Uncovering the Next Nina & Newman

February 7th, 2014. There I was laying in bed late at night absolutely stunned by the charm of the perfectly proportioned 36mm case, sharp black bezel, a panda dial with unmatched patina affectionately nick-named “Nina.”

The watch world’s gaze could not take their eyes off the red dress that Hodinkee delivered with fashionable execution. 6 years on, and I am still deeply in love with the watch along with many other players in the game.

The article from Hodinkee that had such impact can be found here.

Ben Clymer is the Oracle of Time, literally.

Hodinkee, in my eyes, is one of the greatest gifts to ever be delivered to the world of horology. Their work, research, and impassioned publications are continually influencing the watch scene. Being a new collector back then, my opinions and knowledge of what was going on at the time in the world of horology came mostly from quality publications from their website.

The attention the article received shot the Universal Geneve Uni-compax into watch stardom overnight, and the prices along with it. I could remember the prices doubling twice in a span of a few months. 15KUSD for a beautiful example that was listed on a popular website a couple weeks after the article was published, and now approximately ~30KUSD for the watch which is the going price these days.

But Benjamin Clymer already knew this was going to happen.

Barehanded Hunter

For a long time, I had the unrealistic goal of finding an example of the Nina, I always knew that there were many collectors more dedicated to the hunt than I was. Many of them with more financial resources, and connections that I could ever dream of having.

That desire, like many of my fairy tale dreams eventually found itself six feet under, deep in the graveyard of my psyche. Being a student at that time, it was just completely unrealistic trying to acquire something that popular, that scarce, and that expensive. Even now, I probably won’t ever be able to afford one.

For what was lost, there was a lot more to be gained. The article instilled in me a sense of appreciation for the difficulty, and complexity of finding the next perfect piece.

Listening to the Noise, but Look for the Silence

With the rise of social media, the narrowed focus that is paid to some of the watches these days can give the illusion of value and scarcity. The narrative that I want to have with the watchfam is the acceptance that economic rationality can oftentimes means walking away from something that is beautiful.

There are still plenty of quality watches, with just as much history, with just as much charm and utility still left “undiscovered.” Being a watch collector for a little over 8 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to understand that my taste should be predicated by my own physicality, and more importantly my financial predispositions. It is a truly humbling experience trying to fit a 44mm watch on a slim wrist, but it had to happen. You won’t ever be able to keep up with the watch trends by buying watches that are heavily advertised, focused on, or talked about. You need to be able to develop a sense of pride with the timepieces that you know are hidden gems, try to seek out the watches that pique your interest yet remain affordable and rational purchases.

Inevitably, you will find a lot of “value proposition” opinion pieces online, but make sure you’re consuming content with a critical eye.

Attraction is attraction

If you’re bent on buying a popular vintage timepiece or any watch for that matter, I am not here to dissuade you from your goals. In fact, I suggest you start your hunt now, have patience, and be consistent with that search. There will will be that specific reference out there waiting for you at the right price point. That journey might take a long time, or you might find yourself at the right place at the right time early on. It might mean you go through several family members to interpret and translate 3 different languages just like the gentlemen who found the UG compax in Japan. At the end of the journey you might walk away, or succumb to emotional impulsivity and a prolonged diet of instant Ramen and Kraft dinner. Remember, it’s about the journey.