There’s a quote from Enzo Ferrari that I like to use from time to time for its relevance in how I view tool watches: “Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.” When it comes to tool watches, there’s an appeal that boils down to the utility that they represent, and then there is an attraction that develops when those tools work when put to use. That second part is what makes tool watches so enduring to enthusiasts, and it’s not something that can be forced or cheated. It’s something that happens organically.
In speaking with friend and diver Chris Sohl for next week’s podcast episode, we discuss the Seiko SKX779, aka the Black Monster, a watch that has accompanied Chris on each of his nearly 200 dives. There’s a story there about receiving the watch, which I’ll let you discover in the podcast, but its meaning goes beyond the sentimental aspect. Quite simply, it’s a watch that performs in the relatively extreme environments that Chris often finds himself. Even if he isn’t using the bezel or relying on the watch to time elements of his dive, it’s still a usable tool in those environments thanks to the high contrast dial. The utility isn’t just vanity, it’s validation.
How we bond with our tools says more about the manner in which we spend our time than it does about the tools themselves. If you ask me, a tool watch can be any watch that we use or otherwise rely on in environments that pose any kind of physical demands on the body. When a watch works, and works well, in those environments, it takes on a new kind of beauty, the kind that Enzo suggests in his quote above.
In reality, if a tool works well it doesn’t really matter what it looks like, but as watch enthusiasts, we do care about what our watch looks like. There will always be aesthetic consideration, and that’s perfectly fine as these are more than mere tools to many of us. But looking deeper, I know a watch is a likely keeper when I feel the pull to use it. When a watch inspires us to go search out great or new experiences it creates a bond that goes beyond its function.
Keep an eye out for The Deep Track Podcast episode 7 coming next week for the full discussion with Chris Sohl, where we discuss using dive watches (or not using them) as well as the experience of diving as an activity.