Horological Meandering

Today, as I was going over my “wish list” and hopeful acquisitions for 2018, I couldn’t help but wonder how others plan and track their collections. Perhaps my approach is a little obsessive, okay, a lot – but I feel it helps me make solid purchasing deci...  

I’m afraid my approach is rather generic. There are a number of pieces of interest to me. The journey from interest to purchase is a living one, different each and every time. I don’t have a quota, a timeframe, etc. I simply have a joy for the discovery, ... 

We all enjoy this obsession in our own ways. There is no right or wrong! My hope is that by others sharing thier insight, we may learn a little something form each other. Thanks for your input!

But I've definitely grown more cautious after an early blitz into the hobby. Like you, I can't afford to flip and buy - the depreciation hit is just too much. I do have an app to monitor the wrist time for each of my watches. If I'm hardly wearing a parti... 

I used to make a list on bits and pieces of paper. What I do now (just very recently) is download photographs, make an album in my ipad, then view it in album mode where all the pieces are tiled. I move them around in order depending on what I really want...  

That album.. It is missing a few pieces. A Milgauss GV (I sold my white already) .. 587 .. I tend to like mostly discontinued pieces.. evidence of my propensity to always miss the boat Best, Echi

Between you and Echi, I feel somewhat vindicated knowing others are equally (or more) obsessive!

PS a couple of these charts are out of date. ...  

Todd, That provocative statement is not meant to be contrarian nor belittle your very systematic approach. I don't have the resolution nor discipline to be like you. But it raised an intriguing philosophical debate in my mind. A bit like Schrodinger's cat... 

It's about the right opportunity coming along and my personal ability to take advantage of that opportunity. That's it.

5 future buys each with at least 3 pros and cons. What you and some other guys is simply two levels up. Cheers Kolosstt

From my side, I only use a little spreadsheet in my mobile with the watches I would like to own (not a lot. Ok, something like 10 or 15 which is quite a lot in my opinion). Today, I owned 25 watches and I want to rationalise my collection which means redu... 

The first way is individual. I want a watch because I like it so much. The second way is more " collective ". How will it fit in my collection? As a theme, as a period, to complete a series of complications, or to complete a complication ( different ways ... 

Does it make me fall in love? I usually wait a week or two to see if butterflies remain. If so, I go ahead. But sometimes the initial reaction is quickly followed by reason which kills desire.

MTF

I went from sports to dress watches and now back to casual but I never planned how each piece could complete others. I think it is not a rational process as much as we would like to think it is. However I do go to extremes to test myself on how badly I wa... 

for me at least a very bizzarre one... Follow your heart, keep that freshness... At the beginning one knows so little, that it would be daft and dangerous to plan one's route and stick to that route plan. Personnaly, there are so many watches that I have ... 

By having a file with all the images, it helps feed the anticipation of pieces to come. In fact, two pieces on my list do not even exist yet. (This is why I chose not to share the specifics of my collection.) Because I have a copy on my iPhone, during the... 

Point to some kind of rational thinking that precludes giving in to impulse. On the contrary, I see my approach as a way to further feed impulse in as much as I want to control it. All my pieces made their way into my list because I simply LOVE them And y... 

I'm no way near as structured as some here. For whatever reason a watch will hit my radar and it will either stay or fade away. Sometimes the decision process can be really long - my Duo too nearly 4 years before I got one. It can also be really quick wit... 

I kept 4 watches as the limit to my collection, so always for anything that i choose have to be 'far better' to at least 1...(it is the only way i managed to keep insanity in control ;-) ) Best, mahesh.,

......I think the methodology that each of us employs to shape a collection is a reflection of ourselves and how we are, intrinsically, as people. There can be no right or wrong in this process....and how we do it just reflects how we are as la differenc... 

To be honest, my process is less about planning my collection and more about enjoying it and looking forward to the next acquisition. Today saw some big changes in my "Top50" list as I added six pieces and sidelined six. One in my "Top25" is really gainin... 

Throw darts at a wall with photos on it Never fails as my extensive collection of Swatches proves.

I have a “hit list” in my mind that usually consists of 4-5 watches at a time. I rank them and then target them accordingly. However, I’m at the point now where I must remove one from the collection as I purchase one.

Its very strange but when I have the funds available, the watches I'd like to add are never around, yet when I've just paid off school or am running dry due to another purchase, something irresistible seems to appear

Never were more true words spoken! That’s the story of my life! I set my goal/limit at ONE watch per year, a modest goal methinks. Last year I added FIVE. This year? I don’t even try to kid myself! At least if I end up broke and on the street, stop by my ...