“Secondhand watches have a history,” says Carl Thompson, looking at the Montblanc Moonphase on his wrist. “They have a certain feel to them. They’ve got little quirks, which just adds to the feelgood factor of buying pre-loved. They’ve lived – and that’s what I love about them.”
Designer watches can be considered a status symbol, but for Thompson (founder of shirt label Hawkins & Shepherd and proud owner of 20 vintage timepieces) collecting is all about the narrative behind a watch and how it marks a moment in his life.
