Horological Meandering

Finding thePuristS.com years ago has been my best find ever on the internet. Being a huge AP fan I had a need to learn more about the brand and thePuristS.com and PuristSPro.com has not only helped me learn but has also introduced me to a group of incredible people.

Many thanks to Dr. Thomas Mao for bringing this fantastic community to life for all of us to benefit from.

Viva Las Vegas.
JerryW

Thank you Andrew for such an interesting interview with our very own Dr Mao! What an insight!

Thank you Daos and Andrew in coming up with those questions! There is a lot of intelligence in this interview and I have enjoyed reading it immensely!

Finally thank you Dr Thomas Mao for bringing us this community, it's become an important part of my horological life and without this platform, I wouldn't have all of you good friends to share my passion with!

Long Live PuristSPro!

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..I was browsing through some of my coffee table watch books and if i am not mistaken, there was some Foreword not Thomas giving introduction to the book but the book giving introduction to who Thomas Mao is, a brief one, and there was a picture of his skeletonized AP, and that his profession as described in that little introduction was a renowned psychologist or something.  Sounds weird to me at first and thinking ok, this guy must have deep love in watches as he actually psycho-analyze timepieces.  When i first read, the name Thomas Mao, i associated him to the legendary Chairman Mao who was administering and governing the whole big country and economy called China.  And then when i discovered Watchprosite, PPro, or PuristS, and read about Thomas Mao's iron fist and control over matters that matters and he will ensure he is clearly heard and his command to be followed and well executed, I told myself, maybe he is a bit like Chairman Mao.  I adore Chairman Mao although my understanding of him personally is not in-depth but I only know who he was and in my residence, i have a statue of him made of brass proudly displayed on one my Chinese antique among many that i have in my home which my late grandpa, at my request, had purchased for me when he was visiting China. Chairman Mao, for who he was and what he had done for the greater China.  Thomas Mao too for his conviction and passion to speak up and speak out for things that matters to him.  Thank you.

Congratulations to Andrew and Daos for exceeding even your customary high journalistic standards and doing so with an impeccable sense of timing (in light of iGOTT).

Congratulations and thanks to Thomas, for providing a very insightful and thought-provoking interview but moreover for being truly a Purist not only for the year but for the ages.

. . . I've told a few times before about my second meeting with Thomas.  We went to dinner with two other companions after an event almost seven years ago, and while he was wearing a vintage Vacheron, he brought along a few other watches, one of which was a Millenary. 

Now, I won't say that I made faces, but Thomas must've noticed my instinctive disdain for the watch, which up till that time I had seen only in photos or a showcase.  The ovoid design was, to my sensibilities, odd, and that's putting it mildly.  He then placed the Millenary on his wrist, which instantly effected a transformation in my perception of the design. 

I'm convinced Thomas sensed my wonder and amazement at the epiphany, and equally convinced that he knew precisely what my reaction would be.

That, in a nutshell, is what makes him The Purist.

Thanks, Daos and Andrew . . . cordially, Art

This is a great interview.  The questions, as good as the answers.

Of course, you guys know what TM stands for... The Man

from a great guy! An enormous amount of time and effort (plus traveling!!!) has gone into making and growing this site for all of us to enjoy. I've met so many nice people and learned so much about watches over the years from this site. For that Thomas, I couldn't thank you enough! Your well deserving of this honor. I wish I could join everyone in Vegas this year, it looks like a great time!

Tony

Sincerest of congratulations to Dr. Mao.

Thank you for everything that you've done for this community and thanks AndrewD for this interview.

Kamy

Cheers

PAt

andrew d and thomas m! that was a wonderful interview.

now - your title "purist-of-the-year" implies a different interview for next year? it would be most difficult to follow in dr. thomas mao's footsteps!!!

should't he be Purist-of-the-Century? both this one and the last one?

thanks Thomas for all the complex and simple friendship and guidance over these many years. Hooray!

cheers,

hollywood

of a most remarkable gentleman.

When meeting Dr. Mao in Philadelphia, I found him delightful to listen to and also a most humble person.

This interview is the core of being a Purist.

Thank You Andrew and Daos.

from THE Purist himself. 

I met Thomas at the Purist's summer BBQ last year and while we had a brief and friendly chat, I wanted to get a chance to sit down, "grab a beer" and find what really makes this man tick and what lead to the PuristS and PuristSPro sites.  I have always had interests in how people start in their professional/entrepreneurship.  And since it has to do with horology, what could be better?

Thank you for this interview as I got a glimpse into Mr. Mao!

Congrats Thomas on successful 10 years and many more to come!

Enjoy IGOTT, I will be there in spirit!

I had the great priviledge of meeting The Man (and DRMW) years ago when I was an anonymous trainee watchmaker at AP....(I would be very surprised if either of them remember it   :-D )

Now I'm still mostly anonymous, but I look forward to chatting with him again some day...!

I will say it with one word, only: THANKS!

Oliver

Thank you both Thomas and Andrew for bringing these wise comments.

I really enjoyed reading them... and they explain a lot why we are here and where we will go.

Fx

Andrew, thank you for a great interview!

 

Thomas, a big and sincere thank you for our “second home”!

 

 

A place to return to day after day…

 

Meeting friends, discussing our favourite passion, learning more about these precious marvels called “watches”!

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

..because in a situation like this, they can always seem so contrived. From my limited experience with Thomas in person, I have found him every much the person he is in the interview. A super nice guy, too.
Loved the interview.

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Wisdom wisdom and some more WISdome
Wise questions wise answers --- PPro as it best
So much joy it brought in my heart this rainy morning
Thank you Thomas for making all this reality in my spiral of life.
Sincerely
Damjan

life, luxury and collecting

Long may the PuristS reign

Thanks Andrew for a most entertaining interview

Julian

You managed to ask some brilliant questions to tease out the very insightful replies that TM shared with us Purists.Cheers,Dreamer

nt

After reading this, I feel good.

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Vte

....and Thank You.  Purist-of-the-Year is deserved!  

I actually miss Thomas' long post asserting his views on certain aspects of horology even though we may not agree on all things.

He has stopped doing that.  May be there is no provocative post which is interesting enough to ignite his flame.

To me, he is a distinguished Purist at all times.

Thanks Daos and Andrew.

Regards

Ling