Watch Sharing is Caring!

Experience is not just about doing; it’s about feeling, understanding, and connecting. Modern psychology emphasizes the crucial role of experiential learning in deepening our appreciation and knowledge of any subject. Theories like Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model suggest that learning is a cyclical process involving concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. In essence, we learn best when we actively engage with what we’re passionate about.

This concept is vividly illustrated within the watch-collecting community. The hands-on experience of handling a timepiece—feeling its weight, observing its craftsmanship, and hearing its movement—creates a deeper connection than mere observation ever could. It’s through these shared experiences that we cultivate a profound appreciation for the art of horology and foster meaningful relationships with fellow enthusiasts.

I can’t think of many hobbies where fellow collectors openly hand over their prized possessions to others. Watches are unique items that we share a special connection with, and often the trust level is so high that we sit at tables adorned with timepieces worth thousands, confident that everyone will leave with the same pieces they arrived with.

How often do you spot someone wearing a watch you’ve admired, and when you finally muster the courage to talk to them—as if you’re approaching someone you’re interested in—they immediately take off the cool watch and hand it to you, or vice versa? It’s a significant level of trust we have with one another.

Another fascinating example is watch brands and people I’ve barely met online sending watches through the mail for me to try out. Who does that? It’s incredible and a society that I, for one, love. It’s the way it should be, quite frankly. We form instant bonds with one another and are willing to put some of our most valuable possessions into the hands of near strangers, hoping we’ll get the piece back in the future. It’s pretty remarkable when you contrast this with news articles about how bad things are in the world and how crime impacts society. There’s still a safe haven that we in the watch community have formed and protect. Ultimately, we get to enjoy our community more because of it!

Beyond the usual watch meet-ups where we hand over our favorite pieces to one another, I’ve had a few experiences that highlight just how amazing this watch culture is.

Loci Watches

Loci was the first brand to send me their watch to try out. I was so grateful to Trip for allowing me to spend time with his piece and for the opportunity to help get the word out about what I liked. I haven’t done paid partnerships with watches; I do like to participate in the marketplace and in economic development by helping promote small businesses that I admire. His company is not large, but they make cool watches that others should be aware of. So it was an honor to play with the watch and share what I learned as a social media user. It was a great experience and my initial foray into receiving a watch in the mail (read: a new toy) and being able to handle it for a while.

Maurice Lacroix

Another example has been the time I’ve spent with a Maurice Lacroix piece. In fact, I have a second piece from them at the moment, and thanks to their North America rep—Andre—I have been able to enjoy this piece for some time. It’s actually his personal watch that he’s let me borrow. We happened to be in the same city at the same time, and thanks to social media, we figured out a place to meet and talk watches. We even caught an MLB game together while we were there. Instant connection and instant appreciation for a brand that is trying to expand right here in North America. Another amazing opportunity to try something that I’d likely have little exposure to, and the trust of an individual to allow me to borrow his watches has been a generous offering on Andre’s part!

The Real Time Show Collaboration

Most recently, the amazing team at The Real Time Show sent me their incredible Circula X TRTS collab piece to play with. It’s so cool that the relationships formed have allowed me to do reviews and be hands-on with watches that I’d have very little opportunity to experience otherwise. It’s really something else. Rob and Alon are two great people with an incredible, rapidly growing network. I’m glad to participate with people who are extremely knowledgeable about watches—from design to selling. Really great!

Personal Connections

On the personal side, @Enthuseddad (Corey) let me borrow one of his really great Heron watches, and that’s been a real joy to photograph and experience. For me, it’s about the experience and trying more and more. The more you can try out, the better you can articulate what you like or don’t like and what speaks to you from the artistic side of the watch world. Thanks, Corey!

None of this would be possible without connecting with people on a meaningful level, learning more about their watch companies or personal interests, and sharing my experiences in kind. The more I delve into the watch world, the more I hope to continue building these relationships and trying new things. It’s been the absolute best way to learn. Listening to some of my favorite podcasts, you’ll hear that it’s how they learned too. The more you’re into this, the more you can learn. Reading about watches is one way to gain valuable experience, but hands-on is the immersive learning style you need to truly appreciate the intricacies of these amazing wonders.

If you have friends who also enjoy watches, perhaps it’s time to do a swap for a couple of weeks and give some new pieces a try without needing to buy something you’re unsure of. Experience is the best way to learn and to enjoy (or not).