exists anymore as Google searches don't yield anything...

This is the logo of the brand that I can find.

The watch is a quartz 3 handed stainless steel watch with a sunburst blue dial and a date complication.

It's my companion for a few years and went thru a couple of battery changes... working without any problems.

Subconsciously though (and this is where I think brand marketing really works) the journey to and from work, meeting appointments, window shopping, nights out with friends and so on... I am bombarded with images and marketing material and noticing these without even noticing... if you can get what I mean...

Some might argue we only notice things we want to notice or rather notice things that are significant and in-line with our interests...

Problem is... personal interests sometimes lay dormant... it could manifest itself when you are in the economic sense, able to indulge...

I think this is where the 1st generalization is formed... The one I mentioned earlier.

Those who have made it and are able to indulge and those that are still climbing and wishing to be there one day.

I belong to those that are still climbing way back then.

Hence took it as a motivation of sorts... a bulls-eye to aim.

A measuring yardstick to measure success and financial soundness.

It might sound absurd to some but do think about it...

Wealth inevitably comes with the need to fulfill wants... to indulge... 

And for a more grounded and logic mind... watches will be the last on the list... Other things will take priority like place of dwelling, mode of transport, children's education fund, savings, safety net and others... watches will remain the last thing on a person's mind.

So when DOES it really start?

I would surmise that it's when you can afford to...

Sounds shallow? Maybe? But there is more to it...

Let's stop here for now...

Until Part 2

Hope you guys enjoyed it.