Letters + Events FROM THE EDITORS
Detroit Watch Company’s
M1-Woodward Moonphase
ARROGANCE VS. INNOCENCE
A
fter more than a few years watching and reporting on the renaissance of the
mechanical wristwatch, I will admit that even now, almost three decades
later, I retain an almost juvenile innocence when reviewing a new watch,
watch brand or even meeting another industry member.
I’m tired of the affected ennui of industry insiders only too
willing to ignore a plebian with a dream while heaping
praise in the safe havens of known favorites. Let’s be real:
not everyone can be Rolex. Of course, these cynics can
come around if and when a newcomer gets a bit of
traction, or perhaps when a maven of note has deigned to
honor said brand with his or her own royal approbation.
I will admit that after a good stint in this industry I am
It’s true enough that I do tend to look for the positives, with the cup half full and all taken aback more and more by this conceit in recent
that, but I do so with the thought that even though I may personally like or dislike a years. Writers think their opinion is akin to
particular watch, brand, or ambassador, others may in fact be over-the-top fans. Who’s commandments from above. Watchmakers denigrate
to say whether your opinion or mine is the more valid?
their peers and egotistical brand presidents and leaders
imagine their status entitles them to treat downstream
IT IS WITH THIS OPEN-MINDED NAIVETÉ THAT I PRESENT THE PANOPLY OF WATCHES we cover in our partners as disposable goods. “Thanks for your hard work
magazines and on our digital platforms. We don’t restrict coverage to include only what we like, what’s over the years promoting or selling our brand, but we’re
popular, or what sells in our shopping cart (if we have one). And we certainly do not become instant fans of a going to be ending our relationship with you at this time,”
brand just because their check cleared. Yes, we have advertisers, appreciate their partnership, and include is one line. “Don’t call us, and we certainly won’t call you –
their watches in iW. But you’ll also see a wide scope of types in iW that have never, will never, or simply cannot unless and until we need something from you of course,”
afford to partner with us. is another.
Perhaps it’s a side-effect of covering both high-end watches for the affluent minority in iW, as well as
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s move on to some
watches in the “popular” price segment with our sister magazine AboutTime, but I simply do not ascribe to awesome watches from brands you’ve heard of – as well as
these pre-conceived notions that have infected too many of the so-called journalists and experts publishing a newcomer or two.
content on wristwatches. For some of these myopic members of the fourth estate, if it’s not a recognized label, Keep Watching!
(watch) case closed.
Others are more open-minded when it comes to covering newer types, but as often as not it is to stroke the
ego of discovery, the “I found it first” designation, or the fear of not copping on to the new hotness that’s
currently trending. Or, in many cases it’s simply traced back to the almighty dollar.
Gary George Girdvainis
Publisher | [email protected]
FALL 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 3