Looking back on the past year, it’s surprising how much has changed. A year ago, I admired watches from a distance. Writing about them semi-professionally wasn’t something I ever considered. Starting this or contributing to a publication felt somewhat impossible. I wasn’t an expert or anything, just someone who liked watches and enjoyed writing. I spent hours figuring out how to make it all work. Now, it’s hard to imagine not being part of this world.

My first few posts were simple thoughts and kind of reviews of watches I already own. Publishing them gave me a sense of relief, but doubt followed. Was anyone reading? Did my thoughts matter? Over time, I saw small signs of interest. Eventually, I realized I wanted to improve. Writing my thoughts wasn’t enough. I wanted to learn more and write with purpose. Researching the history, technical details, and language of horology became a priority. Naturally, as I learned, my confidence grew.

That’s when I reached out to Erik Gustafson at Hairspring. I admired his writing but didn’t think he would be interested. I tried anyway and was surprised when he responded. Writing for Hairspring was a turning point for me. It gave me valuable feedback and a chance to improve. Working with Erik directly helped me focus on clarity and structure. It also motivated me to dive deeper into the subjects I wrote about. Before I knew it, I was writing long reads monthly (or trying to, heh) via the newsletter.

This year hasn’t been without challenges, however. Self-doubt still lingers. Learning how to manage writing on the side while maintaining a day job took a lot of my time. The technical aspects of writing were a steep learning curve. But the progress I’ve made has been rewarding. Positive feedback and milestones, no matter how small, remind me of how far I’ve come. Hell, I even made it to Tony Traina’s 2024 Jealousy List for the Laurent Ferrier Collector’s Guide I did for Hairspring.

This year wasn’t just about the writing itself, though. I fostered a lot of connections both online and offline. I went to Geneva earlier in the year to attend Watches & Wonders and the events surrounding it, attended the first ever Toronto Timepiece show, and flew to NYC to attend Windup Watch Fair. Oh, believe it or not, I went to my first ever RedBar event and got to be a part of a WatchDNA Q&A session with industry veterans. Through conversations, I found myself drawn into a community of people who share a love for watches and the stories they hold. At these events, I also met great folks like Dusan Baic of Discreet Peacock, the Vetted Guys, Nick of Ad Patina, watchmakers like Aaron Sarauer, as well as the AHCI watchmakers, and legendary writers like Rhonda Riche, each offering new perspectives and inspiring deeper curiosity. The watch community turned out to be as much about people as it was about watches, a community bound by shared passion.

The more events I attended, the more I saw that the watch community is about more than just watches. It is more about the community and the people who care about these watches and their stories. I met great writers I had admired, and they shared their insights into the industry and writing. Those conversations changed the way I looked at watches. Learning facts was only part of it. More importantly, it was about grasping the ideas behind these watches - the design choices and the passion that shaped them.

I’m excited to keep writing and learning. I want to dive deeper into the craft, refine my voice, and write with more precision. My goal is to produce work that resonates more strongly with the watch community and to connect with others who share this passion. The challenges will continue, but alas, they are part of improving and growing. With that said, this year has been a stepping stone to bigger things. Happy new year.

Thanks to the 10 of you reading this!

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