WD: Hi Gary…  It’s nice to talk to you and introduce you to our readers.  Can you tell us a little bit about your background before Garlason Group International?

GJ: I’ve always been fascinated with design and architecture. Although I have no formal training in design, I can relate and follow the means of understanding it. My mind separates the designed work and tries to analyze what the artist/craftsman was thinking when he performed the work.  Is there a progression to reach a means or is it intuitive? I think from an intuitive perspective and try to formulate the patterns into a progression and establish a pleasing outcome. This can be seen from my work as a Hardwood Floor designer (www.garlasonsfloors.com). I’ve spent almost 28 years as a licensed contractor. My clients ranged from the dean of Stanford University to California Senator Allen Cranston along with many notable HI Tech owners from Apple to Intel.

Although the photos show complete harmony and mastered craftsmanship, it starts from scrambled bits of information that doesn’t necessarily have direction. This is the intuitive process that says; you have the pieces, now look for a progression. Garlason is from my full name Gary LaMont Jamerson.

WD: Wow, you have many talents and are truly an artist.  I noticed that on Garlson Group International’s company website you mention that your watches, and I’m sure your hardware designs too, are based on “observations of organic shapes and forms but are the product of an emotional and formal process from drawings to finished designs”.  What do you mean by organic shapes?

GJ: I spend time looking at or taking snapshots of leaves, rocks, nature’s designs or living things that have shapes which lend themselves to a more profound thought process. I then wonder can this shape be used to create something beautiful that hasn’t readily been seen before. Although I have many drawings of watches in unfamiliar shapes that have been born from these organic inspirations, I have yet to fully develop a line of watches to show the means.  They are in the hopper so to speak! However, in the men’s Urban Picasso line, one can see the straight line vectors mixed with quartered soft radius’s blending a very unique form of tranquility in harmony. Although I have designed the fonts originally, the heavy relief “guilloche pattern” as mentioned is what my clients compliment the most.

WD: Nature can be a great inspiration when designing anything.  What process does your brain go through when going from a drawing to a finished design?

GJ: Haha… You really don’t want to know Its scattered thoughts of what will work and what won’t. Think of my brain like a 1000 piece jig-jaw puzzle in a pile. I know that there’s something worth creating, but what pieces should I start with. Unlike the puzzle, I may or may not start at the border (flat sides). Sometimes you’re fixated on a particular material you want to work with, but you can’t figure out what it would look like in a finished product, say enamel for instance. I love the look of enamel, but before I got comfortable working with it for watch dials, I was afraid to dive right into the design work. Therefore my design was compromised because of my fear and development time. Once you understand a material and know it’s limitations you can master the inherent traits and then your light shines bright and you can clearly see what it will look like before production and glorify it’s beauty afterwards.

WD: I’ve heard that materials can be quite intimidating.  What was the first watch that you designed?

GJ: How about I show you?

WD: Great! That’s an amazing watch for your first design.  Actually, one of my favorite of your watch designs would have to be the Men’s Urban Picasso Automatic Watch (above) with mother of pearl dial and stainless steel case.  Although artistic, the watch has a global feel to it, like many of your watches. How much did your travels influence the design of this watch?

GJ: I love your choice and the acceptance of this model brings a great joy to me.  I do spend time in Switzerland and France admiring many watches that do not make their way to the US. Our buying habits differ here than abroad, and because of this difference I find myself torn between the styles of acceptance. In Europe art is viewed first, then the quality of that art and the artist behind the art. Prices are paid for superior art without much debate as long as the potential buyer see’s the true value of what is intended from all aspects of design. Where as in the US, much thought isn’t always viewed from the same vantage point. The US doesn’t hold true to the same value in artistic work for the most part. We would rather have many items of lesser value than one of something with a great value. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it is what we are used to. I try and find a balance between European qualities of design with US price points and hope value is seen from both perspectives.

WD: What is your favorite watch design in your current collection?

GJ: That is a great question and seems to be the most popular question I get. All my watch designs are a small piece of myself. One can get by with the loss of taste, but one could never forget the sweet or sour exhilaration that came with taste! Picking one over the other is like picking one sense over the other. They are simply all my favorites because each came from a passion that was stirred from its creation and whenever that watch is seen, I’m reminded of that sensation of passion that created it in the first place.

WD: An interesting aspect to your site is the collection of vintage watches.  I noticed you have a passion for watches from 1950s to the 1960s.  Has this era inspired your watch designs today?

GJ: Yes! I probably would not have given designing watches a thought if I wasn’t encouraged by a client of mine that purchased vintage watches from me. What’s on my site is a small amount of what I actually have in my collection. I had to take many photos down because people would see those classics and send emails or call relentlessly asking me to sell them those watches. Sometimes I would stare at my modest collection and view the beauty that someone created, place it up for sale and only have a photo that reminded me of it. But I always knew that it was going to a good home because watch lovers always take pride in the ownership of money well spent. I remember once turning down an offer of significance which the buyer clearly couldn’t understand and was miffed at what he considered my arrogance in not selling him the watch. I simply told him, I would rather gaze at the extraordinary beauty of this watch for ten minutes twice a year than except your generous offer, I’m sorry if I offend you, but this watch means a great deal to me. I always had mint condition watches and my clients knew this, they were as if you purchased them today. So to answer your question in a proper way, the beauty I saw in watches as I collected them only made me want to make beautiful timepieces too! I have some classic era designs on paper that I hope to someday produce, and I seriously dream of the day that I can. They would clearly work with the in vogue and chic styles that are prevalent today.

WD: I don’t blame him…I’d be envious of your collection myself! I also noticed that you like to wear a number of watches, including TAG Heuer, when you are not wearing your own designs.  TAG Heuer has had a great year this year, especially with the TAG Heuer Carrera.  Where do you see your brand in the next ten years?

GJ: Tag is the epitome of sport watch design. I play around with sport design from diving to racing to yachting. I have a small problem with design from a personal perspective, I’m an eclectic person. This becomes mass confusion for me to stay focused on certain genres of design, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am who I am! So in ten years if my fans still want me to create I hope to design from these mentioned genres in Ernest. With so many choices today from so many designers in the field, it’s hard to know what the look will be like, but ones thing is for sure, people will still love watches and buy from their favorite designers.

WD: Speaking of the future, if you don’t mind me asking, what watch designs are you working on now?

GJ: I have just completed the second generation of the men’s passport collection and it’s being photographed as we have this conversation so it isn’t up on the site yet. I will send you a few peep shot photos though. But I’m extremely excited about my all Swiss Made ladies luxury model that will be shipped on the 12th of the month. This was really a labor of love and my first attempt at pure elegance. You will be one of the first to see it when it arrives and its name is GGI After 8 Collection.  The name is a symbol of how my thoughts are gathered throughout the day, but my mind brings forth the reality of what I want to design after 8:00p and last to until I sometimes pick myself up at early hours and find my bedroom somehow.

WD: Oooh, thanks for the sneak peek! We love to be first at The Watch Digest and can’t wait to see your GGI After 8 Collection…sounds exciting.  Lastly, as a designer and a collector, any tips on luxury watch shopping this holiday?

GJ: Oh this is a fun question, and with so many choices out there it can get absolutely insane to pick just one. But always remember that a watch is a product that should make you feel good. If it won’t put pep in your step, slide in your stride, or make you feel like you’re at a spa being pampered all day, then it’s really not the one for you. Also never spend more than you can afford regardless! You want to be proud of ownership from a reward standpoint, in other words, you deserve the treat, but never just because.

WD: Thanks so much Gary for taking the time out to talk with The Watch Digest, we look forward to following your growth and exploring your future watch designs.

GJ: I want to thank you for the opportunity you have given me to be heard.