Watch Collection Status Report

Rosneathian · 2022-11-15T16:41:48Z

Rosneathian shares his journey of downsizing a luxury watch collection, including Audemars Piguet, Daniel Roth, and Grand Seiko, reflecting on collecting, gifting, and evolving horological tastes.

Rosneathian

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

38 replies8700 views1 photos

Rosneathian, a long-standing and respected member of the WatchProSite community, shares a deeply personal account of significantly downsizing his extensive watch collection. His candid 'status report' not only details the watches he's let go of and kept but also offers profound reflections on the nature of collecting, ownership, and the evolving relationship between a collector and their cherished objects. This article explores the motivations and emotional landscape behind such a significant horological shift.

Hello all,

This is Rosneathian (the artist formally known as Age_of_Surfaces). I've decided to harmonise my personae across platforms ahead of moving two weeks from now.

Over the last two and a half months, I've sold a large chunk of my collection, several of them to goodly members of WPS. I also used other platforms and have gifted a number to family. As someone with virtually no prior experience of selling watches, it's been a largely enjoyable experience. Most people have been intelligent, courteous and cooperative.

My objective was to both reduce the size of my collection by at least 50 per cent, as well as to repurpose it into something relatively modest compared to what it was. Done and done. I've enjoyed researching, finding and owning some nice watches over the years. Now I'm enjoying not having them

Here below is the summary list of what's gone, what's stayed and what may follow. After that is a collage of mainly stock photos of most of what's left.

SOLD

Audemars Piquet

Cuervo y Sobrinos

Daniel Roth (x2)

Favre-Leuba

Grand Seiko

Habring2 (x2)

IWC

Laine

Longines

Kudoke

Omega

Parmigiani Fleurier (x4)

Rolex (x2)

Urban Jürgensen

Zenith

(Total: 21)

STAYS

Baltic

Chopard LUC

Chrono Tokyo

Farer

Franck Muller

Glashutte Original

Longines

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Omega (x2)

Massena LAB

Patek Philippe

Seiko (x2)

Tissot

Vacheron Constantin

Zenith

(Total: 17)

INCOMING

Special order 2023

I hope this is of passing interest.

All the best,

Rosneathian

Moderator Edit: I took the liberty of removing the watches you mentioned that were for sale as per our Terms. Thanks. Patrick

This message has been edited by patrick_y on 2022-11-15 16:52:01

Key Points from the Discussion

The act of collecting is a fundamental human trait, evolving through different phases of life, much like breathing requires both inhaling and exhaling to maintain balance.
Downsizing a collection, while seemingly drastic, can be a normal and necessary process, akin to animals moulting, allowing for adaptation and movement.
Letting go of watches, especially by gifting them to loved ones, can be incredibly rewarding, creating lasting connections and memories, regardless of how the recipient uses the item.
The feeling of 'hoarding' can be restrictive, and releasing pieces from a collection can lead to a sense of lightness and freedom, allowing one to feel less 'bogged down'.
For seasoned collectors, the decision to downsize often comes with age and a desire to 'travel light' in later life, despite the emotional attachment to objects gathered over decades.
The author's remaining collection, though 'modest' by his previous standards, still demonstrates exceptional taste and diversity, serving as a model for other collectors seeking quality over quantity.

The Discussion

piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1)

Nov 15, 2022

You definitely had a great one, which is still ongoing

Rosneathian

Nov 15, 2022

I'm of a certain age now, and I'm relocating after 30 years living, travelling and working all around the world. I've collected things for longer than this period, and watches have formed the latest tranche. I've reached a stage where I'm both satisfied with what I've learnt and experienced, and no longer feel the need to own 35-40 of the things. So I decided to let go of most of my 'nicer' watches (as I see them) and keep a more modest selection. This means fewer art pieces that I admire, and m

Watchonthewrist

Nov 15, 2022

I know there will be a day when i will shrink my collection like you did. I am now on the point of not buying everything i like anymore and just adding more pieces . Maybe thats a small step towards the next face 🤷🏻‍♂️

Rosneathian

Nov 15, 2022

As for what's coming round the corner, it's going to be a combination of nice, modest and place specific; something to mark the return of the native. Won't say more!

Rosneathian

Nov 15, 2022

And I think I mentioned this too; I'll be keeping a lookout for how your own thinking evolves. That's always the most interesting part of collecting for me, regardless of what the collectibles are. All the best,

Nov 15, 2022

Hoarding is not a good feeling. One feels cloistered and not mobile. I can imagine you are feeling lighter now and less bogged down by pieces you will no longer want to keep. I have given away a large part of my collection previously. It’s a good feeling to see a piece I used to have on a loved ones wrist. I’ve given away about 10 pieces. It’s not even about generosity, but a feeling that I give a part of myself away so others could remember me should I pass, because I realized I won’t live fore

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