Today we chat to California-based finance guy Robert, a down-to-earth Instagram veteran with a thing for watches …
Hey Robert, tell us about yourself.
Day to day I’m just your average guy who loves watches. On weekends I enjoy getaways to Napa, Carmel, Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. My wife and I are always out and about with our dog, Kevin. Most days you’ll find us at a local happy hour or watching sports on weekends.
First and foremost, I love my family. Believe it or not, I also love my career. Finally, of course, I love watches. This hobby has transcended merely wearing something on your wrist that looks nice, and now is more about sharing a passion with a group of like-minded people whom I now call my friends.
So, what’s your daily watch and why?
My GMT-Master II BLNR. It’s just a perfect watch. The proportions, colours, ruggedness … everything about it makes it the best daily watch I own. I also own an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26400IO and an Omega Speedmaster CK2998. I’d have to say my favourites are the Audemars and the BLNR, though my latest, a Patek 5712, hasn’t been off my wrist much recently.
So your Batman gets the most wrist time, what do you love most about it?
The BLNR is the most versatile watch that I own, it goes with literally anything. I can wear it with a suit or wear it to the beach. It’s simply perfect.
What do you look for, in terms of criteria, when buying a watch then?
It has to be wearable, like take it to the beach or the pool wearable. I’m not a huge fan of leather straps or dress watches, they just don’t fit my personality. Next I look for a watch that has stability in terms of value. I flip a lot of watches so liquidity is important to me. Finally, I like watches that are somewhat unique. I don’t want to own a watch that everyone on the street owns.
What are you working on right now?
In terms of watches I spend a lot of time working with Stephen Silver on their Instagram account — @stephensilverfj. Other than that, I’ve been working on a few interviews and am trying to find time to do a podcast episode with the guys at OnTime. I also do a bit of consulting work for some brands because I love seeing what is happening in the industry and offering some feedback.
Tell us about your Royal Oak Offshore …
The Offshore line was 100 per cent the reason I got into fine watches. I remember seeing a Royal Oak Offshore Safari in person and was instantly hooked. So to finally own an Offshore was a big deal to me. The 26400IO is great, I love the balance of colours and materials, and the titanium case makes it very comfortable.
Your feed is a balanced mix of modern and vintage. Which do you prefer?
I’m a modern watch guy. I have an appreciation for vintage but it’s not really my passion. Whenever I look at vintage Daytonas and pieces like that, I remind myself that at one point they WERE a modern watch to the original buyer. I just like attaching my own experiences to a watch that comes fresh out of the plastic.
You’ve been on IG for as long as I can remember – how’d you find yourself in the watch game?
I started my Instagram almost 3 years ago … those were the days! Basically, I remember following guys like @wristi and @pbandwatches thinking, “Hey, I’ve got some watches too!” So I started the account as some awful mix of cars and watches and some reposts with a different username, which eventually morphed into @thehoracle.
