Today's guest is another stalwart of the Calibre 11 forum and a proud owner of the original Alec Monopoly Formula 1 watch, lucky beggar... so please welcome 'Remo'!
Hi Remo, could you tell us a little bit about yourself before we get into the questions?
I am born in 1972, 3 years after the Monaco. I live with my wife and one child, two cats and a horse near Lucerne, Switzerland. This town might have the highest density of watch retailers in the world. As a Psychologist and sleep specialist I have not much to do with watches professionally, other than being under time pressure a good deal of the day considering the pretty high workload in the healthcare professions nowadays. Some diagnostic processes involve measuring sleep latency. But I discarded the idea of measuring sleep latency with my TAG Heuer Monaco after I slept on it.
Good one. All the best people have cats by the way, just thought I'd mention that... so how did you get into watches?
Although I was born in a country which is renowned not only for its cheese, and monetary institutions, but also for its high-end luxury watches, I had no special relationship to watches for many years. Quite the opposite: When I was living in a flat share as a student, wearing watches was quite proscribed. It was a sign of allegiance to the establishment. Well, most of us didn’t have the money anyway.
After many years without wearing a watch Smartwatches came along. I liked the idea of changeable watchfaces. In 2014 I bought the first ever round smartwatch (I still have it.): the LG G Watch R, which had a full round screen, compared to “flat tire” screen of the Moto 360. About 2 years later Jean-Claude Biver introduced the TAG Heuer Connected at a press conference in New York. I watched a live stream of this conference, and it was clear, that I had to have it. I thought, it was crazy to spend so much money on a smartwatch. But it was also crazy, to spend a lot of money on smoking cigarettes. I made a deal with myself: I would quit smoking and put my money into watches.
From there I was drawn in the watch world deeper and deeper. The strategy of Mr. Biver worked very well in my case. I am the living proof, that smartwatches are much more a gateway than a threat to traditional watches. Mr. Biver is a kind man by the way. When the TH Connected 46 came out, it was not available in Switzerland for some months. I wrote to Mr. Biver: “How can this be, that I can’t buy this swiss made watch in Switzerland!?” His answer was very compassionate (but I had to wait some more weeks or months anyway).
So the Connected 46 was my first TAG Heuer Watch. It’s not that long ago when it came out, but in the world of smartwatches it is almost a vintage piece already. The TAG Heuer Studio App features the possibility to set an individual background from a personal image as a dial. I loved that feature and I’ve created a lot of personal dials.
Another strong motor of my watch spleen are good books (e.g. “Armbanduhren sammeln” by Bernhard Strom) and DCs calibre11.com of course.
Sounds like a great idea to put your cigarette money into watches, so what was your first, or first good watch?
My godfather gifted me a Certina to my first communion at the beginning of the 80s. I don’t remember if it was automatic or Quartz, I suppose it was gold plated. For me it was a very good and luxurious watch. It was much too big for my wrist, and I didn’t wear it often. Somewhere it got lost over the years, which I regret very much today.
Do you have a favourite piece in your current collection?
It’s the Monaco 50th anniversary LE 1969-1979 of course. I had to pass on many cigarettes to justify this one.
Haha, yes... more than a few packets! Given your affinity to the Smartwatch I'm guessing you don't have a problem with quartz pieces then?
Before the intellectual embargo mentioned before I had several fashion quartz watches: I had a Pop Swatch, two Diesel watches and an Emporio Armani. Even if they were inexpensive from todays perspective, I wore them some years. When I was drawn deeper into the watchworld many years later, I developed the need to have them serviced. Fossil, who is the owner of those brands, did a very god job on two of those 3 watches, the third one could not be refurbished. I appreciate my TH Alec Monopoly F1. And then I have two quartz wallclocks: a Mondaine SBB CFF FSS (swiss railway) watch, which is a huge swiss design classic, and an IWC for Mediclinic, which was designed by IWC itself in the Style of the Potugieser, it contains a very cheap chinese quartz movement, with a nice sweeping second.
I hope, that Mr. Biver will not be right regarding the future of quartz watches: I hope, that there will be enough quartz-watch enthusiasts, to keep the production of the batteries and the maintenance of the watches going.
I really wish I had bought the first Alec Monopoly watch when I had the chance... it's so annoying, because the second one has been easy to pick up, but I don't like the design half as much and for me the black background was a winner. Ah well, do you know what your next piece will be?
When I was at Baselword 2019 I had the opportunity to see the Autavia Isographs, which I am pretty drawn to, especially the Bronze versions, but I don’t like the developing of verdigris. I am pretty sure that I will like the forthcoming watches of the revived Autavia collection. I also like the Bamford GMT. But probably I will go for a used watch. I am scanning some auction platforms often, looking for the bargain of the century.
Is there perhaps a watch that you would like to acquire, if money was not an issue?
For a long time I would have answered this question instantly with ‘Patek Nautilus!’. But today I am more prone to the watches of Vacheron Constantin, since this is the oldest of the still existing Swiss Watch Manufactures; it was founded in 1755 (other sources say it was 1785). The ultimate watch to own for me would be a ‘Philippe Dufour’. This marvelous man is a living watchmaker legend from Le Sentier in the Vallée de Joux. His watches and all parts of them are almost completely manufactured by the hands of the master himself. You see, my aspirations are steadily growing. But the idea of ‘money no object’ itself will possibly remain a sweet dream.
How does your partner/wife feel about your collection?
I am glad, that she does accept it. And she is even very empathic, although she doesn’t have the watch virus herself. But when I buy a new watch, she always tells me, that she likes it and compliments my taste.
How many watches is too many?
Almost all watches I have bought so far had a lot of wrist-time when they were new to my collection. And they made me feel good for a long time. If I won’t get this feeling anymore, or only short-time, this would be the time to look for another obsession.
Have you ever ‘sneaked’ a watch into the house?
No!
I haven't counted but I'd wager more than 50% of my interviewees have... just saying. :)
So if you haven't sneaked one in have you ever bought or sold a watch and regretted it?
Yes, I bought a watch online that didn’t exist. I had to learn my lessons: greed guzzles brain. I also regret to have sold a Tag Heuer Titanium (quartz), which I bought, but the chronograph pushers were defect. I managed to refurbish this one myself, and afterwards I sold it. Every time I see one of them, I get a little feeling of loss.
The titanium is an odd one, to me it looks kind of ugly, but at the same time I could totally understand why someone would like it. It has a bit of Vacheron Constantin about it somehow...
Are you more excited by re-issues or new pieces?
I am more in the progress-camp. But I also like watches which play the heritage-card, e.g. the Heuer Monza, which received the Revival Watch Prize at the prestigious Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève in 2016, or DCs “Siffert Autavia” of course. I also own two real vintage watches: one is a Certina DS, a present from a good friend, who inherited it from his uncle; he had no use for it anymore, because he was only wearing his Rolex since he got it. The other is a pocketwatch from my grandfather.
Ah cool, I too have a pocket watch from my grandfather. Now a question which usually divides people quite sharply - what are your thoughts on the subject of 'faux' aged lume?
It depends on the watch. I am glad, that they skipped this on the LE Monaco 69-79. But I think it looks very nice on the Autavia Heuer 02 Viceroy Re-Edition.
Why do you think it is that TAG Heuer attracts more than its fair share of negativity?
There are several hypotheses about this circulating the Internet. One is, that TAG made a fashion brand out of Heuer and sold overpriced watches. The watches at the bottom end of the price level are obviously something, that watch snobs with fat wallets can slander on. Often you can also read, that TAG has too many ambassadors or no clear profile or strategy. I think, most of the people who depreciate TAG Heuer are just regurgitating, never having worn or owned a TAG Heuer themselves.
Another subject which stirs debate is the TAG Heuer / Bamford tie up, how do you feel about their collaboration.
It’s a way to give people what they want: a customized piece to underscore their own style and taste. It was fun to be part of their Monaco anniversary story on Instagram.
Are you swayed by ‘limited editions’ and associated packaging?
Yes, but I know it’s a bit of a delusion to think, that limited editions are special... since they are produced more frequently from year to year it seems.
Is there a TAG Heuer / Heuer you really don’t like?
What kind of odd question is this? Seriously: Even when I see pictures of some models which I don’t like that much, I think that they would surely look great in the flesh. What I don’t like, is that they put a fake carbon dial on the latest Aquaracers. That was not necessary and might fuel the Fashion-Brand criticism.
How do you feel about gold and two-tone watches, would you / do you wear them and do you feel comfortable wearing them?
I like them. If I had one, I would surely wear it. Recently a friend of mine had a vintage two-tone Oris Chronograph serviced; it looked fantastic on the wrist!
Is there a Heuer / TAG Heuer that you'd like to see revived?
The Heuer Bund is a very good looking watch. Zenith has a quite similar model with the Pilot Chronometer Tipo CP-2. But I reckon, that they look quite different in the flesh regarding size of the numerals and so on.
Yes, I'm not a massive Heuer fan but I can see why the Bundeswehr is a popular choice, and it's certainly one I would consider.
The celebrations are still ongoing of course, and there's more to come, but if you were in charge of TAG Heuer, how would you have marked the 50th anniversary of the Monaco.
I appreciate the way they organized this party. It’s important, that the other Monaco editions are not devalued. I like the massive steel caseback of the anniversary watches. I would have loved to see them individually numbered. The boxes are a bit simple, even if the retro-design is beautiful. It would have been cool to have the Paradoxical icon book included in a big box, and maybe a blue ray of the Le Mans movie with a 'Making of 'or whatsoever.
That's a cool idea, although it would have required quite a big box!
So on the Calibre 11 forum there's a semi-constant debate over the Monaco design, where do you stand on the round or square pushers argument?
For quite some time I was hoping, that the anniversary watches will bring the round pusher back. But when you think about it, it might not be a very good idea. They don't match the square design, and they are not aligned with the case. I don’t think they are functional nowadays, when people expect longer and longer lasting guarantees.
So unlike me you're not a single brand kind of guy, and you've already mentioned a couple of non TAG Heuer watches, what else is knocking around chez Remo?
Well, when I saw the movie “All is lost” I had to have this “Redford-Seiko” Seiko SKX175. I wanted to have the right model with the MALAYSIA-Dial, so I ordered this watch from the USA from Sarasota Watch Company; their service was very good. I wore it quite often as a beater watch. But then I thought it’s too nice for that purpose. Because of that I bought me another tough watch: The CASIO G-Shock DW-5600BB-1ER Full Black.
How do you feel about the Hodinkee limited edition phenomenon, and leading off of that, would you like to see TAG instigate some sort of ‘VIP’ club for people who buy regularly with special editions offered first/or possibly exclusively to members?
Well I am susceptible to such hypes. I wanted to buy the Hodinkee Swatch Sistem51. But they would not distribute it to other markets than the US. I was so mad: Another Swiss watch which I could not get hold of was a Swiss citizen (my first heartthrob when I was a kid was even in a garb group, yodeling and doing those silly folkloristic dances)!
And finally, you've already mentioned that possibly TAG Heuer already has too many brand ambassadors, but despite that I am contractually bound to ask you anyway, so; who would you like to see following in the footsteps of Mika Hakkinnen, Leonardo di Caprio and Tiger Woods?
Sébastien Buemi would be a cool recruitment; but he seems to be with AP currently.
Excellent, well... as always, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview, it's much appreciated and I know this feature is popular with my readers so hopefully in the future we can do this again!
