Welcome to the first chapter of the Time-Telling Magazine’s “The Beginner’s Compass” series !

Since our mission is to make this digital magazine your go-to destination for anything Watches and Horology, we decided to introduce this new category of articles where we teach you EVERYTHING you need to know.

As the title suggests, we will put you on the right path. The path of becoming a real watch connoisseur.

This title is not only one of this particular series, but it is the name of the first volume of the printed Time-Telling Magazine. A book that will literally transform your views on watches and help you discover the intricate and complicated parts of the watch world (pun intended). And if you’re not planning to transform your life by acquiring that much knowledge and wisdom, you could just transform that bland looking coffee table of yours until a younger and more interesting soul comes by and gets mesmerized by the luxurious design of the book haha…

Okay let’s dive in.

The decision to learn something usually comes from a lack of knowledge or a spark of interest. But the first question that popped into my head was simple yet loaded: Why in god’s green earth would people care about watches? Seriously, what’s the deal? What’s the tea? Why are these tiny, technologically-outdated wrist machines worth the collective jaw drops, the obsessive posts, and the bank-draining price tags? At first, I didn’t get it. But now? Let’s just sayyy… they got me.

Here’s the thing about obsession: it’s the most human experience ever. Fundamentally, we are wired to obsess. It’s in our DNA, a defining trait of who we are. Whether it’s binging a Netflix series, losing ourselves in a niche fandom, or meticulously curating the perfect playlist, our capacity to dive headfirst into something is as natural as breathing. Watches tap into this in a way that’s almost poetic—they pull at something deep, almost primal, in us.

At their core, watches aren’t just about telling time; they’re about understanding it. Every detail, every movement, every tick of a hand is a tribute to craftsmanship. And not just any craftsmanship—the kind that demands time, patience, and reverence. Artisans pour hours, days, even years into creating these miniature marvels, breathing life into something so small yet so infinite. It’s not just a watch; it’s a chef-d’œuvre, a celebration of the very time it takes to bring it into existence.

But it’s not just about the craft. Watches embody excellence—the cutting edge of technology, the pinnacle of engineering, and the epitome of human ingenuity. They’re tiny masterpieces of precision and innovation, living proof of what we can achieve when we’re determined to create something extraordinary. They’re more than accessories; they’re monuments to excellence.

And then there’s the beauty. It’s impossible to talk about watches without talking about their aesthetic. Donna Tartt said it best: “Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.” That’s what watches are—terrifyingly beautiful. They’re beautiful because they hold time, and time itself is something we can never truly control. We fear time slipping away, running out, or wasting it. So, we create these intricate devices as a way to understand it, measure it, maybe even conquer it. But the truth is, while the hands of a watch quiver under the weight of time, so do we.

There’s a paradox here. Time is both our enemy and our ally. It haunts us, heals us, and shapes us. It builds us up and wears us down. We fear it, but we also celebrate it. Watches, in their quiet elegance, remind us of all these contradictions. They’re more than objects; they’re stories. To truly appreciate them, you have to look deeper, the way you’d gaze at a Renaissance painting. Look beyond the surface, au second degré, into the layers of meaning and intention.

I started this diary as a skeptic, wondering why anyone cared so much about watches. But now I see that they’re not just about tracking the hours—they’re about capturing something we can’t hold. They’re a way to mark our obsessions, honor our fears, and embrace the beauty of time, however fleeting it may be. The hype isn’t just real—it’s timeless. And honestly, I fell for it.

This was the first chapter. We hope to have caught your attention and interested you enough to read and enjoy our weekly series where, as mentioned before, we will make you a real connoisseur. We love you guys !

ORDER THE DANG BOOK ! xoxo