Welcome back to an original aBlogtoWatch feature, “My First Grail Watch.” In this series, we ask prominent people in the watch industry about the first timepiece that they lusted after.
aBlogtoWatch (ABTW): Who are you and what is your relationship to the watch industry?
Magnus Michelsen (MM): I‘m the brother, son, grandson and great-grandson of watchmakers. Although I‘m not a watchmaker myself, I’ve grown up admiring and working with watches. I am the Marketing Director of the Icelandic micro-brand Michelsen, the country‘s oldest watch firm.
ABTW: What was your first grail watch?
MM: I‘ve craved for a few watches, most of them relatively simple, like the blinged edition of Rolex GMT-Master II (116759SARU) and some Tags with Calibre S or Calibre 17 movements. My first real grail watch is the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph.
ABTW: What did you like so much about the watch?
MM: It‘s simply a spectacular watch. The movement is so extraordinary beautiful. The brand itself is nothing less than amazing, when it comes to commercial manufacturers, you can’t beat the A. Lange quality in terms of hand finishing, looks and innovating movements. (The Germans really know how to make watches. To me they are very appealing.)
ABTW: Was there ever a time in your life when you could afford it?
MM: No. I‘m still in my twenties, so there‘s probably a long time until I can afford it. That said, my wife does not share my passion of watches, so she‘ll be tough when I (or should I say IF?) can finally afford it.