Lifestyle
MattS, a seasoned vintage watch collector, shares his personal philosophy on watch ownership and daily wear, emphasizing the importance of regular wrist time for every piece in his collection. His detailed routine, including weekly selections from his 40-watch collection and daily wrist shots, offers a practical look into how a dedicated enthusiast integrates his passion into everyday life. This post provides valuable insights for collectors seeking to maximize their enjoyment and engagement with their watches.
Hi all,
Having been a watch addict and vintage watch collector for years I have developped some kind of watch routine. Some of my friends, family members or work colleagues find this anoying but anyway, I go my way...I wanted to share this here and invite you to do the same if you also have developped some kind of routine or just share how you live our shared passion on a daily basis...
A big part of my pleasure with watches is wearing them!...I have been collecting for quite some years and my collection has been evolving over the years. I always tried to apply the same rule, wear it or drop it! When I find out I don't wear a watch any more it is time to let it find a new home where it will get some love and hopefully some wrist time. So I try to keep my collection to some decent size which gives me the variety I look for to wear a different watch and have fun everyday and not get boared. So my collection has stabilized around 40 watches, more or less 30 that I consider as the more "serious pieces", around 5 "fun watches" for variety and around 5 "holiday watches" that I feel comfortable taking anywhere at the beach or during outdoor activities.
I travel extensively for work and for fun so I pretty much always travel with the number of watches to cover the number of days, this is usually between 2 and 7!...luckily I have found a safe that is located very close to my home and my bank is open on saturdays so usually part of the routine starts by going to the safe and making a selection for the week. My collection is all around sports and tool watches, divers, chronos and GMTs, so I try to have a variety amongst categories, sizes, dials etc!...then comes the complexity of watches with dates and no quick set which also plays into the selection. Having around 40 watches enables me to wait to get close to the date to wear these!...
So part of the routine is to select the watches for the week, then to pick a different one every day, and part of the routine is also to do a daily wristshot to share on some social network platform that most of you know...
So here is how last week looked like, including a trip to the eternal city of Rome!...
Saturday, Omega Seamaster 300 piazza Navona, Rome
Sunday: Blancpain Fifty fathoms Coliseum, Rome
Monday: Zenith El Primero A386, Rome
Tuesday: Heuer Montreal, Geneva
Wednersday: Jaeger Lecoultre Polaris 68, Geneva
Thursday: Eberhard Scafograf 200 Big Crown, Geneva
Friday: Leonidas CP2, Geneva
And below some pics of some assortments:
Weekly assortment
A four day trip
Another weekly assortment
A recent chrono trip!
A typical Holiday by the sea assortment
Any watch routine you'd like to share?...
thanks,
Matt
The Zenith A386 is a significant reference within the El Primero lineage, recognized for its tri-color sub-dials and robust chronograph functionality. It was among the earliest watches to house the groundbreaking El Primero high-frequency automatic chronograph movement, setting a benchmark for precision and performance in its era. This reference is a foundational piece that established many of the design codes and technical capabilities that would define Zenith's chronograph offerings for decades.
The A386 features a distinctive stainless steel case, often characterized by its tonneau-shaped profile and pump-style pushers. Encased within is the celebrated El Primero caliber, an integrated automatic chronograph movement operating at a high beat rate. The watch typically includes a domed crystal, contributing to its vintage aesthetic and providing clear legibility of the dial.
For collectors, the A386 holds considerable appeal as an original example of a historically important chronograph. Its enduring design and technical innovation make it a sought-after reference, representing a pivotal moment in watchmaking history. The various dial executions and case finishes across its production run offer collectors a range of options, each contributing to the rich narrative of this iconic model.
appreciate the feed back Matt
Nice to see some old names - Matthay Tissot, Eberhard, Enicar. Lovely to see them. Regards Kev.
Isn't that why this hobby came to be? To "bore your friends and inhibit your children," as the poet has said? But to be serious, a marvelous post. Thank you for taking the time. There's much to learn, here. But I'll just say that I think the Mathey Tissot particularly handsome, the Blancpain one of the most interesting vintage pieces I've ever laid eyes on (it looks as though you may often be drawn to it yourself), and if you ever decide the Enicar must go I hope you'll PM me! (Not sure I could
I am all vintage!... Matt
Clearly, building my collection over the years I tried to get the timeless classics from Rolex, Omega, Heuer etc... but also finding the less obvious ones you name like Mathey Tissot, Eberhard or Enicar...this is what true passion is about imo. i am always up to meeting fellow watch fans and sharing passion Matt
I use a Tibetan astrological calendar and pick a watch in a metal that is said to work with or counteract the positive or negative major and minor constellations' influences.
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