Year In Review: The Rise And Fall Of The Hype Watch
“My first thought when I hear the term ‘hype watch’ is of a steel-sport watch that’s been hyped up by social media and rocket-fueled by crypto,” says John Reardon, the former International Head of Watches at Christie’s, who has witnessed the “hype” craze evolve in real time over the past few years in his current role as founder of the Patek Philippe-dedicated platform, Collectability.
“In my mind, those are the ingredients: a steel sport watch, social media, and seemingly endless piles of cash,” Reardon continues. “Hype also has to have pop culture. You combine celebrity, money, and a seemingly low supply of something on a social media platform, and all of a sudden you have the perfect ingredients for hype. It’s self-reinforcing.”