Horological Meandering

Women have their shoes and jewellery. Some men have their jewellery, but really its not many. Instead, men have their watches. What is it about watches that is so fascinating. It goes way beyond the pure aesthetics of jewellery. I am curious what other enthusiasts get from their watch collecting. Here is my perspective....

I collect watches but have a number of golden rules. First, i have to feel that in order to buy a watch, I must be able to wear it quite regularly. Second, a watch must have a personality. When you wear a watch, it needs to define "who" it is. I have some watches that I bought when i first started collecting that do not have personality, and i find i rarely ever wear them now. I am not sure how i would define personality, though. Nicolas made a very apt description of the 5070G recently when he said it was a watch that chose its owner. Very funny, but actually it implies this element of personality. Third, a watch must constantly call me to wear it. I have a great watch on my wrist at the moment, but i can almost hear various watches in the safe calling me. Fourth, a watch must have a "side" to it. Whether that "side" is its rarity (which really appeals to me personally) or an unusual complication or even design, but it needs its specific angle within my overall collection. Finally, when a watch goes on my wrist, I have to get a thrill from  wearing it. It has to feel special almost every time. Now, having enough watches to keep that feeling may well be a part of the need to have a "critical mass" in the collection, but its not all of it. I have some watches that no longer thrill me even though i haven't owned them a year whereas I have others that i have owned forever that still thrill.

I am curious what others get from their collecting.

This message has been edited by Joe R on 2009-07-28 23:59:00

That it a very difficult question, oe, as each of us certainly as his own good reasons to collect watches.

I think that our common point is the pleasure to see it, feel it, wear it, in opposition with the pleasure of the Safe, of course.



Then, I will add a certain coherence, I said " certain in the sense of relative...

I don't want twice the same high complication, for example even if I did it with the Perpetaul calendar, but I think I will sell one of them.

I try to close some themas, like the Diving watches, for example.

Well every watch will add something to my collection, and not only ( certainly not, in fact ) just another watch.

Curious to see what the others think!

Best,

Nicolas

I do not view myself as a collector of watches.  With no aspirations to collecting many peices nor to pursuing a theme of any kind, I like having and always working towards a very select few pieces that for whatever reason just amaze me. 

I like the feeling of having this awesome technical achievement on my wrist, quietly working away, that few people other than our band of WISes recognize or understand. 

For me it is definitely NOT about having something pretty on my wrist as a piece of jewelry, although the watch must visually excite me;  but it is the movement beneath, as well as the one or several technical or design elements that make a particular piece outstanding or groundbreaking.  That is what motivates me.

respo

 

 

you would not own two perpetual calendars?

Cheers

Hi Joe,

it´s an interesting question that you raised in your post!

If  not for pure greed or voraciousness, what is it that I like about my watches? (I also would like to point out, I do not  consider myself as a collector in the sense of buying with a special interest in brand, period or watch type. I just happen to like watches and occassionally buy another one !)

Many others already pointed out elesewhere that the accurate indication of the time is the obvious purpose of our "tool", but this could be achieved easily otherwise and even more accurate with quartz or radio clocks.

Somewhere I read that a wrist watch would be the only "legitimate" or "appropriate" jewellery for (purist) men, who would be confronted with surprise when wearing necklaces, earrings and wristbands, although this may be adequate in other situations.
For myself I support this view: apart from my wedding ring and my eyeglasses (which I need to have an unblurred vision) this is the only "extra" I wear other than my clothes. So my watch is a sort of jewellery.

But different from some jewellery that is invisible for the bearer (like earrings or necklaces that you only spot yourself in a mirror), this jewellery appeals to me whenever I look at it. These frequent short moments during the day, when looking for the time also gives me a quick delight - I treasure them! (With a new watch it may even occur, that I repeatedly look at my watch without knowing the time afterwards! - you probably know that phenomenon, too?)

I second Joe when he says he likes to know there is this little, delicate mechanical machine doing its silent, reliable work on his wrist with an incredibble accuracy (even if it  runs fast or looses some seconds per day, which still is an amazing precision)

And I also like the notion that only very few people around share the appreciation of this mechanical marvel - this "undercover" aspect is really intriguing, as watches often are less obtrusive jewellery than others (although there definitely are "indiscreet" pieces! ).

I like the different design of the watches, particularly that of their cases and dials, as a possibility to choose my watch in tune with my day: is it going to be day off work, at work or do I have a formal appointment? - The selection of my watch prepares me and gets my in the "right" mood for the day.

Well, these are my central points, why I am fond of watches.

Best regards,

anaesdoc

P.S. To the editors: wouldn´t this post best be placed in HoMe?

Kind regards,  anaesdoc

that I personally also enjoy my watches, because they represent a safe-haven of the technical world where it is not all about cost/benefit, optimization and rationale (Ok, I am aware that these terms may be very present amongst watch producers, but that's a different view on watches I guess - I concentrate here on my view on watches) but rather about challenge, possibility, complexity and craftmanship in close (unique?) collaboration with high-tech. And let's not forget beauty.

I truly enjoy wearing a piece of mechanical art that I know was made because (rather than in spite of) is was hard. And I must admit that I am slightly pedantic by nature and as such enjoy the attention to detail often found in watches.

I am not that focused on precision and the time telling function of watches - and yet I have time-only watches and would love to add a tourbillon watch to the small "collection" - how irrational is that? 8-O But I guess it somehow sums it up...

Thanks for taking up this interesting topic Joe, I hope we get many interesting replies.

Best regards

Nikolaj

 

that you what you wrote is to the point

for me, a watch belongs on the wrist and not in the safe.

I also want my watch to call me to wear it and also like the specific or unique angle and of course to be thrilled about wearing it- so you pretty much summed it up very well

CHeers

I would never want to get to the point where I am living FOR the watch, rather than WITH the watch.

At least that's what I keep telling myself.

The truth is, I have often approached, and even crossed, that borderline - the borderline of sanity?

Then I become dumbstruck with wonder FOR the watch - if it is a truly wonderful watch to begin with, as most of mine are - or at least I like to think so.

Keeping a watch in a safe, well out of reach, would mean living WITHOUT the watch, and that would be pointless and sad.

When does an obsession turn into a possession? In the Safe, where it would no longer play a role in my life.

Just my unbalanced views.

Best Regards,
Amery

I was attrached the wacth lume initially. But after learning more about the brand and what it has to offer, i brach out into style, ie pilot style, track style and etc. It is a pity sure a nice and good watch is not commonly discuss in this forum.  

Certainly from my perspective.
I've never worn any jewelry aside from a wedding ring and a watch. I do enjoy having a perfectly designed little machine on my wrist that performs a function while satisfying my love of machines. The aesthetics of a beautiful watch are right up there with beautiful cars and women. Women do rank a bit higher...

woman CAN rank a bit higher

Over the last 40 years since I acquired my first "good" watch (a 1969 Rolex Submariner) while in Hong Kong, I have had a love affair with the gleaming piece adorning my wrist.  I wear very little jewelery; a wedding ring and a watch. Occasionally, cuff links, however I have chosen watches over and over for the inspiration I have felt in either the "hunt" in acquiring them or the circumstances in which I found myself when I purchased them.  A particular trip to Paris, looking in shop windows for days and finally settling on "the one".  A spirited auction where the piece I had interest in suddenly came on the block and I found myself bidding against collectors in 4 different countries (based on the currency being bid).  Finding a watch I had not seen before and learning of its provenence from doing due diligence on the internet and in the watch guides I have accumulated, to name a few examples.

When I put a watch on, all these memories flood my mind and a warm glow comes about me. Sometimes I will wear a watch, and carry a pocket watch in the oft chance that I might meet someone who has a similar passion, I am seldom dissappointed.   Thanks for the question, it has brought about many emotions concerning my love affair with the study of time, and the beautiful pieces that have been developed to measure it.  xx DD