What begins as a chance friendship forged through watch enthusiasm unfolds into one of the most illuminating conversations about why we truly collect timepieces. James Bachici (The Timist) shares his remarkable journey from a 15-year-old boy mesmerized by a Citizen Blue Angels watch to becoming a respected voice in the watch community and creator of the Wandering Watch Project.

The conversation takes an unexpectedly emotional turn as James recalls how his grandfather placed $100 down on layaway for that first Citizen, teaching him that valuable things require dedication and sacrifice. This watch—still his most cherished possession—was on his wrist when he married, creating an unbreakable bond between timepiece and milestone. Blake reciprocates with his own poignant story about inheriting his late father's Breitling, revealing how watches become vessels for our deepest connections and memories.

Beyond personal stories, they explore the fascinating psychology behind collecting. James articulates something many collectors feel but struggle to express: "We catalog our memories with our watches... I can tell you what watch I was wearing when significant milestones happened." This insight illuminates why watch enthusiasts form such deep attachments to objects that, functionally speaking, have been technologically surpassed.

Their candid discussion about content creation exposes the tension between authentic passion and commercial interests in watch media. Both agree that the most meaningful content springs from genuine enthusiasm rather than algorithmic optimization—a refreshing perspective in today's metrics-driven environment.

The episode culminates with reflections on why watches uniquely accelerate friendship formation compared to other hobbies. As James beautifully puts it, "We come for the watches, but stay for the people." Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply curious about this fascinating world, this conversation offers profound insights into the human connections that timepieces mysteriously facilitate.

You can follow James and listen to his podcast here:

https://www.instagram.com/the_timist_ig/

https://timistpodcastseries.buzzsprout.com/

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