Meet The Collector: Greg Selch

 

Two Enicar watches from Greg's collection

Meet the collector. 

In this regular feature I speak with some of most exciting people in the collecting community. I go deep into what drives their passion , be it for watches, cars or even photography. They all share that hunger for the hunt, to feel a hole, a need. 

My choice is someone who has a unique collection. Someone that holds character above value, that’s passion for watches and what they represent, the stories they tell will make think about why we collect. 

The featured collector is Greg Selch. Greg’s collection doesn’t follow the fads of the must haves, this is not someone collecting to impress, Selch is collecting to learn, to become a scholar. 

So sit back with a coffee or something a little stronger and hear from of the communities most interesting collectors. 

Aquastar Benthos

Where is home? 

I live in NYC, where I was born in 1966. I have a house that I built with friends in Montana but I spend my time in the city. 

What are your favourite things about New York City?

Someone once said “NYC is an island off the coast of the USA”, I agree with that, it is as close to anarchy as exists in the world but with the culture and tradition of Europe and the possibilities and freedom of the American west. Every group that has ended up in NYC, from the Dutch and English to the Germans, Irish, Italians, Jews, Chinese, Pakistani, Sikhs, Africans, Russians, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans as well as the random Scandanavian, South American or even Mongolian, has fought to make their way here and then dissolve into this polyglot cultural stew. My ancestors were English who came on the Mayflower in 1620, Aquinah Indian from Marthas Vineyard, Scots-Irish Patriots who came to Maine in 1720 from Derry, English Presbyterians who fought in the Civil War (in the USA), German farmers from the Black Forest in Germany, Litvak Jews from Riga and Kaunas. All mixed up together with everyone else who lives here in NYC, we are all equal.

That makes NYC  very similar to my home town London, both global cities and very different to the rest of their countries. Your family history is truly the definition of the American melting pot,  it’s what makes America an interesting and much misunderstood country from a European point of view. 

What NYC recommendations can you give us? 

For those who have never been to NYC, its best to walk everywhere, you have to walk around or take the subway to really “get it”. In the summer, I recommend that people take the water taxi to Rockaway. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world is IN NYC! The Cloisters in Northern Manhattan is also a hidden gem. The Rockefeller family bought it and donated it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The “cloisters” in the collection are the best preserved in the world, including in France where most were demolished during the 19th century. Even the gardens are maintained as they would have been in Europe in the middle ages.

The Cloisters LINK

Would you describe yourself as a watch collector? 

I come from a family of collectors (verging on hoarding). I really had no choice, its a vocation. I collect almost everything, cameras, art, photographs, books, clothing, cars, furniture, tools, and anything that catches my interest. Watch collecting is fairly recent for me, I probably started about twenty five years ago when I bought a Rolex 1016 explorer because a jeweler friend had a good one at a price I could afford. I still have it.

Family and history are clearly important to you. I come from a family of antique dealers, I guess this interest in collecting is just in some people’s blood. Twenty Five years is long time in collecting, why watches?

I love watches with stories, whether known or unknown. Just as a painting or a car or any object is enriched by its history, who owned it, what did it do, where did it go, a watch is made “unique” by its story or the scars or patina that it wears.

A selection on Zenith Chronographs

I agree with that. These objects carry such history, something it seems means a lot to you. Where things come from and what brought them to where they are now, the marks they have left on people and the marks left on them. You have such an interesting collection how do you decide what to wear on a given day? 

I wear what I want when I want to, the only consideration would be the weather. Sweat and rain are not good for certain watches or leather bands!

Are they any brand that you focus on, ones that drive the collection? 

Are there brands that I focus on? You would be better served asking which ones I DON’T focus on! I have a lot of Universal Geneve, Zenith, Movado, JLC, IWC, Jenny Caribbean, Eterna, Certina, Favre Leuba, Longines, Wittnauer, Omega, Enicar, Gallet, Gubelin, Bucherer, Mathey Tissot, Zodiac, Rado, Tissot, Doxa, Eberhard, as well as some Girard Perregaux, Technos, Minerva, Mondia, Vetta, and others. I have one Patek (which I bought from a friend) and one Audemar Piquet, one vintage Balncpain (from the 70s) and a number of “modern” Blancpains from the post-1990s era. I have a handful of Rolexes and a handful of Tudors (which I almost always prefer to Rolex because of the price/value ratio, also I consider the ETA movements to be better, and much cheaper to service, than Rolex movements). I appreciate ALL watches though, as long as they represent the taste and interest of the owner. There is nothing sadder to me than someone who buys or collects for the appreciation but doesn’t actually like the watch.

Eterna Kontiki

It is this view that makes your collection so interesting. It sounds mixed, but to me it seems you don’t collect what is ‘pretty’ for the sake of ‘prettiness’ you look for a certain character, like lived in faces in a fishing town pub. 

There is a lot chatter around vintage watch collecting, any watches that you feel are overrated or even underrated? 

I don’t think anything is underrated or overrated, as that implies a collective taste. I have always bought what I could afford and what I liked, things that take knowledge to appreciate or understand. Its the opposite of the elitist world that my ancestors escaped from in the “old world” when they came to America. Knowledge, understanding and appreciation are free to those who would seek it.

I actually feel in the watch world there is a collective taste, maybe it driven by fashion or having one up on the next guy. But you seem to be making your own way, which I find really interesting. As you point out elitism is a bit of problem in the vintage watch world, with prices in someways to me a little offensive. I find your view wonderfully refreshing. 

Two JLC Chronographs

Is there a grail watch for you, something you’re hunting down? 

There are one or two watches that I would love to own, and I’m sure that will one day, but I would be more inclined to trade for them that to buy them. I love the community of collectors that I find myself a part of and I want others to enjoy the same joy that I have felt from “owning” something special. The only things that last forever are experiences, feelings and emotions, everything else is temporary. 

The experience of owning something is very important to you, the experience of the object. 

How have you seen collecting change in that twenty five years, a impact from social media? 

I have seen watch collecting appeal more and more to people across the spectrum of economics and culture, it used to be the exclusive world of the ultra rich, particularly male and European, but that has changed and I’m pleased to say that “there is, now, something for everyone”, diversity is not just about “who” is doing something, its also about “what” is being done. Vive La Difference!

Totally agree. The collecting world has become more democratic, still work to do, but moving in the right direction. I think brand themselves are picking up on this, with less gender focused products. I like the idea of people wearing something because of how it makes them feel rather then it costing X amount of dollars and the need to show people your wealth.

Zenith Defy

What do you think about the influence of vintage watches on new lines from brands? 

I love the “new” lines!  The watch industry employs million of people around the world, from materials handling to sales and repair as well as advertising and fashion.  I am happy to see people spending their hard-earned money on something which has real value and will become the Vintage-of-the-future.

Thank you such much Greg it is great to speak with someone who’s world view informs their collection so strongly. It certainly a collection that I knew would have an fascinating story. 

You can follow Greg on Instagram @livingstonsatnight  in fact you have to, you’ll see some interesting pieces you’ll not see readily elsewhere.