Today we catch up with the enigmatic Swiss penguin (hey, it’s what her profile says) with a love for complicated watches and a top notch feed. Meet @LindaZinha…
NAME: Viviana – but please, call me Vivi
OCCUPATION: Watch retail
HANDLE: @LindaZinha
FOLLOWERS: 3K
LOCATION: Switzerland
Tell me about yourself:
I’m a twenty-something-year-old girl who is nuts about watches — and have been ever since I started my career, about 9 years ago. I speak 4 languages fluently and a 5th language (only under torture). I’m lucky enough to have two nationalities, and enjoy the perks of both, travelling lots and meeting new people.
How do you unwind?
I hardly ever have time to unwind for real. I work from 9am until 7.45pm, which includes a two-hour commute, so I do lots of reading! Otherwise, I enjoy going to the gym or dancing. A good movie is also something that can put my mind off a long day, and when my brain is too tired to read. Lately, I have been reading a lot of management books.
What’s your daily watch and why?
My weekday watch is a Montblanc Dual Counter. I really enjoy wearing it because it’s not a girly watch — the dual counter (that gives the seconds and the date) makes it look a bit complicated.
My weekend watch is my faithful Master Control by Jaeger-LeCoultre. I love this watch because it brings a lot of good memories. It was my second real watch that I bought all by myself, so every time I look at it, it reminds me that it is worth working hard to get what we wish.
Being young, my collection is small, but I have a Reverso Squadra, a snoopy watch (for real!), a beautiful Brew Watch, and a Charriol. I tend to choose my watch for the day depending on my mood and what I’m wearing. One day I hope to buy the Patek that stole my heart: the 5712!
What are you working on now?
There have been many projects on my mind lately — I need the time to put them down and make it a reality. One that I can talk about involves moving somewhere new, but that’s all I can say. Otherwise, all projects are secrets of state.
Watch collecting is a hobby pretty comfortably dominated by men, what drew you to it?
When I started my career, I was sent to Audemars Piguet for an internship (in the middle of the 2008 GFC). At the time I liked watches but thought only Swatch and Rolex were a thing. Since there was not much space, they put my office next to an Atelier with watchmakers. So obviously, I started being curious about what they were making. I started asking questions and the watchmakers were answering with so much passion that I instantly fell in love with the craft. Then I started researching brands and the know-how. The more I saw, the more I was drawn to it.
I went abroad for a year. When I came back I started an apprenticeship with Jaeger-LeCoultre, on literally the first day, I visited the “Atelier des Grandes complications” and was mesmerised with Master Watchmaker Christian Laurent talking about the complications like they were his children. I instantly felt the need to own one of those objects that people put so much passion into.
How would you describe your style of collecting?
At the moment it’s more about what I can afford. I finished my studies not long ago, and live on my own. I like classic men’s watches. I think my collection would be more about watches that have a history, without being too showy. So, I don’t particularly have a style, I need a connection.
What do you think about the approach from big brands in regards to women’s collections? How about the Basel offerings this year?
I wasn’t impressed this year. I think they added too many diamonds, flowers and useless complications. I was happy when I heard Patek was making a Grande Sonnerie for women but was less impressed when I saw it. They made a beautiful QP for ladies, but yet again filled it up with diamonds on the bezel.
I found Baselworld a bit disappointing; I didn’t see any ‘wow factor. It felt like all brands were showing the same thing all over again, with nothing really mind blowing. I guess either we do Baselworld too often… or the brands will blow our minds next year! I sincerely hope it’s the second option.
If you could have any watch tomorrow, what would it be?
If I could have ANY watch tomorrow? I would love a Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 3. Having kind of a beating heart on my wrist would be a total dream.
