Adam Craniotes is a lifelong watch collector based in NYC. He is a published writer both online and in print, and a former senior moderator on Timezone.com. He is the founder of RedBar Group, a worldwide collective with over 40 chapters spread across 4 continents for fellow watch enthusiasts that focuses on face-to-face interaction and social gatherings.
Q8. Who has had the strongest influence on you? What are your greatest inspirations?
My mother has been the strongest influence in my life, bar none. She grew up as a black woman before the civil rights movement, with all that that entails, yet she still managed to overcome the institutional racism and discrimination that were a given and work her way through Cornell University, where she became the first black president of the woman’s student body; move to New York City and put herself through Columbia University, where she earned her master’s degree; travel around the world at a time when as a woman, regardless of her skin tone, she wasn’t expected to do so; build a meaningful, fulfilling career; marry an incredibly intelligent, talented, creative and difficult man; raise twins; go back to school and earn her Ph.D; open a private practice… Phew.
Her sheer force of will can be terrifying to me at times, but I love her to the moon and back. When I feel overwhelmed with life I think about my mother, and then I get back to work.
Inspirations? My twin sister (she’s tough as nails and doesn’t give a damn about what anyone thinks of her). My wife (she puts up with me). My daughter, Lola (she finds joy in the most unlikely of places). My grandfather (not only did he support me in every way possible and show me the love that my father couldn’t, but he also bought me my first watch).