Even when I do look at it to check the time, very often I forget to do it, I just look at the watch... and then I'm like "Oh, I didn't check the time..."
I am from a poor family from the Philippines but the only thing my dad gave to me before he passed away was his vintage citizen mechanical watch from the 90's. it still works like new.it may have no financial value but for me it is the most expensive watch in the world. it paved the way for me to start my collection, seiko snkl23 being my first bought automatic watch. and my son will have them when my time comes to an end.
Someone told me once that the automatic watch he is wearing was powered by his grandfather’s everyday movement. Now that watch is powered by his everyday movement. It was beautiful.
As a soldier, a watch will always be a required tool for now and the foreseeable future. There are places where Bluetooth smart watches can't go and are even controlled on some establishments. This leaves the trusted basic watch to keep you on track. Something that has always stuck with me, was a saying I heard during Basic Training: "If you don't meet your timings, people die!" On the surface, that seems just a little over the top. But it underscores the necessity and importance for time appreciation. You can accomplish a lot in just 5 mins.
This is was got me started into watches I bought a timex expedition before basic and it died in basic had the crown pulled out when I dropped Ruck I ended up buying a Casio f91w that one died after a helocast, that’s when it really started I ended up buying a gshock and from there I recognized watches for what they were to me, tools that needed to survive my day to day. Those days are behind me know for the most part but I still need a watch that will work whether it be when I’m hiking and shooting or when I’m wearing a suit to work.
Makes sense. But my cheaper digital watches are more accurate and some of them even set themselves using atomic clock signals. The only purpose my 2000 dollar watch serves is to make me smile.
You say watches aren’t necessary with the emergence of technology, but how would I tell the time without my watch! Look at my phone like some barbarian?
My grandma got me my first adult watch for Christmas when I was nineteen. I had my first of a continuing litany of awful jobs and I needed my boss to stop yelling at me for checking the time and timing things using my phone. She got me a Timex South Street. It's beat to shit, but it still runs and it's still among the best looking watches I own.
Hello Teddy its comforting to know that some one of your generation has such passion , knowledge and respect of an art and craft that is timeless , every time I hear the stories of your grand fathers it brings a tear to my eye , my grandfather left England to go to South Africa and ended up in Australia , my Dad left Australia and came to Canada , both in search of a better life .which they found !!! their stories need to be remembered and appreciated ,thanks for sharing yours !!!
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv I assure you high end automatic watches are not in any way mass produced lmao. They are all hand made. That's why each year there's only a limited amount made. You clearly have no clue what you are talking about. Will you be able to pass on your boots and shirt to your son or grandson? Will they still be around 50 years from now? These watches will.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv Dude, you’re clearly not having fun here. Plus, for many of us boots and clothes are art, or an artistic expression that we can be profoundly personal. If you wanna yank your phone out to know what time it is then go on your way and be well.
My watches don’t just tell me the time of day...but they serve as a reminder of the time I have on this earth. With every glance at the dial, its looking back at you ...reminding you to cease the day and make every moment in Time ( pun intended ) count. LOVE my watches.
I love this comment. It reminds me why I love the much maligned countdown bezel on the Sinn 104. Life is a countdown and like the equally and justifiably maligned Louis CK said Mostly what you are going to be is dead. We are going to be dead for so much longer than we will be alive. When you look at your completely unnecessary watch let it at least be a reminder that your time is finite and getting shorter.
I totally agree. I think that, since we are drawn by their appeal, we look at them more often. Then looking, we can be reminded (more often) that our time on this earth is measured and limited, and should be appreciated, valued and used well.
I havre a Samsung 6 watch which I absolutely love and use for calculating sleep, performance while playing sports and checking weather etc but also have mechanical watches. Smart watches are tools but mechanical watch really talks back reminding of time and how it's slipping. And easy on eyes looking physical hands. Quartz is also good but that jumping seconds is not quite calming.
A mechanical watch, or rather a timepiece, embodies an elegant way to appreciate and reflect on the passing of time. It elevates the simple act of wanting to know what time it is. It’s also an opportunity to have a beautiful, and functional piece of jewelry for a man (or woman).
No need to apologize, all points, even the sappy ones, are valid. For me, my collection is being built to leave to my grandson so that he will have tangible and very personal reminders of me and my love for him. And you thought you could be sappy.
I’m with you! I wish my grandfather & great-grandfather had the foresight to purchase something like a watch & pass it down. I’m starting that tradition with my watches; I’ll pass one on to each of my boys. I’m also planning on getting them both a decent watch for high-school graduation (something I wish my parents had done for me). I hope my 2 boys appreciate and continue the tradition.
I started my collection for exactly the same reason. My plan is to have a piece or more for each of my grandkids to remember their Opa. Hopefully that’s some time off yet. :-)
You need at least a Rolex level watch if you ever consider to pass it down. The lifespan of an eta movement is about 20 years but Rolex, Patek Philippe watches last much longer, so can vintage Omega, Longines and Grand Seiko
I used to be an Apple Watch lover and I have had one through almost every series. I always had to have the latest... and I realized that I want something that I can have my whole life, and I really wanted something that didn’t ding on my wrist every single time I had a notification. So, I saved up and got an mechanical watch. I’m so happy.
Well said Teddy. Your passion for watches is infectious.My dad gave me his watch (he bought it when I was born) when I turned 21 and it never left my wrist. That was 29 years ago. my oldest son turns 21 in 3 years time and I will have the watch serviced and pass on to him. I will be sad as it has been a part of me for so long and we have been through many ups and downs in this life together but now is the time for another adventure for the watch. I am looking for my next watch….will be tough.
I fell down the rabbit hole 4 years ago and havent looked back! They are incredible pieces of Art, History and Design. Not to mention the sentimental value when they are passed down generation to generation. Great Video as always Teddy!
I appreciate you sharing your family story. I think it’s important for everyone to know and really understand their family’s story, especially when there is watches involved!
Well said Teddy, thank you. I also love the symbiosis between my automatic watch and I. It will continue to run and tell time as long as I continue to live and move. If I stop, my watch will stop. Every time I look at it it reminds me I’m alive. 😊
In 1987, my maternal grandfather passed away and I asked if I could keep his Bulova Senator as it was something I held as a memory of him. I have cherished this piece. In fact, I wore his watch on my wedding day and it stands as a reminder of this hard working Teamster immigrant from Poland who meant so much to me in my childhood. My two sons often ask to see it and to hear stories of my times with him and I'm proud to share his legacy. I also have in my collection a Wittnauer that belonged to my paternal grandfather who died shortly after my birth. Sadly, my own father never spoke of his dad and after losing my father more than a decade ago, I've lost the opportunity to learn more about him or of the watch. The irony is that this well-worn, and slightly broken timepiece sits metaphorically silent and his story has faded away. But as you also mentioned in your video, I am the only legacy of our family name and that watch is part of our history. My collection is modest, but each piece represents a part of my life and tells a story. None hold monetary value, but the stories are priceless which is what made your video so touching. After watching that video last night, I realize that the watch is something bigger than me. I get to enjoy it and pass it on just as my grandfathers' watches were passed on to me. And I can only hope someday that my stories are shared as my boys talk to their children while wearing one of my watches. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story as I was really touched by yours.
Your point about quality was most important but another thing I value is it's function. What I mean is this: More and more things we own and seek to own are multifunctional and aspire to do multiple things. Our phones and apple watches tell time, play music, organize the day, etc. A watch (in the literal sense) does just one thing and it is made with high quality for that one thing. This is something I value because it reminds me in my daily life that while people try to get ahead by juggling multiple things and doing sub par in all of them, I should focus my energies at just one thing at a time and do a really good job with it. I don't have to get everything done everyday, just do my best at the most important thing for today and tomorrow do my best at the most important thing for tomorrow. When I look at a watch ticking away I think of how singular it is in function and how I can actually be MORE effective by not trying to over extend but focusing attention
Absolutely on the money! Being into watches is not just the prestige of owning a certain brand or a large collection. It is the experience of owning a watch or watches that mean something to you. From my dad's 1949 Omega Bumper, to his 1964 Bulova Accutron, to the 1968 Accutron my parents gave to me for my college graduation, and to my non-family related Doxas, Grand Seikos, Ball, Bertucci and Rolex, I have the privilege and joy of owning and wearing these watches. I enjoy them for any number of reasons, not just because they tell time. But, I do truly enjoy them. Well done Teddy!
Watches help me express my style but also remind me of how I felt at that time, from watches I use for work, to everyday outings, watches it turns out are a type of photo album that I can look back and remember, plus a lovely piece to see on my wrist always brings a smile
This was not what I was expecting when searching for this title, but this video made more and more sense, good job in putting it all into such a well thought out list. Respect.
Great video! Love the vintage watches. I started wearing a watch in the military. It was a must, and not just a fashion statement. That was before mobile phones. I still wear a watch today, although now it does carry that small label of being a fashion statement for me. It is much easier to look at my watch to tell time, than it is to pull the phone out of my pocket. Watches are engineering masterpieces. They remind me of a vehicle engine, because everything has to be timed to run in sync. I have my grandfather's 1947 salmon dial, silver case, second hand sub dial, bumper automatic. He was a doctor in Chicago through the great depression and WWII. He retired in 1961. When he passed in 1991, his watch was handed down to my father. My father passed a year later and the Tissot was handed down to me. It is more than just a watch. It is a timepiece that has shared 74 years of memories.
I very much think watches are a reflection of yourself and also what you might value. I really am just recently delving into the world of watches...at least in a deeper "enthusiast" perspective. And what got me here interestingly enough was in a way backwards to your experience. I was looking for a gift for my father and while researching which one to get him, I went through a rabbit hole of the watch collecting world and horology that has totally made me see watches from a different perspective. Now someone who considers myself a pretty avid car enthusiast, I see so many parallels. Everybody is a little different, we value different, a car is ultimately just a tool, but most people also see a car as a reflection of themselves and that's actually a leading factor in what they end up buying in so many scenarios. It's more of the romantic idea of how a vehicle reflects them that drives what people decide to own (pun intended). I see a lot of that in watches. Of course that's the allure of fashion watches, which up to recently made up the bulk of the watches I owned. But as a car nut and engineer that respect for the craftsmanship, plus the history has really made me see watches differently. But ultimately I think watches are a reflection of ourselves, and quality piece is a reflection you can pass on.
Awesome analysis 👍. I love cars and like watches. I can definitely relate to the assertion that cars and watches are a reflection of ourselves. I could have bought a Porsche and a Rolex. Instead I opted for a Jaguar + a BMW and an Omega + a Tag Heuer, as these four wonderful pieces reflect me more than the Porsche and Rolex combo.
I started wearing watches everyday, because of convenience, I didn't want to pull out my phone every time I needed to know the time, sometimes I don't even have my phone on me. And that how it started for me.
I told a mid 20s female Coworker that I bought a new automatic watch. She asked what exactly that meant so I roughly explained the concept of my movements powering it and she was just like "You are lying, that doesn't exist" :D She does believe me now though, after I showed her the movement.
That part about everything else coming and going but watches staying with us for a long time is very cool. In 10 years you probably won’t have half the stuff you have now but that watch will still be with you accompanying you as you grow older and experience life!
Love how all of our watches that were passed down from grandparents are on the elastic spidel style band. I have an Omega Seamster passed down from my grandfather with the elastic band. Proud to say that I was able to get a nice leather strap with deployment clasp from your site to make it wearable for me.
Having gone through the winter storms in Texas this last week, at 5 days without power, and rolling outages, my Omega was our constant. If things go south, a good watch is a necessity
@@Mister_Phafanapolis so he’s an idiot for enjoying his omega? I’m sure a timex would have done the same job and I’m sure he’d have mentioned his timex had he been wearing one instead
Love the video! I think another reason to own a watch it's that it sends the sublime message that you are a responsible person, that you are someone that is punctual and professional.
One of the best episodes. Sometimes it’s just satisfying to think about these “objets” we are so obsessed with in a philosophical manner. Thanks for all you do, and thanks for sharing some of the family history Teddy
I've never had an interest to own a watch that cost more than 200 USD. Then I started watching your videos a couple of weeks ago and just ordered a Seiko SPB207J1 MM200. My next watch will be a Sinn UX SDR with a red band. Thanks for your contribution to the watch community.
That Sinn’s a nice choice. At some point in the future, I’ll pick up either a Sinn or a Damasko. In the very near future though, I’m hoping to get lucky in snatching up a Helm
I might forget my phone but I’ve never forgotten my watch, I sleep with my watch, shower with it, I never remove it except to wipe it down after I shower, and this is why you must choose a watch very carefully, I wear a SMP300 in blue with metal bracelet.
A man has a special relationship with his watch that is ticking on his wrist. Good times, tough times, bad times, always the one who stayed by his side, silently marking the passage of moments. It’s a witness to his journey, a keeper of memories.
I’m with you all the way on this video, Teddy. I have both my grandfather’s watches and my father’s watch (Omega Seamaster bumper). Their value and meaning to me can’t be measured. I often look at my own Damasko and hope it stays with one of my children after I’m gone. A really excellent video!
I stopped using watches on 2011 because i thaught that smartphones where way better to tell time. After 5 smartphones that are almost dead all of them I went back to that CASIO this month to relize he is still running and it was only 6 minutes late after all this years. That thing has gmt time, chrono, alarm, stopwatch and it shows 10 phone numbers. I decided to begin collecting watches now so this video is very much all of what I think about time pieces now. I started with a couple of Timex chronographs.
Also your comment about everything becoming disposable. That's sooooo true. Literally a few nights ago I was watching Dr. No which came out in 1962. I was watching thinking of how elegant everything was made back then. People took pride in their workmanship and you can tell. We sadly have lost that elegance to the ravages of time.
I wear a watch, mechanical, on my left and a computer on my right. The Apple Watch has monitored my pulse oxygen, my sleep and run an ECG when I had dizzy spells. It also delivers texts and reminders. I like the look and feel of the mechanical watch that I choose to wear.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv I think that I explained why I wear each watch. I’m not wearing them for anyone but me. The mechanical watch is the one that is hardest to justify especially in terms of cost. Most men wear a mechanical watch as an accessory and I know that I do. It’s a matter of taste. I do notice what watches others wear. It’s an enjoyable hobby, much more than just telling the time.
Thank you so much! Your channel ready brought me into my tiny little watch collection. I think it’s a really cool and fun hobby and your videos really helped me find and appreciate watches.
Kind of hokey, but I really liked how you mentioned automatic watches essentially being a living thing- that powers itself off our own movement, and life. With my Marathon GSAR auto, I've used it countless times at work (as an ICU Nurse), to mark and record the official time of death of countless patients over the past year. I have never thought about how a watch powered by my own life was used in this manner, and that when I die, the watch itself will stop ticking within a day or so. Kinda poetic when I think about it.
Well put Teddy. Another group of points to ponder. After you dress and glance in the mirror each morning getting ready for the day, is practically the last time you actually see yourself that day, but glancing at your wrist watch or device happens hundreds of time daily. This body language can turn into a habit and their defiantly has psychology behind it. The point here and also ties Teddy’s points together as the strength of watches as a consumer product unique to all other personal items worn on the body. So whether it is. for a way to map out your schedule, referring to your wrist device as an instrument, because you enjoy admiring your watch, are thinking of the person who gifted you the watch, or as a body pantomime that you “have to go”, watches are a unique product that is here to stay.
Teddy, very well said. Emotion is definitely a component of owning, wearing, and learning about watches, and for me mechanical watches. The fact that mechanical watches are still being made and being sold by the millions, shows that a lot of people still appreciate the mechanical arts, the people who still practice it, and the steeped history that has brought us to today's creations. I'm glad you were inspired by your grandfather's and great grandfather's watches. I too am lucky to have a 1909 made Elgin pocket watch from my grandfather, who was born in 1887. Another watch very dear to my heart, though not a wrist or pocket watch, is a plastic-cased Tag Heuer flyback mechanical stopwatch. It was issued to me in the Air Force in 1989 and was carried/used quite frequently on many missions.
I truly loved this video! I've been following your channel for a while. You make great videos and you are very knowledgeable. But this video in particular, was so emotional and rational at the same time. Really a great great video!!!
Before watching the video; 1. Time management. Easy fast time, without the distraction. Perfect for adhd. Since wearing a watch, my time management skills vastly improved. It helps to have a beautiful watch that you love to look at. 2. Conversation starter. Helps in formal and awkward situations. 3. Great jewelry for man and woman, without being to in your face
Teddy this is the first video I have ever liked on youtube just for your first point. I have a 20 watch collection. Most are G-Shocks and Invicitas (I know they are not respected but they are cheap and look decent and I don't have to worry about them) and I recently got a Luminox 9042.A and Seiko Presage SRPD37. Of all my watches, my favorite is a G-Shock that my dad used while he was in the military. My dad gave me the watch when I moved out to go to college and he told me that it had seen blood, sweat, and tears. It had brought him luck and kept him safe while overseas and he hoped it would do the same for me. Of all the watches I will ever own, it will always be the best watch in my collection.
This is a great video and it really articulates why this hobby is meaningful to me. It's more than just acquiring something...the stories they can embody or the meaning they have or how they can be a means of expression have value. It's the same with my motorbikes...no one needs a motorcycle and there are probably better ways to get around but just like the ritual of setting a watch's time before you put it on for the day, getting ready to ride...checking the bike, putting on the gear...is part of the experience.
Awesome vid, Teddy 👍 It really made me think about how I got into watches. My Dad wasn't in to watches but, being in the military they were important. Though it was basic, I was always fascinated by his watch. When I was 7, he gave me the child's version (24mm) of his Timex mechanical watch to teach me responsibility as it had to be wound every day. I wore it almost every day until he gave me my first "man's" watch at 11. It was a 36mm 19-jewel Seiko automatic. My parents gave me 2 more Seiko's before HS graduation. My girlfriend - now wife has given me Seiko's over the years. Some 50 years later, I still own all the pieces gifted to me including that Timex.
This video insights are sublime. The level of introspection that make you appreciate this beautiful and complex mechanical machines is inspirational. Thanks for the addition. Love it!
For me, a watch is a great way of monumenting a special occasion. You can safely buy a good watch after an achievement and it will last forever. You can’t really buy anything else like that for me.
You forgot 'class', not in the sense of a display of wealth but of taste and discernment. I am a man of modest means but my classic Jaguar XJ and Tissot Gentleman (both costing relatively little) mark me out from the herd.
Love the video! I love watches,clocks,all time pieces! The intricate parts all working together to keep time has always had my interest. It blows my mind how they are thought of and made. Analog rules!!!!
There's also the fact that analogue watches use less battery. Digital watch batteries last a year which is still pretty decent, but analogue watch batteries can last 3-4 years. Oh and the watch itself has a very long lifespan if it's well looked after
Seriously Teddy....you got us all up in the feels! This by far is one of my favourite videos from you because you go deep and explain the reasons why we love time pieces! :)
I got my first watch as a kid during the "quartz crisis" and never really felt the connection to that cold/cheap time piece, so using a phone as a timepiece wasn't a hard sell. In the last two years I discovered automatic movements, I had no idea they existed for so many decades already, and now I have a collection of ten auto watches of varying expense and love everyone of them. Solid points made Teddy, kind of like the remerging love of vinyl records, the low tech and imperfect has more soul.
I couldn't agree more. My grandpa gave me a '38 Longines watch. Back in the '80s a guy offered me $600 for it. I didn't sell it. I kept it. Unfortunately it fell off my wrist and didn't notice it until I took off my big winter coat. Anyway I love watches. They are pieces of art. I have several that have strong sentimental value. My daughter gave me a watch for my birthday one year. I look at it and it warms my heart. My weakness is automatic watches. The first one I owned was a 1st generation seiko Black monster. It's almost 20 years old. It still runs beautifully and I have never had it serviced. I have 3 other seiko automatics as well as a bambino and a lucien picard. I enjoy the craftwork that goes into them. I could go on... thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions on watch collection.
I love this video Teddy. Y'know I never wore a watch and only recently I started wearing Apple watches but I felt that something was missing... I feel like you hit on a lot of what was missing especially with the 'built to last' and the disposability of things. I'm 25 and just this week bought my first serious watch, a Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium with a blue face. I honestly love it a lot, and I think it's a great piece for the price and a introduction to Swiss watches, excited to explore the rabbit hole, and as a new subscriber will definitely be watching more of your videos.
I currently have 17 watches in my collection and is still planning to expand it as I age. So that each of my children and grandchildren will inherit a piece. They will not only get a timepiece but in a way, It will be a reminder that I'll be with them on their journey. Great video, Teddy.
Teddy, as humans we search for purpose and connection between our loved ones, in order to provide meaning to our lives. This video reminds us of that. Well done. Thank you!
I'm turning 60 this year. Once upon a time when I was eight or nine, long before all of todays electronic gadgets, I was given a wrist watch by my father. This was simply for me to know when I should go home for dinner, when down on the playground playing with my mates. It was a piece of equipment to tell me the time. Today I own +20 watches. Mostly inexpensive ones in the range of $100-200 and two of them in the $400-500 area. Today when I get up in the morning, I start the day thinking, how is my day going to be? Which mood am I in today? And then I choose the watch that fits my mindset best for that day. And still it tells me the time all day long. Making me think back on the days when I was a child, and everything was much less complicated. It was a cheap Timex by the way, and I loved that watch!
Teddy, This was a brilliant video. I have my grandfather’s pocket watch, my father’s chronograph. They tie me to the last in ways that are hard to describe. Thanks for saying the things most of us know but don’t put into words.
Even as a watch novice (only recently learned the key differences between mechanical vs automatic vs quartz), I really enjoyed this video. As somewhat of a tech-enthusiast myself, I really related to your point about how transactional modern life is and how common planned obsolescence has become, and that it is becoming increasingly more difficult for things to last. I have been wearing a Fitbit Versa as a quasi-smartwatch for the past 3 years, and despite me really wanting to embrace smartwatches, the generally abysmal battery life just hasn't been appealing. And ever since COVID, I have also begun to kind of detest this state of "connectedness" that has become prevalent in all types of tech, from thermostats to vehicles. I started to look into analog watches because I got tired from all the notification vibrations, and the simple act of putting on a Fitbit was no longer simple. Thanks for the video :)
Thanks Teddy, a most substantial presentation, with many points convincingly, personally and genuinely made. Indeed, many of us are fortunate enough to possess much which we desire, but don't need to survive. Investing time in a hobby or interest which draws you and from which you benefit and gain enjoyment seems a positive way to spend some of that time.
We don't NEED a watch; just like we don't NEED music, art, literature, etc....but just imagine how barren and bereft life would be without these things to cherish, be passionate about, and just flat-out enjoy. Bravo Teddy!
Thanks for sharing Teddy... your channel is a wealth of information and has re-kindled my love of watches that began years ago for me. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Teddy. Your discussion struck a chord with me and how I connect with my collection of timepieces. I too have watches from my father and grandfather and those which they gave me over the years and are daily reminders of family history and the good times we shared together. Yours was one of the best videos of all time for me. thank you.
I'm not a watch collector, but I got given a very beautiful and discreet Tissot for my 18th birthday, and besides the fact it's a nice accessory, it is a 100 times more convenient to tell the time on it than on my phone
Teddy, no need to apologize for getting philosophical or nostalgic. That's why I searched out this type of video, and thanks for sharing some of your family history.
Out of all the videos i haved watched of your i like this one the best the story you telling is on point like no other keep up the great videos that you make SIR !!!
Love this video, you make excellent points and show that watches are not about vapid materialism like a lot of people tend to believe. I've just recently became interested in watches and just pulled the trigger on my first "real" watch a few days ago - a beautiful Orient Kamasu with the blue dial. While diving down the rabbit holes of this newfound obsession, I've found that I tend to lean heavily towards dive watches with blue dials, and just realized it might have something to do with the fact that it reminds me of two great loves of my life, the open seas and the wild blue yonder. I think that for most of us, watches aren't about price tags, but instead are about what they represent to us and what they remind us of, the things that we value most in our all too short time here on Earth.
I have an Omega Seamaster my Dad gave in 1972 when I graduated college. It still runs like a top and it represents to me all the reasons to love watches articulated simply and lovingly in your video. But wait, my personal connection with watches doesn’t stop there! During the 90’s I switched to buying quartz watches exclusively, to the point that the old Omega was the only automatic I owned. Fast forward to 2020 during COVID lockdowns every one of my quartz watches needed new batteries. I was left with only the Omega to rely upon. The electronic watch miasma was cleared from my head when I bought a Seiko 5 . I followed that purchase with a number of very inexpensive AliExpress automatics to quickly add some choices to my selection. So now I am ready to start purchasing aspirational watches. I’m looking at Tissot and Hamilton watches, then who knows.?
Enjoyed listening your story, Teddy. I have Apple Watch worn everyday almost every moment. It is true that an wrist watch is not a necessity as much as abundant apps on smart phones are. I don’t NEED Facebook or Instagram. But I can use it or don’t whenever. Many of us use desktop, laptop and/or ipad. Well, I do but I think I can more than manage with my macbook only if I have to. In this age of abundance, I decided to wear two watches: Apple Watch for fitness tracking and smart phone relay, and not so smart watches being rotated for pleasure and aesthetics. I don’t have to but I can so I do. Why not. Plus, I can reference Apple Watch to sync my mechanical watches. No more BBC radio signal needed. To justify my love of just watches, there are more than one stats showing that Apple Watch has enlarged overall sales of watches so watch pie has gotten bigger instead of losing ground. I think the golden age of watches has come once again.
Hi guys I’m debating wholeheartedly on my next big purchase for a special occasion. I just recently bought my 2nd “luxury” watch 5 months ago. The watch was a NOMOS Orion 35mm. The watch I’m debating between are the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm (2020) or Grand Seiko SBGA413 the Pink Spring Dial! I’m a very casual dresser do I want the best value for the money,Love your input guys!
@@zsb707 i honestly love the dial of the GS But in all honesty I’m leaning a bit more towards the AT just because of the heritage branding. Don’t get me wrong GS is great but something about an Omega is just... Also I own a few Seikos and don’t have a high horology time piece from a Swiss manufacturer. The only Swiss watch I own is a ML Aikon
Well told Teddy. I think all the collectors have a similar story, "bequeathed to me". My collection is a bit eclectic, each timepiece gives me a different feeling. Love this pursuit and as you said in another video, there is no destination.
I buy watches because I like them but I cherish them over time based on what parts of my life they were involved in. My channel started with a trip overseas and I still look at the scratches on the bezel of my Duro and remember that amazing trip and how those scratches happened.
I was also gifted my grandpa's old Citizen watch. I'm grateful to have something that was his and got to use. I don't remember him well but was able to recognize his watch when I was little.
0:29 Wrong, actually I really need my watch for training. Also in general it's more easier to check the time on my watch rather than on my phone or something else.
It’s a great point you made, Teddy. I used to use my sport watches when I exercise. Now I use my Apple Watch for obvious reasons. However, I never use my Apple Watch when I travel. I always use my mechanical GMTs or world timers. I don’t need to bring a charger. Love my traditional watches. Some have been with me for over 29 years and they work great.
Here is the video i have finally been waiting to see. I started collecting watches because i remember seeing my dad growing up wearing his rolex ment for him how much he loved it .I personally dont care for flex watches for me its the history behind the brand the movement the functionality.
Teddy, you did a great job. These are the exact things that I wanted to feel and know about collecting watches. 100% I have totally agreed with you and thanks again for your fantastic comments.
![Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCz7WUotXs8/mqdefault.jpg)
Must've checked my watch 50 times yesterday, 2 or 3 times to actually find out the time.
The best way to know that you don’t like your watch is if you only look at it to check the time.
People think you're checking the time and must be in a hurry. Nah just admiring my watch 👍
Even when I do look at it to check the time, very often I forget to do it, I just look at the watch... and then I'm like "Oh, I didn't check the time..."
How many times did you check your phone? That has an atomic clock btw.
@@flyrodu But it is not infallible, it runs in conjunction with software
I am from a poor family from the Philippines but the only thing my dad gave to me before he passed away was his vintage citizen mechanical watch from the 90's. it still works like new.it may have no financial value but for me it is the most expensive watch in the world. it paved the way for me to start my collection, seiko snkl23 being my first bought automatic watch. and my son will have them when my time comes to an end.
Someone told me once that the automatic watch he is wearing was powered by his grandfather’s everyday movement. Now that watch is powered by his everyday movement. It was beautiful.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv found the dude with daddy issues lmao
Something beautiful about a watch I can charge up will spanking off 🤣
just imagine how manny wanks that have been passed down generations 💦
As a soldier, a watch will always be a required tool for now and the foreseeable future. There are places where Bluetooth smart watches can't go and are even controlled on some establishments. This leaves the trusted basic watch to keep you on track.
Something that has always stuck with me, was a saying I heard during Basic Training:
"If you don't meet your timings, people die!"
On the surface, that seems just a little over the top. But it underscores the necessity and importance for time appreciation. You can accomplish a lot in just 5 mins.
This is was got me started into watches I bought a timex expedition before basic and it died in basic had the crown pulled out when I dropped Ruck I ended up buying a Casio f91w that one died after a helocast, that’s when it really started I ended up buying a gshock and from there I recognized watches for what they were to me, tools that needed to survive my day to day. Those days are behind me know for the most part but I still need a watch that will work whether it be when I’m hiking and shooting or when I’m wearing a suit to work.
Makes sense. But my cheaper digital watches are more accurate and some of them even set themselves using atomic clock signals. The only purpose my 2000 dollar watch serves is to make me smile.
10-4 on all points. My Gshocks are my necessities on my job, my post everyday....especially when things get ugly.....I only trust my tough solar Gs.
On time & on target. To this day I’m still 15 min early for everything...”If you’re not 15 min early, you’re late!”
Excellent point. I served in the Army I Vietnam Field Artillery. Needed to tell accurate time. Welcome home.
Teddy, let’s get an update of your collection. 👌🏼
That would be great content 👌
You say watches aren’t necessary with the emergence of technology, but how would I tell the time without my watch! Look at my phone like some barbarian?
Hahahahahahaha so true... Watches have just become a must for me since I'm prone to forgetting dates and days!!
Edit : with just a flick of the wrist*
Well said!
A wrist watch is an elegant device for a more civilized age
My grandma got me my first adult watch for Christmas when I was nineteen. I had my first of a continuing litany of awful jobs and I needed my boss to stop yelling at me for checking the time and timing things using my phone. She got me a Timex South Street. It's beat to shit, but it still runs and it's still among the best looking watches I own.
Or if your phone dies ! Than what ??
This shld be the most important vid of your channel. It represents the 'WHY' behind everything..
Hello Teddy its comforting to know that some one of your generation has such passion , knowledge and respect of an art and craft that is timeless , every time I hear the stories of your grand fathers it brings a tear to my eye , my grandfather left England to go to South Africa and ended up in Australia , my Dad left Australia and came to Canada , both in search of a better life .which they found !!! their stories need to be remembered and appreciated ,thanks for sharing yours !!!
8. Watches are art you carry with you.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv clearly you are in wrong forum
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv I assure you high end automatic watches are not in any way mass produced lmao. They are all hand made. That's why each year there's only a limited amount made. You clearly have no clue what you are talking about. Will you be able to pass on your boots and shirt to your son or grandson? Will they still be around 50 years from now? These watches will.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv Dude, you’re clearly not having fun here. Plus, for many of us boots and clothes are art, or an artistic expression that we can be profoundly personal. If you wanna yank your phone out to know what time it is then go on your way and be well.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv Rolex is nowhere near high end 😅
Just like anything you wear.
My watches don’t just tell me the time of day...but they serve as a reminder of the time I have on this earth. With every glance at the dial, its looking back at you ...reminding you to cease the day and make every moment in Time ( pun intended ) count. LOVE my watches.
I love this comment. It reminds me why I love the much maligned countdown bezel on the Sinn 104. Life is a countdown and like the equally and justifiably maligned Louis CK said Mostly what you are going to be is dead. We are going to be dead for so much longer than we will be alive. When you look at your completely unnecessary watch let it at least be a reminder that your time is finite and getting shorter.
I totally agree. I think that, since we are drawn by their appeal, we look at them more often. Then looking, we can be reminded (more often) that our time on this earth is measured and limited, and should be appreciated, valued and used well.
I havre a Samsung 6 watch which I absolutely love and use for calculating sleep, performance while playing sports and checking weather etc but also have mechanical watches. Smart watches are tools but mechanical watch really talks back reminding of time and how it's slipping. And easy on eyes looking physical hands. Quartz is also good but that jumping seconds is not quite calming.
i rlly love ur perspective !!
A mechanical watch, or rather a timepiece, embodies an elegant way to appreciate and reflect on the passing of time. It elevates the simple act of wanting to know what time it is. It’s also an opportunity to have a beautiful, and functional piece of jewelry for a man (or woman).
I got a watch to avoid looking at my phone so often and getting distracted. It really helps me get into work mode.
Same here, exactly why I started wearing a watch again
Same here. I started wearing a watch again just a little bit my screen time
Wearing watches to me just shows a level of maturity along with just being fun to do so
No need to apologize, all points, even the sappy ones, are valid. For me, my collection is being built to leave to my grandson so that he will have tangible and very personal reminders of me and my love for him. And you thought you could be sappy.
I’m with you! I wish my grandfather & great-grandfather had the foresight to purchase something like a watch & pass it down. I’m starting that tradition with my watches; I’ll pass one on to each of my boys. I’m also planning on getting them both a decent watch for high-school graduation (something I wish my parents had done for me). I hope my 2 boys appreciate and continue the tradition.
I started my collection for exactly the same reason. My plan is to have a piece or more for each of my grandkids to remember their Opa. Hopefully that’s some time off yet. :-)
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv Thanks, but I don’t think I need any grand parenting advice from you.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv You may be right, but I believe he will find them more useful than your grandchildren will find your negative attitude.
You need at least a Rolex level watch if you ever consider to pass it down. The lifespan of an eta movement is about 20 years but Rolex, Patek Philippe watches last much longer, so can vintage Omega, Longines and Grand Seiko
I used to be an Apple Watch lover and I have had one through almost every series. I always had to have the latest... and I realized that I want something that I can have my whole life, and I really wanted something that didn’t ding on my wrist every single time I had a notification. So, I saved up and got an mechanical watch. I’m so happy.
Isn't it fascinating that something that tells time can be timeless.
Aptly said.
Well said Teddy. Your passion for watches is infectious.My dad gave me his watch (he bought it when I was born) when I turned 21 and it never left my wrist. That was 29 years ago. my oldest son turns 21 in 3 years time and I will have the watch serviced and pass on to him. I will be sad as it has been a part of me for so long and we have been through many ups and downs in this life together but now is the time for another adventure for the watch. I am looking for my next watch….will be tough.
I fell down the rabbit hole 4 years ago and havent looked back! They are incredible pieces of Art, History and Design. Not to mention the sentimental value when they are passed down generation to generation. Great Video as always Teddy!
Its a deep hole mate. Watch your bank balance. 👍🏻🏴
I appreciate you sharing your family story. I think it’s important for everyone to know and really understand their family’s story, especially when there is watches involved!
Well said Teddy, thank you. I also love the symbiosis between my automatic watch and I. It will continue to run and tell time as long as I continue to live and move. If I stop, my watch will stop. Every time I look at it it reminds me I’m alive. 😊
In 1987, my maternal grandfather passed away and I asked if I could keep his Bulova Senator as it was something I held as a memory of him. I have cherished this piece. In fact, I wore his watch on my wedding day and it stands as a reminder of this hard working Teamster immigrant from Poland who meant so much to me in my childhood. My two sons often ask to see it and to hear stories of my times with him and I'm proud to share his legacy.
I also have in my collection a Wittnauer that belonged to my paternal grandfather who died shortly after my birth. Sadly, my own father never spoke of his dad and after losing my father more than a decade ago, I've lost the opportunity to learn more about him or of the watch. The irony is that this well-worn, and slightly broken timepiece sits metaphorically silent and his story has faded away. But as you also mentioned in your video, I am the only legacy of our family name and that watch is part of our history.
My collection is modest, but each piece represents a part of my life and tells a story. None hold monetary value, but the stories are priceless which is what made your video so touching.
After watching that video last night, I realize that the watch is something bigger than me. I get to enjoy it and pass it on just as my grandfathers' watches were passed on to me. And I can only hope someday that my stories are shared as my boys talk to their children while wearing one of my watches.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story as I was really touched by yours.
Some of these comments I wish there was a heart icon to click on, instead of just a thumbs up.
Your point about quality was most important but another thing I value is it's function. What I mean is this: More and more things we own and seek to own are multifunctional and aspire to do multiple things. Our phones and apple watches tell time, play music, organize the day, etc. A watch (in the literal sense) does just one thing and it is made with high quality for that one thing. This is something I value because it reminds me in my daily life that while people try to get ahead by juggling multiple things and doing sub par in all of them, I should focus my energies at just one thing at a time and do a really good job with it. I don't have to get everything done everyday, just do my best at the most important thing for today and tomorrow do my best at the most important thing for tomorrow. When I look at a watch ticking away I think of how singular it is in function and how I can actually be MORE effective by not trying to over extend but focusing attention
Absolutely on the money! Being into watches is not just the prestige of owning a certain brand or a large collection. It is the experience of owning a watch or watches that mean something to you. From my dad's 1949 Omega Bumper, to his 1964 Bulova Accutron, to the 1968 Accutron my parents gave to me for my college graduation, and to my non-family related Doxas, Grand Seikos, Ball, Bertucci and Rolex, I have the privilege and joy of owning and wearing these watches. I enjoy them for any number of reasons, not just because they tell time. But, I do truly enjoy them. Well done Teddy!
Watches help me express my style but also remind me of how I felt at that time, from watches I use for work, to everyday outings, watches it turns out are a type of photo album that I can look back and remember, plus a lovely piece to see on my wrist always brings a smile
This was not what I was expecting when searching for this title, but this video made more and more sense, good job in putting it all into such a well thought out list. Respect.
I love this channel. I've become a watch guy in less than a week. I had a dream about watches last night. This is greaat.
Great video! Love the vintage watches.
I started wearing a watch in the military. It was a must, and not just a fashion statement. That was before mobile phones. I still wear a watch today, although now it does carry that small label of being a fashion statement for me. It is much easier to look at my watch to tell time, than it is to pull the phone out of my pocket.
Watches are engineering masterpieces. They remind me of a vehicle engine, because everything has to be timed to run in sync.
I have my grandfather's 1947 salmon dial, silver case, second hand sub dial, bumper automatic. He was a doctor in Chicago through the great depression and WWII. He retired in 1961. When he passed in 1991, his watch was handed down to my father. My father passed a year later and the Tissot was handed down to me. It is more than just a watch. It is a timepiece that has shared 74 years of memories.
Same here. The army was where I wore a stainless steel "waterproof" dive watch that glowed in the dark. been doing that ever since.
I very much think watches are a reflection of yourself and also what you might value.
I really am just recently delving into the world of watches...at least in a deeper "enthusiast" perspective. And what got me here interestingly enough was in a way backwards to your experience. I was looking for a gift for my father and while researching which one to get him, I went through a rabbit hole of the watch collecting world and horology that has totally made me see watches from a different perspective.
Now someone who considers myself a pretty avid car enthusiast, I see so many parallels. Everybody is a little different, we value different, a car is ultimately just a tool, but most people also see a car as a reflection of themselves and that's actually a leading factor in what they end up buying in so many scenarios. It's more of the romantic idea of how a vehicle reflects them that drives what people decide to own (pun intended).
I see a lot of that in watches. Of course that's the allure of fashion watches, which up to recently made up the bulk of the watches I owned. But as a car nut and engineer that respect for the craftsmanship, plus the history has really made me see watches differently.
But ultimately I think watches are a reflection of ourselves, and quality piece is a reflection you can pass on.
Awesome analysis 👍. I love cars and like watches. I can definitely relate to the assertion that cars and watches are a reflection of ourselves. I could have bought a Porsche and a Rolex. Instead I opted for a Jaguar + a BMW and an Omega + a Tag Heuer, as these four wonderful pieces reflect me more than the Porsche and Rolex combo.
I started wearing watches everyday, because of convenience, I didn't want to pull out my phone every time I needed to know the time, sometimes I don't even have my phone on me. And that how it started for me.
I told a mid 20s female Coworker that I bought a new automatic watch. She asked what exactly that meant so I roughly explained the concept of my movements powering it and she was just like "You are lying, that doesn't exist" :D
She does believe me now though, after I showed her the movement.
That part about everything else coming and going but watches staying with us for a long time is very cool. In 10 years you probably won’t have half the stuff you have now but that watch will still be with you accompanying you as you grow older and experience life!
Love how all of our watches that were passed down from grandparents are on the elastic spidel style band. I have an Omega Seamster passed down from my grandfather with the elastic band. Proud to say that I was able to get a nice leather strap with deployment clasp from your site to make it wearable for me.
Having gone through the winter storms in Texas this last week, at 5 days without power, and rolling outages, my Omega was our constant. If things go south, a good watch is a necessity
Yeah... glad you had a multi thousand dollar watch as your constant companion. A Citizen or Timex certainly couldn't have done that...
@@Mister_Phafanapolis what’s your point?
@@NomadicPhoton I'm making fun of Travis Scoggins for being a watch _idiot_ savant.
@@Mister_Phafanapolis so he’s an idiot for enjoying his omega? I’m sure a timex would have done the same job and I’m sure he’d have mentioned his timex had he been wearing one instead
Love the video! I think another reason to own a watch it's that it sends the sublime message that you are a responsible person, that you are someone that is punctual and professional.
One of the best episodes. Sometimes it’s just satisfying to think about these “objets” we are so obsessed with in a philosophical manner. Thanks for all you do, and thanks for sharing some of the family history Teddy
I've never had an interest to own a watch that cost more than 200 USD. Then I started watching your videos a couple of weeks ago and just ordered a Seiko SPB207J1 MM200. My next watch will be a Sinn UX SDR with a red band. Thanks for your contribution to the watch community.
That Sinn’s a nice choice. At some point in the future, I’ll pick up either a Sinn or a Damasko. In the very near future though, I’m hoping to get lucky in snatching up a Helm
I might forget my phone but I’ve never forgotten my watch, I sleep with my watch, shower with it, I never remove it except to wipe it down after I shower, and this is why you must choose a watch very carefully, I wear a SMP300 in blue with metal bracelet.
A man has a special relationship with his watch that is ticking on his wrist. Good times, tough times, bad times, always the one who stayed by his side, silently marking the passage of moments. It’s a witness to his journey, a keeper of memories.
I’m with you all the way on this video, Teddy. I have both my grandfather’s watches and my father’s watch (Omega Seamaster bumper). Their value and meaning to me can’t be measured. I often look at my own Damasko and hope it stays with one of my children after I’m gone. A really excellent video!
I stopped using watches on 2011 because i thaught that smartphones where way better to tell time. After 5 smartphones that are almost dead all of them I went back to that CASIO this month to relize he is still running and it was only 6 minutes late after all this years. That thing has gmt time, chrono, alarm, stopwatch and it shows 10 phone numbers.
I decided to begin collecting watches now so this video is very much all of what I think about time pieces now. I started with a couple of Timex chronographs.
As a psychologist, I need a watch at work. It would be quite awkward if I had to check the time on my smartphone during the session 😉
@Yorkiepoocharlie It's not possible when you need to changing your offices or working in someone's home.
Time is the most primordial dimension in which spirit and matter intersect. And a nice reminder that life is temporary.
Also your comment about everything becoming disposable. That's sooooo true. Literally a few nights ago I was watching Dr. No which came out in 1962. I was watching thinking of how elegant everything was made back then. People took pride in their workmanship and you can tell. We sadly have lost that elegance to the ravages of time.
I wear a watch, mechanical, on my left and a computer on my right. The Apple Watch has monitored my pulse oxygen, my sleep and run an ECG when I had dizzy spells. It also delivers texts and reminders. I like the look and feel of the mechanical watch that I choose to wear.
@@JohnSmith-gs2rv I think that I explained why I wear each watch. I’m not wearing them for anyone but me. The mechanical watch is the one that is hardest to justify especially in terms of cost. Most men wear a mechanical watch as an accessory and I know that I do. It’s a matter of taste. I do notice what watches others wear. It’s an enjoyable hobby, much more than just telling the time.
Some honest watch talk is heartwarming. Learn Aaron learn!
You summed up why I do this. I'll be watching this again and again. 10/10 and thank you.
Thank you so much! Your channel ready brought me into my tiny little watch collection. I think it’s a really cool and fun hobby and your videos really helped me find and appreciate watches.
Beautifully put! One of your very best videos. Kudos!!!
Kind of hokey, but I really liked how you mentioned automatic watches essentially being a living thing- that powers itself off our own movement, and life. With my Marathon GSAR auto, I've used it countless times at work (as an ICU Nurse), to mark and record the official time of death of countless patients over the past year. I have never thought about how a watch powered by my own life was used in this manner, and that when I die, the watch itself will stop ticking within a day or so. Kinda poetic when I think about it.
Well put Teddy.
Another group of points to ponder. After you dress and glance in the mirror each morning getting ready for the day, is practically the last time you actually see yourself that day, but glancing at your wrist watch or device happens hundreds of time daily. This body language can turn into a habit and their defiantly has psychology behind it.
The point here and also ties Teddy’s points together as the strength of watches as a consumer product unique to all other personal items worn on the body.
So whether it is. for a way to map out your schedule, referring to your wrist device as an instrument, because you enjoy admiring your watch, are thinking of the person who gifted you the watch, or as a body pantomime that you “have to go”, watches are a unique product that is here to stay.
Teddy, very well said. Emotion is definitely a component of owning, wearing, and learning about watches, and for me mechanical watches. The fact that mechanical watches are still being made and being sold by the millions, shows that a lot of people still appreciate the mechanical arts, the people who still practice it, and the steeped history that has brought us to today's creations. I'm glad you were inspired by your grandfather's and great grandfather's watches. I too am lucky to have a 1909 made Elgin pocket watch from my grandfather, who was born in 1887. Another watch very dear to my heart, though not a wrist or pocket watch, is a plastic-cased Tag Heuer flyback mechanical stopwatch. It was issued to me in the Air Force in 1989 and was carried/used quite frequently on many missions.
8.it reflects our personality and enhances our style.
This is the mentality of a mature collector. Thank you for sharing Teddy.
I truly loved this video! I've been following your channel for a while. You make great videos and you are very knowledgeable. But this video in particular, was so emotional and rational at the same time. Really a great great video!!!
Before watching the video;
1. Time management. Easy fast time, without the distraction. Perfect for adhd. Since wearing a watch, my time management skills vastly improved. It helps to have a beautiful watch that you love to look at.
2. Conversation starter. Helps in formal and awkward situations.
3. Great jewelry for man and woman, without being to in your face
Teddy this is the first video I have ever liked on youtube just for your first point. I have a 20 watch collection. Most are G-Shocks and Invicitas (I know they are not respected but they are cheap and look decent and I don't have to worry about them) and I recently got a Luminox 9042.A and Seiko Presage SRPD37. Of all my watches, my favorite is a G-Shock that my dad used while he was in the military. My dad gave me the watch when I moved out to go to college and he told me that it had seen blood, sweat, and tears. It had brought him luck and kept him safe while overseas and he hoped it would do the same for me. Of all the watches I will ever own, it will always be the best watch in my collection.
This is a great video and it really articulates why this hobby is meaningful to me. It's more than just acquiring something...the stories they can embody or the meaning they have or how they can be a means of expression have value. It's the same with my motorbikes...no one needs a motorcycle and there are probably better ways to get around but just like the ritual of setting a watch's time before you put it on for the day, getting ready to ride...checking the bike, putting on the gear...is part of the experience.
Awesome vid, Teddy 👍
It really made me think about how I got into watches. My Dad wasn't in to watches but, being in the military they were important. Though it was basic, I was always fascinated by his watch. When I was 7, he gave me the child's version (24mm) of his Timex mechanical watch to teach me responsibility as it had to be wound every day. I wore it almost every day until he gave me my first "man's" watch at 11. It was a 36mm 19-jewel Seiko automatic. My parents gave me 2 more Seiko's before HS graduation. My girlfriend - now wife has given me Seiko's over the years.
Some 50 years later, I still own all the pieces gifted to me including that Timex.
Very cool.
This video insights are sublime. The level of introspection that make you appreciate this beautiful and complex mechanical machines is inspirational. Thanks for the addition. Love it!
Just bought my first mechanical watch! Great video.
Wear it in good health 👍👊
For me, a watch is a great way of monumenting a special occasion. You can safely buy a good watch after an achievement and it will last forever. You can’t really buy anything else like that for me.
Got that right. Nothing lasts like a watch.
You forgot 'class', not in the sense of a display of wealth but of taste and discernment. I am a man of modest means but my classic Jaguar XJ and Tissot Gentleman (both costing relatively little) mark me out from the herd.
Love the video! I love watches,clocks,all time pieces! The intricate parts all working together to keep time has always had my interest. It blows my mind how they are thought of and made. Analog rules!!!!
There's also the fact that analogue watches use less battery. Digital watch batteries last a year which is still pretty decent, but analogue watch batteries can last 3-4 years. Oh and the watch itself has a very long lifespan if it's well looked after
Seriously Teddy....you got us all up in the feels! This by far is one of my favourite videos from you because you go deep and explain the reasons why we love time pieces! :)
I got my first watch as a kid during the "quartz crisis" and never really felt the connection to that cold/cheap time piece, so using a phone as a timepiece wasn't a hard sell. In the last two years I discovered automatic movements, I had no idea they existed for so many decades already, and now I have a collection of ten auto watches of varying expense and love everyone of them.
Solid points made Teddy, kind of like the remerging love of vinyl records, the low tech and imperfect has more soul.
I couldn't agree more. My grandpa gave me a '38 Longines watch. Back in the '80s a guy offered me $600 for it. I didn't sell it. I kept it. Unfortunately it fell off my wrist and didn't notice it until I took off my big winter coat. Anyway I love watches. They are pieces of art. I have several that have strong sentimental value. My daughter gave me a watch for my birthday one year. I look at it and it warms my heart. My weakness is automatic watches. The first one I owned was a 1st generation seiko Black monster. It's almost 20 years old. It still runs beautifully and I have never had it serviced. I have 3 other seiko automatics as well as a bambino and a lucien picard. I enjoy the craftwork that goes into them. I could go on... thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions on watch collection.
I love this video Teddy. Y'know I never wore a watch and only recently I started wearing Apple watches but I felt that something was missing... I feel like you hit on a lot of what was missing especially with the 'built to last' and the disposability of things. I'm 25 and just this week bought my first serious watch, a Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium with a blue face. I honestly love it a lot, and I think it's a great piece for the price and a introduction to Swiss watches, excited to explore the rabbit hole, and as a new subscriber will definitely be watching more of your videos.
I currently have 17 watches in my collection and is still planning to expand it as I age. So that each of my children and grandchildren will inherit a piece. They will not only get a timepiece but in a way, It will be a reminder that I'll be with them on their journey. Great video, Teddy.
Fantastic video and essay...not sappy at all, rather a statement of the reason behind collecting, the art, soul, and the sentiment. Well done!!!
Teddy, as humans we search for purpose and connection between our loved ones, in order to provide meaning to our lives. This video reminds us of that. Well done. Thank you!
I'm turning 60 this year. Once upon a time when I was eight or nine, long before all of todays electronic gadgets, I was given a wrist watch by my father. This was simply for me to know when I should go home for dinner, when down on the playground playing with my mates. It was a piece of equipment to tell me the time. Today I own +20 watches. Mostly inexpensive ones in the range of $100-200 and two of them in the $400-500 area. Today when I get up in the morning, I start the day thinking, how is my day going to be? Which mood am I in today? And then I choose the watch that fits my mindset best for that day. And still it tells me the time all day long. Making me think back on the days when I was a child, and everything was much less complicated.
It was a cheap Timex by the way, and I loved that watch!
Teddy,
This was a brilliant video. I have my grandfather’s pocket watch, my father’s chronograph. They tie me to the last in ways that are hard to describe. Thanks for saying the things most of us know but don’t put into words.
Amazing episode. Thanks for sharing your family story.
Even as a watch novice (only recently learned the key differences between mechanical vs automatic vs quartz), I really enjoyed this video.
As somewhat of a tech-enthusiast myself, I really related to your point about how transactional modern life is and how common planned obsolescence has become, and that it is becoming increasingly more difficult for things to last.
I have been wearing a Fitbit Versa as a quasi-smartwatch for the past 3 years, and despite me really wanting to embrace smartwatches, the generally abysmal battery life just hasn't been appealing. And ever since COVID, I have also begun to kind of detest this state of "connectedness" that has become prevalent in all types of tech, from thermostats to vehicles. I started to look into analog watches because I got tired from all the notification vibrations, and the simple act of putting on a Fitbit was no longer simple.
Thanks for the video :)
Thanks Teddy, a most substantial presentation, with many points convincingly, personally and genuinely made.
Indeed, many of us are fortunate enough to possess much which we desire, but don't need to survive. Investing time in a hobby or interest which draws you and from which you benefit and gain enjoyment seems a positive way to spend some of that time.
I agree with you Teddy 100%, I love watches since I was a kid and still do.
We don't NEED a watch; just like we don't NEED music, art, literature, etc....but just imagine how barren and bereft life would be without these things to cherish, be passionate about, and just flat-out enjoy.
Bravo Teddy!
Thanks for sharing Teddy... your channel is a wealth of information and has re-kindled my love of watches that began years ago for me. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Teddy. Your discussion struck a chord with me and how I connect with my collection of timepieces. I too have watches from my father and grandfather and those which they gave me over the years and are daily reminders of family history and the good times we shared together. Yours was one of the best videos of all time for me. thank you.
I'm not a watch collector, but I got given a very beautiful and discreet Tissot for my 18th birthday, and besides the fact it's a nice accessory, it is a 100 times more convenient to tell the time on it than on my phone
Wise people's gift ... 👍
Teddy, no need to apologize for getting philosophical or nostalgic. That's why I searched out this type of video, and thanks for sharing some of your family history.
Out of all the videos i haved watched of your i like this one the best the story you telling is on point like no other keep up the great videos that you make SIR !!!
Love this video, you make excellent points and show that watches are not about vapid materialism like a lot of people tend to believe. I've just recently became interested in watches and just pulled the trigger on my first "real" watch a few days ago - a beautiful Orient Kamasu with the blue dial. While diving down the rabbit holes of this newfound obsession, I've found that I tend to lean heavily towards dive watches with blue dials, and just realized it might have something to do with the fact that it reminds me of two great loves of my life, the open seas and the wild blue yonder. I think that for most of us, watches aren't about price tags, but instead are about what they represent to us and what they remind us of, the things that we value most in our all too short time here on Earth.
I have an Omega Seamaster my Dad gave in 1972 when I graduated college. It still runs like a top and it represents to me all the reasons to love watches articulated simply and lovingly in your video. But wait, my personal connection with watches doesn’t stop there! During the 90’s I switched to buying quartz watches exclusively, to the point that the old Omega was the only automatic I owned. Fast forward to 2020 during COVID lockdowns every one of my quartz watches needed new batteries. I was left with only the Omega to rely upon. The electronic watch miasma was cleared from my head when I bought a Seiko 5 . I followed that purchase with a number of very inexpensive AliExpress automatics to quickly add some choices to my selection. So now I am ready to start purchasing aspirational watches. I’m looking at Tissot and Hamilton watches, then who knows.?
Enjoyed listening your story, Teddy. I have Apple Watch worn everyday almost every moment. It is true that an wrist watch is not a necessity as much as abundant apps on smart phones are. I don’t NEED Facebook or Instagram. But I can use it or don’t whenever. Many of us use desktop, laptop and/or ipad. Well, I do but I think I can more than manage with my macbook only if I have to. In this age of abundance, I decided to wear two watches: Apple Watch for fitness tracking and smart phone relay, and not so smart watches being rotated for pleasure and aesthetics. I don’t have to but I can so I do. Why not. Plus, I can reference Apple Watch to sync my mechanical watches. No more BBC radio signal needed.
To justify my love of just watches, there are more than one stats showing that Apple Watch has enlarged overall sales of watches so watch pie has gotten bigger instead of losing ground. I think the golden age of watches has come once again.
Hi guys I’m debating wholeheartedly on my next big purchase for a special occasion. I just recently bought my 2nd “luxury” watch 5 months ago. The watch was a NOMOS Orion 35mm. The watch I’m debating between are the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm (2020) or Grand Seiko SBGA413 the Pink Spring Dial! I’m a very casual dresser do I want the best value for the money,Love your input guys!
I'd pick the Omega AT. That GS looks great, but the Omega is just the way to go.
@@zsb707 i honestly love the dial of the GS But in all honesty I’m leaning a bit more towards the AT just because of the heritage branding. Don’t get me wrong GS is great but something about an Omega is just... Also I own a few Seikos and don’t have a high horology time piece from a Swiss manufacturer. The only Swiss watch I own is a ML Aikon
@@rickyhou7684 Then the Omega AT is undoubtedly your next timepiece. You can't go wrong with such a prestigious choice. Good luck!
Well told Teddy. I think all the collectors have a similar story, "bequeathed to me". My collection is a bit eclectic, each timepiece gives me a different feeling. Love this pursuit and as you said in another video, there is no destination.
I have 7 watches at least 14 years old. All bought with my own hard earned money.
Awesome. It's so much better when it's earned.
I buy watches because I like them but I cherish them over time based on what parts of my life they were involved in. My channel started with a trip overseas and I still look at the scratches on the bezel of my Duro and remember that amazing trip and how those scratches happened.
I appreciate you sync'ing the second hands of the Sinn, Ham and Explorer :) Cool video, Teddy. Thanks.
I love the passion of this video, a beautiful presentation on the joy of watches.
Your passion and enthusiasm is much appreciated!
Very touching about your family. I love your energy and share your passion for watches.
I was also gifted my grandpa's old Citizen watch. I'm grateful to have something that was his and got to use. I don't remember him well but was able to recognize his watch when I was little.
0:29 Wrong, actually I really need my watch for training. Also in general it's more easier to check the time on my watch rather than on my phone or something else.
With the reliance and emergence of technology in EVERYTHING, its more important than ever to have a durable and reliable wrist watch.
It’s a great point you made, Teddy. I used to use my sport watches when I exercise. Now I use my Apple Watch for obvious reasons. However, I never use my Apple Watch when I travel. I always use my mechanical GMTs or world timers. I don’t need to bring a charger. Love my traditional watches. Some have been with me for over 29 years and they work great.
Here is the video i have finally been waiting to see. I started collecting watches because i remember seeing my dad growing up wearing his rolex ment for him how much he loved it .I personally dont care for flex watches for me its the history behind the brand the movement the functionality.
Thank you for sharing your family's story Ted!
Teddy, you did a great job. These are the exact things that I wanted to feel and know about collecting watches. 100% I have totally agreed with you and thanks again for your fantastic comments.