A Watch that Connects Generations - Spooky in a Cool Way
After hours of cleaning out the garage this weekend, I came across this photo of my grandfather Tom, my dad Chris and, yes, me in the middle. I did not know my grandfather as he passed away when I was really young, so this is one of the only photos we share. There is so much to say about this photo, though.
We are in front of the family business that Tom started, my dad ran and I worked at for my first job. Lithotype developed a reputation as a high touch, high quality printing company with fiercely loyal long term clients. I honestly felt that I was born into an entrepreneurial family and that running a business was just what we Sewells did... it wasn't until I had my own family that I transitioned from assuming my role to "owning" it.
About 3 years ago, my wife Lisa received a gift from her friends for a session with an old Irish 'seer'. Immediately after the session, she called me with the strangest question.
"She had a message from your grandfather. He said he's proud of you and wanted you to get his watch working. Does that make any sense?"
"OMG Yeah!" My grandfather always wanted a Patek Phillipe watch and one day 50 years ago, he came home with a Patek Phillipe Calatrava. I don't think my grandmother really knew what it was, because when Tom died, she gave it to my dad thinking the gold bracelet might look nice on my dad's Timex. The watch didn't fit my dad and it spent thirty years locked in a safe deposit box... not working.
The coolest thing about this "message" was a new sense of connection between Tom and me. I just loved the idea of my entrepreneurial grandfather even being aware of my work. I've never even been "into" fortune telling, but couldn't deny the specificity of this moment - from a woman who I've never met. Just weird.
I happened to be going up to visit my family two days after Lisa told me about the revelation. So, I called my dad, retold him the story and asked him to pull the watch out of storage. I arrived at the airport, took the watch out of the case, put it on and it just fit. Spooky cool!
Now, if you look back at the photo above, you can see him with THAT WATCH ON and ME LOOKING AT IT! Doubly spooky cool!
As cool as the watch is, it still carried quite a bling factor with an all-gold band that only worked for special occasions. So, this weekend I brought the watch in for insurance appraisal and learned even more about its background. The gold band was aftermarket, fitting with the style of the early sixties back when men wore gold watches, pinky rings and ID bracelets. I was surprised to learn the watch had been "upgraded," when the original shipped with a classic black leather strap. Per the jeweler's suggestion, we put a black strap back on. Bingo! The next step is to order the replacement strap from Patek Phillipe and return it completely to its original state. The watch becomes authentic, the style becomes updated and the whole connection becomes even more personal. Plus, Patek happens to be a family run watch company as well. I feel a new post coming on :)
To finish it off, check out the Patek tag line below. Sometimes advertising can really hit home.
Thank you, Tom. I wish I knew you better, but I certainly cherish this connection.
