Anonymous Surgeon - Australia

Anonymous Operating Theatre

So as a Surgeon… do you really need a watch?

As a surgeon a watch is essential so I know how late I am running every day. Being a Virgo and a surgeon (a bad combination of OCD and pedantry) I hate being late, but it seems to be the norm. There is also the concept of surgical time – basically any procedure takes about 30% longer than the surgeon allows. It’s not our fault if all the others involved slow us down!

Your an Australian right? Are you originally from Sydney?

I am Australian, and born and bred in Sydney. That said, my training took me to live in other areas – 1 year in Newcastle (2 hrs north of Sydney) and 18 months in Melbourne.

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

Did you know that Aussies have the highest percentage of multiple watch ownership in the world?

I was not aware that we Aussies have that honour. My wife would argue that the statistic skewed by my efforts at hoarding! Strangely most of my mates have only 1 or at most 2 watches and enjoy laughing at me as some sort of freak.

Vintage Rolex Submatiners 5512/3

What interesting places has your job taken you?

I haven’t really travelled much with work – apart from the odd overseas junket (oops, I mean conference). In an effort to sound interesting, I will say I took a year off in the middle of university and travelled around the world for 8 months with a good mate – back-packing bums! I was 22, and I wore a Swatch which served me perfectly! South America and Canada are 2 of the most stunning places I’ve been since with my lovely wife.

What was your first watch..?

First watch was bought from a local jeweller when I was about 12 – little manual wind jobby which kept me going all through school. It remains unphotographed! My first “proper” watch was a Tag-Heuer 6000 steel watch (quartz) I bought myself in 1996 when I passed my surgical primary exams at my first attempt (an unpleasant process that involves 6-12 months of intense study). My mate’s brother got it at wholesale price (don’t ask!).

When did you realise that watches were not just to tell the time?

I was nudged into WIS-dom by a mate who had a lovely late 1950s Seamaster he bought from a pawnbroker – it was then I realised they could be beautiful too. It was looking for a similar watch that I stumbled onto a site called ATG Vintage Watches a few years ago…

ATG Vintage Watches Web shop and Forum

Does anyone at work notice your watches?

Yeah, some people notice them. One of my anaesthetists (female) loves wearing my watches when I’m operating – she likes men’s watches. My associate has a beautiful Audemars Piguet he got from his father which he just got fixed up, so he tends to notice any new ones. I know a few other WIS doctors, but they are often very focussed (Paneristi and Rolexicons!).

I know you have quite a cool collection of vintage watches… Do you wear a different one every day?

I don’t wear a different watch every day as a rule. I’ll wear the vintage ones if I am consulting all day, or going out to a nice dinner. For day to day stuff I’ll wear something modern, mainly for the reassurance of it handling a knock or immersion – Seadweller, Sinn U1 SDR or EZM-1, Doxa PVD, Bremont, Seiko Sumo are the most common.

Dive Watches - Vintage & Modern

How do you choose what to wear?

See above. Also depends if I’m going to the beach, swimming, golfing, the gym etc… I have favourites for each. If I am in a shirt and tie, my Virgo comes out a bit and there may be some colour-coding at times, and it often has to fit well under a cuff, so the vintage ones do well. Favourite vintage wearers – Aquastar, UG Compax, Speedy 1967 and 5513 Sub.

From left; Omega Speedmaster, Universal Genever Compax, Wittnauer Professional, Aquastar - Deepstar

Do you keep them all wound and running as a lot of collectors do?

No, but usually have about 5 wound up at a time

I notice a lot of your watches are from the late 60’s Is there a reason for this…?

The late 60s thing (well, 1967 to be precise) happened a bit by chance. You sold me the Aquastar Deepstar (which happened to be 1967), then the Wittnauer (ditto) and I got on a bit of a roll. I wanted a Speedy and a 5513 so the natural progression was to go 1967. It didn’t help that you kept finding 1967 treasures to tempt my weak flesh – UG Compax for example. I think it is no accident, since the period produced a lot of very good looking (and indeed iconic) watches, and no period since has challenged it, I would say. The 70s had a some unusual and interesting pieces, some also very beautiful.

How many watches have you owned…?

About 30 or so. Current count about 24 I think.

What is the worst watch you have owned that was supposed to be good?

I haven’t really had a “worst” watch so to speak. I got burned with a Franken Speedy early on, which thankfully went back to its seller with good grace. The Doxa 5000T was fun for a while, but ultimately a bit too big and blingy, so it moved on quickly. But it was very well built. I’ll get another orange Doxa at some stage, but it will be smaller.

What is your most expensive purchase?

Bremont EP 120

Bremont Spitfire EP120 Chronograph

Is there a watch out there that you would love to own but can’t bring yourself to spend big?

1665 Double-Red Seadweller 1967 thin case – a pretty rare bird. Kind of almost took the plunge a year ago, but it was crazy money I didn’t really have.

Who do you think are making interesting new watches right now?

Bremont, without a doubt. I am impressed mostly with their technology and construction principles, and I think they have created a style that is their own with their case and lug styling in particular. Some high end Seikos are interesting (especially the movements), and that funky Eterna 1000m diver – perhaps the most interesting I’ve seen for a while. And yes, I put the Seiko bit in to be annoying!

Where do you see things going as the prices of vintage have been going up and up..?

I think a lot of vintage will plateau, with the really high-end stuff staying pretty strong, which for most of us will have little effect. For us Aussies, it is a buyers market with our dollar tipped to go past $1 US this year, and just hit all time highs against the Euro, and 30 year high against the pound. I am, however, deficient in funds as the house renovations crawl onwards!

If there could only be one then which would it be…?

Out of my current stable – Seadweller makes the strongest claim. Good size, tough, functional, can be dressy but can also play on a Nato (now for instance), can be serviced to last for ever. The Sinn EZM1 also would be a contender, for most of the same reasons, plus it is a chrono and titanium. It really needs a better bracelet though – pretty crap I have to say. My Alt1-C is my most loved watch, but if it had to be one, it would probably have to go.

Bremont ALT1 - C Panda

Tags: Bremont Deepdive watches, Rolex Subariner 5513

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