Dubai-based cyclist and fitness coach, Kevin Cooper, shares insights into his keen eye for watches, their modifications, and the inherent artistry.
The mindset behind watch modification is as diverse and multifaceted as the individuals who engage in it. Whether driven by a desire for individuality, a passion for creativity, love of technical challenges, connection to tradition, or simply the thrill of the hunt, watch modifiers share a common bond—a deep appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship of horology.
How many watches do you currently own?
I have 27 timepieces in total, though this number fluctuates as I often gift watches to those who show a genuine interest. However, the ones that receive regular wrist time, which I consider the true measure of my collection, number around 11.
Can you share a memorable story about acquiring one of your watches?
Each piece has a story, be it a phase in life or a moment. What’s interesting is that looking back at these moments and fragments of time, the emotion seems to be the main outcome, be it through receiving or giving.
Have you ever personalized any of your watches?
I tend to personalize most of them as soon as the urge presents itself, taking a piece that has come factory set and giving it its own identity, and more importantly, making it an extension of my own taste. Emphasis on fit-to-wrist is crucial because a piece needs to fit the wearer. I have personalized watches mostly with band colour changes to make them my own and give them a unique look. I have also been interested in the mix-match of dial and cover of different watches to create a hybrid.
What makes a watch valuable beyond its monetary worth?
The value is created by the presence of the wearer and how they carry themselves around it. An extreme price is only one value, and unfortunately, a lot of emphasis is created by price alone and not the process behind the fulfilment of the wearer.
Do you collect watches for their design, craftsmanship, historical significance, or other reasons?
I was gifted a watch very early on in my childhood, and unknowingly this sparked an interest. Each time I saw another watch, there was a desire to own another, starting an unconscious underlying hobby of making sure I had a watch for every occasion and would rarely be without it. My collection is based on colour, mechanics, and size of the pieces. My taste has evolved quite a bit over the years; what was once a bigger statement on the wrist has now become that of internal details and what used to be recognized at first glance has now become less obvious and more intricate to me personally than to the untrained eyes.
Have you personalized other objects you own?
Yes, I have personalized bicycles in much the same context as the watches. Each bicycle I have owned since high school has been modified to my own personal taste, more so creating an experience as I utilize it for training, racing, or nowadays leisure.
Credits:
Photography IRA SHAMBARY
Make-up SOFIA IVANOVA
Producer ALEXEY BOGDANOV
Production MIXTAPE
