We talked with Javier Gutierrez Chamorro, writer and watchmaking enthusiast, he shares with us his beginnings in the watchmaking world and his ideal watch. You can find him on his website or on his youtube channel.
Read below a transcript of the interview:
I'm Javier Gutiérrez Chamorro and I wanted to send a greeting to all the followers of Iguana Sell. I'm delighted to participate in this segment of Iguana Talks. Most likely, you already know me. I am the author of the website Javiergutierrezchamorro.com. The second most viewed website with watch-related content in Spanish worldwide, and the first if we exclude forums.
I'm also the author of these six novels in the "Against the Clock: Paul Davis" series, a hexalogy featuring Paul Davis, a private investigator specialized in recovering stolen watches, uncovering fraud, and so on. Ultimately, these are different ways I use to approach the same goal: the dissemination and understanding of horology.
My first watch was a hand-wound timepiece, a Sandoz, which I remember vividly. I enjoyed the sensation of winding it every morning. It also had lume, albeit poor, characteristic of that era, but I liked it.
Some time later, I purchased my first watch – my parents bought it for me, but I chose it. The first watch I truly desired. A Casio F87W. That watch combined watchmaking with the technology of the time and left me amazed. I also owned an automatic watch, a Rico. I imagined that it was a hand-wound watch, but somehow the mechanism could rotate within the crown to wind it.
After that automatic Rico, I became a consumer of trend watches from that period, the 1990s. The reason was that I thought automatic watches were a technology of the past, something that had been abandoned. Then, around 2010 with the advent of the internet and forums, I discovered that yes, automatic watches still existed. The issue was that only a few made it to Spain, and the ones that did weren't available in the stores I frequented. Following that, of course, came specialization, and companies like Iguana Sell emerged, specializing in horology and automatic watches. But that's another story altogether.
Ultimately, what happened is that I decided to refocus javiergutierrezchamorro.com to fill the gap I felt. What I did was, well, commit to thoroughly testing watches and doing so with a focus on all levels. That's how I ended up with javiergutierrezchamorro.com, promoting horology.
I have many favorite watch brands. Those who know me are aware of my fondness for Spanish brands. In that sense, I'm very fond of brands like Duward or Tempore Lux. I'm also a big fan of lesser-known German watchmaking, like Stowa or Hanhart.
However, when I have to recommend a more general brand to an acquaintance, a brand suitable for everyone, I tend to gravitate towards the balance between what one pays and what one gets. In other words, I pay close attention to the quality-price ratio.
I don't have a single ideal archetype of a watch for daily wear. I personally enjoy variety, selecting a watch based on the outfit, mood, or simply what feels right at that moment. I can say that I really like the Tudor Pelagos, the Zenith El Primero, or the Frederique Constant Hightlife Perpetual Calendar.
For me, what's important in a watch is what you get for your money, and indeed, these pieces aren't affordable, but I believe they offer a lot in comparison to their cost. A watch should have an aesthetic and design that doesn't tire you out while conveying something to you. Additionally, I believe it should have a movement, a caliber, that is special.
Over time, I discovered that what I enjoy is spreading the world of horology. I'm not sure if I'm good at it, but it's what I like, and I put a lot of effort into it. I believe it's important to share it because it combines so many disciplines simultaneously. It has a lot of history, a lot of technical and technological aspects, biographies of many interesting people, and design...
It's something incredible that all of this can be condensed into such a small object as a wristwatch. But to spread this passion, to make people aware of it, that's what I like, and I think it's very important for the current generation to see it, but especially for the new generations if we want horology to continue to exist in the years to come.
