I’m a raging tidsoptimist, and am guilty of joking that “time is just a concept” whilst habitually rocking up late. In some respects, that’s true – we’ve divided the day into 24 fixed segments to help structure our reality. But on a physical level, it’s about as false as the half-hearted apologies I give for my tardiness.
Gravity directly influences spacetime, to the point where if you were to orbit just outside the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy – chilling out reading a book and sipping coffee for an hour – a very distant observer would believe you to be an insomniac with an incredibly slow reading pace, clocking in at ten pages a day after reading for four days non-stop.
When I try to talk to people about this, I watch a lot of eyes glaze over. But who might at least be a little bit interested? Watchmakers. Surely one cannot spend all day working with time-measuring machines, to not have even a fleeting, whimsical thought about time travel. The guys at Jones & Garland specialise in trade – rather than personal – repairs, meaning they’re practically swimming in clocks at all hours of the day.
We reached out to them to find out where time slows down, how highly they rate their internal clocks, and whether they, too, have a tendency to turn up late.
Pete Garland
Favourite watch?
Any Breitling Chronograph
Least favourite watch?
A Vostok
Are you typically early, on time, or late?
Early
When does time fly for you?
When in good company.
When does time slow down for you?
Waiting at appointments.
Favourite time of day?
Morning
Favourite time of year?
Spring
If you had a time machine, would you go to the past or the future?
The past, to the 60s/70s.
Internal clock rating out of 10?
7
Favourite fictional time traveller?
Marty McFly
Favourite time-related statistic?
Light travels faster than sound.
Favourite book?
Running with the Moon – Jonny Bealby
Favourite film?
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Favourite song?
Earth Song – Michael Jackson
Death row meal?
Beef Roast
What couldn’t you live without?
Friends
Role model?
A dear friend.
Best advice you’ve been given?
Remain positive
Pierre LeGaringnon
Favourite watch?
Lemania 105 Chronograph
Least favourite watch?
Richard Mille RM 005
Are you typically early, on time, or late?
Early
When does time fly for you?
Working and cycling.
When does time slow down for you?
Traffic
Favourite time of day?
Mid-afternoon
Favourite time of year?
Spring
If you had a time machine, would you go to the past or the future?
The past
Internal clock rating out of 10?
5
Favourite fictional time traveller?
Marty McFly
Favourite time-related statistic?
It can take up to nine days to recover from one sleepless night.
Favourite book?
The Quiet Canadian – Hartford Montgomery Hyde
Favourite film?
Threads (1984)
Favourite song?
Sunshine of Your Love – Cream
Death row meal?
Pain au Chocolat
What couldn’t you live without?
Bicycle
Role model?
My grandfather.
Best advice you’ve been given?
Patience is a virtue.
Mark Ashford
Favourite watch?
Jaeger LeCoultre
Least favourite watch?
Diesel, too big for me.
Are you typically early, on time, or late?
Mostly on time, but depends on the girls.
When does time fly for you?
Playing with my girls.
When does time slow down for you?
Going for a big walk.
Favourite time of day?
Walking to Locke’s to get my morning coffee.
Favourite time of year?
Going from winter to spring. Cold sunny days.
If you had a time machine, would you go to the past or the future?
The past, to see family.
Internal clock rating out of 10?
8
Favourite fictional time traveller?
The dwarves from Time Bandits
Favourite time-related statistic?
If you had two atomic clocks and leave one at the airport, and then travel around the world, the one you took would be slightly slower. Time travel, love it!
Favourite book?
Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
Favourite film?
The Goonies (1985)
Favourite song?
Stuck in the Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
Death row meal?
The wife’s Butter Chicken.
What couldn’t you live without?
Maltesers
Role model?
My mum
Best advice you’ve been given?
Things could always be worse, enjoy the things you have now.
