Tim Jackson
2784
Missed this til now...a Milestone for sure and a dedication to this brilliant social/horological experiment, WatchProSite, unlike anyone else!
Jan 19, 2021,16:15 PM
A Nico story:
Having conversed very little here prior, I was scheduled to be in Paris in 2010 over Bastille Day, for an evening prior to heading to Switzerland to visit various Independent watchmakers, I reached out to Amanico to see if there was a possibility to meet up. He responded that he was free during the afternoon and that he would be happy to meet for a coffee nearby his home. We met at a cafe, Nico wearing a baseball cap, navy blue if memory serves emblazoned with IWC in white!
We chatted for a while over coffee, and then he suggested a walk in the local park Le Jardin du Luxembourg. It was July, quite warm and plenty of Parisians sunning themselves. As we got acquainted, shared watch and family stories, he asked what I was doing in Paris and where was I staying. The small hotel I found online was close to a Metro station for getting around didn't sound like a fun evening, so he kindly asked me if I would join him and his family for dinner at a local bistro they enjoy. I happily said yes, knowing the alternative wasn't anywhere near as exciting. Fortunately Nico's English is excellent, so We had no issue communicating, my French sadly is pretty poor even for having compulsory French taught in my in school in the UK to age 16.
Prior to dinner, he kindly invited me to his home, an apartment on the 5th or 6th floor of a lovely building, where I met his dear wife and daughter. We proceeded to sit and I got to see much of Nico's extra-ordinary watch collection. What a treat and honor to be invited to his home! We then walked to dinner, a fantastic meal was had and they then invited me to watch fireworks on the Tour Eiffel from their window, where Nico has snapped many a winning wristshot for the Purists weekly competition ;-)
I headed back to my hotel with a belly full and watch mind satiated, having met one of the most passionate and generous with his time watch crazed fellows I'm honored to call a friend.
We have met twice since, once in Los Angeles for a JLC event dinner I kindly got an invite to courtesy of Nico and of course the brilliant Las Vegas IGOTT2 event. The mischevious smile and excitement was always present and as we shared a glass or two of vino, I thought how lucky I was to know this brilliant Frenchman, who happily shares his vast knowledge and passion of horology and have had the opportunity to visit him on his home turf.
I do hope to repay the kindness one day here in Solana Beach! Salut Nico, come visit when you can.
Cheers,
Tim