WHAT MAKES A WATCH COLLECTOR TICK?

What makes a watch collector

tick?

WE ASKED THREE SERIOUS COLLECTORS TO talk about their addiction to watches. Although their passions range from new to vintage and span various price points, they all had one thing in common. It's the thrill of the hunt that gets their hearts racing.

The Keeper Wearing the Watches

Kathleen Mcgivney KATHLEEN MCGIVNEYand her husband, photographer Atom Moore, had been casually collecting

Swatch watches when she heard there was a handful of watch owners in New York City who met regularly

to talk about their collections. That was nearly 10 years ago and since then RedBar Group has grown to

more than 3,000 members with 40 chapters worldwide. McGivney, 45, is now CEO, and her collection has

grown to “northward of 80” including “serious, mechanical watches” thanks to the knowledge and confi-

dence gained from other members.

“I only buy things that I love. Things to keep.” She is especially drawn to moonphases because of their beauty,

and to GMTs (watches with multiple time zones) “because I

travel a lot. I’m also attracted to blue and gray dials, and I pre-

fer white metals like steel and titanium.” The only yellow gold watch she owns is a Rolex GMT in a steel

and yellow gold combination.

The collection is stored at home in a purpose-built safe by Wolf. “I usually wear a watch 2 or 3

days in a row then go to the safe for something I haven’t worn in a while. I’ll wear a dressy watch only

if I’m going to a special occasion. If it’s raining I wouldn’t wear anything vintage.” And whenever

there’s a full moon, she wears one of her moonphases to look at the moon on the dial in its glory.

The Entrepreneur Turning Passion into a Profession

JAMES LAMDIN is only 35, so it’s a bit of a surprise to hear him say “I’ve been collect-

ing for about 20 years.” When he was a teenager he inherited the collection—and love

--of watches from his grandfather. “He collected things that came with a story,”

Lamdin says. Vintage watches have wonderful stories to tell, whether about ocean

dives, outer space orbits, or keeping time for Hollywood stars.

Over the years, Lamdin’s love, and his collection, grew to the point that he

felt he had to do something. So he turned his passion and pastime into a busi-

ness. In 2012 he launched Analog/Shift which he claims is the premier online re-

source for vintage watches.

Right now Lamdin is keen on collecting an “overlooked period, early American

watches, like Art Deco and watches from the 1950s with their asymmetric design.

They don’t get a lot of wrist time, though” being too small and precious. So for everyday practicality, Lamdin favors one of his Rolex GMTs.

Lamdin turns to various sources to find the watches to personally collect or professionally sell (and often those lines are blurred): “estate sales, deal-

ers, collectors, beating the streets.” He never knows where he’ll find something special, saying “once I bought a Rolex off a guy at a bar.” These days

“barn finds” are few and far between as watches have become so popular. Times may have changed, but the thrill of the chase remains.

James Lamdin

Melody Benloss

The Beginner Starting to Collect

MELODY BENLOSShas always had a thing about timepieces. Growing up in England, her family home had a pen-

dulum clock, and listening to its rhythmic tick-tock at night, “I felt safe.” But it wasn’t until 3 years ago that the now

50-year-old started learning about timepieces and only a year ago that she started collecting.

The turning point for the executive assistant came when a former work colleague convinced her to attend a Red-

Bar meeting. Next, “I discovered the Horological Society of New York;” she’s now the groups’ librarian and record-

ing secretary. “The watch community is so willing to share what they know. They expanded my knowledge of different brands and what goes into

making a watch. It inspired me to get my first mechanical watch.”

While she admires Patek Philippes and Omegas, they are out of her price range. Her first

purchase was a Nomos Glasshutte Ludwig, which she bought for around $1700. “I loved the

Roman numerals and the classic lines.” Next: an Oris Dive 65, about $2100. “It’s extremely prac-

tical, I can wash my hands and not worry about getting it wet.”

Her collection now numbers 5, but there’s soon to be a 6, a Bremond or a Grand Seiko.

Why? “I’ve met their sales people and manager at RedBar events and kept up a relation-

ship.” A timepiece, after all, does more than tell time: “there’s a story to it, a history, a

sentimentality.” It can even keep you safe.

Melody Benloss’s Nomos Glassutte Ludwuig