Date:  March 24, 2013  |   Story: Tiffany Burgess  |   Styling: Mandy Keener  |  

Shane Westmoreland is no stranger to collections, historical artifacts or vintage pieces in general. In fact, it’s his livelihood. As owner of Andrew’s Antiques, which can be found in booths at numerous malls around the state including Jenifer’s Antiques, Crystal Hill Antique Mall and Mid-Towne Antique Mall, he spends his days tracking down rare, one-of-a-kind finds. “I specialize in vintage and antique pieces, including everything from bronzes and ivory to large industrial pieces,” says Westmoreland. 

However, it was jewelry rather than these large items, that gave him his start in the business. Westmoreland would visit local sales in search of jewelry and found an interesting timepiece one day while scouring the items. “It was a beautiful chronograph watch covered in chewed Big Red gum,” he laughs. His trained eye knew the piece was valuable, so he purchased it and set about cleaning his first timepiece. From there Westmoreland educated himself on vintage timepieces and added to the collection, all the while gaining a respect for watches in general. “A man’s watch is a part of him. It’s something he wears every day and it tells his story,” he says, noting many men receive timepieces for milestones such as graduation or retirement. Though some of the watches shown here are for sale in his booths, many of Westmoreland’s favorites remain prized pieces in his personal collection.