Watch Collector Gathering Santa Monica

Dr No · 2021-08-20T00:57:31Z

Explore the 'Alphabet Soup Gang' watch collector's meet in Santa Monica, featuring Parmigiani, Dornblüth, vintage IWC, and Omega Flightmaster timepieces. Discover community insights and unique horological finds.

Dr No

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

27 replies5526 views8 photos

Dr No provides a captivating glimpse into a recent gathering of the 'Alphabet Soup Gang' in Santa Monica, a long-standing community of luxury watch collectors. His post highlights the camaraderie and diverse horological interests shared among members, showcasing an array of timepieces from independent brands to vintage classics. This article distills the community's reactions and additional insights, offering a deeper appreciation for the watches and the shared passion that defines this unique group.

. . . at Mr C's house. It was our first since last February, with thirteen in attendance plus a few more that would've made it had it not been for unforeseen circumstances - or, in one case, being in Hawaii.

Mr and Mrs C kindly lent their backyard to host our gathering, so masks weren't necessary. We ordered in from a nearby deli which Mr C picked up, while Mr A brought a few six packs and avocados to complement the deli sandwiches and salads.

It was a clear day; your correspondent has little experience taking photos outdoors in direct sunlight, and consequently took only a few photos.

Mr J, who's been a member of our group since our second gathering in '05, brought his Parmigiani . . .

. . . and KV . . .

. . . among others. I believe Mr L brought this indie . . .

. . . which I'm at a loss to describe. (Note to self: next time, take notes.)

Mr M brought along his newly acquired Dornblüth 2010 . . .

. . . which inspired much agony and gnashing of teeth for yours truly, who should've bought one but didn't.

😬

"From the sublime to the ridiculous" in one photo: a limited edition GO Senator 1845 belonging to Mr A . . .

. . . next to a Timex Mickey belonging to Mr D. The four vintage IWC belonged to either our host, Mr C, or perhaps Mr E, who was accompanied by his assistant Miss F (seen in the background of the second pic).

Besides watches, Mr D brought along gang t-shirts . . .

. . . which were distributed to all who'd ordered them. The club shirts were Mrs H's idea, which Mr D then designed and ordered last month. Many thanks to both, especially Mrs H, as the t-shirts set us back considerably less than Plan B. And what was Plan B, you might ask?

Speedmasters with our club logo on the dial.

🤑

Cordially,

Mr A

Key Points from the Discussion

The gathering featured a remarkable diversity of watches, including a perfectly broken-in Omega Flightmaster, another pilot's watch, and a gorgeous Omega with a solid caseback, as highlighted by Brandon Skinner.
The diverse selection of watches significantly enhanced the occasion, creating a vibrant atmosphere for collectors.
The Mickey Mouse watch featured was an Ingersoll, owned by Mrs. C, while the vintage IWCs belonged to Mr. C. Another interesting red-handed Mickey was presented by Mr. D.
The Parmigiani Fleurier timepiece particularly impressed attendees, while the Mickey Mouse Timex evoked nostalgic memories of childhood watches from the 1980s.
The club's custom-designed t-shirts, conceived by Mrs. H and designed by Mr. D, were a popular alternative to a much more expensive Plan B: custom Speedmasters with the club logo.

The Discussion

Lankysudanese

Aug 20, 2021

I think that I know the deli spot that you ordered from 😁 🤤

mkvc

Aug 20, 2021

Very nice to see everyone in person with reasonable safety, and I must say that some people did some very productive and well-chosen collecting while isolated. I can confirm that the Mickey Mouse watch is an Ingersoll owned by Mrs. C, and the IWCs were from Mr. C. There was another very interesting red-handed Mickey presented by, I suspect, Mr. D.

Dr No

Aug 20, 2021

. . . please send me a pm! Mr A

mdg

Aug 20, 2021

...sounds like a good time.

Lankysudanese

Aug 20, 2021

Sadly, I live thousands of miles away now

Brandon Skinner

Aug 20, 2021

Below are just a few that caught my attention, but certainly not all. Art’s perfectly broken-in flightmaster Together with another proper pilot’s watch… This gorgeous Omega with a movement I could only imagine through the solid caseback A Ronzon from an Indie who I believe operates out of Mexico CIty Santa Monica AKA Dornbluth Heaven Must resist bad Sinn puns!! Back to the future with this Bulova An awesome Micro I had never heard of And finally a masterpiece which needs no introduction or expla

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