Welcome to this watch LIFE.

Hi, I'm Lydia Winters.

And I'm Boo Boo and it is episode 206 of this watch life.

Episode 206 It is a wild Saturday night here for us.

This is how we party on.

Yeah, we, we party hard with two microphones actually.

I mean, we did.

We were out walking, bird watching because we're also.

Party party Saturday night.

With birds.

And then the neighbors were having a little dinner party with a bunch of people, you know, like neighborhood friends we know.

So they said, oh, come up.

And we were like, OK, just for a second because we have to go home and podcast.

And they were like, what is your life?

We're like, yes.

This That's how you spend Saturday.

It's this.

Watch Life.

That is the watch life that we live.

But we are we're recording on Saturday night because I'm headed to Berlin tomorrow morning and I'll be there for the week working with Nomos.

And yeah, it's fun to be recording again.

And it was fun to have an episode.

A lot of people wrote to us.

Trish even responded with an Instagram photo of all the tutors that exist that she owns, which I thought was really great.

If you're not following her, watch Girl Life.

It's it's amazing just if all the tutors, but she also has a bunch of other really cool watches.

I even had a sneak peek at something incoming.

But you know, I don't tell you know what they say about snitches.

Yes, something about stitches, but we also OK, we overall had what I would consider a wild day.

We did.

It's been a wild Saturday.

Life OK.

Oh, another life.

Now I was trying to be punny.

And this wildlife.

No, literally wildlife.

OK, It was OK.

We we live out on a dirt road and we're surrounded by forest.

And so we do see quite a bit of wildlife on a regular basis.

Depends on.

Well, yeah.

No, it's wild.

There's no don't need to define it.

It's wildlife like life that's wild living out in the forest and we love it.

But I remember recently you were telling the story of how because not everyone we know understands this life that we live out in the forest with the deer and the foxes and the sometimes moose and the birds and all of this stuff.

And you were talking about, remember when we went, we, we drove OK, in Sweden, there's this road, this huge loop.

It's like 100 something kilometer Loop Rd.

and they call it Wild Wildlife Rd.

Field Volkswagen.

So we were like, OK, that's where you see wildlife.

Wildlife, yeah.

If we want to see wildlife, where better to go than Wildlife Rd.

And a few years ago, we drove up.

It's quite a long drive and you're up in the mountains.

And we were like, OK, the whole way is just going to be littered with wildlife like.

Everywhere you look, just nonstop wildlife.

And we really saw like so few things.

I think we did see Moose but they were like 2 hours from home.

Yeah, we saw moose near home.

We did not see it on Wildlife Rd.

So we actually now live on Build Marks Wildlife.

Road we would consider Wildlife Rd.

So this morning I got up, had to go to the store and saw a moose along the way.

Was kind of a young moose, maybe born last year.

Got out of the car, just took a couple cell phone videos of it for you.

Yeah, but it looked at me.

It was crossing the road, right?

It was crossing the road and then I pulled off and, and and kind of checked it out over in the forest, across the road into the forest.

So then you know the answer to why did the moose cross the road?

Oh, why?

Why was that?

To get photographed by Voodoo.

Yeah, I think so.

That's the that's the answer.

But it OK.

As someone who likes to be prepared for things, I was very annoyed because like recently I've gotten a little bit back into wildlife photography.

I've never taken wildlife photography very seriously, but I have a nice lens that I bought for it.

It's big and it's heavy and I rarely have it with me unless I really want to take a photo of something.

Recently I've been back into it.

And I just want to buy back into it again, you know?

Boo means watching YouTube videos about yeah, thinking about it, planning new gear, new gear to buy.

Planning the new gear to buy, but anyway.

That's you're back into it.

I just, you know, the audience may not know this about you.

Yesterday I had watched a video where a guy had was driving, he's a Swedish YouTube wildlife photographer and he was driving in the evening and he came across a lynx, which is incredibly rare.

That is not what we saw today it.

Was.

Seriously.

And he didn't have his main wildlife camera with him, even though he is a wildlife photographer.

That's what he does.

And he just had a backup camera.

He was still able to get some good photos.

But I told Lydia yesterday after I watched that video, that's it.

I am not getting in the car without my like proper long lens.

So if I do come across something, then I can photograph it.

And this morning, first thing, leave the house, don't bring it.

And I have a couple of not so great cell phone videos of that moose.

What?

OK hold on I have AI do have a link story and it's so when we first moved to our Rd.

Out in the forest then we were on the phone, I was talking to my sister Mindy, and Vu was driving and it was night and we were chatting with her and all of a sudden we're like, stop, there's a lynx.

And we saw maybe.

We have to call you back.

We saw the shadow of a a big cat, but it was just the headlights were making like a regular kind of fat cat.

Local local tubby cat but it looked like a lynx for for a few seconds.

For a few seconds, we.

Were really looking at lynx yeah no, no such luck.

But anyway, so this morning didn't have the camera.

That's it.

That that was my lesson.

Missed that moose, but somehow, and this very I, I don't think it's ever happened before.

No, we ran across a second moose today.

In a totally different area and much.

Closer to home.

Vu was like, we're, we're driving on a road.

I mean to turn on our Rd.

it's very close by.

And he's like, I think I just saw a moose.

And I was like, but I mean, we just I.

Was confident I saw it, but if I said I saw a moose and then you didn't get to see it, that would be mean.

So I said, I think I saw a moose.

When we backed up, it was the most.

It's like the biggest.

Moose we've ever seen, and I.

Was like, yeah, you think you're so it's like.

Huge moose.

Well, anyway, lesson was learned.

I got out, I photographed it very happy.

Yeah, and it was a big bull moose and it actually had the horns.

Large antlers.

Or moose antlers, I guess.

Yeah, but they were like furry.

So that's not yet not furry.

I don't know if that's what.

Happens.

I think I need to learn more about it turns out, but.

I don't even know the difference between moose and elk.

The the entire look of them.

I, I mean, is there a difference?

Yeah.

I'm a bad wildlife.

I mostly look at birds.

Elks are a different animal.

OK, OK.

Moose are like Rocky and Bullwinkle, right?

Yeah, one of those.

Muslim squirrels.

Yeah, OK.

Which one was which?

Rocky was the squirrel.

OK.

And Bullwinkle.

Rocky Raccoon.

Wait, no, that's The Beatles.

Oh no.

We're like having some sort of like pop culture meltdown power down.

We're just, we're just shouting like.

Oh yeah, anyway, I am happy to be more prepared.

Done.

OK, we'll post a photo of the moose.

It was really a very beautiful moose.

Yeah, really, really nice.

I mean, the photos aren't great 'cause it's middle of the day, but still.

But they're still really nice.

And we, yeah, I mean, we've seen moose way more since we moved here than the rest of our time in Sweden.

And it's just, it's super fun.

Moose are wildly large.

Like you think they're like the size of a horse, but then when you see them you realize they are so much larger than a horse.

They are, and they just look Mal proportioned like it doesn't.

Yeah.

The legs are too long their.

Heads a little too small.

They just look a little funky.

OK, we'll post a picture.

People can look at it, check it out.

And if you want to see moose, I guess come to Sweden, but don't go to Wildlife Rd.

It's a scam.

It's a scam by the Swedish tourism department.

Although it's not even true because all this weeds that we know and we told them we go there, they're like, I don't think that's wildlife.

No, but they also no.

They've never I've.

Never even heard of it.

It is a scam.

It's a scam.

All right.

Today we're going to talk about, well, I guess we're talking about my collection completely changing over the past 2.

Years.

Yeah, I'm really has we, we kind of started saying a bit about it in the last episode.

I surprised some people.

I got some messages because yes, people didn't know that I've sold off all my Rolexes.

Yeah, that's true.

You just kind of like.

I said pretty casually.

Some big news and then just kept going with no more.

Information, you know, I forgot that I haven't said it.

That's you know.

That's you know what, very likely.

What are you going to do?

What are you going to do?

But yes, I have sold off all of my Rolexes, although I was wrong about one thing last week because I said my only Swiss watches are my tutors, but I have one of another Swiss watch.

It's the watch I've owned the longest from 2012.

You gave me A tag Hoyer, and I still have that watch.

Yes.

Yeah, that one's sentimental.

I I never wear it, sadly.

Maybe once or twice a year.

Yeah, you you pull it out every.

Once in a while, but, but that's almost never.

Yeah, it's quite rare.

It's more like when you're like, oh, I love you so much, you're so cute, and then you wear it and then you're like.

Yeah.

Is that what I do?

Next time I do that, please get video of it.

We'll we'll post it on the channels, whatever I can see.

But OK, you said we should talk about why.

Yes, because this was a really big decision that you thought for a long time about.

I mean, you had.

Technically, I worked on it for years.

Yes, because I mean, you've had different Rolexes, so you've had the Rolex Explorer 2 twice.

Yeah, I just started in 2014, but the at the time brand new the previous reference.

And then you had the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Green.

Yeah, the 41, yeah.

And then you had a Rolex.

I.

Was like Blro I know.

So for once I like to call it Pepsi.

I know.

But for once I could only think of letters and I was like, what?

Yeah, and I let the first Explorer 2GO a while ago.

I think people know that story.

And then I bought it back and then I let it go again last year and then I let the OP 41 go.

And the OP 41 I had always struggled with just size wise on my wrist.

So always just felt a little dinner plady, like it was a little too long across the wrist.

But the watch, the watch I thought I would never get rid of was the GMT Master 2.

But yesterday when you talked about us doing this episode, what kind of popped in my mind was like these a year's worth of conversation of how my collection has changed because my thoughts on collecting had changed so much.

And then I took it too far.

That was like the.

Thesis Sit back and relax.

This is a Boo Boo E.

Well, OK, so if I look at where I was around two years ago, what what I realized, and I think I've talked about this on the podcast before, is that I was a real it.

It was as if I couldn't look beyond each watch being a a gada watch, a go anywhere do anything watch.

And it just felt like every watch I bought, I wanted it to be incredibly versatile in my life.

Like I still like to categorize like, oh, mainly this watch is this thing and this watch is this thing.

This one will go on travel.

This one I'll workout with this one.

You know whatever.

I had all these categories for them, but they needed to fit every part of my life, so they needed OK, great water resistance.

Like basically OK if I define.

If anyone has literally listened to this podcast 1 episode they Know you and water.

Resistant.

No, no, no.

Hold on.

So if I look back to then what I considered maybe it's still kind of holds now, but what what I considered a gotta watch right was it had to have reasonable water.

Resistance.

Go anywhere, do anything.

Reasonable water resistance.

Probably a black dial, or at least a neutral dial.

So white could technically work, but probably black or Gray on a bracelet.

For some reason that was in my head and it needed quick adjust.

Yeah, OK.

We also know.

That if without quick adjust I can't.

Wear a bracelet all.

All the time because it just doesn't fit.

So I had this, I think you know, when I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of two year younger man.

Former Boo Boo.

Yeah, yeah.

I had this romantic idea of like, at any given moment I could find myself in a situation where I need to just be off in the world for two years, four years, traveling the world like a nomad, I guess.

Hopefully, like a sometimes luxury nomad, yeah.

I was going to say, I was like, I don't think that's the vibe you give off, but OK, no.

No, no, but I wanted to be ready for that.

It's like all of those watches needed to be OK with being in any situation and fitting into all of these different things that I might do on my travels.

Like that was one of the criteria that I thought about with most watches that I bought back then.

And I have a few that deviated from that.

But most of them needed to fit this idea that, hey, you never know when you got to drop it all and go traveling.

I don't know.

If I was, would I?

Would I be running?

I don't.

Yeah, I feel.

Am I?

Stranger, am I running from the law?

I don't know, I.

Don't think so.

It was more like.

Pick out which watch.

I'm just that spontaneous.

You never know what I might just go on a 2 year round the world voyage.

OK.

It is like, you know, the idea that it a watch.

Could that it could, yeah.

Do that.

But also my idea of what that watch needs to be is very different now than it was back then.

Because the other thing was so I, I really had focused this collection of a bunch of watches that felt like each one could be A1 watch collection.

That's very.

True to now, you know, I have moved much more towards watches that are each very interesting or a little bit more unique, a little more niche a.

Lot more.

I would, I would say a lot.

That's the thing that I have the biggest reaction to in like how your collection has changed is you really went like the opposite of this.

Go anywhere, do anything like, you know, versatile but more subdued.

And then you were like, oh, not that.

And you went for like the most.

Not just not that, but none.

That none none.

I want it to be complete.

Every watch needs to just be its own thing, doing its own thing, look in its own way.

So either lots of color, yeah, or interesting functionality or interesting design language like.

Different metals you've.

Yeah, different materials, different straps.

Like with the with the FX DS, you can't even put those on a bracelet, right.

Like in many of the watches I own, there is no bracelet that really fits them.

So went way away from that original version of what my collecting was when I didn't know what I really wanted to own.

And I think every time I went to buy a watch, it was like I was trying to buy the same watch and I was just buying different versions of the same watch.

And I, I, I do think a lot of people start collecting in that way, but two years ago was not the start of my collecting.

I've been collecting for over a decade.

It's so I, I think I hung on too long to this idea that watches at that every watch I owned needed to be super versatile.

And that just didn't make sense anymore to me.

Then I went opposite.

Every watch should be its own unique snowflake.

Yes, everything is like each one should not even relate to others.

That's not entirely true.

I don't think I got there.

There's some themes, but definitely.

They but they each one should feel more niche in its presentation.

Mission accomplished.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And I do feel mission accomplished.

So then earlier this year you were like, so now your collection is different, like how are you feeling?

And I was like, well, now I think I don't have a GADA watch.

Yeah, you did kind of have a little a little panic there.

You're like, what if I get stuck on an island?

I think I went too far and the only watch in my collection earlier this year that I felt even fit my maybe newer, more modern definition of GADA, which doesn't require a bracelet, but still needs to be very versatile and doesn't include like color or anything that draws too much attention to itself in my mind, right?

Because what we all think draws attention is probably very different.

But so even the closest thing I had is my BB58, my tutor BB 58, but it's got it's blue, it's got the Neiman's logo on it, right?

It's this limited edition thing.

It just didn't feel gotta to me because of those things.

So that is what led me down the path that eventually led me to buying my Hovering to Irwin pilot.

Yeah, because I mean it's such a beautiful.

I mean that is a really good like the pilot's or field pilot's or field watch would be more.

It it's more of a.

Pilot's style that is always like a great go anywhere, do anything, watch.

Yeah, I I pilot's watches and field watches have a lot in common, and I the way I view that watch is more like a field watch.

Because that's that's how.

I see it.

On you.

But I was like, I think more of the heritage is pilots.

Yes, yes, that design language and it's in the name.

It's the hovering to Irwin pilot.

Yeah, OK.

So they need it to be a pilot's watch, but not much difference.

From a field watch but.

Like that watch has a black dial, it has off white and white numerals, indices, hands right like that somewhere off white, somewhere white, and it's a brushed case.

It's quite low key overall, but then it has that cool secret, that little functionality of a deadbeat seconds, which makes it feel special and interesting, but very quietly.

So then depending on what strap you put it on, it can be super low key.

And then as we saw on my Portugal trip, it can also be water resistant and I can go swimming with it.

I can put other straps on it that make it feel kind of dressy and other straps that just make it feel really fun when I put it on the orange straps and just like can do anything and that's.

Your newer type of collecting it does because of the deadbeat seconds.

Yeah, because of the small independent watchmaker.

It's non Swiss.

Yeah, I mean, there's it really.

It's a it's still fits.

It's a gotta, but it fits the nouveau.

Yeah, it's the.

New.

Gotta so I looked at my collection and I was thinking I might do a state of the.

I've never done one of these state of the collections, not as a podcast or maybe as a video podcast.

So wonderful listener.

If you are interested in a video podcast or I guess I could just say video, a video of me going through my current collection and just like going through the pieces, why I got them, how they fit in the collection.

What are my thoughts around it?

It sounds like a long video, but I'll I'll keep it kind of kind of tight.

If you're interested in that, let us know and we'll post it to our YouTube channel, which we do have.

We have a YouTube channel, Yes, it's called Lydia and Vu I.

Think yeah, it is.

Called Yeah, and it says on it that our next video is coming in September 2023.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

OK, no, OK.

It only has three videos on it, so obviously we started something but then realized this is probably not going to work out.

But the first video we put up has 50,000 views.

I mean, yeah, people did enjoy the videos.

They.

Liked it because I like accidentally hit VU in the face with something at the start.

I think that really it drew in the crowd.

You know, physical comedy.

Yeah, what can you do?

People like to.

Do that.

But anyway, if you want to see that, I will make that video.

If enough people say yes, they want to see that, then I will absolutely make that video.

I would like to see that video.

OK, so we'll start with one.

Maybe 1 isn't 1, maybe 1 is enough.

OK, but my current collection, right?

I, I thought, you know, if you go back a a few years, it was 80% or maybe more Swiss, right?

Because I think anyone who starts collecting like outside of maybe Seiko or there's a few other brands like Swiss is just so there.

It's just so present and it's when you look Swiss watch.

Collecting people.

Think of Swiss watches first.

There's more Swiss watch brands than others, I believe, or at least ones that I know of anyway.

Now where I'm at, I have the same number of Swiss watches as Japanese watches.

Yeah.

So 6 from Japan, 6 from Switzerland.

I have 4 from Germany, one from the UK and one from Austria.

But you're getting a second one from the UK because didn't you get a Speakeasy I.

Will I will have two from the UK then it bumps up to a multi number country OK.

All your Swiss watches are tutor.

We talked about that last episode.

Yes, that's interesting.

Except for the tag Hoyer that you got me.

But but anything recent recently from?

My collecting, yes.

Recently tutor boy.

OK, yes.

And then you like the Japanese watch collecting.

You had a few Japanese watches, but now you have you have collected a lot in this year.

Yes, I mean I had 0 Otsuka low techs and now I have 3 so that is a big part of it.

Right this morning Wu was like, Oh my 3 Otsuka low techs and I was like what?

I thought you had two.

And I was like, yeah, this one and this one.

And he's like, no, there's three.

And I was like, I can't even in my mind conjure an image of this watch.

That's when you know your watch collecting has gone too far from both of you.

You're just like, what watch is that?

Yeah.

The the other thing is how you store your watches, right?

Because I mean, we've talked about this there is because we don't keep our watches all at home all the time.

And because you know, you don't usually want to have all your watches in one place.

That means you have multiple places and containers that your watches are in.

And we have different size watch rolls and cases and like different watch.

So I I don't know when the last time is years that I saw all my watches at once.

Yeah, the state of the collection, you'll be like what?

Yeah, yeah, I'll have to actually go get them all, bring them all together.

No, but don't worry because VU always has an extensive list that's always updated.

Oh yeah, that's how I know the watches I have.

Yeah, I have the list.

Like of course I have the list.

I I even keep Lydia's list updated.

If I did not keep this list, I guarantee you I could give her a month and she couldn't list perfectly the watches she owns.

That sounds terrible, but it's probably true.

I'm not saying it's wrong.

Because you your collection also encompasses watches you don't really wear so much.

Yeah, that I'm planning to sell.

Or watches that I gave you that like you're keeping, but they're they don't really fit your style anymore.

Wait, we're not talking about my collection, we're talking about your.

Collection, yeah, but so why would I get rid of my Rolexes?

That's what multiple people have asked and so I thought I'd go through.

When I told Mindy, she said.

And I was like, OK, we are a high drama family, so obviously that's the way we like to do it.

But it was like a lot of shock, like I thought you would keep this watch forever.

And I, I actually was surprised.

But then I like, did understand.

So tell us more.

Well, OK, in some ways I feel like the easiest way to answer it is something that perhaps sounds like the kind of thing that you just say but doesn't mean anything.

Because the first thing I thought of when you're like, hey, maybe you could talk about why he sold that Pepsi, right?

Was is it enough to have owned it and loved it?

Like is that enough for a watch like that?

If you love it and let it go and it comes back.

No, no, no, that's a that's a separate that's a separate cheesy saying no, no, we're not going there.

I like I loved that watch.

I felt that that watch was so my personality for the longest time, and I felt that it was so very much like what I wanted to be.

And it's beloved.

It is beloved.

You know, it's people's dream watch, which always comes with its own baggage, good and bad.

You know, because you're like, how?

How can I, you know, you feel like once you have it, then yeah, yeah.

No.

And, and I got it in 2021, which was a tough year to get watches.

I had waited for a while for it.

It was a watch that I, right when I got it, I was almost a little afraid to wear it.

But then I really started to wear it and wore it just like a regular watch.

And I, I felt I had gotten over that.

But then over time it kind of became special again in a way.

And then I just stopped wearing it, partly because it became less special to me.

And I, I feel like a lot of people go through this, especially with Rolex, because of what Rolex is.

And in some sense, my view of Rolex watches, especially watches like the GMT Master 2, BLRO, Pepsi, it's like too perfect in a sense where?

OK, it's not you, it's me.

Oh, I I thought you were saying it's too perfect.

So it's definitely.

Not no, no, no, no.

I was saying also true.

Yeah.

But I was saying no.

You're when you were breaking up with it.

You're like, it's not you.

You're perfect.

Yeah.

No, but, but I, I truly feel that like there is not one thing I didn't like about that watch.

OK, if you take away like the public perception of Rolex and, and hard to get models and that kind of stuff.

Like, OK, so yes, there's that side and, and, and OK, that is annoying, but I don't feel that that affected me that much.

I didn't really think about that side of it nearly as much.

But the watch itself, I there's nothing I would change about it, you know, like it was perfect.

But so here's the thing, when I think about Rolex and how Rolex makes watches, they make some of the most durable, dependable watches out there.

And people argue over movements and Omega and you know, there's all kinds of arguments, whatever, that's fine.

But Rolex watches are certainly well made and are certainly like one of their big goals is to make the most durable, dependable watches that they possibly can, right?

And so.

They're the Crown for a reason.

They're the crown for.

You know, it really is excellent.

And so in doing that and in being such a behemoth that's making so many watches, that when you ask the average person maybe to draw a wristwatch, if they have the talent to draw, they'll probably Draw Something that looks a lot like one of the Rolex models, either a date chest or a Submariner.

You know, it depends on who the person is.

So in that scenario, are you like, oh, excuse me, do you know how to draw?

Like do you ask that before you ask them if they know what a Rolex looks like?

Draw me a watch, we'll see what it looks like and if if it's me.

Could you let me know if you're a good artist?

Yes.

If you asked me to do it, I would draw it like.

It would look basically like the clock in classroom.

OK, OK.

With, with.

But I like that that's that's how you start this.

Yeah.

You're like, hey, do you have any talent to draw?

OK, you do.

Go ahead.

Draw a watch, it's gonna look like a Rolex, probably, right?

So because of all of that and how well Rolex has done to me, Rolexes are in that middle lane of desirable to most people.

And I don't mean that everyone wants a Rolex because lots of people are super against getting Rolex and all of that kind of stuff.

I mean that from a design perspective, they are usually inoffensive and attractive, right?

So it's like they're not beautiful, but in a way where they're very divisive, right?

They're beautiful in a way, but they're also not very divisive because they're not very offensive to designs.

And the wild designs are things like the mill gauss or the yacht master too.

Or, you know, they're.

The celebration.

The celebration, but that's more of a dial.

Right, like not.

Necessarily the watch design.

So those watches are so universal, so well made, and so incrementally adjusted over decades that they end up being a little too perfect in my mind.

So they lose some of what makes a watch that I want to own long term special.

And so I got to own the Pepsi and I got to enjoy it.

I know now what it's like to to wear and to own a watch that I, you know, other people won't agree, but I think is perfect.

But then over time, that perfection, boring is not the right word.

But it just wasn't exciting.

That's what it is it it was never boring because I think the Pepsi is a beautiful watch and I enjoyed it every time I wore it.

But I didn't just like get excited about it and I didn't love it as much.

And I felt like, do I need to own it or is it enough to have owned it?

Yeah, it's really surprising to me because I mean, we've been together, I don't know, 13 years, 14 years, however many years.

We'll be 14 in.

November 14 years coming up and you're still with me and I'm perfect.

You know, I was wondering where this was going, and now I see where it was going.

Uh huh, Uh huh.

OK, well.

Maybe I can only have one long.

Term, long term, OK.

That I would change.

Nothing about I had is absolutely perfect in every.

Every way, OK, every way.

There's no room for two.

No, sorry Pepsi, get out of here.

And that's not to say that my other watches don't feel perfect or that I'd want to change things about them, but I will say they are much less universally loved, right?

They they're just in general, most of the watches that I own are quite a bit more divisive.

They're not coveted by everyone and they're not as ubiquitous and they're not well known and they're not, you know, it's, it's if even though Tutor, I mean, tutor's still a big brand and owning ABB 58, it's like, yeah, if you own a Tutor, there's a high chance that you own a Black Bay.

And then out of the Black Bays, there's a high chance you own ABB 58.

But it is this limited edition Neiman's one.

So it feels like a little weird in its own way, right 'cause it has AD logo right on the front and people hate that and people love it whatever I post.

It.

Yeah, yeah, there are people who want to buy it and they don't even know what Neiman's is.

They're just like, oh, that's a unique tutor.

Yeah, give me that.

I can I buy it from you?

And then there are other people who are like, why would you ever want some logo other than tutor on your tutor?

And it's fun.

There's there's watches that inspire a conversation outside of the unfortunately often conversation you get out of wearing a Rolex is about value is about do you really feel comfortable wearing that?

Which I was going to ask you about.

Oh, about my comfort wearing it.

Yeah, like did that play into it?

Because I feel that way with wearing my black Daytona.

Yeah, I I've all but stopped wearing it because at like I would never wear it really in the summer even though it's pretty safe and we don't go out, I mean.

Do you think the birds are going to steal your Daytona?

Oh, the moose.

But.

The bird.

The birds?

Oh no.

Hey, have you seen Alfred Hitchcock The.

Yeah, it would be really hard to claim that with insurance, a bird.

A bird just came and took it right off my wrist.

OK.

But but anyway, I mean, yeah, that that I feel that.

So I was curious if that played into your decision.

Played into my like how little I wore it.

In the past.

Year of ownership, like the final year of me owning it, I wore it very few times.

I stopped tracking my wearing last year and now I kind of regret that.

Yeah, it really bums everyone out not to know people.

Like, how many days have you been wearing this watch?

Boo.

What's your top three?

Well, I stopped tracking because I say.

That in a in a joking way, but actually it it was kind of fun.

Like I did kind of like it, but it it always you change habits told.

Me on January.

I know what you change habits based on the data and then that's where it gets bad.

But but is that so?

Why do you track your health data?

So you can change your habits based on the data, right?

You're like, oh, now that I have a month of data I realize I am a couch potato and there was no other way for me to know that until my Apple Watch told me that.

Please get up.

Please, as as your Apple Watch begs you like just.

One time today, you move.

Today, Yeah.

So I in some way, tracking maybe can be a good thing for some people because it will change their behavior.

But I think the behavior that I was changing to prevented me from seeing whether or not watches really fit in my collection.

Because if I saw a watch wasn't getting worn much, I'd wear it just because it wasn't getting worn much.

So then when I look back at the data, it's like, Oh yeah, oh, all my watches get somewhere.

So that means I love them.

And, and you may not remember that.

Like, oh, on that morning you woke up, you looked at the list and you're like, oh, this watch I haven't worn in four months.

I'm just going to.

Wear.

It yeah, guilt based wearing and so unless you also track why you wear them then you could lose track.

Like this is a 25 minute journal exercise every morning it's booze sitting there.

Like today I'm wearing this one and why?

Here's why.

Here's why.

But then if you're tracking data, then it would have to be like a multiple choice of why?

You know, because you're going to want maximum of five potential choices.

Otherwise it's just normal.

What are the five choices?

Because I really want to OK, Because it fits my outfit.

OK, because it fits the activities I want to do.

Because I feel guilty that I haven't worn it in a while.

And which?

Would give you information you're like oh that one only gets guilt since.

What would be the fifth one?

Because of external factors?

So like, let's say I'm going somewhere with you, I might choose to wear a watch that you have given me.

Oh yeah, or an external if you're.

Going to an event.

OK.

I like that, a watch that fits that event or the people I'm going to meet up with or something like that.

OK.

So yeah.

That was really impressive.

I thought you were gonna be like and then you just listed 5 of so fast there's.

Probably better ones I can't think of.

Them It was very impressive.

I mean, I know you're quick on your feet, but I thought I was gonna like, what, 5?

Was that meant to be a gotcha?

Question.

Gotcha.

But you.

Got no, you gotcha.

You gotcha.

I I gotcha myself yeah.

So maybe I should start tracking again and then I have to add a category?

Yeah, cuz you could also choose multiple, you know, cuz it could easily be multiple.

OK, so you weren't wearing the Pepsi much?

Not as much.

It's not so the Pepsi for me.

When I bought it, I thought this is the watch that's going to travel the world with me because my old Explorer 2, my first Explorer 2 went to six continents with me.

It went to.

I calculated it one day, but I I don't know.

I I wrote it all down in one of the probably 40 notebooks that I own that are just like stuck all around.

You own 40 notebooks?

I own like 400.

So for sure, yeah, that's compared to you, that's nothing.

But I I wrote, I I like tried to figure out how many countries because continents is a little easier.

So it had been to six continents with me, but like I tried to figure out how many countries.

I think it was in the 20s, which is pretty cool.

But the Pepsi was supposed to replace that and be like, OK, I'm going to redo this.

I got to go to all these continents again and then somehow get.

To be a nomad for two months?

Yeah.

Two years.

Two years, Sorry.

Two years, yeah.

So then I realized a lot of the time I will not feel comfortable wearing that watch.

Yeah, like a lot of the time I do and I don't really do anything.

I think one of the the times I would feel the most insecure about wearing those watches is if I was going out late in cities like that.

And that's really, even if you just look at the news and stories and stuff like that's where things are happening.

You're coming out and you're probably maybe you've had some drinks or whatever and maybe you look like a target, right?

And I don't really get myself into those situations.

I don't drink and I don't party.

No, because you know people.

So it's beyond that, just that feeling that.

You're like hyper aware of it.

That to me, that's the part that I like to be hyper aware of a watch because I think it's so pretty on my wrist or like, oh, I, you know, I'm in a in a Zoom call and I catch a glimpse of it because my hand is near my face.

I don't know that I was ever hyper aware of it though, because I I, I don't think I'm projecting based on the I think you are I.

I don't like, yeah.

Well, also or the time that I wore the gold submariner that I borrowed for a week, but.

You were a terror too.

Yeah, but that was fun.

So I don't think I've ever been wearing my Pepsi.

And I was afraid, like, oh, I shouldn't be wearing it here.

But I do think there were times that I thought I'm not going to wear my Pepsi on this trip.

Yeah, that.

Because we're doing all of these different things, and maybe I don't.

Want it like restricts it, Yeah.

So it's just out of an abundance of caution.

I, I just didn't feel like, oh, this is going to be on my wrist all the time.

The other day, however, when I was wearing when we were out at night, I mean it wasn't that late, but it was getting dark when we were out and we had dinner and we were walking around taking photos and I was wearing my new FXD Chrono ink cycling edition.

And that Black Watch with ink accents on a black and ink fabric strap does not look like some expensive.

No, you said in the podcast last week people would think it was a moon Swatch.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I I could see some like.

Someone who doesn't know so it's.

Not thinking, thinking it's something along those lines.

Yeah.

Not a specific moon Swatch, but like that.

It could be a plastic watch, although carbon fiber, you know.

Yeah, that's how that's made.

But yeah, so I, I think there's a lot of factors that led to me getting rid of all of the Rolexes.

It was not a conscious decision of like, oh, I don't want to own any Rolexes anymore.

Each one, each of the three was an independent decision for different reasons.

Yeah.

And it just kind of led to them all being gone.

And now I was looking at that new blue OP.

Yeah, you do really like the new Med Med Med Blue.

And about a month ago I tried to buy your red dial OP.

From you?

No, I'm gonna call Red.

Yeah, I'm gonna hang on to mine.

Yeah, I was rejected.

That was a strong rejection.

Yeah, Yeah, yeah.

I mean, it was a soft offer.

It was like a a probe of like, hey, would this be something?

No.

I'm more like you can wear it whenever you want but you can't have it.

Yeah, yeah, I do love, I do love that watch.

But yeah, so right now I own no Rolexes.

It's not a statement.

I am totally open to Rolex.

It can't be a statement because I have a lot of Rolex, so you're not like I'm against.

Yeah, but I could be.

Yeah, I know from my own collection.

That would be so sad for me.

Well, yeah, yeah, I guess so.

I I guess it yeah.

I'm against Rolex.

I make Rolex.

No, not at all.

I I think they make amazing watches.

I just right now, just that there's none that I feel I need to own.

Yeah, except maybe that new Med blue.

Yeah, that's sort of that.

I mean, that is a really pretty one.

It is.

I don't think I'm really super interested in it, but that blue is one of.

I still think the turquoise is the best color of the O PS yet, yeah.

I agree.

But that blue is a close third after the coral red.

Oh, OK, We could do a whole episode on me, sort of.

Oh, I want to hear you rank your.

OP collection, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

So that is why I got rid of all of my Rolexes.

That is also partly why my almost my entire collection has changed in three years.

Yeah, it really has.

It's really been a huge turnover to to change like 80% of it or 70% of it, something like that.

Do you think podcasting last year, I mean, we were podcasting daily for quite a long time, talking about watches all the time.

And then I mean, you did have a bit like this shift really took place between 2024 and 2025.

Yeah, I think that's when it's solidified, like when it became apparent.

What was happening?

But it but it had already started prior to that.

I do think that last year, talking about watches almost every day with you and doing research and really looking at everything that was happening did really help me feel and not justify it.

I don't feel like I need to justify wait, I justify everything.

But it wasn't that.

It was like it made me feel like this desire that I had to own watches, that each one kind of felt like it told its own story somehow and didn't fit in the same story.

That felt right.

After spending all that time looking at so many watches, I just became less interested in having watches.

Like I didn't ever want to, not ever.

But I didn't like the idea that my collection would feel obvious to me.

Like, I want to look at my watches and go, like, I can't believe I've done this.

Like, yeah, it's so interesting to me even that these are the watches I've owned, like, some of them that are hard to get.

And so that's cool.

Like, I can't believe I was able to find this or, you know, some of them that I wouldn't have thought I'd be interested in before.

It's like, Oh yeah, that's so weird that, you know, somehow I've found my way.

To a specific example, because we've been talking a lot in generalizations.

OK, I mean, the Otsuka low tax, for years I've been super interested and thought there's a good chance I will never own one, and now I own three.

That's incredible.

I feel super fortunate to not only have the opportunity to buy them, but also to be able to afford them, you know, all of those things and they really fit me, I think.

And so that's one where I'm just like every time I look at those watches, I'm like, it's so cold that I can even own these.

And then on the other side, if I look at a watch like the I haven't even posted a photo of this watch yet, but my Tudor black Bay ceramic with the blue dial, like I don't if you had asked me a year ago, maybe two years ago, would I be interested in a watch like that, I might have said no, you know, yeah, Like I was interested in the black Bay ceramic, the black dial 1 that basically a fully blacked out watch because it just kind of had that like blacked out and the.

Blue makes it so much more sporty.

It does and.

Which is not your.

It's not my typical style, yeah.

So that's a watch every.

Time a tutor.

Boy, got a tutor True.

I do, yeah.

But yeah, that one surprises me.

And and you told me that it surprised you as well that I would want that watch.

Yeah.

I mean, it's just a brighter blue and the blue is made more dramatic by the dark case.

Yeah.

And so it's really something that it just, it does pop more.

I mean, OK, a couple things I've been thinking about with your collection is that I think, I do think that the Tudor pink started shifting your collection.

That was what you had, a little bit of color A.

Year and three months.

Ago, yeah, you had a little bit of color in your collection, but it again it was like not what you would typically go for.

And then with the pink, I think it became something that was so individual, like people started noticing it, which is really fun when it's noticed, but it's not noticed by watch people.

And then you kind of like get a taste for that like, oh, this interesting thing.

The Otsuka low techs like normies say they like it.

Normal people.

Actually, the the Tudor Black Bay Chronograph Pink is the watch that I get the most attention from from non watch people.

People notice and love that watch.

They just think it's so interesting, even if they're not at all like this is people who are not wearing a watch outside of a smart watch and they just see it and they're like, what is that?

That watch is so cool.

And it happens more than I've ever had any watch ever noticed since I started wearing watches, which was when I was a kid.

So it it's maybe there's something to that, but I do think it may have started even earlier then, because if you look at the Tudor Black Bay pink, then you might actually say the only reason I even felt comfortable getting that was because prior to that I had bought the OP green dial.

You know which prior to the pink might have been the most colorful thing I owned was the OP green.

He's wild he picked the least colorful of those opiate colors.

He is.

Wild, but I do love.

Green.

So I'm gonna go with the one that in certain lights might look.

Black might even look black but I no but I wanted the yellow.

Like there were other ones that I wanted, but I picked the green because I thought it'd be the most versatile.

Yeah, you did pick it because of the right versatile vu.

He's shifting.

We're so proud.

I'm not interested in versatility as much.

But I still see the pink as like we talked about before, like this turning point watch.

I see the ink as a bit of a turning point watch for you.

Robably, there was a very recently Cam from GQ did an article about how he borrowed the Tudor chronograph, the Flamingo Blue, and it was the most complimented watch he's ever worn.

Because people who aren't watch people.

It's it's and it's a larger size.

Because even though I'm flashing those OP's around, I'm not getting any compliments 36.

Millimeter OP, how is anyone going to see it?

Please look at my wrist and compliment it, it's so hard.

Yeah, I could see that even more.

With more with that one, yeah, I could.

That is almost like an emergency color.

Yeah, you just.

You see, like if you're wearing that jacket and you are lost in the forest, the helicopter will find you.

Yeah.

Whereas pink.

Yeah, that's surely you like, or you're just wearing that watch and you're just flashing it towards the sky.

Yeah.

I mean, it's so like Miami and you just have to wear sunglasses if someone's wearing that at the table with you because it's just too bright right in your eyes.

But I I also see the appeal of that as someone with a bunch of colorful OP's.

Yeah, my collecting is kind of the opposite because it's been so colorful, like all colors to now.

I've really been shifting in the past.

Yeah, I've been getting.

All more recent watches, way less colorful.

Yeah.

OK, I guess we have to do an episode about your collecting, your collecting strategy.

The other thing I want to say though is that you are such a a strap person.

Oh, that's true.

All of your recent purchases, like all like basically up until the the chrono pink, they're all straps?

I didn't realize that you are not a bracelet person.

Wait, what?

No, it's like a wild amount of watches where there's no bracelets and I'm the opposite.

I want to watch with a bracelet.

Almost all of my watches have a bracelet.

Luckily my watches owned list is sorted by date owned.

Yeah, and look at it, this is what I looked at and it's up until 2024 when you got the Tudor Black Bay Chrono you went.

Back.

And all the way back.

Until that's the last bracelet watch I bought and I have 12340 a lot of watches since then, yes I'm not gonna count.

Yeah, I don't think you should count I.

Well, if I do a state of the collection, it'll be.

I was not going to count.

No, that's a lot.

That's a lot of watches that happened in the past year.

A lot of watches, none of which have a bracelet.

Huh.

I didn't even think about that.

Never even thought to make that list of how many bracelets versus non bracelets I have new data.

Go get to make a list.

I get to make a list, but it is.

I mean, I think that's really.

Interesting, because I tend so much towards bracelets.

Yeah, now even more I'm like, hey, integrate that bracelet, give me that bracelet that I can't even take off of the watch.

Yeah, which I have actually recently most I watch.

Yeah, you, you have integrated more.

Integrated bracelets.

So I'm going we're we're now.

Diverging on that's that are super far.

I think too many people think it's strange.

That we don't even share watches.

But our collections are nothing alike.

Yeah, and now even more.

More.

Different than they were.

It works out that it like.

It would be weird if we.

Didn't share watches, but we had kind of the same watches or similar or even same models.

OK, there have been times I've wanted to buy the same watch as you.

Yeah, but then we were like, it is weird, it.

Is one of us that needs to decide that.

Makes.

Sense silly too.

It's just like no sense, so you get dibs.

Almost always.

But yeah, luckily we rarely want the same watch these days.

Yeah, now it's.

Yeah, now it's.

Very so.

OK.

Do you have?

What I have?

One last question, Oh, but where?

Like what?

Do you see the future?

Oh no, 'cause you went from versatile, versatile VU to variety vu.

What is next?

Yeah, I.

Mean I only have 2 watches on my potential buy list.

I'm so my if you could see me, I look.

Like that clock where the cat's eyes go back and forth because I was trying to figure out like, which ones because I couldn't really think of what they are.

Yeah, I mean if.

I mention them, which I will not right now, then I will say they are both German.

OK, yeah, yeah, yeah.

2 watches, not the same and they're not the same brand.

No.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But I will say my future looks a lot like my past, like your my recent.

Past yeah, yeah, yeah, still, still.

Looking for non versatile watches?

Still enjoying watches that fill either a niche use or have a niche look to them, or maybe new colors that I don't currently have, or new functionality that I don't currently have.

But neither of them.

One of them is kinda gotta but the other one is not.

But it's only kinda not 100% secrets.

Yeah, the other one is absolutely.

Not gotta.

And one of those two has a bracelet.

OK now now this is.

Just too teasy.

He's a new person.

What I want to ask you is.

OK.

What do you think is the best today?

Yeah, I was actually.

So the best is our new part of the podcast where we can't talk about something that's the best thing.

And I forgot that we do the best.

It's only the second.

Week and I did not.

Remember at all.

So the best is my memory.

Do you have the best?

Mine is a.

Podcast, but not in watches.

Oh, not this watch life.

Wow.

Wow, that was a total.

The best is.

This Watch life, this wonderful podcast, you're listening to it.

So.

I listen to lots of different kinds of podcasts and a few years back, I don't remember how I found this podcast, but there's a podcast by a woman named Avery Truffleman and she's fantastic.

The podcast is technically about fashion, but it's through the lens of like history and how fashion actually effects culture and society and how things came to be.

But there's like, she attacks it from different angles and different seasons.

One of the seasons was just about Ivy, right?

Like just Ivy style.

And that was a fascinating entire season about that.

But one of my favorite episodes was just about Plaid, you know?

And so there's all these different kinds of episodes about mainly about clothing.

Yeah.

I think it's more about clothing than fashion even.

And I just find them to be so well done that even the episodes where I'm like, oh, I'm not that interested in that topic.

I find myself entranced.

It's really cool.

I mean, she's also.

Interviewing experts.

It's really well edited.

It's super interesting.

Yeah.

It's.

It's awesome.

The current one we're listening to is about sunglasses.

Yeah.

Fascinating.

It's really good.

Yeah.

OK.

That is a good the best.

OK, you gave me just enough time and I just am like, I was gonna like try that, draw it out.

And talk a little longer.

Fine, I have one.

I'm kind of.

Like one of those, I think a lot about Anchorman when he's like, I love lamp.

So I'm just gonna think of like, since we were talking about wildlife binoculars, having a good set of binoculars makes life better.

Oh, and more interesting.

And.

Mindy got some binoculars for her birthday, and then they were in the Pacific Northwest.

If you don't know Mindy, I said her name three times in this episode.

And I said my, I said my sister in the very first part of this episode.

Then I thought I should just say.

That you know who Mindy is and.

She got a set of binoculars and she was like, OK, these are life changing.

It's so interesting to look at things and it really is.

It's just super fun.

Brings back a lot of wonder and curiosity.

And so, yeah, highly recommend getting some binoculars.

I I second that, yeah.

We bought our first binoculars maybe 10 years ago.

Yeah, Boo, bought a pair of.

Binoculars.

And I was like, who needs binoculars?

And then we walked along.

We were living in the city at the time and it was evening and we walked along the shore and he let me use them and I was like, this is magical.

I love it.

Instantly she's like.

This is the coolest thing and all you were looking at.

Was the other.

Side of the water, Yeah, but it was just like, so fascinating my mind.

Yeah.

So then you.

Instantly got a.

Pair of binoculars, yeah.

Which honestly is kind of similar to.

Watches.

So be careful.

No, because we only own 3 pairs of binoculars.

Yeah.

No, but I mean, I mean you.

Getting me into something.

Oh, yeah, deeply.

That does happen.

Yeah, it has.

Been known to happen?

Yeah, it has.

Well have.

A wonderful week and we'll see you soon.

Or talk to you soon, Or talk at you soon.

I don't know.

Bye.