Comments:
The beauty (or sadness) of this hobby was also described by Susan Sontag "The Volcano Lover" 1992
"The great collections are vast, not complete. Incomplete: motivated by the desire for completeness.
There is always one more. And if you have everything, whatever that might be, then you will perhaps want a better copy ... of what you have; or with mass produced objects, simply an extra copy, in case the one you possess is lost or stolen or broken or damaged. A backup copy. A shadow collection ... "
Cheers,
Nilo
What if you could only buy one more watch?
OK, this won't be a long philosophical debate about collecting. Those who have read my comments over the years already know that I am tortured about collecting. And those that haven't read those comments need not read them now......or maybe just a bit.
I look back on these purchases and do not regret in any sense. But then I ask myself a simple question...If i was only going to buy one more watch, what would it be?
My collection has grown over the last 5 years. It is now at a point where I am wondering when it ends. Of course, there will always be watches that are desirable that are not in my collection. In that sense, will it ever end. Then I remembered some advice given to me when I first started my career. How many stocks should one hold in a portfolio? 10? 20? 50? 100? I was never sure how to answer this question until a really wise guy asked me this: If you had to pick your best idea for a stock, what would it be. Now pick your next best idea. By the time you have reached your tenth best idea, the quality of the ideas will definitely be questionable. By the 20th best idea, potentially downright spurious. I wonder if that wisdom would apply to collecting watches? In the past, I have looked at the idea of owning a collection of 10 watches and what those watches would be. In this sense, one doesn't need to nominate a No.1....merely reject a No.11 against the Top 10. But as new watches and interests develop, a burgeoning collection develops. These are three Omega additions during H2.
I look back on these purchases and do not regret in any sense. But then I ask myself a simple question...If i was only going to buy one more watch, what would it be?
Would I delve deeper into Rolex territory or maybe find something in Patek, JLC or Omega. Those are essentially the manufacturers where I have focussed my collection...in that order of preference. Its a truly tricky question as it is addressing the issue of not only how complete one's current collection is but also whether one can envisage a single future watch that would sooth all future potential qualms. Would I have bought the Omega 165014 if that was to be my last watch purchase? Totally original including the insert...a superb minty vintage Omega.....but IF that was to be my last watch, would I have pulled that trigger. I guess this debate is really about what dream watch we hold in our sights that might conclude a collection......
I have spent a number of years building my Rolex collection and would probably feel very happy with its shape now. I have spent similar years on Patek and JLC, but with many many holes in both. Omega is a more recent theme. I think I know where I would head if i had to make this decision.......
I wonder how many other tortured watch collectors there are out there....!
I would be happy to close the book.
If I could buy only one more watch, it would be Patek Philippe ref. 5078P with white enamel dial. This watch has everything: right size, stunning movement, right case material, enamel dial plus a great complication. At the same time it's not too shiny.
If my company's budget for 2015 will materialize, I will walk in to one of the three Patek Salons, order this watch and say: "I'm done!"
Best, Kari
A magnificent ambition!...
A perfect watch with which to 'close the book'. Good luck with the budget...
...then good luck with thinking "I'm done!"
Cheers,
pplater.
I second pplater's observation...
and re-iterate, "good luck with being done"...
As one's knowledge increases, so does the appreciation and I suspect the ability to "turn off" the world of micro-mechanical art, will be next to impossible to do. Given available funding, you will find other watches that you'll just have to have....it is human nature I believe.
Great choice though to attempt to close out the collection
Cheers,
Tim
As one's knowledge increases, so does the appreciation and I suspect the ability to "turn off" the world of micro-mechanical art, will be next to impossible to do. Given available funding, you will find other watches that you'll just have to have....it is human nature I believe.
Great choice though to attempt to close out the collection
Cheers,
Tim
Very nice time telling for sure.....
Exquisite taste you have Kari, stunning simplicity. Hope the budget works
Cheers
Francois
Way in, way out... Tortured in both ways....
Way out: How to reduce the collection to 10 watches?
Way in? How to add 10 more watches to the collection?
I never told you, but I am a total dumb in Maths.
If I had to buy only one more Watch, it would be by brand: Longines? Big 11.
Blancpain? One more Fifty Fathoms.
Omega? 2998 Lollipop FAP ( if FAP + Lollipop exists ).
Patek? 5100G.
Vacheron? Mercator Jeanbrugge, or better, Sputnik.
JLC? Modern? ouch... Vintage? Polaris II Red.
Panerai? 6154.
Rolex? 1019.
GP? Peseux 260.
Gruen? Antarctica.
Ulysse Nardin? Tellurium.
Vulcain? Cricket Nautical 1961.
Well.... I am a lost case.
Best,
Nicolas
1665 MK II... That would mean that I would have to let the Triple 6 go.
If I have to rationalize, then I should rather jump on the 1019.
If I let my heart speak, and that I don't have to play this game, then, of course, 1665 MK II!
Best,
Nicolas
There is no such thing as "only one more" ...
Joe,
Even if I go broke, there is always a $ 25 Casio that looks cool.
And then, another one.
It's endless, my friend.
Going to the hypothetical "only one", it could be a real NOS Seamaster 300 165.024 with the original box and papers (I know that there are those somewhere).
Cheers,
Nilo
Even if I go broke, there is always a $ 25 Casio that looks cool.
And then, another one.
It's endless, my friend.
Going to the hypothetical "only one", it could be a real NOS Seamaster 300 165.024 with the original box and papers (I know that there are those somewhere).
Cheers,
Nilo
Nilo.....
I think if the day comes when I can say, I just bought my last watch, then I will probably be a happy guy....not a sad one. When Kari says that he could happily buy his next Patek and conclude..."I'm done".....well, I have to say, I am jealous of that.....I am jealous of that contentment. I wish Kari the absolute best, but I want to be where he is!!!!!
Like Nicolas, I could quickly hit a number of targets in a number of manufacturers....but I suspect that the list would just continue to expand and go off at tangents. To hit satiation point and be happy....well, that is a great objective.
I will handle to The King my answer ...
The beauty (or sadness) of this hobby was also described by Susan Sontag "The Volcano Lover" 1992
"The great collections are vast, not complete. Incomplete: motivated by the desire for completeness.
There is always one more. And if you have everything, whatever that might be, then you will perhaps want a better copy ... of what you have; or with mass produced objects, simply an extra copy, in case the one you possess is lost or stolen or broken or damaged. A backup copy. A shadow collection ... "
Cheers,
Nilo
I do not know about you guys
but I'm having only one left wrist...
If you have an opportunity to drink Chateau Latour 1945 as much as you want during one evening, how much will you drink? I would have one or two glasses and remember the taste for the rest of my life. And then no reason to drink red wine again. Patek 5078P is my Latour 1945. Or perhaps just Latour 1961...
Best, Kari
Kari...the best sex i ever had is the next time I have it.
.....I would be wondering if the 47 Cheval Blanc was better.
The taste is not satisfied by memory....
Kari, you say that "I would have one or two glasses and remember the taste for the rest of my life." Can't imagine that. The memory of the taste would drive me on to the next taste.
This message has been edited by SethRL on 2014-10-09 09:52:10
Indeed Seth, I'm with you on this too
I'm not sure we as collectors and appreciators of "fine things" can now just turn it off...maybe I'm naive, but as an observer of human nature and given the available funds, we will almost allways want add something to "The Collection".
Nothing in life/nature stays the same, either we are expanding or contracting...expansion of knowledge typically increases the appreciation & desire.
I suppose the only area where this isn't true is gaining more knowledge of politicians and their behaviour!!!!
Cheers,
Tim
Nothing in life/nature stays the same, either we are expanding or contracting...expansion of knowledge typically increases the appreciation & desire.
I suppose the only area where this isn't true is gaining more knowledge of politicians and their behaviour!!!!
Cheers,
Tim
When I started this journey, there were . . .
. . . two passions: Glashütte Original Karrées and vintage Omega. Thanks to Khalil and Mike, and later, Ken, a third entered - Grand Seiko. A few detours along the way, yes, but with time, I've come to appreciate the saying, "The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand."
At this stage, I'm satisfied with one GS. Might add another, but only one, and that would be a very special vintage model. Not driven to, though . . . one is truly enough.
Continually adding vintage Omegas, but really, if push came to shove and I had to end it here and now, I could, and without feeling any sense of missing out. I've got the chronometer, plus ten more. Basta.
If I could only add one more to the collection, it would be the Karrée I missed out on . . .
. . . when it was available, but passed up for another G O. In a cruel twist of fate, that one has since departed from my collection, but the longing for this Karrée never dimmed.
Art
At this stage, I'm satisfied with one GS. Might add another, but only one, and that would be a very special vintage model. Not driven to, though . . . one is truly enough.
Continually adding vintage Omegas, but really, if push came to shove and I had to end it here and now, I could, and without feeling any sense of missing out. I've got the chronometer, plus ten more. Basta.
If I could only add one more to the collection, it would be the Karrée I missed out on . . .
. . . when it was available, but passed up for another G O. In a cruel twist of fate, that one has since departed from my collection, but the longing for this Karrée never dimmed.
Art
You once said...."Less is often more"
...... the depth of that comment just echoes in my head a lot.
Joe,
Been there … done that. After a mad '13 this year was to be a quiet year… I swear. What do you think has happened in H1?
I'd be happy discussing this with you around a glass or two… There are many different strategies for a soft landing. Some might work for you others for me, well I hope.
On another note, as long as money is not an issue, you are enjoying it and can cope with other professional and private commitments, where's the problem? There are SO many nice watches out there. Nico's list is just for starters. I, for one, can never tell what the next watch is going to be or where it is going to come from. I like it that way. One day it will stop and I'll be starting to consider selling some pieces for acquiring others. A full stop, I do not think.
Z'
You know me too well, Z. ;)
But I am also the kind of guy to be able to sell a lot of my watches, I mean the vast majority of them, to be able to add a few, very few GRAILS, and stop....
But before, I have to live some expériences....
Best,
Nicolas