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Advice on circulating watches in collection.

R
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Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum but I have been collecting Omegas for about 20 years now.

However realised that in reality I wear my newest Speedmaster everyday and the rest just sit in a cupboard.

80% work, but I am worried that if I start wearing them, they might not work for long. I don't fancy getting them all serviced annually, so just wondered what people do to wear their watches without having to spend a fortune on constant servicing?

I would like them to get some use but is this just opening up a can of issues?

Many thanks

Ruairi
 
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Scooterino36
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If you never wear them, the movements might as well be dead anyway.

If you wear them in rotation, I don't see why this would result in requiring yearly maintenance. I.e. how accurate do you realistically need a watch to be in a 12 hour period worn once a month?
 
R
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Scooterino36 Scooterino36
If you never wear them, the movements might as well be dead anyway.

If you wear them in rotation, I don't see why this would result in requiring yearly maintenance. I.e. how accurate do you realistically need a watch to be in a 12 hour period worn once a month?

Thanks, yeah to be honest. I don't mind if they drop a few minutes a day. Not the end of the world. Just more worried if they just stop and I need to get them repaired.

I live in Australia and got two repaired last year and it cost me AUD$1800.
 
gbesq
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I'd say either wear them or sell them. What's the point if they just sit unworn unless you expect them to appreciate substantially in value. While it's true that you're going to have to start servicing them if you want to wear them, you can do a few each year instead of all at once. After service, each watch should be good for 5-7 years.
 
R
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gbesq gbesq
I'd say either wear them or sell them. What's the point if they just sit unworn unless you expect them to appreciate substantially in value. While it's true that you're going to have to start servicing them if you want to wear them, you can do a few each year instead of all at once. After service, each watch should be good for 5-7 years.
Thanks and good advice. 5-7 years is doable. I just feared they would need annual work.
 
wagudc
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You have too many nice watches. Let me lighten your load, no charge. 😉👍
 
Dan S
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I am like you, the vast majority of my watches are rarely worn.

Watches don't need to be serviced every year even if worn daily. Once every 5 years should be fine, and you could even push it out closer to 10 years if the watch is worn sparingly. The lubricant might be getting somewhat dry in the last couple of years, but if you only wear a watch a few times a year, it's not going to accumulate much damage.

I wouldn't service the watches that you don't wear. If you find yourself wearing one of those watches occasionally, get it serviced.
 
R
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Dan S Dan S
I am like you, the vast majority of my watches are rarely worn.

Watches don't need to be serviced every year even if worn daily. Once every 5 years should be fine, and you could even push it out closer to 10 years if the watch is worn sparingly. The lubricant might be getting somewhat dry in the last couple of years, but if you only wear a watch a few times a year, it's not going to accumulate much damage.

I wouldn't service the watches that you don't wear. If you find yourself wearing one of those watches occasionally, get it serviced.
Great advice. Thank you.
 
STANDY
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Sell a few and have a service fund. 👍
 
SOG53
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Many have anxiety that they don't wear their watches enough and organize some sort of rotation like a baseball pitching staff. Others just let the mood strike and decide spontaneously. Others find themselves wearing 1 watch mostly, and then try to work others in. I find that too many choices, or feeling I must wear every watch in collection is no fun, so I have made peace with having watches I dont (but could) wear, and just put on the flavor of the day/week/month or whatever seem right and not fret about it.
Joining OF helps in that we can share watches with each other without actually wearing them!
 
seekingseaquest
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If I plan to wear a watch ~once a month or more, I get it serviced. Otherwise, out of guilt, I find I don’t pick it up when I would have otherwise, and that’s no fun.

The obvious downside is mounting service costs, which I usually factor in when I buy regardless. The other downside is I often service a watch thinking I’ll wear it and then don’t end up ever picking it up.. to solve for that I’ve started being more patient with servicing once receiving a new arrival.
 
Larry S
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I’d say that 25% of my collection have not been serviced, those run or came with a service history. When I was working, I had a rule that if it’s in the collection, it gets worn. Many took long overseas business trips with me. I kept my watchmaker busy. Since I retired mid 2019, I’m looking at them more than wearing. Whats goes into the shop are break downs. Personally I can’t justify keeping things I don’t use but these darned watches are so hard to say goodby to.
 
Dan S
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S steversaurus
I'd be broke if I had to service all my watches annually.
That’s an interesting thought exercise. Indeed, it would cost me a substantial fraction of my after tax income, and it would be challenging to find the people needed to do the work.
Edited:
 
asrnj77
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I purposely change watches every two days. All of my watches are worn in the rotation. It also gives me an opportunity to reconnect with watches that might otherwise sit unworn.
 
jjen
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I service my vintage watches only if I plan to wear them on a semi-regular basis and the timekeeping or power reserve seems off, or if it feels crunchy when I wind or set it. If it only comes on the wrist once in a blue moon then I don't bother
 
RevZMan123
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I did a no repeat November where I randomly picked from my extensive collection using a spreadsheets. It was fun and I made exceptions along the way as needed. But it helped me get a handle in what I liked and didn't again and move a few on to get new ones in.
 
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hen
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I have enough watches for a no repeat week, but not a month. I wear my 66` Geneve when I dess up and I force my self to wear my Citizens and Lorus once in a while, because they are cool field watches, but my 2254.50 always get back on my wrist the next day.
 
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