Some men play golf. Some women play mahjong. But did you know there’s a group in town who gathers to tinker with watches?
The Carolina Watch Club has nearly 150 members in and around Charlotte, mostly men, who gather once a month to show and tell stories about their watches. They’ve met over beers and for dinner. They’ve floated on Lake Norman on a double-decker yacht, and “barrel picked” personalized bottles of whiskey at Great Wagon Road Distilling.
They’ve taken groups to watch conventions in New York City and brought members of the New York Horological Society here to demonstrate watchmaking mechanics.
The club, founded in 2017 by local collector Chris Dickson and Ben Simon, Vice President of Windsor Jewelers, draws about 50 to 75 members to each monthly event. Some bring in just the watch on their wrist, some bring in 20 or 30 in a case.
The common theme? Their passion.
“I think in today's world watches are so special to people because we're so damn digital and overwhelmed with all this constant connection,” Simon says. “Watches are a tie to an old world feel, something still very analog that is craft. I think a lot of people, frankly, are missing that in today's world. They love getting together and playing with something that's like a mechanical piece of art. Guys geek out over it.”
From Seiko and Casio to Rolex and Patek Philippe, whether watches are sporty or for dressy occasions, the fascination comes with where they came from, how they work, and what they mean.
“Even the slowest watch has to click at 18,000 beats per hour,” says member Nate Cho, a software engineer for machine manufacturer DMG MORI. “Then that does it 24 hours a day. The only other thing I can think of that has to beat so much is a heart rate.”
The group is made up of professionals, doctors, lawyers, both retired and active military members, accountants, engineers and more.
“It’s not just a bunch of finance guys playing with watches,” Simon says. “It’s a pretty diverse group.”
He says members, who are referred by other members, include a lot of 20-something Gen Zers, women and spouses too.
“You would think in the world of the Apple Watch that analog mechanical watches have gone by the wayside, but they've been more popular than ever,” Simon says. “They are not just a useful tool for time keeping anymore, but they're really an expression of lifestyle and culture.”
Members have shared pocket watches belonging to grandfathers and great-grandfathers, some dating back as far as the 1800s. They’ve shared military watches that have been through multiple wars. They’ve brought watches that were retirement gifts after distinguished careers with a corporation. They’ve brought watches that commemorate births or graduations. Other watches, Simon says, have even been used for engagements.
Every watch has a story.
Cho has a coworker who moved from Denmark. To commemorate becoming a U.S. citizen, he bought a Rolex GMT Pepsi, nicknamed for the red and blue bezel, or outer ring, that keeps 24 hours of international time (12 hours in blue, 12 hours in red). He had the back of the watch face engraved with the Statue of Liberty. Cho says he wouldn’t take delivery of it until he had completed every step for citizenship.
Cho says one club member bought multiple watches of the same model in different colors for his son, son-in-law and himself, to honor their family connection.
Sharing stories like these has given CWC members a unique connection of their own.
“As much as it is the Carolina Watch Club, the watches are secondary to the camaraderie in the group,” Simon says. “There are different people from all walks of life in the group, and they're collecting different things. Some people are collecting Casio or Seiko watches at the entry price point, and some people are collecting the most expensive watches out there. But they're all getting along and having fun. They're mostly there for making friends.”
Members have helped design a watch made by Tudor with Carolina Watch Club inscribed on the dial. Cho said he's even been approached by watch collectors in other cities who have recognized the CWC Tudor watch.
"It's nice to have a watch that looks like something that could be mainstream but has those subtle little touches," Cho said. "It is something that bonds the group together even more."
Visit CarolinaWatchClub.com.
They love getting together and playing with something that's like a mechanical piece of art. Guys geek out over it.