The Feature Series

Meet The Collector

An exclusive interview feature on VELOCE, the premier social network for watch enthusiasts. We dive into the personal stories, milestones, and unique emotional connections behind the world's most interesting collections.

Introduction: Dave at MicrobrandWatches

A marketing consultant by trade and a dedicated watch enthusiast by heart, Dave brings a refreshingly grounded perspective to the hobby. His journey into horology didn't begin with a high-end luxury piece, but with a sentimental Fossil chronograph—a gift from his wife that shifted his view of watches from simple tools to meaningful stories.

YouTube Instagram VELOCE App

---

What was the first watch that actually made you care about watches?

For me it was a Fossil chronograph — the Coachman. My wife bought it for me before we were married, and I remember immediately falling in love with it. Up until that point, watches were just something you wore. That one felt different.

It had a warmth to it — the brown leather strap, the slightly vintage look of the dial — and it was the first time I really started paying attention to the details. I still have it today. The subdials are a little misaligned now and it’s definitely seen some wear over the years, but it’s never leaving the collection. Some watches matter because of what they are. Others matter because of where they came from in your life — and that one is firmly in the second category.

If you had to wear one watch from your collection for a month straight, which one is it and why?

That would be the Beaucroft Element — without hesitation. Mine is the Glacial Blue version, and it’s just a joy to wear.

It strikes a really nice balance. It’s comfortable, beautifully finished, and the dial has this way of catching the light that constantly pulls your eye back to it. It’s one of those watches that feels quietly special without ever trying too hard.

There’s also a bit of pride in wearing it. It’s a British brand, and I’ve been lucky enough to get to know the people behind it. That connection adds something extra — you’re not just wearing a watch, you’re wearing the result of someone’s passion and hard work. And when a watch looks that good and carries that kind of story, it’s very easy to wear every single day.

Is there a watch you sold or traded that you deeply regret letting go?

“Deeply regret” might be a bit strong — but there is one I’d quite like to have back.

It was a collaboration between Islander and Hemel — a modern flieger with a full lume dial. It was a really fun watch. Clean pilot styling, incredibly legible, and that fully lumed dial meant it absolutely glowed in the dark. The interesting thing was the size. On paper it’s a 39mm watch, but it wore much smaller than that suggests.

At the time I was wearing a lot of 42mm divers, so it just felt a little awkward on my wrist and I eventually let it go when something else caught my attention. That’s often how collections evolve. But it’s definitely one I’d happily welcome back into the watch box if the opportunity came up again.

What’s your go-to “beater” or weekend watch — the one you don’t mind getting a few scratches on?

Another Islander, actually — the Saltaire Solar.

I originally bought it to review while I was in the middle of moving house, and I decided it would be the perfect watch to test to potential destruction. Boxes, tools, furniture, scraping past door frames… if anything was going to pick up damage, that was the week.

The funny thing is, it didn’t. It got knocked, scraped and bashed more times than I can count, and it still looks almost exactly like it did when I took it out of the box. So that’s become my beater by default. It’s tough, reliable, solar powered so it’s always ready to go, and clearly a lot harder to hurt than I expected.

What is your current “Grail,” and has that definition changed since you started?

For me, the watch that sits in that grail space is the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. I’ve loved it for a long time.

It’s probably not the flashiest watch in the luxury world, and it isn’t always the one people talk about first — but it ticks every box for me. Clean design, beautifully balanced proportions, and the sort of versatility where it works just as well with a shirt cuff as it does at the weekend.

My tastes have definitely evolved over time. I’ve realised I’m less drawn to watches that shout for attention. Rolex, for example, has never really appealed to me for that reason — there’s a bit too much flash there for my personal taste. I’ve owned pieces from other big brands as well and discovered they just didn’t resonate with me in the way I expected. The Aqua Terra, though, feels different. It’s understated, beautifully made, and quietly confident. At some point I suspect one will find its way into my collection.

What’s the most interesting friendship you’ve made through this hobby?

Honestly, there are too many to mention. One of the real surprises of this hobby has been just how many great people you end up meeting. Over time I’ve developed friendships with other reviewers, with brand owners, and with collectors who simply love watches. Each group brings a different perspective — the people building the watches, the people talking about them, and the people wearing them every day.

I’d like to think that having those conversations across all three groups helps keep my reviews grounded and relevant. You hear the passion from the brand owners, the critical eye from other reviewers, and the honest reactions from collectors. Somewhere in the middle of all that is where the real story of a watch tends to live. But whether it makes my reviews better or not… I’ll let the audience decide that.

Are you a “stock bracelet” purist, or do you love the “strap monster” life?

Definitely more on the strap-monster side of the fence. If you’ve watched any of my reviews, you’ll know I’m constantly swapping straps on the watches I’m testing. I don’t actually own a huge collection of straps, but when I find ones I really like, they tend to get used across a lot of different watches. Two brands I keep coming back to are Golby and Marloe. Both make excellent watches in their own right, but they also produce some genuinely fantastic straps.

It’s funny though — strap swapping can be surprisingly controversial in the watch world. I actually had a lively disagreement with another reviewer recently about 19mm versus 20mm lug widths, because I wanted to swap straps around. He wasn’t a fan of the idea of putting my “sweaty straps” on watches that were designed to work with the ones they ship with. Let’s just say we politely agreed to disagree. For me, changing the strap is part of the fun — it can completely change how a watch feels on the wrist.

What’s a lesson you learned the hard way when you first started collecting?

The obvious answer is that you’ll always need a bigger watch storage box.

But more seriously, one thing I think I did reasonably well early on was testing the waters before spending serious money. I bought quite a few inexpensive watches through things like WatchGang or AliExpress — essentially trying lots of different styles, sizes and designs to see what actually worked on my wrist. There’s simply no substitute for wearing a watch and living with it for a while. Specs and photos only tell you so much.

As I’ve figured out what I like, my approach has been to gradually upgrade within those styles. You might start with something very inexpensive just to see if the design works for you, and then over time move up to better-made versions of the same idea. So maybe that journey goes from a Tandorio to an Islander, and eventually to something like a Vario. I’m still doing that today. In fact I recently replaced a rather basic £70 Tandorio field watch with a lovely Vario solar field watch. And at the same time I’ve just spent £50 on a Hagley West tonneau-shaped watch — simply to see what that shape looks like on my wrist.

Besides watches, what other hobby or interest influences your style?

A lot of it actually comes down to the rhythm of my week. My day job is as a marketing consultant, so quite often I’m on video calls, presenting to teams, or speaking at conferences. In those moments I like wearing a watch that looks the part — something that works well with a shirt or even just a polo on a Teams call.

But the rest of life isn’t quite so polished. I also coach my son’s football team, which is where the Casios and G-Shocks tend to make an appearance. When you’re running around a muddy pitch on a Saturday morning, practicality matters a lot more than refinement. And then there’s golf. That’s where the sweet spot really sits for me — a watch that still looks good, but can survive the occasional wander into the rough without causing too much stress.

What’s your advice for someone who’s searching for their first watch?

Don’t rush straight out and buy your grail watch.

When you first get into watches it’s very easy to think that if you just buy the “perfect” one, that’s the end of the journey. The reality is you’ll always discover another watch you like. That’s part of the fun. My advice would be to experiment early on. Try a range of different styles without spending a fortune. Buy a few affordable watches, wear them for a while, and pay attention to what actually feels right on your wrist. Then gradually refine the collection. Sell the ones that don’t quite work and upgrade the styles you discover you really enjoy. That’s the path I took, and honestly I’m still doing it today.

Check out Dave on youtube!

Every week he takes you beyond the hype and into the real-world experience of wearing microbrand watches.