Community Stories

Advice on circulating watches in collection.

R
Posts
13
Likes
11
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
 
All 1.jpg All 2.jpg All 3.jpg All 4.jpg All 5.jpg All 6.jpg All 7.jpg All 10.jpg All 9.jpg All 11.jpg All 12.jpg All 13.jpg
Scooterino36
Posts
896
Likes
2,809
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
Posts
13
Likes
11
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
Posts
9,178
Likes
48,491
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
Posts
13
Likes
11
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
Posts
4,730
Likes
11,956
You have too many nice watches. Let me lighten your load, no charge. 😉👍
 
Dan S
Posts
21,773
Likes
49,406
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
Posts
13
Likes
11
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
Posts
16,774
Likes
47,480
Sell a few and have a service fund. 👍
 
SOG53
Posts
2,183
Likes
4,369
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
Posts
2,628
Likes
6,697
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
Posts
13,158
Likes
52,287
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
Posts
21,773
Likes
49,406
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
Posts
1,462
Likes
2,354
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
Posts
388
Likes
390
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
Posts
2,056
Likes
4,188
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.
 
IMG_20231220_152252.jpg IMG_20231220_152330.jpg IMG_20231220_152425.jpg IMG_20231220_152457.jpg IMG_20231220_152555.jpg
hen
Posts
2,440
Likes
6,887
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.
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

styggpyggeno1

"What is the point in collecting"?

styggpyggeno1 Open Discussion
STANDY
STANDY
Posts
42
Views
3K
vlaspri

Welcome new watch in collection - Omega 2169

vlaspri Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
vlaspri
vlaspri
Posts
0
Views
2K
pIoNeErOfThEnILe

30 watches in the collection and i can't enjoy most of them

pIoNeErOfThEnILe Open Discussion
Observer
Observer
Posts
19
Views
2K
MTROIS

Self-imposed limit on number of watches in your collection?

MTROIS Open Discussion
Vitezi
Vitezi
Posts
51
Views
4K
adamsz

First Zenith in collection

adamsz Zenith Watches
WatchVaultNYC
WatchVaultNYC
Posts
7
Views
1K
alam

What are your museum-worthy, vintage watches in your collection?

alam Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
S
steve66
Posts
51
Views
7K