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Weekend Edition It's Father Time

Where would we be without our dads?

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My dad isn't a watch guy. Wasn't a watch guy, actually – he now proudly wears a HODINKEE Swatch. And though I am not entirely sure he fully understands what I do, he still lets me know how cool he thinks the whole thing is.

a book on a stand

I guess I'm pretty lucky that there's a whole book available to send to my dad about what I do. 

Even though my dad isn't into collecting, you don't have to scroll very far to find a writer who either is a dad who loves watches or has a dad who loves watches. Inherited or gifted pieces are the entry point for many into this hobby, and as we've said before and will continue to say, and serve as a point of connection between generations. 

A seiko and a breitling watch

Josh Gilman holds his father's Breitling and his own Seiko. 

We've got stories of pieces lost, found, and purchased. Gifts given to dads, grandfathers, and kids. Father's Day sits a little different with every single one of us and we hope these pieces capture the depth and variety of relationships fathers and children can have. From Danny shopping for a Rolex with his dad to Jeff tracking down his father's Rolex, some of our most classic stories are about the love a watch represents. 

A baby chewing on a Rolex watch

Thank goodness for water resistance. 

When I called my dad to tell him about my new job ("how do you spell that??") he told me about how much he always admired Seiko watches. Given his job as a stagehand and electrician they were a little too fancy for his daily wear, but he appreciated that nice watches were out there at a price point he could conceivably work with. I now know much, much more about Seiko than I did in that initial conversation but his take on the brand is the one that stays with me. So even if you never receive a watch from your dad, there are still these small moments of connection that can spring up in unexpected ways. 

Seiko Ice Diver watch

Not my father's Seiko. Yet. 


Featured Stories

Watch Of The Week: A Longines With A Mysterious Inscription

Grandfathers deserve love, too, and this beautifully written piece from Daisy Alioto climbs through her family tree, teasing out ideas of inheritance and identity. The essay also revolves around the mysterious caseback inscription, "TO HARRY FROM YOUR PLANT FRIENDS." So just in case he's out there I want to wish Harry a happy Father's Day. 

Four + One: Attorney H. Jane Chon On The Mostly Vintage Watches She Loves

My favorite part of the Four + One series is always the "One." It tells us so much about the person the object usually comes with a fun story and in the case of H. Jane Chon, a really nice moment with her father. "Chon's father gave her this 1976 two-dollar bill when she was around 10 years old, a time in her life when she felt especially awkward and out of place."  

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Watch Of The Week: Wearing My Dad's Breitling Chronomat Helped To Heal Our Relationship

In another great personal essay, Josh Gilman recounts how a Breitling Chronomat helped him connect with his father. The two couldn't be more different but a single object helped them bridge the divide that had developed between them.

And Now ... A Word From Dad

The cranky and contentious tend to get the lion's share of attention in our comments, so I love when we take the opportunity to shine the light on the good folks who make the comment section such a fun and supportive place to be (which is most of y'all!). Last year, Daisy Alioto took it to the next level and asked the dads in our community and on staff to share how watches play a role in their very busy, very hectic, everyday lives. 

Buying, Selling, & Collecting: I Bought A Bag Of Watches For $50 

This is just such a fun story. Earlier this year, James Stacey bought a bag of watches (with an extra surprise) at an antique store and hilarity ensued. While he didn't exactly strike gold, he did find some fun and unique pieces and the story is not only hilarious, the comment section is a lot of fun, too. And the whole enterprise was made possible by James' "inside man in the world of Ontario's second-hand retail (to protect his anonymity, let's call him 'my father')." 

One morning after getting dressed, I looked in the mirror and saw I was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, penny loafers, and the Breitling strapped to my wrist. I smile when I reflect on this visual and realize I love my dad for the good things he reminds me of and the lessons he instilled in me.

– Josh Gilman, in 'Wearing My Dad's Breitling Chronomat Helped To Heal Our Relationship'
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