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Earlier this year, Nik approached me to ask if I wanted to accompany him and Bryan (@artdecowatches) on a trip to go shoot the world's largest collection of vintage Hamilton watches and company paraphernalia. Always wanting to play at being an actual watch journalist and live out my James Stacey roleplay, I of course gave an enthusiastic yes. I knew it would be a challenging trip. There would likely be dozens of watches to shoot and probably on a very tight schedule. As the trip neared and I prepared my shot list, some interesting preliminary challenges arose. The collection owner was, rightfully so, very secretive about the details of their collection. So while I was trying to prepare ahead of time, I soon discovered it was nearly impossible to prep for anything more than the 4 or 5 specific watches I was told would be there. Every time I asked what else I would be filming I was given a nondescript answer about how large the collection was. “No problem!” you might think, “just take pictures of whatever they throw in front of you!”. If only it were always that simple.
A bit of insight on the process of watch content creation, or at least how I do things here at The Watch Preserve. The bulk of the time spent preparing content is done ahead of time. Research into the unique characteristics of each watch, the history behind it, how it plays into the larger world of watches, and other interesting factoids all have to be studied and memorized in order to make the most succinct and interesting content possible. All this research must be done ahead of a shoot so that you hit the ground running knowing what you’re going to say on each watch, and relay that information in an engaging way.
I had plenty of time to research these Byrd expedition watches
Not knowing exactly what I was going to shoot ahead of time stopped most of my pre-shoot reconnaissance dead in its tracks. Sure I was told what important models there were (Bill Dickey World Series watch, Elvis’s personal Ventura, etc), but lacking information on other pieces I’d have to shoot made me anxious about whipping up content on the go. The last thing I wanted was to waste valuable time on this shoot having to research a watch on the fly. Safe to say that when we arrived at the location I had a bit of trepidation as to what awaited me in that warehouse. What I saw was much more than I imagined.
Bryan and Nik talking Hamilton
This collector had everything. I mean everything. One of every model from Hamilton's vintage catalog, the entire Explorer series, mission worn pocket watches from Richard Byrd's Antarctic expeditions, one of one prototype watches Hamilton never produced, special watches gifted to longtime Hamilton employees, watches owned by celebrities and even Elvis Presley's Ventura he wore on the set of Blue Hawaii. But it didn’t stop at watches. There were company record books, vintage displays and advertisements, the largest wall mounted wrist watches in the world (Hamiltons of course - owned by Mel Blanc) , the original business charter for the Hamilton company, and even an actual Indycar.
As quickly as possible I began with what I knew would be the hardest task - still photography. Shooting watches in the best of situations is already an exercise in patience. The high polish, reflectivity and unique quirks make each watch a unique challenge to photograph. Vintage models, with their curved crystals and numerous scuffs are even more difficult. What I wasn’t anticipating was the lighting. Typical watch photography is done with multi-source lighting, or against a window with some reflective board to illuminate the watch evenly. Due to the privacy wishes of this collector, there were no windows in this warehouse nor could the garage door be opened more than a few feet. Each watch I tried to photograph was illuminated by the lusty glow of a million neon signs and the unholy wash of overhead fluorescent lighting. Even with the garage door open for some natural light, photography proved incredibly difficult on location. Perhaps a more talented photographer would have prevailed, but this shooting environment was pushing my skills to the limit.
The unholy glow of fluorescent lights on Elvis’ watch
The remainder of the day consisted of shooting video content with Bryan, who’s knowledge of vintage Hamilton proved crucial in rounding out my own meager knowledge of the brand. We started with the heavy hitter items and worked our way slowly into more obscure bits of the Hamilton backlog including but not limited to; Parnelli Jones’ 1966 Indycar and accompanying watch, giant wall mounted Hamilton wrist watches, and a radio sync prototype that I thoroughly messed up the information on (Thanks to one of our social media followers for pointing out that one). The second day of our trip was something of a half day, consisting mostly of edits and a few re-shoots, as well as an attempt at shooting some B roll footage.
A more passable photo of Elvis’ Ventura
This was an absolutely amazing opportunity to see some of the rarest vintage watches in the world, and I’d like to extend a thanks to our generous host for not only letting us view this amazing collection, but also for an opportunity for me to learn in the field. I think the biggest realization was how much of a full time job content creation is while you’re on a trip. While Bryan and Nik got to kick back and enjoy a drink with our host, I was hunched in the corner reviewing footage and sweating over Lightroom with only the smallest amount of jealousy at the laughs and clinks of glasses across the room. I also learned a lot in regards to loadout and preparation. A cheap pair of off camera light sources would have cured my lighting issues, and I likely won’t be without some on future trips.
Watch photography and journalism is deceivingly challenging and intense. While I love the elements of this work I do here at The Watch Preserve, I’ve gained such a new respect for those folks at the big names in the industry who do this full time. I’ve also gained a new respect for Hamilton. Most watch enthusiasts recognize Hamilton for their high quality watches, vintage military issue pieces, and highly accurate pocket watches. However the brand's true commitment to craftsmanship and quality are just as astounding today as they were in 1940. The detail and refinery of their vintage models is mindblowing in execution. For those looking for a well made American watch that will stand the test of time, look no further than a vintage Hamilton.
Stay tuned for future trips of this sort, as we’ve got a few things in the works! Let’s see how my skills and shot planning improve. As long as I don’t forget my lights, there should be more great content on the way for you soon.
Parnelli Jones’ 1966 Indycar
