Since the beginning of the year, the Fine Watch Club has steadily been gathering members across the globe (over 6,000 members now and counting) and providing unparalleled access to the behind-the-scenes of the industry’s biggest brands. But first and foremost, the Club is fostering a community of passionate watch enthusiasts and collectors. In a series of interviews, we get to know more about a select few of this diverse group of members, their collections and why they love watchmaking.
The first in our series is Kevin Small, from Birmingham, United Kingdom.
What made you want to join the Fine Watch Club ?
I first saw it advertised on the Internet in 2018. The web page offered not just an insight into new watches but also special events, such as factory visits, etc.
What first got you interested in watches ?
Watches have been a fascination for me for a number of years. However, it is only in the last 5-6 years that I have shown a deeper interest in watches and read up on the subject. The more I read about watches the more I want to learn.
What is your favourite watch in your collection ?
I cannot justify buying top-end watches that cost thousands of Euros (my bank manager will not allow it). However, I do feel that watches do not have to be highly priced to be prized highly. My current favourites are:
- For workdays – Poljot Nights of St Petersburg. This is a strong watch, easy to read and capable of taking the bumps and knocks at work. It has an onion crown and art deco lugs and is rose gold in colour (plated not solid). It has no date but a small seconds complication at 9.00.
- For weekends – Girard Perregaux. This is a delicate watch, clean and easy to read, with a yellow gold case measuring about 34mm. This simple two-hand dress watch in the art deco style features a small seconds complication at 6.00. It is paired with a 1950s brown leather deployant strap that I managed to buy from America. I would wear this all the time but it is too delicate for work and strenuous activities.
How was your experience with the FWC organised visit and what did you enjoy most ?
I have been on two organised trips. The first was Baselworld 2019 and I really enjoyed it. It was the first time that I had got together with fellow watch lovers in a group and to actually meet in an event such as Baselworld was special. What was even more special was to be able to go behind the scenes at two major brands (Zenith and Bulgari) and be treated in the same way as the major retail buyers would be treated – private room to try the watches, coffee and biscuits etc. It was something that could not normally be available to ordinary watch enthusiasts.
My second visit was the Jaeger-LeCoultre Factory Tour. This was another excellent adventure. The chance to visit Geneva and also visit a watch factory was great – but not just any watch factory. This was Jaeger-LeCoultre – one of the oldest and most prestigious watch brands there is. I was impressed by the kindness shown by the Jaeger-LeCoultre staff. Being the only English native speaker on the tour it was difficult, at times, to follow some of the processes but since horology is a universal language I managed very well. It also helped that one of the Jaeger-LeCoultre marketing staff spoke very good English. I would like to thank Anne-Laure du Jardin for taking the time and effort to talk through some of the finer points of the Jaeger-LeCoultre processes in English.
I am very disappointed to be missing out on the Monaco Event in September but work commitments will not allow it.
In future, which brand would you like to see FWC working with to offer an exclusive watch brand ?
I think undoubtedly, that my choice would be Jaeger-LeCoultre. I was drawn to their heritage and quality before the factory tour but now I have seen the processes and skills at first-hand I am certain that my one big watch purchase will be a Jaeger-LeCoultre, and if that purchase is made through the Fine Watch Club then all the better.
For more information on the Fine Watch Club, its upcoming offers and different memberships, and the Fine Watch Week, visit www.fine-watch-club.com
