Monthly Recap

May 2024

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We talked about a lot over the last month. Let’s recap…

The Rising Demand for Whiskey: A Smart Investor’s Choice

Why are 250,000 Vinovest customers investing in whiskey?

In a word - consumption.

Global alcohol consumption is on the rise, with projections hitting new peaks by 2028. Whiskey, in particular, is experiencing significant growth, with the number of US craft distilleries quadrupling in the past decade. Younger generations are moving from beer to cocktails, boosting whiskey's popularity.

That’s not all.

Whiskey's tangible nature, market resilience, and Vinovest’s strategic approach make whiskey a smart addition to any diversified portfolio.

The Main Thing

A Month of Posts

This was a great month. Most of the snow has melted here in Alaska. We’re up to having 18 hours of sunlight. I love it.

It was also a long month. There were 5 Fridays, so I had to write 5 articles for you all! I love doing this so it’s not a big deal.

Here’s what we talked about this month.

3 Qualities Your Watch Should Have

I just don’t buy any watch anymore. My standard have risen.

Here are the three things I look for in new watch purchases.

  • Water Resistance of 100 meters

  • Power Reserve of 48 Hours

  • COSC Certification

5 Watches under $500

You don’t always have to break the bank for your collection. I can be a frugal person, so I’m always on the lookout for a good deal.

Here’s 5 great watches that won’t break the bank.

  • Baltic HMS $400

  • Seiko 5 Sports SSK 019 $475

  • Nodus Retrospect III $475

  • Dan Henry 1970 $290

  • Steinhart Nav B $490

3 Amazing Watch Straps

For daily wear, I tend to prefer anything but bracelets. There’s rubber, silicone, sailcloth. There are so many out there.

Here are the top three straps I recommend.

  • Barton Elite Silicone

  • North Star Straps

  • Summit Straps (OwnTheWatch10 at checkout for 10% off!)

Authorized Dealer Etiquette

It’s hilarious that I had to write this. But after a Reddit post, there was so much controversy (and humor) on this.

Here are three ways not to embarrass yourself in your local Rolex AD.

  • No Slobbin

  • Don't Be Weird

  • Don’t Be an Asshole

Buy My Book

I wrote a comprehensive guide on watches. It covers everything you need to know and is the book I wish I had when I started collecting. It’s a way to get smarter and help support my newsletter.

Don’t miss out—grab yours today!

Pre-Owned Pick

Check Out This Used Watch

I’m always on the lookout for a good deal. The used market is a great place for this.

I use Chrono24. Here’s a watch I found that I would consider buying.

click to view the listing

(this is an active listing and may no longer be available by the time you’re reading this)

My wife loves this watch. It’s listed at $3,200 and the current market rate is around $4,100. That’s a good deal.

I’d make an offer at $3,000 and go from there.

Ask The Guy

Q&A

Q: What's the most unexpected place or situation where you've found inspiration for your newsletter content

A: I commute about two hours each day. I have lots of thoughts while driving. I also do my best thinking in the shower. I have a running Google Keep note with headlines/titles for future articles.

Q: What's your number one piece of advice to people when starting their collection?

A: Do not finance your fun. Not to be Buzz Killington here, but if you cannot pay for your watch, in-full, do not buy it. Sure, watches may go up in value, but not enough to finance it. Save your money and then own the watch.

Q: Tom or Mark?

A: One of my favorite bands, blink-182 has two great pop-punk vocalists. I used to be a Tom fan but over the last few years, changed to a Mark fan. For reference, Tom sings lead in “All the Small Things” while Mark sings lead in “What’s My Age Again.”

Insider Look

My Investment Portfolio

You wanted to see it, so here’s my portfolio. You can do the same and get $5k managed for free when you open an account with my affiliate link.

Performance over the last 5 years

dashed line is $ invested, solid is value

Allocation

I’m at an 80/20 spread of stocks to bonds. Time weighted average is my friend.

Mostly aligned to US stock indexes but also have a goal of making dividend income. This is not financial advice!

Out Of Time

Signing Off

Thanks for reading this today! Newsletter design changes and experiments are coming. I can’t wait for you to see!

If you don't already, please give a follow on Twitter and Instagram.

Until next week, cherish every moment and savor every tick of life and your favorite watches.

Timelessly Yours,

Ian

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