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A shower thought ...

kaplan
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Most collection watches could be watches of people who weren't well liked

I knew it but it dawned on me harder after seeing this: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdJGPn_s8h7/

Couple of times I bought a father's or a husbands' watch, but the seller didn't really want to talk much about the owner, I guess if a watch is in the market, it's likely that it doesn't invoke good feelings for the seller

My favourite is a blue grey dial C-Case of a foreign service officer - his daughter couldn't predict where exactly he got the watch, but he moved quite a bit apparently in Asia
 
JwRosenthal
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This thought occurred to me a year or so ago when a new member asked about the value of their father’s watch. The immediate consensus was - it’s a great momento of your father, how could you sell it, it’s priceless! This all assumes that the father wasn’t a total SOB.
Many of us have fairly fond feelings towards family, but many others don’t. I don’t try to assume anyone’s experience anymore when they are asking advise about a watch….they didn’t ask me to opine on their family dynamics.
 
Larry S
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Every vintage watch has a story or stories. Most we will never know. Perhaps it is best.
 
JayBe
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I have a Mimo Avia, like the looks of it quite a lot and used to wear it often. I've had some misfortunes while wearing it, as one obviously potentially would with any watch. Recently I've been beginning to wonder if it doesn't have bad vibes from its possible WW2 past and ponder if I should take the risk of potential negative energy. It's a shame, the thought alone ruined it for me. 😵‍💫
 
KnoP
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Hmm, what also coudld be that the pieces have memories of the beloved that are not longer with us and therfor the watch makes its way?
Some people don't have any interrest in watches, even when the preowner had...
 
cvalue13
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
This thought occurred to me a year or so ago when a new member asked about the value of their father’s watch. The immediate consensus was - it’s a great momento of your father, how could you sell it, it’s priceless! This all assumes that the father wasn’t a total SOB.

while different, but still proving the point:

The original owner-pilot of my 24hr UG has told me: “My intention was to leave it to my son, who was also a pilot, but that was not to be so it will seek other adventures elsewhere I hope.”

I’ve never asked after confirmation, but assume the phrasing’s past tense means he became unable to pass it to his son.

I’ve wondered if the owner still keeps in touch like he does, if only in some small part, for sentiments beyond just the watch.
 
perks713
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Another side of things, a $500 watch someone finds that we might recommend they hang onto for sentimental reasons, could have a lot of sentimental value to the seller too but they really need the money.

We’re all pretty fortunate on this forum to be in the position to spend money on things like watches. Like many of you I’ve worked hard to be in the position I’m in but all it takes is a car accident or medical condition to turn those things around.

Selling those items might be difficult not because they had a bad relationship with the owner but because they had a good one and are really strapped for cash.
 
Nupero
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What never ceases to amaze me is for how little people are willing to sell their family heirlooms. This applies to all sorts of things, not just watches. Shocking how little many appreciate remembering the past and are willing to erase their family's history for pennies. I understand that sometimes you have no other option and that's a terrible situation but often we see things like "I am selling my grandfather's watch he wore in Iwo Jima and I am going to spend the money on a nice vacation" ::facepalm1::
 
JwRosenthal
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cvalue13 cvalue13
while different, but still proving the point:

The original owner-pilot of my 24hr UG has told me: “My intention was to leave it to my son, who was also a pilot, but that was not to be so it will seek other adventures elsewhere I hope.”

I’ve never asked after confirmation, but assume the phrasing’s past tense means he became unable to pass it to his son.

I’ve wondered if the owner still keeps in touch like he does, if only in some small part, for sentiments beyond just the watch.
I read that in your post and it raised an eyebrow.
My former (now deceased) boss was like a father to me. But he had two sons from whom he was estranged. When he died, I worked with them to clean out his house (always a collector, he had become a hoarder in his later years). The attorney handling the estate offered his sons his 1961 Rolex GMT (original owner) and neither of them wanted it- in fact they vehemently declined- they didn’t want a keepsake of their father regardless of value.
I wasn’t in a position financially to buy it at the time (recently divorced and unemployed) so had to pass on it (still kick myself about that to this day). His watch got sold off to cover estate fees- who knows where it is now.
 
kaplan
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cvalue13 cvalue13
while different, but still proving the point:

The original owner-pilot of my 24hr UG has told me: “My intention was to leave it to my son, who was also a pilot, but that was not to be so it will seek other adventures elsewhere I hope.”

I’ve never asked after confirmation, but assume the phrasing’s past tense means he became unable to pass it to his son.

I’ve wondered if the owner still keeps in touch like he does, if only in some small part, for sentiments beyond just the watch.

Actually this is really a good point, when my grandfather died, my grandmother destroyed quite a bit, his letters, describing just mundane life away from her in his style, taking lyrics from songs and claiming as his own turning them into poetry, it was devastating to learn for my mother

So indeed it could be a form of sorrow response and not negativity towards the owner
 
perks713
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Nupero Nupero
I am selling my grandfather's watch he wore in Iwo Jima and I am going to spend the money on a nice vacation
I’d have trouble making that sale personally, but if my grandfather was here he’d tell me to sell the watch, go on vacation and make memories that my kid will always have.
 
JwRosenthal
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perks713 perks713
I’d have trouble making that sale personally, but if my grandfather was here he’d tell me to sell the watch, go on vacation and make memories that my kid will always have.
Agreed. If I found an Ultraman in my father’s sock drawer (one of the many thousands out there apparently) when I was just out of college and strapped with debt, my father would have slapped me from the grave for not selling it and clearing my debt.
 
cristos71
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I'd never assume too much, a watch isn't necessarily the only thing in a family inheritance that can hold emotional value. It could be anything, maybe a painting or a pot or a ring or a specific paint brush, hammer or kitchen knife, who knows what makes people reminisce?..
Edited:
 
savka
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Agreed. If I found an Ultraman in my father’s sock drawer (one of the many thousands out there apparently) when I was just out of college and strapped with debt, my father would have slapped me from the grave for not selling it and clearing my debt.

My dad has a few watches that have dramatically increased in value recently but he wasn't aware because he doesn't keep up with watch stuff -- he's always just had them to own and wear as tools. A few days ago I informed him of the value of his watches (mainly so he's more careful about when he wears them) and he immediately wanted to sell them off saying something like, "they're just watches so let's sell them to the suckers that will pay that much!" To him, they don't hold any real emotional significance. Of course, I explained to him what they mean to me and how I would hate to see him sell them so he agreed to keep them (for now).
 
connieseamaster
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In my dad's pocketwatch collection, there's a watch with engravings indicating that it had been handed down through three generations of railroad men. We're both of the opinion that if the original family ever wanted it back, we'd let it go without a murmur.

When it comes to family sentiment and heirlooms, the list of things that I'll keep out of pure sentiment is pretty small. The stuff that I'll keep because I like the look it is a bit longer, and then there's stuff I'll keep around until it's clear my own children have no interest (toys basically). The rest, I'll either use or sell on to people who can use it or want it. No sense in having stuff just to have stuff.
 
STANDY
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cristos71 cristos71
I'd never assume too much, a watch isn't necessarily the only thing in a family inheritance that can hold emotional value. It could be anything, maybe a painting or a pot or a ring or a specific paint brush, hammer or kitchen knife, who knows what makes people reminisce?..

Funny you say this as for my Mother it was a delft blue plate. My sister had just got the beautiful lounge room furniture that it sat on and as my mother had said it was hers I asked about the plate and my mother said “ OK” my sister was gutted as the plate was pride and joy of the lounge room all our lives. 😁😁😁
 
JwRosenthal
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cristos71 cristos71
I'd never assume too much, a watch isn't necessarily the only thing in a family inheritance that can hold emotional value. It could be anything, maybe a painting or a pot or a ring or a specific paint brush, hammer or kitchen knife, who knows what makes people reminisce?..
I inherited 2 items from my maternal grandfather with whom I had a nice relationship (although he didn’t say much, he was a caring and considerate man). I have his gold filled Gruen bumper (worth nothing but I still have it) and his sterling money clip which he got when he graduated from Harvard Business. Those will mean nothing to the next generation of my family as they didn’t know him- but I keep them.
 
STANDY
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On another note…..

Was on a knife forum and a thread exists…….

“What’s your shower knife”. 😒
 
JwRosenthal
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STANDY STANDY
On another note…..

Was on a knife forum and a thread exists…….

“What’s your shower knife”. 😒
I’ve read tale of people who have a poop knife. Yeah, it’s what you think.
 
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