Horological Meandering

One of the most consistent conversations I have with fellow collectors centres on the concept of concentrating a collection into fewer watches. I think when someone starts collecting watches, their respective pattern of collecting goes through potentially...  

that you are man with principles ;) and firm decision maker Love your thoughts and post although I think that slot number 12 is already taken.... so nothing to worry about any more you can ship Reverso Red to me :) Best D ...  

...but firmly on my sentimental list. And you, my friend, a man of ideas. Some of them quite good. Others, not so much.

??? :) D

commie LOL!!! Seriously it is indeed sentimental pieces for many of us for many different reasons but all pure ones Sincerely my dear Joe D

12 watches to keep, and all the others to sell... Damn tough game... 1/ The Rolex 6542. I can't see myself without it. 2/ The Tudor 7924. Same reason. 3/ Ulysse Nardin Sonata. The poetry of this Watch is as important as its friendly character. 4/ JLC Pola... 

A very quick and pointed response....the pressure really is on B-Man now. I only cheated a little...just 5

I think, if i was pushed, my Reverso Retrograde may form watch

Mandatory to make a selection, to reduce my selection from my wish list, before reducing the collection. This Reverso Retrograde makes me think about the Gran Sport Chronograph, which is also retrograde ( almost the same movement, with a lower level of fi... 

I don't have 12 watches yet! I have 8 (one of which was my dad's vintage Rolex passed down to me so not really what I bought so 7 to be exact) so some way to go before I need to trim my collection :D I think 12 is a nice collection and I am keen to read w... 

......if you have to cut by 75%, and excluding the sentimental watch, that means going from 7 to....2. What would you do?

I will keep my dynamic duo. The two black dial Chronos I have. Montblanc Villeret Chronograph grand feu emanel and Lange Datograph. :) See the lovely pair here :) Impossible to part with them! Cheers Robin ...  

A duometre to complete the chronograph trilogy? I still can't get over the 42mm size which somehow is a tad big for me. Will slowly revisit and try again. Or I should start doing some wrist weights building to increase my wrist size!! Cheers Robin

How big is your Montlblanc Villeret? In case of... Sports ia always a solution, for desperate cases only. :) Best, Nicolas.

but it has a curved back and also has the leather strap in the space between lugs so it does not look too big as the lugs dont seem to "protrude" out of my wrists (the leather filling the space creates that optical illusion too). A clever design and hence... 

But give another try to the " A Chronographe "... It is really Worth it. Best, Nicolas

.....but actually, I think it concentrates the mind to determine just what is central to a collection and what out is that motivates our enjoyment. For me, having some diversity was crucial. As my wife keeps telling me, all the Rolex just look the same...... 

I also like diversity. I still lack some pieces eg a non-round case watch, a grand complication, an artistic piece like the chopard urushi series etc etc. But your post is great Joe. Makes me think from 7 to 12, how can I focus my next few pieces so that ... 

Although I have only 6 watches I became more cautious, more selective. There are watches I like but I try to refrain myself from buying… It's not easy. What I'm trying to say, I prefer to wait for the "right" one or ones. Less watches but better quality. ... 

.....this issue of less watches but higher quality is really what is at the heart of the discussion. I go through the debate many times..... if i sold 15 watches that were at the "lower" end of my collection (and I mean lower in terms of how much enjoymen... 

... but it is also incorrect to think of watches that you sell later as a 'mistake' or a bad 'investment'. Each watch hones your taste and provides an education. It's not always possible to decide what you love and what you don't until you live with them ... 

Andrew, First of all thank you for your reply. I buy watches because I like them, I don't see them as an investment. I haven't sold yet a watch. I cannot. I simply cannot selling them. There are plenty of watches I like but I cannot buy all of them. So I ... 

......does that mean a Tudor fan?

...my family name. Regards, Constantin

quoting John Lennon & Paul... " I don't love you anymore ".. LLOOLLLLLL ...  

No question for me...... LoL Milsub or 1665 Oman? No question for me!!!

and I shutter to think what didn't make the list... all venerable pieces.. being a PAM nut at heart..would the 36 make your cut down to five? your Sub Collection is amazing...

Fun post, that really got me thinking about my little collection. Fortunately, it's only 6 pieces, so didn't take that much time! A few conclusions: 1. I am definitely a quality over quantity guy -- would much rather wait to get a great watch than buy sev...  

.....many people CAN narrow it down aggressively. I must say, I would be torn at leaving that Reverso off the list!!

to so many watches? There are always new models coming along that make me turn my head and question what I already have. My question to you is, "How do you not consolidate to 75% or far less?" Surely, there has to be something that you want for now that w... 

....i think it makes a big difference that at least three quarters of my watches are vintage. The fact that a vintage watch has been around for a long time means that there has also been a long time to work out what I like. It is also true that vintage do... 

First of all, my friend - your "Ocean's eleven" are marvelous! Second, (since I know many of the other watches you have) how where you able to select these?! :) Yes, we have discussed this a lot. Don't know if you ever noticed, but for me - this is a very... 

.....when i said what 12 watches would you keep...for you i missed the 0....what 120 watches would you keep? Happier?

"Shop that never sells" is not eligible for this game :) :) but if that ever happens..God forbid.... I can help you drink it through instead of wrapping room in plastic it is much healthier ;) Best my dear friend D

Dear friend! We would drink our sorrows away! ;) Thank you for understanding... Best Blomman

...or five, or two, is to admit to owning them in the first place. Every happily married person knows that to be matrimonial suicide. So - sorry - maybe it would be possible to play, maybe it wouldn't, but in either case it ain't going to happen! :-) Chee... 

Since your COMEX didn't make the list....LETS MAKE A DEAL!!!! The Omani is epic. That beats a milsub to me any day of the week. I would love to know how you got that one! your other choices seem to strike the right balance of sentiment vs just what's fun ... 

I was just thinking about the same lately. What if i cut my collection to 5. What would it be? In no particular order 1) Rolex 8171 2) lange PLM tourbillion 3) AP Royal oak skeleton 15305 4) Rolex 6239 Daytona tropical 5) DREAM WATCH .............??????? ...  

.....of the watches of yours that I have seen, then i would say that the two you have chosen would be the two I would have chosen!! I guess it looks highly unlikely we will ever trade!!! I think the exercise of rationalisation is a healthy academic one to... 

I felt like I was being escorted through history's most wonderful pieces. Love your MK 2 PP and the 5512. I also admire the condition of each one of your pieces -- truly excellent. I hope you don't ever have to sell any of your collection because you trul... 

.....that is very kind. I will admit that building the collection with care, consideration and patience has added enormously to the joy. I think when i first started collecting, I went at it at 100mph. However, the pieces that have come to form the core o... 

. . . but will undoubtedly feel like this guy . . . . . . after the exercise in excision is over. We get to exclude the heirloom pieces, right? That means the two Seikos and single Longines passed down from Dad aren't subject to the culling. I'll ask for ...  

. . . so getting down to a dozen is easy! The IWC goes. No love lost there. Getting down to five? Now, that's tough! Can't do without the crowning piece of my vintage collection, the Omega chronometre. Can't do without the G O that started it all. Can't d...  

nice to hear that it was so easy to do..... and by the way, stereo isn't all its cracked-up to be! I do have a particular favourite of yours....the "Black Connie"

. . . could find a home in my collection. And I'm not even a Rolex guy ;-) . . .

.....and the SD reminds you of that girl too! An excellent reason to own one

. . . with hints of Loren, and a Seadweller to boot. Perhaps you forgot her downside: ten cats, all black. :-)

Please don't say a cupboard full of broomsticks too? I am thinking Witches of Eastwich

. . . this was coming ;-) . . .

Red writing or not, you will love it. Next time I come by your neck of the wood ( correct? ) I will bring it for you to play with. Caution, pure poison. ;) Best, Nicolas.

. . . wood s ', Nicolas. I know, English is such an illogical language, but there you have it. PS - bring Joe with you next time - he needs to explore Maggie just as much as I need an Explorer!

Maggie, be ready! Nicolas

. . . Joe will never be the same after a session with Maggie ;-) . . .

But this is a road trip that will happen.

1. Lange Datograph Perpetual - Iconic derivative of the Datograph; Handwound Perpetual, with the impeccable Lange finish of course 2. JLC - Reverso Perpetual : The only perpetual calendar with a rectangular, formed movement; Manual Wind; Limited edition; ... 

Wow, you are a big fan of perpetual calendars to include 3 in your top five! Great selection, even if I am not very found of the Dato Perpetual, as I much prefer the Dato and the Langematik perpetual dissociated. But that is just my crazy and poor mad min... 

There are four reasons for choosing the Datograph Perpetual. 1. IMHO - Chronograph is indispensable to any collection; and what better than a Datograph. To add a perpetual on top ( and more importantly as fully integrated movement) is the icing!. 2. Secon... 

.. I meanwhile have read and re- read it 3 times ( to follow the reasoning and to understand or better, relate the characteristics of each watch with thoughts); not only that I learned a lot, your description of " collecting cycles" was ringing a bell.. S... 

Great that you are giving it thought!

...is actually something I am working on right now in anticipation of one committed incoming watch and two other possible near-term acquisitions (sigh -- when will I learn?). If those were in play (I am leaving them out for now) this list might change qui... 

......it is a great exercise to go through i think even if you are not cutting down.

. . . the Grönefeld, Gary? Does it not make the cut? Art

Top 12 if my collection would be (not in a particular order) 1. Lange Datograph Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Platinum 2. Jaeger Master Grande Tourbillon Platinum 3. Patek 5070G 4. Patek 5960P 5. Lange Richard Lange Platinum 6. Jaeger Master Eight Days P... 

......or the Top 12 if you were to build a collection?

... Missed chatting with you Joe. Thanks Joe from starting the year by reminding us one of the hardest process watch collectors face : Dilemmas, tough choices, shrinking a collection for budget reasons, funding a piece and being forced to choose this over... 

....really pleased that you enjoyed the thread so much. I am fascinated by your selections too..... I know that I would be deeply upset if i had to make the culling down to 12 watches or 5.... so many wonderful watches collected over the years...so many w... 

... it has made me realize that even if i do not wear it a lot, (love of Patek being the main cause) my AP skeleton has a much bigger importance in my collection than i thought it has. I've been wearing for 10 years mainly a royal oak chrono steel, when i... 

....taking a step back really helps. There will always be watches out there that I want....crave...etc. Yet, when I ask myself the question.....would i be willing to sell one of my Top 12 to buy the one I crave "if i had to", then that tells me how desper... 

By the end of 2013 I notice how disjointed was my small collection and what I had was not a collection but a disorganized gathering. I did a process, that continues, to "terminate" some pieces that were not aligned and I did few acquisitions that made my ... 

......each day that I collect watches makes me realise just how important cohesion is. Possibly the most important thing for me....

Today I did a trade (two by one) that should increase the cohesion of my, now smaller, collection. I believe that we need to open another thread only to discuss the cohesion of our collections. Cheers, Nilo

Baron, I am moving house now so your question is very timely (sic) as we are considering culling the herd. Another thread touched on how many watches does a gentleman need....REALLY need? I proposed 3 watches is the magic number because a gentleman must h... 

In 2006, our choices limited by size of the aluminium box: Ulysse Nardin 1862 London commemorative edition x 2 pieces. Cartier various CPCP pieces. AP Jules Audemars Tourbillon Chronograph. FPJourne Tourbillon Remontoir. FPJourne Resonance. Lange Datograp...  

But the Cartier Tortue Monopsuher is WOW! A great Watch. So class, so distinguished. Best, Nicolas

Only the aluminium box was big. In a rush, we had three watches each that were top grab. MTF: Cartier Tortue time only: 40th birthday gift from the then and current Mrs MTF. AP Tourbillon Chronograph: at that time this was my selected burial watch. FPJour... 

;)

.....i didn't include the watches that had been "stolen" by Mrs. Baron!!!