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TALKING VINTAGE WATCH RESTORATION ETHICS
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
WORDS BY ZACH KAZAN
https://wornandwound.com/talking-vin...and-eric-wind/
TALKING VINTAGE WATCH RESTORATION ETHICS WITH JAMES LAMDIN, ERIC KU, AND ERIC WIND
The vintage watch world in 2019 is a minefield. There’s no other way to put it. While there are exceptional vintage dealers and resources available to consumers who want to be educated, there are just as many, maybe more, out to make a quick buck in a less than scrupulous way.
Analog/Shift has been a staple in the vintage watch world for a number of years. Known for providing a huge selection of expertly curated watches at various price points, the love and respect for vintage comes through in their detailed product descriptions and beautiful photography that showcases the timepieces as they are, imperfections and all.
James’s point of view could not be clearer. “Anyone who is dismissive of restoration is completely missing the point,” he tells me, in no uncertain terms. The point, he says, is for these things to be used, and to be kept alive. Refinishing, in his estimation, can give new life to a watch that may have been mistreated over the years, and a subtle touch up should never be sneered at. “Watches are very commonly spruced up and made to be better,” he says.
AN “ED WHITE” GETS THE RESTORATION TREATMENT AT LA WATCH WORKS. FROM THEIR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.
“It is a treacherous market,” says Wind, who sees a vintage watch landscape full of potential disaster for the inexperienced consumer. “The nature of watches themselves,” he says, “lends itself to a lot of swapping of parts as well as undisclosed restoration. I certainly prefer watches in more easily verifiable original condition, with ties to the original owner if possible.”
On the topic of transparency, Wind sees some obvious potential pitfalls. “It is concerning,” he says, “I have seen my share of supposedly NOS watches where the case has been totally restored and the owner is unaware.” Not only does this signal some potentially shady business activity, but the sour taste it leaves in the customer’s mouth can have a ripple effect on the industry, and its reputation. “In many cases,” says Wind, “that collector gives up on collecting vintage watches altogether and the market suffers.” We’ve all read horror stories from anonymous posters on watch forums and other websites, and eventually that information seeps into the collective consciousness of the enthusiasts who prop up the hobby.
Part of the challenge of educating the public is making sure that we’re using and understanding the vocabulary of the vintage watch world correctly. Both James and Eric Ku agree that certain words should be avoided when discussing vintage watches. For James, it’s “original—the most overused word in vintage.”
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
WORDS BY ZACH KAZAN
https://wornandwound.com/talking-vin...and-eric-wind/
TALKING VINTAGE WATCH RESTORATION ETHICS WITH JAMES LAMDIN, ERIC KU, AND ERIC WIND
The vintage watch world in 2019 is a minefield. There’s no other way to put it. While there are exceptional vintage dealers and resources available to consumers who want to be educated, there are just as many, maybe more, out to make a quick buck in a less than scrupulous way.
Analog/Shift has been a staple in the vintage watch world for a number of years. Known for providing a huge selection of expertly curated watches at various price points, the love and respect for vintage comes through in their detailed product descriptions and beautiful photography that showcases the timepieces as they are, imperfections and all.
James’s point of view could not be clearer. “Anyone who is dismissive of restoration is completely missing the point,” he tells me, in no uncertain terms. The point, he says, is for these things to be used, and to be kept alive. Refinishing, in his estimation, can give new life to a watch that may have been mistreated over the years, and a subtle touch up should never be sneered at. “Watches are very commonly spruced up and made to be better,” he says.
AN “ED WHITE” GETS THE RESTORATION TREATMENT AT LA WATCH WORKS. FROM THEIR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.
“It is a treacherous market,” says Wind, who sees a vintage watch landscape full of potential disaster for the inexperienced consumer. “The nature of watches themselves,” he says, “lends itself to a lot of swapping of parts as well as undisclosed restoration. I certainly prefer watches in more easily verifiable original condition, with ties to the original owner if possible.”
On the topic of transparency, Wind sees some obvious potential pitfalls. “It is concerning,” he says, “I have seen my share of supposedly NOS watches where the case has been totally restored and the owner is unaware.” Not only does this signal some potentially shady business activity, but the sour taste it leaves in the customer’s mouth can have a ripple effect on the industry, and its reputation. “In many cases,” says Wind, “that collector gives up on collecting vintage watches altogether and the market suffers.” We’ve all read horror stories from anonymous posters on watch forums and other websites, and eventually that information seeps into the collective consciousness of the enthusiasts who prop up the hobby.
Part of the challenge of educating the public is making sure that we’re using and understanding the vocabulary of the vintage watch world correctly. Both James and Eric Ku agree that certain words should be avoided when discussing vintage watches. For James, it’s “original—the most overused word in vintage.”