iim7v7im7
501
Downsizing: The watch collecting lifecycle
Over the last decade, I amassed a collection of 15 watches. A small collection by many standards I suspect; particularly among Purists. But starting about two years ago, I came to the realization that a) I was not able to wear them all with any regularity and many lived their lives in the dark confines of a safety deposit box; b) my tastes and horological experiences changed and developed over this period of time; c) I came to realize that I did not sell them because I had an emotional bond to certain watches as objects.
Starting last year, I made some effort to reduce the size of my collection. I also decided to keep a journal to see which watches that I wore. I sold off a number of watches (ended up buying a few as well) and reduced my collection to 9 watches. All three points listed above still remain, and reviewing my journal, I wore 5 watches out of the 9 almost 90% of the time. Some watches were only worn 2-3 times.
Moving ahead into 2014, I am considering reducing my collection down to 4 core high quality watches (2-sports watches, 2-dressier watches), leaving one slot open for a new purchase to have a maximum of 5-watches. I spoke to a very well respected owner of a watch AD, who laughed and mentioned that this was a common phenomenon among collectors.
How many of you have experienced this form of "collection lifecycle"?
Downsizing: The watch collecting lifecycle
Over the last decade, I amassed a collection of 15 watches. A small collection by many standards I suspect; particularly among Purists. But starting about two years ago, I came to the realization that a) I was not able to wear them all with any regularity...
I can't do it
I have discussed this point with a close watch collector friend and given many serious thoughts to it, especially if I wanted to consider a very serious high end piece, e.g. Minute repeater. But I have spent so many years researching and hunting for very ...
A bit out of topic, but what is this MR you are considering, Joe?
To come back to the original topic, I have the feeling we have to go at the end of a journey, to then be able to decide which piece to leave... For example, finishing a theme helps you to decide which piece to keep, which one to trade, ro to sell... Well ...
But if VC were to release the 1731 in white metal.....
Also if Patek were to give us a manual version of the 5078 well then I really either have to save up or trade quite a few pieces. Ine meantime I am enjoying the ride! :) Joe
More than a lifecycle, maturation.
You guessed right, well, mad greedy guys apart, there are several guys here who are thinking about reducing the collection to the essential ( note that it would be interesting to provide a definiton of what is essential...;) ). Well, 15 is not that much, ...
Two years ago I had over 50 watches
and now around 40 are gone. A couple I regret a bit but all the gone watches were such I really never used. My plan is to have a well-formulated collection of 12 watches I am all wearing. There are some issues with a big collection we seldom think: it wou...
But watches you don't wear need no service either ...
... as long as they are in operation for a short while every other month. This does not apply, though, if you keep all your watches on winders. Marcus
I am acting according to
manufacturer's recommendations. I just "found" again a GP Sea Hawk II that I did not wear in many years. I had big difficulties to get it alive again because I think the oils got a bit old. Best, Kari
Manufacturer's recommendations are based on permanent wear ...
... of a timepiece 24/7. To prevent lubrifiants from becoming sticky I generally advise to wear a watch - or at least wind it - every few months. I admit that I had a few watches that seem to feel a bit offended when being ignored for a longer time, aveng...
Same here. I don't wear my Patek 5110P everyday, and it still works flawlessly
After a bit more than nine years... I wond it every month, though, when I don't wear it. Best, Nicolas
I guess I'm in good shape
Wear a watch once a month, maybe every five weeks. That's 10-12 times a year. I will be dead before I got to worry about service in a new watch. Yes I am getting several used pieces, but I hav had the serious pieces serviced so I look as them as new. Give...
Perhaps so.
There are many opinions. However, if I do not wear a watch at all, why to own it? Just for the sake of owning it? I'm not a collector but love to wear watches I enjoy. Best, Kari
That is the right approach!
Watches are built to be worn, just as cars are built to be driven. I never understood people collecting cars only to seal them into plastic and protective atmosphere. The same applies to art. My wife's former boss collects paintings, but does not hang the...
Good morning Marcus. Interesting what you have just....
written. I say interesting because I have read, probably on this forum? that a watch working lasts longer and needs less servicing than a watch not working. Perhaps I read wrongly and I am doing the wrong thing by manually winding all my watches (only 10:...
If you ask three watchmakers, you'll get four opinions - at least ...
While it is undisputed that lubricant substances degrade over time, it has not been made entirely clear whether this happens quicker when the movement components are actually operating or not. Corrosion of unmoving parts should not be an issue in sealed w...
Been there, done that ....
... more than once, I fear. At some time, I realize to spend practically all the time with the same two or three watches. So I try to keep my "collection" to not more than five timepieces - in vain. Sooner or later, the number goes up. The good thing, how...
I give this a lot of thought
but come to no good conclusion! The main issue for me is that I think all watches should be worn and that I tend to wear one watch during a work week (because I have them in a secure location and going there more often is a hassle). On the weekend I switc...
Bank vaults reduce the joy of watch collecting, but are necessary ...
... in my case, the most valuable timepieces are stored at the bank as well. Too often I spontaneously want to wear this or that watch, only to find it non-accessible among those stored in the vault. Marcus
I do this all the time ...
During my first phase, I topped 50-60 then ... I was robbed, all but one gone. Stopped for some time and then Restarted with a ceiling number in mind and I'm maintaining. When this number is exceeded, I let go the ones in excess. Since this process (the l...
Having wrestled with similar questions...
I have arrived at the cynical conclusion that "I don't wear them enough" is, with rare exceptions, a rationalization for downsizing. What I mean is that when one can afford to keep a larger collection, that excuse is rarely sufficient to cause a significa...
I wasn't so much...
Assigning a specific number of pieces to anyone but myself. We all have differing lifestyles that drive our wear habits. For example, my job went business casual about 8 years ago, and I only wear a suit and tie maybe once a month. I live in a place where...
Not a problem I've run into yet...
Definitely a lot of people in the same boat. When push comes to shove, they do end up having to downsize. For many, the hunt is more important than the capture. FIrst of all, I love the watches I buy. LOVE them. And they also have to fulfill a certain use...
I've been through that
Went as many as 12 at some point. And just like you, i realized many aren't getting worn enough. Told myself i'd cut it down to 4, and managed that for a while. Now i have 5, but thankfully still enjoying my pieces and have no real plans to acquire any mo...
My newbie 2 cents
All: I am in no way a serious collector like many on this forum. I have no watches in a vault, I have not overly expensive pieces, I own no rare Omani dialed watches, or Serpico signed Subs, etc. In fact, I only own two watches - a Rolex 16600 and a 1665....
Like this topic a lot
I think we all deal with the fact that yes, 1) some of us can afford lots of watches without blinking, 2) others have to deliberate a little, but buy what they want on impulse 3) most have to consider their next purchase as an important decision in relati...
i have completed this cycle at least twice before
but i must admit to being a complete addict. the first reduction was from over 300 to about 150, the second was from 240 to 12 just to buy 1. even 2 years ago i sold off several pieces to buy some higher end vintage pieces, but i am now up to nearly 90 ag...
A very very very important topic
You brought up perhaps one of the most important topics in watch collection. Period. I wonder why it has been brought up so little. Lets admit it. We all have gone through cycles. I am just going through a major cycle. As I get older and learn more my tas...
Too much work goes into these things to sell lightly.
Admittedly, this is an issue peculiar to vintage watch collectors, but after getting a watch mechanically restored, scouring the Internet for a correct crown, buckle, or whatever else it needs, waiting for a correct bracelet even though I only need one ex...
My view on collecting
My view on collecting is that I decided from the start that my collection will be less than 10 watches, simply because I cannot afford all of them! But also because having a limited number of watches make you better: better at finding yourself, watches ar...
More than once
This is something I've gone through many times. I have a small collection of 20 watches, and I've found myself wanting, or thinking, of downsizing it to a manageable 5 pieces. Each time though, I could never just get down to just 5 that I liked, especiall...
Factor that have evolved my thinking…
My lifestyle provides the setting: If I examine my life of the past few years it is comprised of the following Casual (80%) - 40% I am at the office working in a business casual environment - 20% I am at the shore or off scuba-diving - 20% I am in a casua...
I think you hit on something .....
.... that virtually all collectors go through. I think there is definitely a cycle to it and that will be based on a number of things. I am definitely going to give your question a lot of thought and answer with detail. Great question and one i suspect th...
OK, I have a very large number of watches
Maybe 80, I don't know and I haven't counted for awhile. So I will have to put my inventory list in this post. I used to buy and sell a lot. I was best friend of the postman for at least 5 years. But I have slowed significantly. And I have given up on col...
I've experienced this watch collecting lifecycle too
I think it happens with most watch collectors who aren't "hoarders" :) I tried to get it down to 3 watches but it was impossible. Now it's grown over to what I wanted to have :P I wonder if I will go through collection lifecycle #2? Cheers, Anthony
I am at a happy medium right now..
its a battle between available funds v. available pieces v. real life responsbilities.. when I first got into this hobby and heavily into a particular brand...I was up to like 7 of the same brand.. then I realized my tastes change (like everyone), real li...
I am not so determined
I did try to downsize my collection. However, I guess I didn't try hard enough. The effort of down sizing my collection has inevitably failed. I think I have more watches now. Regards Ling
I am in your same path with you iim7
At one point last year i had around 15 pcs, now i am down to 8 ( one is for sale, and one is coming in early 2014). Like you, some of the pcs never get any wrist time before. So i decide to consolidate into more serious pcs. Watches i love and would wear ...
been there. done that. but
it has never worked. I told myself I would focus on certain type of watches, certain material only, certain brands, certain size, only independents.....but I would always end up breaking those vows. as with other addictions, watch collecting will make one...
I have other competing hobbies
I have a collection of luthier built guitars competing for funds. The issue there is it is usually 1-2 years to wait to satisfy that "itch"...:-)
Welcome back
I believe I may have bought some watches from you (Hong Kong?) I have other collecting hobbies too - some active (watches, books, Russian icons, artwork) and some inactive (Michelin Bibendum, cars, bicycles). It's a very deeply ingrained thing and hard to...