Today, on Conversations with Creators, we are excited to introduce a very special guest: Iñigo, also known as Salanova on social media. Iñigo will take us on a fascinating journey through his passion for watches and his dedication to sharing knowledge about this exciting field. From his childhood in San Sebastián to his current residence in Luxembourg, Iñigo will share how his love for collections, inherited from his father, led him to immerse himself in the world of watches. Join us as we explore the various facets of horology. It is an honor to welcome Iñigo to Conversations with Creators.
My name is Iñigo, I was born in San Sebastián (Spain), and currently reside in Luxembourg where I work as an auditor. I’ve always been fascinated by all kinds of collections, which comes from my father, who could be described as a collector of many objects such as pens, stamps, books, among many other things. At the age of 18, I began to take an interest in the world of horology. What attracted me the most is that this world is a combination of three areas: luxury, history, craftsmanship.
My main goal is to transmit to other young people like myself the stories that can be behind each brand or each watch. To do this, I use TikTok, which has been a fundamental tool for spreading knowledge of this world to new generations.
I would say that since one can choose (and that’s what’s interesting about this world), I wouldn’t stick with just one style given the wide variety of options we have in terms of styles, shapes, cases, movements… However, the watch I like the most and find most versatile for everyday wear is undoubtedly any sports watch with a steel bracelet, as they are generally robust and elegant.
Firstly, I wouldn’t like to define myself as a watch influencer, but rather as a disseminator of the world of horology. Nevertheless, it is true that in the world of social media, it’s not easy to establish oneself, and the biggest challenges I have faced have been more personal: the fact of working in a position that demands long working hours makes it difficult to balance your passion with your daily life. However, I would like to send a positive message regarding the use of social media since it is a great medium to make oneself known and share one’s interests and hobbies with the world. Additionally, it undoubtedly helps to meet a lot of interesting people.
The difference is obvious to everyone. While the smartwatch undoubtedly offers many more options and is very useful for everyday life, it remains a technology that will become obsolete in the future. Classic watches, on the other hand, have an objective of enduring over time. They are objects that, when we look at them, remind us of special people, places, and moments in our lives. Undoubtedly, the smartwatch, contrary to what many people think, has had an impact on the watch industry that I believe has been very positive, as it has increased an endless number of technological possibilities available to everyone and, furthermore, it is accustomed future generations to be curious about the world of mechanical watches.
The first fundamental factor that everyone has in mind is that aesthetically, I like the watch. From there, there are different reasons why one might add a watch to their collection. For me, the most important is the brand, not because of the value the watch may have in the future, but rather because of the quality (regardless of the price range) that a particular brand can offer us. Many young enthusiasts like watches for their aesthetics, but they make a mistake in choosing the brand and end up buying pieces that, unfortunately, are of very low quality.
My favorite watch is the Tudor Black Bay, which I had the opportunity to gift to my brother last year on the occasion of his wedding. For me, it is a very special watch from a not so well-known brand, but one that makes watches of immense quality and will undoubtedly serve as a reminder for my future nieces and nephews. For my part, I’m thinking of acquiring the same piece but with a red dial.
The first advice I would give to someone who wants to get into the world of horology is to first focus on getting to know this ocean of brands, as they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a lot of stories surrounding all the iconic watches of each of them. From there, the desire to create a collection will increase, but without a doubt, they will make fewer mistakes when choosing their pieces. On the other hand, I recommend following what one really likes, following trends, or simply buying what everyone wants because its value may increase loses its appeal, and you end up having a collection without any personality.
Apart from the world of horology, I enjoy reading a good book, watching a good basketball game, and walking with my girlfriend. But undoubtedly, what I like the most is socializing with friends over dinner or drinks.
I am a very ambitious person, and I would love to do many things, such as improving my YouTube channel (where it all started), but my main goal is simply to be a good reference for future generations in the world of horology, by introducing brands and watch models that attract them to this fascinating hobby.
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