What Inspires Me - The Gift Of A Lifetime

Ben Clymer, founder and CEO, Hodinkee

- Ben Clymer

My grandfather was an entrepreneur. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, and he made his own money—starting, believe it or not, a cigarette lighter company in the ’60s. He was a cool guy—someone who lived a glamorous lifestyle (or at least what the Rochester, N.Y.–raised, 13-year-old version of me thought was glamorous). He was my hero. He had this watch, an Omega Speedmaster, that I loved. It had a chronograph and what’s known as a triple date complication: the day of the week, the month, and the date. And it didn’t look like the usual watch. It was blue and white and gray. Anytime I went down to visit him, I’d ask him about it. He’d even let me wear it from time to time.