If you are into your cars then you’ve probably stumbled across an owners club or online enthusiasts forum that arrange meetings every so often. Most hobbies, interests and subcultures seem to have get togethers but if you have an interest in watches then where do you go? This was a question that entered the mind of Americans Adam Craniotes and Dr Jeff, and over the course of the past 12 years their occasional meetings every so often turned into a worldwide association of enthusiasts, all interested in timepieces, watches and gaining further knowledge of this fascinating hobby.
Now we’re not here to regurgitate a history lesson on where RedBar came from and how it’s grown over the years, but we are here to talk about a chapter we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing here in central Scotland.
Every month or so there is a meeting organised in Glasgow by two local watch enthusiasts Dave and Allan from the WristTime podcast. For the past year or so they have worked to bring together like minded folks with a shared passion and since their first meet up in May 2018 things have come on leaps and bounds with some of their GTGs gaining over 60 visitors a time at venues across the city.
So what goes on at a red bar event and what should you expect? The bottom line is you will spend a few hours with people at all levels of watch enthusiasm and collecting. From collectors with half a century of experience to the 18 year old who just picked up his first mechanical timepiece and is thirsty to learn as much as possible. Meetups are held at various locations from secure and private function rooms in the city centre to city centre watch boutiques, and all members are highly screened to make sure they are vouched for by referees and also have a detailed history either on social media or forums where credentials can be checked, as after all meeting people with desirable horological pieces could bring the wrong kind of attention.
Starting usually around 7 on a Thursday evening, you can turn up with a watch on the wrist or a bunch in a roll. Grab a drink and just say hello to the people there. It can be intimidating the first time and a lot of folks interested in this hobby are introverts, so don’t worry, no one bites and of all the meetings I’ve been to every single person has been amazing to speak to.
In fact if you dont know anyone and want to say hello then come and speak to either myself (@rikkiwatches) or Rick (@rickticktalk) and we will happily talk the ears off you for 20 minutes.
Putting a name to the Instagram handle can be tricky, so if you want to meet up with someone you’re already talking to then drop them a quick DM and make arrangements too that way as you cant always tell a person from their wristshot!
Sometimes there is a theme, for instance a recent Grand Seiko night organized in association with James Porter and Son in Glasgow’s Argyle Arcade where Seiko’s top level Credor brand was on display along with highly knowledgeable shop staff plus Seiko representation from their UK HQ.
Getting to hold, inspect and try on a £450,000 piece while having its details explained is something to behold and at no point are you judged. You can rock up in jeans a tshirt and G-Shock, relaxing after a hard days work or turn up straight from a boardroom meeting in your suit rocking a Patek and you’ll be welcomed and treated equally.
With meet ups generally lasting a few hours it’s worth carving out the full night to include your travel to and from plus the time there in attendance too.
SW: So how did the idea of creating a meet up in Glasgow come together?
A: We got the idea one night over a few beers as we always ended up talking watches, we thought there must be others interested too so why not try and start a get together!
SW: How did you get the Red Bar Group interested in helping out?
A: We knew RedBar had a big following and people would be more likely keen o come along than if we didn’t have that backing. So, we asked they said yes”
SW: Did you expect the meet ups to be as successful straight away?
A: We thought we might have got half a dozen folks at the first event but it blew all our expectations and we had closer to 50 turn up on the night.
SW: If you could sum up in a sentence or two what RedBar Glasgow is all about what would it be?
A: RedBar Glasgow is all about the members and they always come first. It’s a lot of fun and that’s why we do it.
So if you’d like to find out more about RedBar Glasgow meetings then visit their website and get involved HERE
Got into the horological hobby only a few short years ago; but got, as us Scots like to say, “baw deep” pretty quickly. Thanks to buying a lemon of a Rolex he spent hours researching why his watch wasn’t working and along the way gained an interest in what makes them tick. He now runs the Scottish Watches website and keeps cohort Rick in check on the twice weekly Scottish Watches podcast.
