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SkunkPrince

·Jan 11, 2022

I have my favorite pieces. They are my go-to when I'm deciding what I want to wear. I wear them more than a day before I change. These are the pieces I will never part with, and if they were stolen, I would replace them.

Then I have the others which I wear once in a while, if even that.

I'm thinking of sorting the watch boxes (I have two, one Omega and one not-Omega) with my all-stars in one and my "meh, no big if I lose this" in the other. Anything that doesn't force me to open that second box, sell off.

Any of you do anything similar? Did you feel relief or regret? Honestly, I think I could reduce to three to five pieces right now.... and be happy. And I'm talking about letting go pieces I had a lot of emotional attachment to and actually owned for decades.

So, interested in hearing your thoughts.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jan 11, 2022

I kept all the watches I wore on the dresser rather than put them back in the drawers (it looked like a pawn shop). I started with a clean dresser, and each time I pulled one out in the morning, I didn’t put it back in the drawers. After a couple months, I reviewed what was left in the drawers and put aside the ones with sentimental value. What was left- time to go.

 

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redpcar

·Jan 11, 2022

I have A, B, C and now D boxes of watches. Open them up. Wind. Sniff. Admire. Won't get rid of any.........yet.

 

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Dan S

·Jan 11, 2022

For a while I tried to be disciplined about only keeping watches that I wore frequently. Eventually I was honest with myself, and found that enjoyment wasn't always related to wearing a watch. Maybe they were too small for me to wear but represented something interesting and important historically. Or maybe they were NOS and I wanted to preserve them. Or maybe they were awesome pocket watches that I just don't use in practice. Anyway, this realization freed me from the arbitrary notion that I needed to wear/use all of my watches.

Then I had the notion that I should keep my collection below a certain number of pieces because it would get unwieldy otherwise. At first I set the number at 50 and really tried to keep it there. But after a while, I pretty much sold off most of the watches I didn't want to keep and I realized that 50 was a silly number. Why limit myself? It's more about diversity and quality than quantify. So now I don't think about numbers, I just add watches that catch my interest. I live with them for a while, and if they don't give me enough joy, I pass them on.

 

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KeithS

·Jan 11, 2022

I also have started to feel the urge to slim down the collection... again. Last year I decided to try to own the minimum number of watches to have enough of a rotation to prevent becoming bored with my watches. I actually got it down to two and was quite happy. Unfortunately, spending time on OF naturally leads to adding a watch here and another one there. Now, about a year since that happy nadir, the number of watches sitting in my drawer has almost quintupled. To answer your other question, I only regret selling two of the now dozens of watches I have moved along – and only one so much so that I decided to buy it back.

 

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oddboy

·Jan 12, 2022

i usually wear a watch for a week - often more like 2 or 3. then I remind myself that I have other watches, and the immense pleasure I get opening up the watch boxes and seeing what's in there is priceless! But then, it's so hard to pick the next one to wear.... There's a box or two that holds watches I don't wear very often, but when I open it, I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised at what's in those ones.

...sorry, what were we talking about again?

 

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M'Bob

·Jan 12, 2022

Attempting to apply any type of rational behavior to this or any hobby is mostly futile. We are often very ordered, constrained, and pragmatic with many parts of our lives. Sometimes it’s fun just to let fly, and do what you want. A good read:

https://www.amazon.com/Collecting-Unruly-Passion-Psychological-Perspectives/dp/0156002531

 

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Larry S

·Jan 12, 2022·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

I’m just wearing my cheap and cheerful watches these days. All else is at the bank. Eventually it’s gonna sink in that I’ve got to cull the herd. So as soon as the Covid crisis is over and I can get back in there….

 

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Dan S

·Jan 12, 2022

Larry S

Eventually it’s gonna sink in that I’ve got to cull the herd.

For anyone who got excited about the possibility that Larry may let something go, he has been saying this since I joined OF. 🙄

 

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TheGreekPhysique

·Jan 12, 2022

I am too sentimental and sappy so I never sell any of my watches. I even get sad when I hear or read someone selling their watch that had sentimental value.

 

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blufinz52

·Jan 12, 2022·Hears dead people, not watch rotors.

I have decided, for the time being, to limit my small collection to 12 watches. I have 7-8 that I won't sell, but one of the others will go if I pick up #13.

 

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Larry S

·Jan 12, 2022·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

Dan S

For anyone who got excited about the possibility that Larry may let something go, he has been saying this since I joined OF. 🙄

It’s gonna happen. Mrs S insists. Plus I really can’t justify holding so many and read about so many shiny new acquisitions here. My entire selling history here is a watchwinder. So yea, I’ve been a black hole.

 

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noelekal

·Jan 12, 2022·Home For Wayward Watches

I manage "The Home For Wayward Watches" here (or it manages me - take your pick). Figuratively laid out like a modern nursing home with separate wings, it's a place where trash and treasures vintage watches can come to rest, recuperate, lead an easy, cushy life while being appreciated. Once admitted, no watches are ever banished from the Home For Wayward Watches.

Shipping costs immediately and cheerfully reimbursed for any wayward watches no longer loved. Just PM me care of this forum for details about this non-profit watch adoption program.

 

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Danwales

·Jan 12, 2022

I'm going to address the last question.

Do you feel relief or regret?

Last year I got married. Due to you know what my income for 2021 ( and 2020 for that matter) took a bit of a hammering as I work in the tourism sector and I needed to raise a bit of cash. As a result I decided to sell a few watches, the main one being the Seiko Alpinist Hodinkee edition. For years I had hoped there would be a blue Alpinist and when it came I took lengths to ensure I got one ( setting up an American mailbox, import charges etc). It was a wrench for me to sell it but guess what? When I finally did it was fine. No regrets, no looking black. And I have found that with all watches I have sold. At the moment I am still skint and looking to flog a few watches to help my missus with a little business she is setting up. It's cool. I really like looking at the hundreds of watches collectors like Greg Selch collect, but I can't do it financially and I am starting to simply enjoy five or six go too's that I own. They spend more time on my wrist and I develop more of a sentimental connection with them.

 

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river rat

·Jan 12, 2022

I collect mainly vintage. Some of them I wear a lot. Then some I keep for their history there a little small. Like these two WW2 US issued Elgin's.

My Dad served in WW2 they were the greatest generation.


Here is another I keep but never wear look at the issue date could have been in the battle of Britain. I have an early fusee pocket watch made in 1812 never use it but it's watch history they were handmade compared to factory made ones of today. Sometimes I think of selling the collection do have one to many, but the thought always leaves me. I did break this out today have not worn this one in a long time just different a pilot watch from the 1930's. This thread made me look in my watch box to wear a odd ball I don't wear enough.

 

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Syzygy

·Jan 12, 2022

Due to the combination of lockdown and massive amounts of work, I've jumped head first in to this hobby (I tell my wife it's 'watch therapy' much like golfing is 'green therapy'). Due also to a couple enablers (you know who you are! https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...-deals-on-ebay-other-auctions.113139/page-293) my current holdings have become a bit unwieldy and I'm considering trimming a few. When I do, the deciding factor will be based on duplicates and condition. I doubt I'll regret selling if those factors are adhered to.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jan 12, 2022

Larry S

It’s gonna happen. Mrs S insists. Plus I really can’t justify holding so many and read about so many shiny new acquisitions here. My entire selling history here is a watchwinder. So yea, I’ve been a black hole.

You may be a black hole, we have a few friends here that are more roach motels.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jan 12, 2022

Syzygy

Due also to a couple enablers (you know who you are! https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...-deals-on-ebay-other-auctions.113139/page-293)

 

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Larry S

·Jan 12, 2022·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

JwRosenthal

You may be a black hole, we have a few friends here that are more roach motels.

😁

 

C

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ChiefMark

·Jan 12, 2022

river rat

I collect mainly vintage. Some of them I wear a lot. Then some I keep for their history there a little small. Like these two WW2 US issued Elgin's.

My Dad served in WW2 they were the greatest generation.

This was my Grandfather’s watch; he wore it serving in the Pacific theater of WWII. They were indeed the greatest generation. I don’t wear this often because I don’t want to damage it and it’s very small.