INSTAGRAM (english version) : We finally found a true watch lover (not one money lover from watches) on one of the most rotten social media from the watch planet ...
Very respected with more than 171,000 followers on Instagram (all honestly added), Jasem Al Zeraei is one of the most influential among patekophiles circles. He tells us his experience of blogger, watch lover and Kuwaiti buzzer... ▶▶▶ PATEKAHOLIC« 100 % fun with a brand I fell in love since the first day »... ◉◉◉◉ TOO MUCH SHARKS AND MORONS ON …
Very respected with more than 171,000 followers on Instagram (all honestly added), Jasem Al Zeraei is one of the most influential among patekophiles circles. He tells us his experience of blogger, watch lover and Kuwaiti buzzer...
▶▶▶ PATEKAHOLIC« 100 % fun with a brand I fell in love since the first day »... ◉◉◉◉ TOO MUCH SHARKS AND MORONS ON INSTAGRAM ! Especially when it comes to watches. But there are some few true watch lovers of watches, which didn't try to build a business on asking ransom payments from brands which believed in fabulous lists of followers that anyone can buy at wholesales prices (1 200 dollars for one million followers : Business Montres, April 29th). ◉◉◉◉ AMONG THOSE TRUE WATCH LOVERS (peacefull bloggers posting for the fun and for friends), one of the kinbdest in obviously Jasem Al Zeraei, the unrepentant Patekaholic, which wins a lot of tokens of love among patekophiles and Patek Philippe lovers. He tells us his adventures of watch blogger between Geneva and the Middle East (Kuwait), where he lives... 
◉ Why did you choose Patek Philippe: personal addiction or strategy because of the high reputation of the brand ? ◉ JASEM AL ZERAEI : I did not choose the name actually ; a friend of mine called me asking for advice on which watch to buy and why and when the conversation ended, he called me “Patekaholic”. I loved the sound of the name because it was simple but it meant so much, so I started a page for my passion and called it Patekaholic. ◉ Now, you are well known as a Patek specialist, or Patekaholic : do you post on Instagram as a job (to earn money) or for the fun ? ◉ JAZ : 100% fun. I am by profession a stockbroker, the markets is where I work hard, the watch world however is my playground. I love horology and in particular, I am in love with the Patek Philippe brand. ◉ How do you monetize your Instagram page ? ◉ JAZ : I do not, I actually have been known to start the giveaway phenomenon that many Instagram accounts are doing now. What I do is I find an item that I do not mind parting with like a Patek tie or loupe and I ask the followers to choose a number between 0 to 100 and when I randomly pick a number the winner will receive the package. Why do I do this ? It is fun; it creates interaction with the followers and it really strenghthens the love that followers (noncollectors and collectors) have for Patek Philippe. 
◉ How many time do you spent to post et create post every day ? ◉ JAZ : I am quite active, I post between 5 to 15 a day depending on the content (if it’s available or not)... ◉ Is it grateful to post always (almost) the same watches of the same brand on the same wrist? ◉ JAZ : I do not think I do, I post many of my watches but I also receive many pictures from collectors and owners who would like to have their watches posted on the page. It is very interesting to see how many people who used to be discreet about their watches now want to celebrate their timepieces and share them with the Instagram world and me. ◉ To your own, what is your personal added value on Instagram (choice, picture, brand, MiddleEast, personal charism, etc.) and what is the key of your success among collectors? ◉ JAZ : Unlike a newspaper article, picture or advertisement that may be seen one time for a few seconds, then they typically are forgotten, Instagram offers continuous marketing and branding throughout the day. Users are on their cell phones now more than ever, and with more publications proving this point by going digital I think this world will only grow from here. 
◉ What is your secret weapon compared to other stars on Instagram? ◉ JAZ : There are pages with 1 or more million followers, but I’m not them and I never will be like them. Why? Well they are a multi brand and lifestyle pages that appeal to a broader market. Remember Patekaholic is a mono brand page and with 170,000 followers today it’s one of the most dense pages on Instagram (for 1 brand pages). My weapon is honesty and transparency, I speak my mind and share everything with my followers, I genuinely love Patek Philippe and wish for a day when my passion is shared with the entire world. ◉ Do you know who are your readers and from where do they come from? ◉ JAZ : Sometimes I post a picture of a watch and ask the followers “I am from Kuwait, where are you from?” and the responses are really wide and interesting. My followers come from all walks of life, from big collectors to passionate lovers to just curious folks from end to end of this earth. ◉ Do you have relations with some of them ? ◉ JAZ : I have met and became good friends with some of my followers as I have met yourself and hope to one day call us friends and share with you a drink every time I am in Geneva or you are in this side of the world. 
◉ Do you consider yourself as a fan, as a journalist, as a partner of the brand, as a fellow traveler of other collectors, as a lobbyist for Swiss watchmaking ? ◉ JAZ : I am all that in one. My love for Patek Philippe in specific but watch making in general makes me a fan. I think to call myself a journalist is not fair because I don’t write full length articles where I articulate my opinions but who knows, maybe in the future. I am a partner of the brand because I collect as much as my bank account allows me and my passion drives me, and 100% I am a lobbyist for the Swiss watchmaking industry which I have a lot of respect for and admiration. ◉ Contrary to many others pages on Instagram, you seems to avoid clad young women, luxury cars, private aircrafts or cigars : is it a choice and what are your reasons to focus only on pictures with watches ? ◉ JAZ : Every once in a while a collector may send me a nice picture of a Patek with a rare cigar or a private jet and I post it but I don’t make it a habit. I think for other pages, they are NOT really a watch page as much as they are a lifestyle page. You have to appreciate that extravagance sells and gets followers and many pages will post crazy pictures of more than just private planes and cigars for followers, I however believe that Patek Philippe lives in a much classier world and if my progress of followers is not as fast, that’s fine by me. Patek was always about quality and not quantity and so am I. ◉ Do you have any help or support from Patek Philippe (from Switzerland or in Dubai) ? ◉ JAZ : No I don’t, I’m still trying to know for sure if they actually follow my page and have an opinion of it. 
◉ How many Patek Philippe watches do you have in your own collection ? ◉ JAZ : I currently own 19 pieces wristwatches, 9 pocket watches and 21 Liomges dish and many many many rare collectible that I seek and buy from all over the world. ◉ What is your favorite ? ◉ JAZ : I am a big fan of the reference 5070 and 5004 and own every 5070 every produced (J,G,P,R and the 5071G with baguette diamonds) 5004 I own the yellow gold and platinum and I intend to purchase more. ◉ How many new watches a year (Patek or others) ? ◉ JAZ : 2015 so far I have added two to my collection, a 5990 and a 5131R but I also have a 5170G and a 5370P on order and the lovely and versatile 5711R. ◉ Do you prefer to buy on private sales, in shops or at auctions ? ◉ JAZ : For new watches, I always approach the authorized dealer either in Kuwait or the region and I have good relationships with many. For vintage and older watches, auctions or private sales are a great venue. 
◉ When did you begin to collect Patek Philippe watches, and at what age did you start ? ◉ JAZ : I started in 2009/2010 with a 5712R. ◉ Did you ever buy some high complications reserved to initiates and impossible to buy if you aren't a friend of the brand ? ◉ JAZ : Only when I am able to get them, it’s not always easy to purchase what you want from Patek Philippe, and maybe to a certain extent that’s what makes the brand special. However, when I get a chance to purchase a superb complication or rare watch I always do. ◉ Could you imagine to wear any other watch than a Patek Philippe and what would be your choice ? ◉ JAZ : I own other brands sure, I own Rolex, FP Journe, Vianney Halter as an independent, I love watches in general but Patek Philippe is what my heart always desires. ◉ Did you personally meet Thierry Stern or this father and do they appreciate bloggers ? ◉ JAZ : I met him once for lunch before I started the Patekaholic page while on a visit with a few collectors from Kuwait organized by the local authorized dealer, I would love to hear their opinion on the role of social media on the brand. I know that I have personally made many many friends sells their AP’s and Hublot’s and buy their first Patek Philippe. 
◉◉◉◉ TO FOLLOW JASEM AL ZERAEI (below) : Patekaholic (Instagram, thabks for the pcs of this article)... 
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