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David Newman sits down with Geoffrey Parker, the Chairman of the Board for the NAWCC, to explore a life dedicated to mechanical precision. Jeff shares how his childhood fascination with a local watchmaker and a professional background in complex scale modeling led him to salvage a "rectangle lot" of junk watches from eBay to teach himself the trade. From the emotional weight of restoring a Vietnam veteran's cherished Seiko to navigating the diverse factions of the horological community, Jeff explains why a watch is much more than just a tool. He offers a peek at his own impressive collection, including a 1951 original Omega and award winning custom skeletonized builds, while providing essential advice for beginners looking to find their own hidden treasures at flea markets and local meets.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:04 : Welcome to the Show

• David introduces Jeff as a watch guru, maker, and industry insider.
• Jeff reflects on his earliest memories and his lifelong connection to the craft.

00:41 : The Face Against the Glass

• Jeff recalls being the "Norman Rockwell" boy with his face pressed against a local watchmaker's window.
• How his background building 1/8 scale car replicas with 4,000 parts prepared him for the precision of horology.

02:46 : The "Rectangle Lot" Experiment

• Buying a "wreck and tangle" lot of junk watches on eBay to see if he could actually fix them.
• The card table and simple tools that launched a decades long journey into professional repair.

04:44 : The Emotional Side of Repair

• Salvaging a late husband's water damaged watch for a grieving coworker.
• Restoring a Vietnam veteran's faceted Seiko that became one of the most meaningful projects of his career.

06:10 : Ancestral Watchmakers

• Discovering a hidden family history of watchmaking that dates back over 150 years.
• Why Jeff feels he was destined to pick up the trade as the only current family member in the craft.

14:31 : Building Award Winning Timepieces

• The story of the skeletonized Swiss movement build that won first prize at a national craft contest.
• Why Jeff plans to eventually leave his cybersecurity career to focus on building custom watches full time.

22:52 : Leading the NAWCC Community

• Navigating the different subgroups of wristwatch, pocket watch, and clock collectors.
• Why the "MoonSwatch" phenomenon is a vital gateway for bringing younger collectors into the hobby.

28:58 : Innovation at the Museum

• Highlighting the Bulova exhibit and the fascinating immigration story of Joseph Bulova.
• Exploring the legacy of Accutron tuning fork technology and its impact on American watchmaking.

32:30 : Show and Tell

• A look at a garnet colored Baume & Mercier and a completely original 1951 Omega Seamaster.
• The rare 1963 Zodiac chronograph that required a two year restoration process.

37:44 : Advice for the New Collector

• Why beginners should look for makers fairs and watch meets to find what truly excites them.
• Approaching affordable vintage collecting with a "gambling" mindset for better entertainment value.

41:30 : The Lightning Round

• Jeff explains why he would choose one great masterpiece over a collection of five good ones.
• Why the value of pre owned watches makes them a smarter choice than buying brand new.

A great watch is a perfect storm of engineering, history, and art that reminds you to enjoy every second.
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