Monday, February 13, 2012

"The 4 Fundamental Types Of Vintage Watch Guys"


"The 4 Fundamental Types Of Vintage Watch Guys" 
(Or... The Vintage Watch World In A Nut Shell)

1. Super Dealer/Authority
2. Dealer
3. Collector/Enthusiast
4. Hobbyist

The Hobbyist group is perhaps one of the friendliest. They love their watches for various reasons, none of which includes the rarity or value. This is not to say that the rarity or value of a watch they acquired or inherited was not what sparked their interest in the world of vintage watches. This is to say, they enjoy the quality of a fine timepiece and I think they appreciate the skill and commitment involved. It is my belief, this group loves the camaraderie of each other as much as their timepieces. While the average Hobbyist could tell you specifics about their particular watch, such as the year they acquired it etc. ( probably a bit of the factory history) , most likely they would enjoy telling you of how reliable and loyal their timepiece has been throughout the years. The Hobbyist is a group that is exceptionally dear to my heart. In fact, it is my belief that the other three groups of "Vintage Guys" directly descend from this group. While it is also true that most hobbyist do not know the technical aspects of their timepieces (This is OK with me! It is my belief, that a piece of art is more beautiful when appreciated for it's ensemble/sum than when the specifics of it's individual parts are analyzed.) 
they are friendly and have a passion for sharing any and all knowledge they have. 

Collector/Enthusiast. This is an interesting group. Most of these guys started off as Hobbyist and their insatiable appetite and most likely an expendable income has allowed them to leap into a new level of horological appreciation. This group wears two faces, both honest and both with a variant degree of one emotion "Passion".
 The Collector/Enthusiast will see a Rolex Submariner Date w/ a matte dial and refer to it by it's model reference ( "1680").  He or She will know that the movement is marked 1570 but is in fact a caliber 1575. They will know that the "5" denotes the date aperture. This type of vintage "Guy" has payed their dues. They sometimes loose money by being overzealous and often make money by flirting with another class "The Dealer".  A Collector has to be careful though. His experience has made him more astute than his friend the Hobbyist but the Collector/Enthusiast's ego has allowed him to believe he can mingle in the same waters as the Sharks.


**** Before I continue on with the next catagory/type of Vintage "Guys", I would like to say that this next group is subject to perhaps the most linear interpretation and in this case a negative one. There are some really great Dealers out there.  Unfortunately, I have only met a few out of the dozens. ******

Dealers  (Not to be confused with Authorized Dealers.)
Dealer's are hunter's. The unfortunate nature of a hunter is the fact that they must kill to eat.
It's difficult to be metaphorical about a word like "Kill", the word's four alphabetical arrangement is drenched in a negative connotative cloud. The fact is the word is unpleasant, yet it is perfectly appropriate. A dealer must kill to eat. We all know what these types of people have to do to stay in business. This group is not my favorite, however there must be a ying for every yang. I do need to note that amongst this group, there are some immensely passionate and honest/reputable. I strongly believe, however, they are far and few between. The fact is that anytime there is an immense amount of money to be made- Sharks will be present.

The next group, is the smallest group but the most influential.

The Super Dealer/Authority (*Not every Authority is like this!)


How do I describe this group without stepping on toes...

Oh wait, that's right these guys write books and blogs not read them...

For a start, just because a person writes a book does not make them infallible. Minions who echo theories may allow their philosophy to sustain for a bit but the truth is eventual.

It's interesting, "something" has elevated these people into the spotlight ($)
This "something" is neither ethics or hard facts.
Yet, their word is golden.
They have the ability to allow one to sink or swim in their waters.

(Look up the definition of "Sycophant") 

I mentioned in the last sentence concerning the group Collectors/Enthusiast that "The Collector/Enthusiast's ego has allowed him to believe he can mingle in the same waters as the Sharks."

The truth is, if one survives, he becomes a Dealer.

For myself, I'm a Collector/Enthusiast. I love vintage watches because they remind me of the persistence and beauty of the human spirit. They serve as motivator to share and connect but most importantly to do so in a timely manner.


Please note, I wrote this post because I wished someone would have explained this to me 5 years ago. While, I portray Dealers/Super Dealers poorly some are extremely honorable. This is my opinion and is not targeted AT ANY ONE in particular.



-JKS

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