A new year under way, no better choice for the I LUV Winter Park Small Business of the Month than a business which focuses on time each and every day they open their doors. A small family-owned business headed by a father / daughter combo, Scott & Carissa, The Orlando Watch Company on Park Avenue also has one of my fave shop dogs, a Boxer named Luke!
Whether you are looking for a brand new time piece or need to bring a family heirloom back to life, these guys fill such an amazing niche on Park Avenue! I have a Shinola watch from them, am in often just to see what's going on, pick up a new band or battery. Since moving across Park Avenue a few years ago, their other offerings, from jewelry boxes & travel bags to knives, have been expanded. And, a year ago this month, they became THE go-to for miniature versions of the wonderful Mr. Rogers statue which resides on the Rollins College campus adjacent to Knowles Chapel.
If you don't know this LUVly small business and Winter Park treasure, I'm happy to offer you a brief intro below via questions for daughter, Carissa. Next time you are visiting Park Avenue, I enthusiastically encourage an in-person visit!
How long has Orlando Watch Company been open?
Under the name Orlando Watch Company, it’s probably been since the early 90s, not sure of the exact year. Prior to that my Dad was Technical Trade.
Did you guys open it? And always a family business?
Yes, our store was solely started by Scott. He started off as a watchmaker initially working as a Rolex watchmaker in downtown Sanford. But also specializing in a variety of different movements and brands. In the beginning he worked as an independent watchmaker within a couple of jewelry stores as well for the trade. Once the jewelry store closed in Sanford he worked with John Glenn Jewelers in downtown Orlando, which is where we established our name, Orlando Watch Company. As a kid, my father would bring be in to the shop. I would work on watches here and there. John Glenn Jewelers eventually closed their doors and Scott made his way to Park Avenue (232 N. Park Ave) in the late 90s, joining another family jeweler. In 2006, when Scott’s son in law (my husband) became a watchmaker, we opened our first independent store at 326 North Park Ave. I was already working for my father while in college at our 232 location. But 326 was a new beginning for my father. It was our first independent store with his daughter and son in law joining him.
We have always been a family owned and run store. Fast forward to today, we currently have other family members part of our store. Scott’s other Son in law and nephew have joined us. The rest of our team is also considered a part of our family as well. With our extension of family working for us and expanding our passion for watches, we out grew 326. The location at 326 will always be a big part of our story especially for me as this is when I became a permanent part of my father’s business.
Has it always been watches AND repairs? Always at the level it is now?
Yes, we’ve always been watches. But in the very beginning it was watch repair, then the introduction of pre-owned high end watches. Early -mid 90s Scott starting carrying new Watch brands as an authorized dealers (Nomos and Oris were our first). We dealt with all levels of brands / quality. But the last 15 years we’ve been specializing in luxury timepieces. Since we are extremely passionate for the industry and for watchmakers, we curate a unique collection of brands ranging from ultra high end to entry level. There is a watch for everyone ! If you stepped into the store, you would see a little bit of every notable brand and age under one roof.
Who is your most frequent customer?
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one person. We actually have a lot of regulars that come in weekly just to see what’s new and talk watches with us. We have the weekday regulars and then the ones that visit us just on Saturdays. We also love seeing the out of towners and European clients that make a special trip to visit us when they visit Orlando. One of our favorite things to hear is from a new area visitor that heard about us and had to stop by to meet us and see our store.
What time of year is your busiest?
It used to be the holidays. But now the last few years it’s been year round. The most consistent slow times are at the end of the summer right as the new school year is starting.
Tell me about the watch making events? When did they start and who is that type of event really designed for?
Our Build A Watch course started about 3 years ago. It’s put on in conjunction with AWCI (American Watchmakers & Clockmakers Institute). It’s a mobile horology lab (bus) with 8 benches for students all equipped with state of of the art equipment and tools needed to assemble a watch. It’s really a great 8 hour program for someone to understand the basics of watchmaking, plus they build a quality Swiss movement complete with choosing their own dial colors. It’s like they are stepping into our world of watch repair and in the end they’ve just built their own timepiece to wear! It’s been very exciting to host these events and we’ve had a variety of “students” of all ages. Two years we had our first pre-teen student, she was our youngest to date and did excellent! The program is really a great gift idea for the person that loves watches or is fascinated by them.
So, do you guys dream about watches?
Lol, I think my father (Scott) might dream in watch parts. But I think all of us do dream about watches in some sort of way. We are so passionate about it and I’ve even caught myself day dreaming of watch ideas. Scott is the same way, we’re always doodling Watch ideas.
Who wears what watches? And do you each have like 10?
As far as watch collections, no one has a bigger collection then Scott. He’s the biggest watch collector I know. We’re all guilty of buying watches in the shop, too. We joked around last year (after we’ve each bought a couple) that in 2023 we need to start buying shop watches we can share. There are so many tempting cool watches we get in that we just can’t say no to.
What is YOUR favorite item in the store?
I think my favorite item is actually our educational tools that show how certain parts of the watch work. I love being able to explain how certain parts of the watch work, especially since we do a lot of watch repair on a variety of movements. So many people come to us for our watch repair knowledge. It ends up making it more understandable how each component works in a mechanical watch.
What is the most popular item in the store?
Gosh, this is a hard one to answer. When people come in their reaction is alway Wow, you have everything here. But if I had to pick one, it’s my dad! They all come for him. For as long as I’ve worked for him and even now with an amazing team that our customers have come to love, they still ask for Scott….the watchmaker, the horologist, the expert in watches, Father Time.
Tell me about your watch dogs? Why Boxers?
Ah, the watch dog. Well, it really all started when we opened our first stand alone store (326 N. Park Ave). My husband just got out of watchmaking school and joined my father here. We’ve just gotten married and settled on getting our first puppy. A Boxer. They are family dogs, goofy, and good looking. Growing up, one of our family dogs was a Boxer mix. Since it was just the three at the shop, we would bring the puppy in. We eventually just started calling him the watch dog. Fast forward to now, our current boxer (a foster we fell in love with), comes to work with me every week. I love when customers come in and ask to see him. I’m sure he could sell watches based off his googly eyes.
Have IWatches and such impacted what you do at all?
This is a great question, we have not seen it impact us or mechanical watches in the way that the quartz revolution (1970s) was feared and slightly did. In the 70s most companies expected the end of mechanical watches when the quartz watch movement debuted. But actually, mechanical watches have been extremely popular and respected. The majority of what we sell in the store (even carry) are mechanical movements. The iWatch does have some good qualities, but there is something to be said for wearing a fully mechanical watch knowing that in 3 years you won’t have to throw it away because it’s time for a computer upgrade. Plus the fact you can wear it for your generation and then pass it to the next.