When we’re out and about, interacting with people, whether it’s meeting someone new or mingling in a social setting, one question tends to come up more often than others. Besides asking for your name, the next most common question, especially among adults, is usually, “What do you do?” In other words, people are often curious about your profession or how you make a living.

We’re often trying to find common ground or a reason to take an interest, asking follow-up questions to keep the conversation flowing naturally. As Dale Carnegie emphasizes in “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Principle 1 is about becoming genuinely interested in others. By showing sincere curiosity, we create a smoother, more engaging interaction, making it easier to build rapport and establish a meaningful connection.

In our line of work – repairing watches, people are often fascinated not only by what we do but also by the stories behind the watches we encounter. One question we hear time and again is, ‘Do you have a favorite watch?’

The answer, however, isn’t quite so straightforward. Picking a favorite watch is like trying to choose a favorite child—it just doesn’t feel right! That said, countless extraordinary timepieces have passed through our facility, continuing to impress us every day.

We’ve had the honor of serving an incredibly diverse range of clients—from doctors living in beachfront mansions in Malibu to Royal families in faraway countries. We’ve served clients from small countries like the U.S. Virgin Islands to larger nations such as Australia. Our customers have ranged from a humble woman residing in Utqiaġvik, Alaska – the northernmost town of the U.S., to billion-dollar estates in Texas, and even the U.S. military too, most recently in Washington State. Thankfully, the list of remarkable individuals and organizations whose timepieces we’ve worked on continues to grow.

We’ve had the privilege of handling some truly extraordinary timepieces, from luxury watches encrusted with diamonds and crafted from polished gold, valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, to sleek, minimalistic designs from prestigious brands that most people have never heard of. One particularly iconic piece was a gold-toned Accuquartz with intricate engravings, once owned by the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley.

We once had the pleasure of working on a watch for Leonard Sywak from Alberta, Canada. He was a warm and kind-hearted man, known affectionately as “Opa” by his family. Leonard showed his support in the most meaningful way—by trusting us to repair his cherished Timex “Easy Reader,” complete with its signature Indiglo light, a timeless classic known for its practicality. Leonard found pride, not in material possessions, but in what he chose not to have. For him, saving money was a virtue, and in his eyes, nothing was disposable—everything was worth fixing. At his funeral, it was said that three generations—his son-in-law, grandson, and great-grandson—each stood up to share their memories. Remarkably, they all voiced the same sentiment: “He was my best friend.” Take a moment to reflect on that – A truly remarkable legacy.

The real answer to “What is your favorite watch?” for us lies in the stories behind each one. A watch is just an object until you uncover the profound meaning it holds for its owner. We’ve had countless customers become emotional, some even in tears, as they realize we can restore something that carries so much sentimental value. We often hear, “My parents gave me this watch when I graduated from high school, and I’ve kept it ever since,” or “This was my brother’s watch, and after his recent passing, it’s all I have left of him,” spoken through grief.

One story that stands out is of a customer we had from Ohio who, after 50 years, decided to wear his late father’s watch, only to discover it was missing. After months of searching, he gave up. Years later, his son came down from the attic holding the watch, completely unaware of its importance. In that moment, the father broke down in tears.

It’s moments like these that make every watch unforgettable, no matter its brand or price tag. If you’re holding a watch with a story that holds meaning for you, then you have a watch worth restoring. And that, truly, becomes our new favorite watch. With that in mind, we don’t just have one favorite watch—we have thousands.