Collector's Journey: From Seiko to High-End Watches

Tudorctin chronicles his fascinating evolution as a watch collector, from initial indifference to developing a sophisticated appreciation for high-end horology. His journey highlights how personal taste and understanding of watchmaking can transform over time, offering a relatable narrative for both new and seasoned enthusiasts.

My saga started in 2004 when despite 3 successive CPR’s my Seiko refused to come back to life. I bought it in 1996, previously I had only no-brand watches manufactured on the barge. 

So I started to look for a replacement. At that time I worked in Jakarta and I noticed that most of my colleagues used to buy Rolex. I tried to be a bit different so I bought a Montblanc Timewalker in stainless steel. I have to admit that I had no idea about watches, I didn’t know even how a watch is working, I bought the Montblanc because I liked the design. I thought that all the watch companies manufacture the movements in-house, e.g.  ETA for me was totally unknown.  I recall I saw in Jakarta a 14,000 USD Cartier Pasha and I thought you have to be crazy to spend such amount of money on a watch. Of course the future proved me that I was totally wrong…

In the meantime I moved to Singapore and you know this city is a heaven for watch aficionados. I started buying Watch Magazines and slowly I became more familiar with this new world.

In August 2008 I realized that it was the right time for a new watch. Among the watches targeted were Patek Phillippe Calatrava, Roger Dubuis Excalibur, Montblanc and so on…. 

Finally I ended up buying an Audemars Piguet Millenary Collection RG. 

I read an article on the purists about the movement. I was quite impressed so I had no option left.

Why RG… I don’t know why I had the feeling the WG made me sad, RG case is warmer…

Pros: newly (at that time) designed movement (caliber 3120), brand, elliptic shape of the case (?) 

Cons: Case too big (45x40mm) for the movement

In February 2011 (Abu Dhabi era) it crossed my mind that a new watch will not do any harm to my soul.  And again, although I wanted to buy a Montblanc I ended up with a Rotonde de Cartier Central Chronograph in RG.

Pros: dress watch, multi layer dial, right size for my wrist, vertical coupling system and the most important characteristic for a chronograph from my point of view - manual winding

Cons: the back-side of the movement is not opened enough - the movement is buried inside, it’s not what you expect from a manually wound chronograph, the crown is quite big and the winding stem a bit loose so setting the time with accuracy it’s not always an easy task

I don’t like Rolex and I don’t understand Richard Mille and Hublot but as a human being I’m subject to change. When I saw for the first time AP Royal Oak I thought it’s horrendous. Today I can say it’s on my wish list… And Rolex Daytona is not bad at all… And Hublot after BNB Concept takeover is getting better and better.

In June 2012 (Muscat era) I bought a Cartier Jumping Hours WG.  I like the concept of jumping hours and thanks to SJX article about its movement (August 2010) I took the plunge.

Pros: again manual movement, 65 hours power reserve, improved JH movement (2 star shaped wheels and spring levers that improve the reduction of the drop in amplitude of the balance when the hour disc jumps instantaneously at the top of the hour)

Cons: the grey slate of the dial makes the watch to look a bit austere; maybe the black or dark blue color would have been more appropriate in order to increase the contrast with the WG case and minute aluminium disc 

In November 2012 I bought a Cartier Santos RG with rubber strap. I bought it because I needed a “T-shirt watch”, it’s a kind of blasphemy to wear a combination dress watch / T-shirt. But I have to confess, sometimes I’m a sinner and I break the unwritten rules (e.g. dress watch-casual shirt/pullover).

Pros: iconic Cartier watch

Cons: ETA 2892-A2 movement but I’m not so sure if it’s a weak point taking into account the reliability of the movement

We like it or not it’s an expensive hobby and we need our half support. I have started the “brainwashing” process of my wife years ago. In the beginning she was reluctant and used to complain every time we entered a watch boutique. But slowly she started to show interest in watches and asked me what brand is this watch, what is a tourbillion, minute repeater, etc.

But there is a price I had to pay. AP is now hers and she asked me to buy her a WG Cartier with diamonds to match her WG jewelry. Moreover she wants to borrow my watches (still mine!). So please find another method to get your wife support, don’t make the same mistake (I’m joking of course!).

But Cartier turned overnight into a WG GP Cat’s Eye Bi-retro. 

Pros: The balance of the dial is given by the retrograde seconds hand and week-day indicator. The diamonds on the dial are more than enough and there is no “show-off” feeling.

Cons:  The only setback for my wife was the satin strap, she changed it with a white leather one

Then my wife suddenly expressed her interest in my RG Cartier Chronograph saying that “if Cartier makes 46mm watches for women why I can’t wear a 42mm one…” Although I tried to convince her to change her mind, finally I gave it to her (actually she seized it!). But she agreed to share it with me to save the honor of her “macho” husband!

And because I like the watch, in August 2013 I bought a WG for me and it seems I move slowly towards watches in white metal.

So far I bought only new watches from AD’s and I can’t think of selling them to fund new watches, for me every watch has its own history and it reminds me about a certain moment of my life. 

Sometimes I ask myself what could happen if my Seiko wouldn’t have collapsed in 2004… Should I have been exposed to this intriguing world of watchmaking? 

PS: 

I would like to thank SJX for his “indirect” support and of course to all of you for your efforts, I know you spend a lot of time doing your “homework”. My wife would like to thank Ms. Ping Tsai for her excellent “feminine” review on GP Cat’s Eye Bi-retro.

I don’t know if you realize but people buy watches because of you so keep doing your good work!

And I promise to be more active on the forum…

And now the photos…I don’t know why but watches seem bigger than they are… I need a couple of lessons and a better camera for sure.

Hers first: