SIHH 2015 Behind the Scenes: Lunchagram. Five Watch Instagrammers do lunch.
Andrew McUtchenHere’s a riddle. How many Watch Instagrammers does it take to promptly get a table for lunch at SIHH? We have no idea, because we totally failed at this. And what do you get when you – eventually – put the said five Watch Instagrammers on a round table for sushi, Caprese salad and Sauvignon Blanc? A table of people who – even after learning each other’s real-life names – prefer to call each other by their Insta Handles. i.e, “Hey Panerai Central, pass the salt dude….”
It was so great to meet Watch Collecting Lifestyle, Panerai Central, the zeitgeist that is Whatchs (who moonlights as whatchs.com and @gastronogram) and The Horophile in the metal. Gentlemen, all. Here’s a quick wrap of what they’re looking forward to seeing at SIHH and also the watch that started their obsessions….
@watchcollectinglifestyle (USA)
WATCH YOU CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IN THE METAL:
I’m looking forward to seeing the Audemars Piguet 15400 in stainless steel and rose gold.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST WATCH YOU REALLY LOVED
My first watch was a Rolex Submariner when I was 18, but the first watch that I really loved was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 5402 in 98 in stainless steel.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TODAY?
My Royal Oak Jumbo two-tone. It’s a very special watch that I’ve sold on three occasions but it’s found its way back to me every time. It’s my lucky watch. I’m also wearing my Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Perpetual.
@whatchs (SWEDEN)
WATCH YOU CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IN THE METAL:
It’s too early to say for me, I just arrived.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST WATCH YOU REALLY LOVED
A Swatch called ‘Irony’ in aluminium.
HOW DID YOU GO AND GET SO POPULAR ON INSTAGRAM THEN
I started two-and-a-half years ago when I was 21. I actually only got onto Instagram to use the filters only. Then I was talking to a friend of mine Anish (of @watchanish Instagram fame) about starting an account. We started at the same time.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TODAY?
A blue Rolex Submariner (the smurf).
@paneraicentral (USA)
WATCH YOU CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IN THE METAL:
The Carbotech. The Carbotech. It’s all about the Carbotech. As soon as I got the press releases about the Carbotech I’ve wanted to see the Carbotech. It’s something completely different for Panerai. It reminds me of when they released the Bronzo. At first everyone was unsure, no one wanted it, then as everyone saw it get older and patina they completely changed. When we all saw it new it was too shiny. The Carbotech seems like a hit though, I’ve already had people messaging me wanting to buy it. It’s so light to hold. It’s actually amazing.
FIRST WATCH YOU REALLY LOVED:
Honestly? I was 14, and it was a fossil watch. The way that I got into Panerai was that my friend had a Panerai and I just loved it. I started reading everything I could. It was three years later that he told me the watch was actually fake! I had a real one by then and he said, “Let me see it properly, I’ve never actually seen a real Panerai up close.”