Object desensitization, watches, and that rare, transcendent piece..

I was passing by a piece of art on the wall in my living room, and noticed that over the years, I look at it less and less. Oh, I was really excited about it when I first bought it; it gave me daily joy, and I would find little nuances I hadn’t seen before that kept it exciting.

But over time, I just got less and less interested in it, and I doubt the original feelings will ever be rejuvenated.

Let’s face it. - a lot of things are that way: that song you love but can’t hear too many times in a row before you get sick of it. Your favorite meal: three nights in a row, and you want something else. That special place you visit, but then don’t feel quite as jazzed about it over time.

We seem to be wired in such a way that repeated, same or similar stimuli gets less evocative over time. But…there are certain things that transcend this, the old, “I never get tired of it.” And that’s a special thing.

So what motivated this post? I received this watch in the mail today, and I have others like it, know it well, and didn’t think I’d get a reaction other than, “Geez, glad that didn’t get lost in the mail.”

But when I opened the box, and took it out, I confess: I got a little zing. And thought, “Wow, this is nice.” Which is kind of how it was when I saw this model for the first time. And completely unexpected.



I know: it’s far from perfect. But nonetheless, it gave me a little buzz.

Do you have piece like that, which you pretty much don’t tire of, and always find some nuance to admire?

I have several pieces that never fail to delight me every time I put them on. Here are two of them:

This 15CHT from 1935...



...and this worldtimer, from 1953:

One of the benefits of keeping some of my watches in a safety deposit box is that when I take them out after several weeks or months of neglect, I can revive that sense of appreciation I got when I first acquired the piece.

Have two great photographs from @Nobel Prize in my living room. Since they attach to the wall with the same bracket I switch them up every few months and enjoy the nuances of each.
Same as having a heap of watches. You change them to enjoy.