Like most guys, I wear a fairly basic, moderately priced wristwatch. I purchased the one currently on my wrist more than a decade ago, replaced the crystal once and the battery every couple of years and it does a perfectly serviceable job of performing the one function I expect it to do: it tells me what time it is.
About the only nod to the fact that my watch is something more than a timepiece are the little nautical signal flags that serve as the number indicators. They're a reminder that somewhere there is an ocean and a boat with my name on it. A boat that I might get to captain when I'm not sitting at my desk or on the road somewhere.
But there are those who appreciate watches as something more. Wristwatches are, for the most part, the only piece of jewelry a man wears besides his wedding ring. And for those who embrace this distinction, there are remarkable intricacies - and price points - to their timepiece of choice. Such men are fascinated with horology - the art and science of timepieces. Although it seems to me if a man is only wearing a watch and a wedding ring, the last thing he should be messing with is something called horology. But I digress.
This distinction about the role of a man's watch escaped me until recently when we began working on a story for Chronicle about "time." As part of that story, we visited the Paul Duggan Company, seller of fine watches in Boston. Paul is not only extremely knowledgable but has the type of enthusiasm for his work that suddenly has you saying, "you know, maybe I do need a $5,000 watch on my wrist." Once Paul begins to wax eloquently about the history of this Rolex or that Patek Philippe, about the role they played in watchmaking history, about the rarity of this model or that model, it all sounds very enticing.
And that's when he slips a 1960's era Rolex Daytona on your wrist and it feels soooo right. Or how about a contemporary Rolex Submariner, or a nice Patek Perpetual. They all feel and look great until I inquire about the prices which range from $8,000-$36,000. I realize quickly, I'm in one of those, "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it" moments.
To be sure, these are rare and fine watches. In fact, most people collect them without ever wearing them. They sit in glass cases or safety deposit boxes, saved for special occasions or sold a few years later, usually at a substantial profit. Often, collectors simply "trade up" for a different, long coveted timepiece. As for me, I'm quite happy with my little wristwatch. It's accurate, fairly stylish and it takes a beating.
As for that special watch from Paul Duggan that feels so perfect on my wrist? Well maybe someday...when the time is right.
