WWho do you blame (for getting you into watches)?

[JonaG]

I ‘blame’ Apple, after receiving my Apple Watch in April 2015 I wore it pretty much consistently for 3 years. Before that, I wore a couple of Seiko’s and Casio’s. It dawned on me that the Apple Watch wasn’t a watch at all, it was difficult to read the time at a glance heading for a train on the Tokyo commute. I’d often get a congrats notification that I’d hit this or that for the week ( I know prob could be turned off but i never did). The gyro was not sensitive enough to handle a slight turn of the wrist to check time while holding onto a train strap (I’m a leftie but wear on the left wrist). In the end, I wanted a time only watch which led me to vintage Longines, a modern Oris and a 114270 Explorer. I do believe that if I had not had the Apple Watch I would still be happily wearing a Seiko. No regrets here, I am loving learning more about mechanical watches and I feel this will bring many a young person to Swiss mechanical watches in the future (am not young, 40+).

As for the Apple Watch, it’s great piece of tech in many respects, but it ain’t a watch as I know it Jim. I love it for cycling and still use it as my primary alarm clock.

What was the catalyst to get you into watches?

[SDRider]

My mother-in-law. When she passed away a few years ago my wife inherited one of her Rolex watches. It was an old watch and my wife doesn't like women's watches in general so she never wore it. I however took a good look at it and began to question its authenticity so I started doing research on Rolex watches to see if I could determine if it was authentic. I visited an authorized Rolex dealer and talked to them, looked at some of the watches and that pretty much hooked me.

I ended up buying myself a nice TAG-Heuer automatic that I wore for a couple years but then decided I wanted a Rolex so I bought the 116613LB I have now.

A few months later we purchased a TT 31mm DJ for my wife that she absolutely loves. She wears it enough that she doesn't need to wind it.

I've always had a thing for mechanical clocks so I guess it is only natural that I would get the bug for automatic watches.

My MIL's watch was a 26mm watch that we ended up giving to my mom. I'm still not sure if it is authentic or just really really old. I told her if she ever needs to have it serviced I'd pay for it.

[dddrees]

I don’t blame anyone for the choices I make. Besides it wasn’t due to anyone else’s influence it was strictly my own interest in this case.

I had always thought getting a Rolex was something special. Thought it was ever since the seventies when I got my first one in 2010. Since then I found out there were others I had no previous knowledge of and got my first Patek in 2012.

[SDRider]

Originally Posted by dddrees

I don’t blame anyone for the choices I make. Besides it wasn’t due to anyone else’s influence it was strictly my own interest in this case.

Blame was probably a poor choice of words. Credit probably would have been a better word to use. Anyway, the OP indicated that he is from Japan so English probably isn't his first language.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by SDRider

Blame was probably a poor choice of words. Credit probably would have been a better word to use. Anyway, the OP indicated that he is from Japan so English probably isn't his first language.

Understand, and this is why I added the next paragraph later.

[CRM114]

Mickey Mouse

[droptopman]

Dad got me into watches. He wore Omega. He gave me a Zodiac diver when I was like 14. A good friend of his wore a 16803LB the predecessor to the 16613. Fell in love with that watch and Rolex. Also avid Ian Fleming/Bond fan as a teen so the Rolex mystique was with me at an early age. Worked my *** off in my late teens, had a Rolex savings jar, and purchased a Sub for my 21st birthday. Been hooked ever since.

[mjclark32]

Not sure I can pin point it who or when, but a big memory of watches I have growing up was a neighbor. He worked for Pulsar and would give me a watch every so often.
They were like this:
https://www.ebay.com/p/Pulsar-PT3147...d=223083911576
Pulsar Spoons...

[Dan Pierce]

I was given a vintage Patek after the death of a great uncle. All downhill from there.
dP

[superdog]

My dad.

[shaunylw]

A good friend of mine growing up. I was 12-13 and he was in his mid 20's. We played at the same golf course and i would stare at his submariner. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. We are still very close and i beg him to let me buy it at least once a year. He has a son so that watch will be passed down. I would love to have it as its the exact watch that got me into this hobby almost 20 years ago.

[singe89]

A family friend was in the navy and came home from japan with a TT sub. I was probably 6 or 7 years old but I was amazed by how cool it looked with the TT links and blue dial. He bought me TT quartz watch and I wore the plating off the watch loved it so much.

Worked side jobs and bought a Tag in high school and did the same to buy my first rolex in college. Went through IWCs, Panerais, Omegas, Breitlings, and Rolexes. It wasn't until I started my first real job out of college that I saw one of the Sr. Partners wearing the coolest looking watch I had ever seen. AP Royal Oak Offshore Montoya. Opened my eyes to Haute Horology. Started researching AP, Patek, Vacheron, etc. and how the watch industry became what it is today. From that moment on I was hooked on independent sport watches with long rich history.

[beshannon]

Me

I make my own choices

[Beo3]

My old partner Jimmy M*k*n. (just in case he see's this post, he'll get a good laugh)
Started with him cruising the forums and the diamond district looking at watches. He put the fire under my *** and now I cannot stop! It's kind of like crack (I suppose, as I've never, nor will I ever try it!)

Curse's to you Jamaican!!!!!!!

[Art 1]

Actually, Lloyd Bridges.

[tyler1980]

I blame my mortality for getting me into watches.

When my wife was pregnant with our first son i wanted to have something that he could have someday. I dont have anything tangible from my grandfather who has passed or my father (he is still alive), but he doesnt wear watches or anything like that so i wont have any personal item of his. That has always bothered me.

...in short, death got me into watches.

[Chewbacca]

My dad, grandfather and uncles.

[GradyPhilpott]

Cheap quartz.

[rajurama]

My boss and mentor = father. He was a watch nut and rubbed it well off me.

[Rockrolex]

A potential client. He gifted me with a YG Folex DD. I checked it out and wore it twice but couldn't bring myself to wear it again. I started checking other real Rolexes and just started buying them. That was nearly 20 years ago.

[RedwinGV]

Interesting question.
For me, it was me. As long as I remember I liked them (even as a child). Maybe it was the engineer in me? I admit thought, that my interest in mechanical watches really took off when I was older, and yes, had a bit more net worth. AND, I really think the internet pushed me over. It just got really easy to get info.. easier than a library or finding some magazines.
Strange eh? Well you asked.

[gettocard]

A bad marriage. I needed to constantly reward myself for all the frustration and s.hit I was going through.