Horological Meandering

Hi All,

It is my pleasure to introduce our Purist-of-the-Week, California Jed. I know many of you have enjoyed Jed’s contributions on various topics and appreciated his taste in watches. I particularly liked Jed’s description of what it means to be a Purist and I hope you enjoy this installment of POTW as well.

Andrew

 

 

Thank you, Andrew, for the honor of the selection as POTW.  It’s quite humbling, particularly following such great answers from pplater and Blomman.  I’ll try to answer as honestly and openly as those distinguished PuristS did.

 

1. What watch are you wearing today?

Today, it is the Chopard 16/1860/1.

2. How do you usually choose a watch to wear?

I change watches regularly but fairly randomly.  (I almost said “at regularly irregular intervals, Andrew!) I try to change at least weekly, but I don’t follow a particular “rotation”.  If I am dressed for a particular meeting or for an evening out with my wife, I tend to wear a precious metal watch, but otherwise I simply choose what strikes my mood at the time.

 

3. How did you discover PuristS?

My recollection as to how I came to PuristS is sketchy.  I am fairly certain I learned of PuristS after becoming aware of Thomas Mao through Paneristi but I cannot say with any certainty when I first visited the PuristS site.  Ultimately, though, that I registered here was as a result of hiring Scott Dufrane as a summer intern a couple of years ago.  He mentioned that he was a moderator, so I decided to check it out.  I owe Scott a debt of gratitude for that. J

 

4. What does it mean to you to be a Purist?

A lowercase “p” purist is excited by discovering the essence of his subject, and he strives to understand it thoroughly.

 

Here, uppercase PuristS are fortunate to have a forum in which to share the examination and also the joy of discovery of watches. I often marvel at how vast that one inch diameter machine strapped to my wrist really is.  It’s important to understand, too, that a Purist is not necessarily a savant (despite the often-used “WIS” label for us), nor is he a pedant.  To the contrary, a Purist might embrace a break from the rules or from principles of tradition in a given instance when done intentionally and with knowledge and understanding of the rules or principles broken.  S/he sees the beauty in order, but also in purposeful disorder.

 

I should also point out what others have expressed more eloquently than I can (and I am thinking of a recent post by Mostel) – that we PuristS love the journey as much or more than the destination.  Many of you impress me daily with the technical knowledge you possess and share freely with us, and I am awed by your encyclopedic knowledge of horological history.  I am confident I will take more from that collective body of knowledge than I will contribute, but I do love learning, and discovery, and our community is such a wonderful place to do both.  It is amazingly easy to learn here, and to fearlessly share questions and observations with PuristS, who I have come to understand and believe are an amazingly civil and tolerant bunch that happily embraces neophytes, iconoclasts and oddballs with charm and grace.  At times, I feel I fit into each of those categories!

 

5. Is there a single element in a watch that is most important to you, and why?

No, there is no single element most important to me.  I am able to love different watches for different reasons, and I appreciate elements in context rather than in isolation.  The art of horology is as important as the science, and my determination of transcendent horological art is, funny enough, much the same as Justice Stewart’s classic definition of obscenity in Jacobellis v. Ohio–- I know it when I see it!  That said, I’m not afraid to admit to you my foudroyante fetish!   (Please don’t tell my mother!) I have a weakness, too, for sexy column wheels.

 

6. What other hobbies do you have?

I enjoy playing acoustic guitar (rather poorly) and listening to acoustic music.  I have recently taken up cycling.  I enjoy writing and reading but rarely make time for either.  I’m a bit of a coffee geek as well, so I enjoy micro-roasted coffee beans.  My favorites are Intelligentsia Black Cat and Supreme Bean Dolce Terra.  I pull shots almost every morning and I make lattes for my wife and me.

 

Until my son was born, I was an avid motorcyclist.  With two children, however, I have given it up.  I simply do not have the time to devote to sport touring and to maintenance, the two things I most enjoyed about motorcycling.  So I am left with a garage full of nice tools, nice luggage and riding gear, and many happy memories.

7. Do you wear a mechanical watch when bike-riding?

No.  I have a cycle computer and I carry a Blackberry with me, so a watch just makes no sense to me on the bike.  Incidentally, there is a free app available for the Blackberry (and also for Apple and Droid phones) called SportyPal that is really neat for cyclists and runners to use as a tool for analysis of runs and rides.

8. How do you time your espresso shots?

I time my shots with whatever watch is on my wrist, but I only do this if I am pulling a shot to drink as espresso.  (I just realized I don’t currently own a two hand watch.)  If I am making a latte, I don’t time the shot.  I can tell by the flow and color if I’m in the zone.

9. Have your collecting interests changed over time?

Not that long ago I was enamored of quantity, and I was after it in too big a hurry.  I have slowed down (and pared down) significantly.  I cannot really claim to be a collector of watches so much as an enthusiast.  Like most of us, I own quite a few watches, but I wear all of, and I have never made a purchase intending simply to “collect” a watch.  I pass no judgment on those who do – to the contrary, I’m often envious, but I lack the desire and the resources to do so myself.

 

10. If you could keep only one watch in your collection, which would it be?

This is the easiest of the questions.  If I could keep only one watch in my collection, it would be the PAM 27C I wore on my wedding day.  It was a wedding present from the girl I love.

11. Which watch has most recently captured your attention and why?

At present, all four 150^th anniversary watches from Chopard L.U.C have captured my attention; the Al-in-one for its impressive display of the accomplishments of L.U.C to date; the Engine One Tourbillon for what it says about L.UC’s willingness to attempt something quite foreign to its DNA, and succeed; and the 1837, for what it says about Chopard’s potential growth.   I suppose the watch that interests me the most, though, is the Chopard L.U.C Luis-Ulysse  - The Tribute.  If it is not apparent, I have become a big fan of Chopard and its L.U.C watches.  The Tribute fascinates me for a number of reasons.  Fundamentally, it is nod to tradition, with a twist.  It is a pocket watch, but it converts easily to a wristwatch.  It houses an L.U.C movement, but the movement was developed collaboratively with the Geneva Watchmaking School (hence the designation “Calibre EHG”) and the school will be supplied with movements for use in teaching.  What I find most fascinating is that this watch marries traditions from the Chopard Family with those of its owners, the Scheufele family.  The patent for the mechanism that converts the pocketwatch to a wristwatch was developed by Karl Scheufele I, great-grandfather to Co-Presidents Karl-Freidrich Scheufele and Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele.  Aesthetically, I am encouraged at the dial of this watch and I am hopeful that some of the design elements, bold but traditional, are indicative of the direction L.U.C is heading.  I find compelling the use of the stylized, historic L.U.C logo and also the red accents on the dial.  I also enjoy the traditional roman numerals.  (Similar numerals are used on the new L.U.C 1937 and the L.U.C 150 All-in-One.).
This message has been edited by AndrewD on 2010-10-04 18:57:45 This message has been edited by AndrewD on 2010-10-06 15:19:11

Thank you so much AndrewD & all the POTW so far
for giving us glimpses into your passion and life.
This forum of ours just stepped into another dimension with
POTW answers ....I now feel even more at HoMe
All the best
Damjan

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... and it's especially refreshing to see a photo of the POTW himself (although you come a very distant second in the beauty stakes to the angel at your side!).

Your posts all reveal a person of great sensitivity and generosity of spirit - this one is no exception. Your choices in watches seem at once eclectic and refined - something which resonates very loudly. What with the Moser, the CS, the 1.96 (and probably others?) you seem to be trending towards the simpler, more elegant pieces; would that be a fair observation? What are you looking for these days? Is that a phase or a landing site? What departed the watchbox because 'the love has gone'? Leaving aside the Chopard anniversary series, what would be the next couple of pieces in the watchbox, God and Mrs Queensland Jed willing?

Thanks again for the insights.

 

Cheers,

pplater.

Thanks for your kind words.  My wife would probably not be pleased to know I posted that photograph of her, by the way.  She's far pretier in person, but it's the only shot in which my Panerai appeared from that day many years ago, plus I like to see what my hair looked like before it failed me entirely!

I do favor simpler watches, and in my eye those I have chosen are indeed elegant. My desire for simple pieces is in part a self-imposed limitation.  I know enough to be dangerous with respect to more complicated pieces, though I was confident enough to know the Dato was a worthy inclusion in my collection. God and Mrs Queensland willing, someday I may venture into more complicated areas.

As for departures, I gradually let go a number of modern Panerai and Rolex watches, not necessarily because "the love had gone", but because I realized that many served the same purpose.

It would have been easier to answer your question as to what I am currently looking for before Thomas teased us with his post about the mystery IGOTT watches!  That put an immediate hold on my thoughts until he reveals the details!


Best,

QJ

...and as for this -

"It would have been easier to answer your question as to what I am currently looking for before Thomas teased us with his post about the mystery IGOTT watches!  That put an immediate hold on my thoughts until he reveals the details!"

- we all share your pain!  Can't you use your influence and considerable advocacy skills to get the drop on that detail? Not everyone can delay the need for a regular fix that long, and there are other opportunities requiring commitment which may need to be considered carefully in the interregnum. Are you reading this Thomas?????

;-)

 

Cheers,

pplater.

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I am actually lucky enough to know Jed and his beautiful wife, who you see in this post in "real life."  In the world outside PuristSPro we are longtime colleagues and more importantly, friends.  The spirit of intelligence, humility, generosity, openness, warmth and humor (all Purist traits IMO) that you feel coming though in his typed words -- not just in this post, but in the 1800+ he's contributed thus far, is all genuine.  It's not an online persona cultivated for the sake of the site. 

Jed was my first mentor in the world of horology, and therefore I owe him a great debt.  While our opinions on individual pieces sometimes diverge, I always respect his thoughts because he has shown a keen ability to cull the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.  Jed is just an all-around great guy, and his love for watches is true.  I, for one, am glad he's "one of us."

Thanks, Jed!  I look forward to "geeking out with you" for years to come.  See you in a few hours at the office!

Cheers,
Daos

Daos, I cherish our friendship, and I thank you for your very kind words.  The feeling of respect and admiration is mutual.  I have really enjoyed sharing horology with you, and watching your knowledge and passion eclipse my own!

In the future, however, please refrain from such ebullience when you speak of me.  I'll never be able to live up to your praise!

Best,

Jed

I wished that we have more time to chat at the GTG but its nice to "read" you!

I need to hit you up on coffee knowledge. 

And I'm always happy to talk coffee!

Best,

Jed


This message has been edited by CaliforniaJed on 2010-10-05 20:09:01

Thanks indeed for sharing your thoughts. I really liked the one watch answer - no doubts, no buts, no can I have two insteads? Comes back to the essence of what this madness is to us.

I can't properly express how much that watch meant to me when my wife gave it to me, nor how deeply I love and respect her.  It really was an easy answer.

Best,

Jed

a very lucky guy, my friend. And on a postscript, enjoy seeing your diverse collection as well.

Great reading about CaliforniaJed as POTW and well deserved.  Jed and his lovely wife are such wonderful people!

-MW

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Thank you for sharing so much with us here!

 

I really enjoy “reading” you, both in this POTW post and earlier.

 

Hope for many joyful chats in the future

 

All the best, Jed!

 

And my regards to your wife for such a great taste both in watches and men!

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

Looking forward to meeting you one day on one continent or another!

Best,

Jed

for providing some insight on many other facets of your life and personality than watches.

I have always enjoyed and admired your posts and input here and come to think of it, I have from my very initial steps here always sensed that geniuity that you are obviously and rightfully so famous for. This POTW post has certainly not changed that!

Very best regards

Nikolaj

... particularly among those you trust and respect.

I have enjoyed your posts as well, and I look forward to many more.

Thanks for your kind words.

Best,

Jed

. . . pure and simple pleasures - coffee, bicycles, watches, and family, first and foremast. Thanks, Andrew and Jed . . . cordially, Art

 

 and well put together .

 

 Faisal

Given you've bared your soul for the Internet to see, you've said it well, and said it with beautiful honesty.

I don't feel as though I've bared my soul, though.  Well, except for admitting my foudroyant fetish. ;-)

Best,

CaliforniaJed

Among other things ;-)
Hate to play scrabble with you.

Among those simple pleasures, Art, is reading your prose on PPro.  I have admired your vocabulary and your writing from day one, not to mention your watches.

Best,

Jed

Thanks for the read. I particularly liked your categorization of your reasons for liking each of those four Chopards. While I am used to applying that sort of "developmental" approach to violins and fine art, I have not historically applied it to watches. (It's a bit of a different project given that most of the watches in question are made by companies having a life span longer than a human's rather than single individuals.) I plan to start doing so and look forward to the insights it will generate.

And thanks, too, for your generosity, your gracious hospitality, and your very kind friendship. I have enjoyed very much getting to know you.

One selfish request -- I would love to hear you play sometime!

Best,

Jed

You must make us all a cup of joe someday

Cheers,
Anthony

Anthony, thanks for your friendship, and best of luck with the new venture.

Best,

Jed