Welcome to this Watch LIVE. Hi, I'm Lydia Winters.
And I'm Vu Bui and Anne Jaeman asks what part of the watch is
the first thing you fall in love with when you see or feel it.
Oh, OK. Oh boy.
A lot. This is a huge question.
Even though she's only asking what's the first thing?
Yeah, it's still like, OK, my first part of my answer.
OK. Of course, you're like, I have
many parts to this answer. OK, go ahead, go ahead.
Is that it Depends. Oh hmm.
Vu is answering with a question. Yeah.
Oh, but OK, OK. Realistically, like I think the
dial for me is like a really significant part these days and
like it, it depends. It's hard not to start with the
dial because it is the thing you read on a watch.
So that is true, right? And in photos of watches, which
is often where we first see a watch, we, we often first see
them on Instagram or on YouTube or, you know, somewhere online.
Usually, at least for you and I, our first time seeing a a watch
is not in person. Very true.
Like for whether it's a new model or just one we haven't
come across, we're probably going to see it online first.
So then because the way we take photos, the dial is a
significant portion of that watch.
It's a significant portion of that photo because usually
photos of watches are quite close up and the dial is a
significant, Yeah, I mean. Yeah, it would be weird if you
were like, Oh yeah, this cool watch the bracelet's nice dial
like dial's a little. Well OK, OK, maybe that is
extreme, but I could see with certain watches like your Royal
Oak that the bracelet literally draws the eye first.
Yeah, it's shining. Yeah.
But it's still. No, it does.
It does draw the eye, but it's still like the dial.
Also has to be equally as awesome in my opinion.
I guess awesome has different definitions.
Oh, no. OK, OK, OK.
I think a lot of this depends on also the design of the watch.
What is this watch about? Like if I think about my Rolex
GMT Master 2, which as I say, is usually what I consider my
favorite watch, whether or not that's true, hard to know, You
know, I can't like actually know what my brain wants, but I
usually think it's it's at least top three watches in the world
I'm talking. Like of watches.
Yeah, of watches, period. Pepsi, Rolex, GMT Master 2.
But to me, I don't care about the dial at all.
To me, it's just a nice shiny black dial with nice indices.
But I don't consider the dial special, I consider the bezel
very special. I was kind of putting the the
bezel in. I was just thinking about like
the watch head then. But that's fine.
Yeah, but that's not the dial. Yeah.
OK. Then if we're just talking about
dials, but sometimes the bezel is the thing, so.
When I OK, if I look at my watch collection right, or at least
part of my watch collection, a big part of what I'm interested
in is obviously dials. Like my Oris Momotaro has that
beautiful green with the few may like, you know, Grand Seiko
Taisetsu is a watch that feels like it's almost entirely about
the dial. It's not, but it can feel that
way sometimes. My new Nomos Tangente, well we
haven't gotten them yet, but the one that I've chosen, the high
fish grout, it's all about the dial.
In fact all 31, they were about the colours of the dial, like
the watch didn't change, only the colours of the dial.
So that dial is a huge part of the personality of that.
The new Mr. Jones ricochet that I bought that that's all about
the dial. My little pinball arcade.
Yeah, it's robots playing pinball.
I haven't even posted a photo of that.
One. No, not.
Yet I haven't even really worn it yet.
I think it's still got too many watches in right now, but Corona
Toki, even though that dial isn't super complex, although it
is actually quite a complex style.
It's also the color of it is so bold, that kind of salmony color
like so dials are a huge thing to me.
Whereas I do have many friends who collect watches and most of
their dials are just a more like simple black dial.
So obviously it's not like specifically the dial is what's
drawing them in, although design is a part of the dial as.
Well, yeah, exactly. I think that that's the thing.
Colour isn't the only thing that can draw you to.
A yeah, Because you have different.
I mean, we did a whole episode on like, indices, numerals.
Yeah, you know, yeah. And so you think about that too.
It's like all of those small details that are on the dial.
But I, yeah, I do think to me, the case shape is also part of
that initial feeling like with the dial.
So that's why I would say it's not like dial first.
It's more like for you. Yeah, for me, for me, for me,
it's not dial first. It's more like watch head first,
the whole like the the sum of that, because it would be the
bezel would be included. When I, when I look at a watch
with a bezel, I don't think about the bezel and the dial.
I think about it together, you know, like, I don't think like,
oh, the Pepsi is great, but if it had a white dial, I'd like it
more, you know? Those kinds of things.
No, I kind of like, take it I've.
But. I don't know.
Wait, but like, there's literally a version of the Pepsi
with a meteorite dial. Yeah, you know which is white,
grayish, right like and and so those options do exist where you
have a watch that the only thing to that changes is the color or
even the texture of the dial, like the Nevada Grinchen F-70
Sevens. Right.
I mean, I have 4 OP's, so yes, I do understand this concept very
well. I'm just changing the color.
So, yeah, but but what I mean is like I also had to have liked
like the overall watch in those cases to like the colour change,
if that, yeah. But I'm gonna go back to the
question. OK, OK, OK.
What part of the watch is the first thing you fall in love
with, right? So it's not even it's not the
biggest thing. It's not even the thing that
keeps you in love with the watch, right?
This is like, what's the first thing?
So I think that what you're saying is actually probably more
common like that I probably am not drawn first to the dial,
it's what maybe is lore long lasting for me, but that the
first thing might be like the. The sum of everything.
Yeah, the whole package. Yeah, the whole package.
I, I do think for me, that's what I think because sometimes
no going negative, but sometimes I love the whole package.
And then as I get into the details, I'm like, not that one.
What? No, Oh no, you know, So I do
think that actually like the details and, and that may or may
not sway me for or against it. But one thing I've noticed is
especially because we are looking at watches online all
the time and you and I talk about it a lot, is like when
you're looking at a macro photo of a watch.
So you're looking at maybe like really close up of the indices
or, you know, even just the watch, like the entire watch
dial and that's like taking up the whole frame.
That will never look like that on your wrist.
It's way too. Big unless you have zoom eyes,
which I want zoom. OK.
I'm just saying. That's your superpower Zoom, no.
It wouldn't be a superpower, it would be like an upgrade.
Oh, an upgrade to a. Like a technological upgrade.
Oh OK, zoom eyes. Yeah, just like lenses that
could zoom, you know, just like just an upgrade, OK, I guess.
Yeah. Anyway, Yeah, there's I'm
waiting. For glasses for that though.
Zoom glasses? I think those are just called
binoculars. Aren't they like just magnifying
glasses? I don't know well you.
Need I just made-up this thing? It's called a magnifying.
Glass. Glass.
It's glass and it magnifies things OK, and if you layer
multiple ones on top of each other, they become binoculars.
Anyway, one of the things I've noticed and we talk about a lot
is like you'll never see the watch in that form on your
wrist. So there is also this like you
do need to zoom out to the whole package because sometimes when
you look at images, they're all so close up that you get a
distorted view of what this watch even looks like.
Literally distorted depending on how far away the the camera is,
yeah. So I do think for me it's a lot
of the whole the whole package. Well, so for a long time, and
I'm not saying I'm I'm over this yet, but like vintage vibe in a
new watch was like an instant like, all right, I'm interested.
Oh yeah, for you, like, yes. Just just like, even just a
vibe. Boo Boo catnip.
It could be any watch of any brand and boo's like oh wait.
Oh. Did I see?
Did I? Feel a little bit vintage?
Vintage inspired. Did you write that photina?
Yeah. You're the opposite of other
people. You're like, give me the
photina. But like, I think about even
like the Black Bay 58, the black with with guilt.
I remember seeing that watch and just being like, Oh yeah, yeah,
just just the whole vibe of it. Mm hmm.
And for sure part of that was it being vintage inspired.
The Railmaster, the Seamaster Railmaster 1957 edition, Like
totally. It was just the package.
It was just, I looked at it and it was like, Oh yeah, vintage
vibe, really like that. But that's been changing for me.
Not that I don't like the vintage vibe anymore, but here's
the thing. I'm surprised I still like
watches, right? Because, like, I'm more of a
serial hobbyist. Yeah.
So I get into things and then I get out of them.
But many times the top hobby spots come back around.
Yes. So that's.
What I've learned about VOO, it's a, it's a cycle.
You're just like, ohh, let's just wait and then I'll jump
back into that. But.
OK, OK. But that's my my core hobbies.
My core hobbies. They're cyclical.
They come back. So photography is a core hobby,
and since I was a teenager, right.
Like, it's just like it comes back and a cycle could be a
year. It could be months, but it's not
gonna be 10 years. No.
Right. Like it comes back quite often
and quite intensely. Biking is also like that.
Biking comes back fairly often. Yeah.
But then there's a lot of hobbies that either are on a
long cycle, like guitar is on a long cycle.
I could go 10 years without playing.
Guitar. But then when you do you can
just. Get back back into it or like
I've had a lot of short term hobbies where I try it out and I
think this is me now, this is who I am.
Yeah, you're all in I. Am a fountain watch writing
person a fountain watch, fountain pen writing What's a
fountain watch? I don't know, but I don't.
Want it sounds kind of cool anyway, fountain pen and I was
like, OK, I'm now going to base my entire life around the fact
that I'm a fountain pen person. So during that time, this was
years ago, we were traveling constantly and I'm like, I had
to have a very specific set of things to make sure my fountain
pens wouldn't leak when I travel because being on the airplane
and the pressure and all of these things and it's like I'm a
fountain pen person. But then I realized I don't
really write. No, no, I write much more than
you. Oh.
Yeah, you're right. All the time.
You write notes, you write things like it can be calming
for you. It can be all these kinds of
things. I tried to write a page, you
know, back then and like, my hand cramped up like a page in a
journal. So I'm like, oh, I, I don't
think I like. This I guess I have to get I
mean I. Could have worked.
That 100 fountain pens. Yeah.
So, yeah. So watches though are definitely
a longer term thing for me. However, within watches then I
do expect that other things will be cyclical what I'm into.
That's true. And that has shown itself to be
true. That is true because you do a
sort of deep dive on maybe a genre of watches, like right now
you're very into like Japanese watches.
You. Know and and so then, but
sometimes you're very into German watches, watch making and
so you know, I can see that at different times.
Yeah, and the the danger, I think is to be like when I'm in
a down moment for a certain type of watch, to not just be like, I
don't want these anymore, I'm gonna sell them all off.
Yeah, that's although. I have sold two of my 3 Rolexes
and Rolexes in a down for me and so that's why I'm like I cannot
sell this. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
I'm like, don't do it. Don't, don't, don't do it.
OK. My answers are, I'm going to
say, fluffier. Oh, fluffier.
Fluffier than yours. They're more about the feeling.
So I think one of the first things sometimes is actually,
you're going to be like what? It's the story of who I want to
be when I wear the watch. Whoa, whoa whoa, why?
Why is that? This is who I am.
I. I agree with you completely.
I just. Talk about it, because I think
about like when you bought me the Cartier Tank.
I'm trying on a lot of watches at Neiman's UR, which you know,
there still are AD 10 years later.
It was 10 years ago that you bought me the Cartier Tank Solo
and Rose gold, and to me, even putting that on, it wasn't
really about the watch. It was about the feeling of
having the watch, of being the like, owning being.
The person who owns that watch? Yeah, exactly.
So I'm like thinking of like this person who will be more
stylish, more confident, like a real Princess Diana type, you
know, like so. I will say your style after
getting that watch has also like been on quite.
I mean, better's a hard word. I would agree better but better.
It definitely changed though and became more you like you defined
yourself more. So maybe, maybe that little
watch was a turning. Point, I think so a turning
point watch, we haven't talked about that.
I mean, that's for the old school listeners.
Turning point watch. OK then sometimes seeing it in
real life in person, I mean people are like in the middle.
I do actually agree occasionally that's that ends up being like
taking away the initial reaction of like, ah, it's fine to like
whoa, I love this. I think about seeing the
turquoise OP back when I didn't care about any of the colorful
OP's not. At all.
And the first time I saw what that color looked like in real
life, that's so then that's really the dial.
I was like, this is incredible. Like this colour blows my mind
and I just want to photograph it.
I want to wear it all the time. OK.
Then I have seeing it on other people.
I have quite a few examples of that.
Never cared about the Daytona, like just was like, it's it's
fine. Like it's an icon.
Not for me. That was kind of like, I didn't
even try it on. It was just like OK, I've seen
them, nothing pulls me in. Seeing it on Brit Pierce, no
ones going to be surprised. My my idol and best friend Muse,
yeah, my muse. Also seeing it on her wrist, I
was like, okay, now when I look at this, I see it differently
and then it's the whole package, but it's also the whole package
of it being on someone that I love and that I think it's so
cool and I'm like, OK, I want to be that.
Yes, by watch now You you. Know like that I feel fairly
confident that is what part of brand ambassadors are doing.
Yeah, yes, that is. You're like, hey, they look so
cool. In it, they look so cool in it
and it's like the thing you have to remember.
Like, let's say you see Daniel Craig wearing, yeah, an Omega,
and then you're like, he looks so cool in it, but you got to
remember he kind of looks cool in everything.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. I mean, he looks cool dancing
around out of an elevator. So.
I mean, whatever. Yeah, whatever he's doing,
you're like, oh, just cool. So that that's how I felt about
my ambassador, Britt Pierce. Yes, but it did.
It was also like seeing it on someone's wrist who's a more
similar size to mine, which I hadn't.
Seen in in. Person so it's you know that
too, and I also thought about so when nomals for watches and
wonders when they they released their 3110 gente 38 and I was
like, okay, I've I've seen that watch before.
It's a little it's big for me. So I'll just like, enjoy seeing
them, seeing the colors, but I'm like, I'm not gonna get one.
And then when we went to the booth, everyone who worked at
Nomos was wearing a different one.
So they all just got like randomly assigned the colors and
suddenly seeing them on a variety of wrists.
And how like when it's a little oversized on smaller wrists, it
actually I really liked the look.
And that made me feel like, oh, OK, I can wear that.
So all of a sudden it was like I had initially liked the colors,
but it's not for me. And then suddenly there's this
change. That's not really what this
question was originally. But we're we're don't just turn
this question into whatever. I'm saying you're taking a
loosey goosey approach to this. Answer in fact, OK and then
there's the last one, which is like feelings you can't describe
of like AI find it's. Like most feelings, I think.
Well, that's true. But I find this of just like a
magnetic pull towards a watch and you, you don't really know
why. And so I say this because no, so
I say that I'm going whole package.
I say this because I have recently put a deposit down on a
watch. Yeah, I've gone against what I
have said. You're saying?
This out loud? Yeah.
I know I've gone against what I have said, which is that I will
not buy watches if I haven't tried them on 1st.
Or even seen them in person. Yeah, in.
The metal yeah. So this is an all of the above
have not have not, but yet there's like this magnetic cool
that I was like. I have to just see if I could
get one because I really love it and I still haven't exactly have
like a clear picture of why. It's just the whole, there's
something about it that I can't stop thinking about this watch,
so I'm not telling what. It is, yeah.
Liking it? Yeah, I'm not telling what it is
yet, but I'm excited and I'll pick it up in September in
Paris. Those are the hints.
I think that's like 300 podcast episodes away or something.
Exactly. So hopefully not.
OK, So what draws you first to all watch?
We'd love to know I'm. Just saying.
We would love to know what you think, not what Foo think.
I already listened to that.