I am an amateur horologist, and live in Perth, Western Australia. My interest in horology began more than 25 years ago, when someone gave me a watch in pieces. It was an old Omega, cal 501, and I was fascinated by the beautiful workmanship of its construction.
At that time, I was working in electronics, and had been asked to service a watch-timing machine for a watchmaker. So, after pestering him for a while, he relented and taught me the basics of watchmaking over a period of a few years.
This practical experience was supplemented by books, and my "Bible" of watchmaking remains to this day Donald De Carle's book "Practical Watch Repairing", as well as other well-known works. (- and I finally got that old Omega back together and working!)
My interest in Accutrons began in the mid-70's when my father returned from a trip to the U.S, sporting a new Accutron Spaceview, though it was ten years or so later before I was to actually own an Accutron myself. They were not a watch commonly found in Western Australia, and you guessed it, my first one was Dad's old Spaceview! He reckoned his new Seiko Digital was the best thing ever!
I still retain a strong interest in watchmaking, and service Accutrons mainly for the Australian market.