Horological Meandering

I have been semi-collecting watches for a little bit over 10 years. Now I have reached a situation when I am having something between 40-50 watches, all bought new and all with a manufactured movements. If I should just now make a list of the watches I ow... 

20 pieces. I had similar thoughts as you did, to trim my collection so that it is more representative of what I "liked" and have more wrist time for those I would keep. But as soon as I sat down to see which pieces to let go, I found that I like them all.... 

Somewhere in the 3-6 area is the right number for me, but you certainly cannot be alone. Cheers, Daniel

I think plenty of people have been collecting for some time only to realize that maybe they'd prefer to have more focus/pared down collections. The same thing happened to me with my guitars. I don't think I'll ever allow myself to collect a large number o... 

Some collect to wear, some collect to look at and hold, some are simply acquisitive, and some just enjoy the hunt rather than the pleasure of ownership. Some collections have themes, some don't. It's a hobby, meant to be fun. Don't put pressure on yoursel... 

Bingo! No rules, no penalties, just enjoyment. If you feel you want a direction, go for it - but who says you can't change horses midstream? I thought I wanted to get into vintage chronographs and found I was wrong after wearing some of them. I certainly ... 

I'm a collector. I know this because I collect other things too, in the same fashion as watches. My collection hovers around 100 because I just can't seem to go far past that without angst. But I've had the same thoughts expressed here, and tried to conte...  

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i pared down from something over 300 to 200 then again a few years later from 240 to 15. that was near the end of 2007 and i'm now back to over 60 without any angst, no worries if i dont wear one for months. i only sell if i know someones interested in it... 

I indeed have the documents and history of each piece well documented. However, today I went to the beach and remembered one watch I used to like a lot and which I was wearing last time an year ago. This kind of issues make me think that indeed, I have to... 

Hi, Mike, Great watch! To me, "user" and "collector" are not mutually exclusive. I know some who use, as regularly as possible, every watch or car in their collection, whether it be a modern German sedan or race pedigreed Italian sports car; tourbillon, s... 

I see a large amount of individuals who buy watches without a clear direction in their collecting philosophy. My recommendation to you is to slowly get out of the watches you don't absolutely love and wear. And focus on acquiring only substantial pieces t... 

You can study them or just look at them. That's all people do with most collectibles. It's also in all likelihood the only way anyone will ever again use various beautiful but unwearable watches of the past (microscopic women's watches, pocket watches, wa... 

. . . plenty of company. My situation is similar, although from a different angle. My collection is at the limit where I can no longer make additions without significantly diminishing wrist time for the extant watches. If a significant portion of yours is... 

As often with an utopia, a nice one, but a bit irrealistic. We are many to have thought about that, about narrowing our collection to essential pieces. What do we mean by " essential " watches, by the way? Another idea is that a collection is very subject... 

and still Soviet Union stayed alive for over 70 years. I know it is difficult. Best, Kari

I crave to have another 40-50 watches .... I'll PM you my address Damjan

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pain Best my friend Soon.... Damjan

This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-07-03 10:10:55

Mediterranean dreams are made of....

Watches? Ok. Best, Nicolic.

and more watches OK!? D as in drunk

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I'M NOT KIDDING! MIke

bianco check will arrive via mail when you sends me yours dear Mike Best Damjan

Hi cazalea, what a great way to tackle the problem for both sides satisfactorily! It´s very generous of you to give Damjan one of your never worn watches! We might create a special event from this as the kids do at grammar school: everyone brings a little... 

Rules? I'd say keep it simple. 1. It must run 2. It must not be an embarrassment to the giver (and thus to the seller) 3. It should be a gift and not dutiable (if possible) 4. It should be used and eventually it (or another) should be passed along That's ... 

although of course I do not nearly collect at the level of many here, I try to have a core of around five watches that are as nice as I can make them, as a set, which wear for work (and so, during the majority of the time). I also have some weekend watche... 

I have 108 watches right now. And on many a occasion I thought of trimming them, not necessary to make wa for new ones, but to monetarize them or spend on my other hobbies, of which there are quite a few. It is also a recurring theme, when I speak to fell... 

you made a very good proposal. Best, Kari

... which will help me too. thanks Horo! stefan

Unlimited wants, limited resources. Sigh, Horo

Dear Kari, As a confirmed incorrigible "pack rat" who still has teachers' notes from grade school, I "collect" - some have said I really "accumulate." Whatever, I have no problem with this "condition." If you have time, space, and budget, keep them all - ... 

However, I am in such a lucky situation that I probably have very few watches I could not find later. I love playing with my watches which are at home. But too many are in the bank vault and I think that when I start to forget what I have and that there a... 

A few years back I was in a similar boat and sold a considerable part of my collection. This resulted in a lot of criticism from fellow collectors. Some of my watches are keepers but others are more transient as they allow me to be in touch with the new. ... 

but I'm trying to squeeze to about 18 - or maximum 24. But that would mean that a nice watch would get wrist time in average just two weeks per year... Best, Kari

when Im wearing only one watch. The watch for when a lot of things won't matter anymore. Simple dial. Reliable. With still a bit of "class". Probably a garden variety Rolex or a Reverso. And then I tell myself that the journey is what defines the end game... 

Perhaps three years ago I bought a Seiko Marine Master. I have never been wearing it and today when I tried to make a list of my watches, I totally forgot my only Japanese... I guess it's time to say Goodbyes. Best, Kari

how can you be with 50 watches to keep you company ! J

I wouldn't consider pairing them down just because I didn't wear them. That's an simple solution for that. Wear it. However when it comes to those pieces that has lost the passion then I would reconsider whether I should keep them or not. Every watch tell... 

I will go next week to Switzerland, Italy and just a few minutes ago I was invited to St.Moriz for a nice stay. But when I'll come back to Helsinki, I will drive to my lodge in Lapland. There is should be "just" around 28 and the days filled with sunshine... 

What and how your collection grows is determined by (1)what turns you on, (2) what you can afford to acquire, and (3) do you have the space to store your collection. I like watches with moonphase features and also chronographs. So, many pieces in my colle... 

It was a slow evening so I set a spreadsheet to list every watch with some sortable details for classification, approx purchase price, service costs incurred and a very conservative net realizable value. As a (primarily) vintage collector I have many very... 

And I use the term collector loosely. I don't have nearly the number of watches that you have, but when I have tried to focus, but it hasn't worked for me. For example, I started collecting nice simple dress watches (Lange 1815, VC Matle Grand Classique, ... 

I mostly wanted to start a discussion to brighten up a dull weekend. I have pretty much decided what I will do and I will follow some good advice I got from the discussion. My goal is really to split my "collection" roughly into half and keep those watche... 

I've only got 5 'wearable' watches, the rest are either fragile vintage or pocket-watches. But I'd point you to the VC forum about 1 year back (I'll try to find the thread for a link). WHL posted a rather long discussion of his VC collection, and how he t...