I told you before about my watch fascination starting with restoration videos of Wristwatch Revival, reigniting my desire and interest in wearing my old Fossil from the 90s. Now that little interest has grown into a larger watch world, and the mind boggling minutiae one can devolve into. So far I’ve been holding the line on my fledging collection, realizing that it can become an expensive habit that honestly doesn’t give back much in return. But it’s something that’s been occupying my non-writing time and will probably influence a future story.
What’s a watch for anyway?
In a world where phones are the primary personal timepiece, what use a watch? Should it become an adjunct to our pocket computers, change its name to a “wearable” and service our needs when we can’t be bothered to pull the phone from our pockets and purses? My wife and son have Apple watches and they are remarkable devices to be sure. The realization of sci-fi dreams. But I’m an old soul or a stubborn throwback or a nostalgic romantic depending on who you ask. Watches remind me of history, make a fashion statement, (how gauche), and save me from the ADD trap our devices encourage in me. I like knowing how my simple time-telling machine works, the aesthetics of its construction, and the little kid thrill of moving into a dark room and glancing at luminous hands and face. I think it’s a better joy than Apple watches and their filling in of goal circles, (though I envy its ability to endlessly customize its face and display.) Sure it tells me the time, but it is also is art, glorious anachronistic art that I wear on my wrist. Me, the guy who almost never wears jewelry.
So what are you wearing, Captain Nostalgia?
In January I purchased in the Invicta 1953 diver, a cheap rip-off homage to the 1953 Rolex Submariner skin divers. Unlike Invicta’s usual gaudy offerings, this watch is a simple old-fashioned automatic winder with a clean face, stainless steel bracelet, and unidirectional bezel to fidget with. Supposedly it’s rated to go snorkeling (also known as skin diving) down to 100 meters, but I’m not going to test it, making it strictly a desk diver.
I like aesthetic, the chunky weight, and the little display back where I can watch the inner workings unwind. And for just $100, it wasn’t a big deal if I ended up not liking it. In the end, it’s very retro-classic, reliable, and cheap. But I don’t wear it regularly.
My Daily Driver
My Christmas present from the fam is the Vaer C5 quartz field watch. I’m a guy who values function even in his throwbacks. This watch checks all the boxes. It’s highly legible, light, durable, accurate, and has design elements referencing the A11 watches issued to GIs in World War II. The sapphire glass won’t scratch like my Fossil has over the years, keeping that deep black face and pop of red from the second hand clear and beautiful. I actually have taken this swimming in a ceotes in Mexico, touring Chichen Itza, enjoying umbrella drinks on the beach, and in doing so, it’s grown on me. It’s a proper adventure watch that’s already gone out a few adventures that goes along with my jeans and a t-shirt kind of lifestyle. It’s a very Wade watch.
How about you? Are there any collections or interests that spark joy but others just don’t get? Send me an email or leave a message in the comments!
