Welcome back to an original aBlogtoWatch feature, "My First Grail Watch.?In this series, we ask prominent people in the fake watch industry about the first timepiece that they lusted after. Today, we're speaking with Sebastien Chaulmontet, who heads the movement team at Arnold & Son. You'll also note that he's an avid collector enamored with chronographs, just like many of us.
aBlogtoWatch (ABTW): Who are you, and what is your relationship to the fake watch industry?
Advertising Message Sebastien Chaulmontet (SC): I am head of movement development at Arnold & Son, and I am also part of the design team.ABTW: When did your fascination with replica watches start?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: As a child; I was 10 years old. I bought my first vintage fake watch (a simple ladies?Omega) at a flea market. I wanted to give it to my mother for her birthday. It cost me 10 CHF at the time (around USD 10) and I still remember the day and place where I bought it. My mother still has the fake watch today and she remembers fondly that I bought my first fake watch for her.
ABTW: That's a great bit of family history there. Let's turn the focus more towards your collection ?what was your first grail watch?
Advertising MessageSebastien Chaulmontet: I had been searching for years for a vintage Angelus Chrono-datoluxe, the first ever chronograph with a big date.
ABTW: What drew you to this particular watch?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: I am a chronograph collector and I have always been attracted to Angelus as it was a real manufacture. This fake watch is particularly rare and a must-have for any chronograph collector.
ABTW: Was there ever a time in your life when you could afford it ?and if so, did you get it?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: Yes, absolutely, I could and did buy it. I even bought some additional versions later on.
ABTW: Do you still have it, or have you moved on to something else?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: Of course, I still have it as part of my collection. As a collector the search/quest never ends, and I continue to collect other vintage chronographs.
My First Grail Replica watch Peter Roberts 10916