Community Stories

Downsizing

mydeafcat
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I look at images of your terrific and well-curated* collections and can only imagine what it would be like to downsize. Luxury! I joined the community in late 2017, long after the relatively affordable vintage Rolex, Connie, Speedmaster and SMDV ship sailed to Valinor. So I have but 12 watches in what can only be described as the most unfocused grouping, ever.

On a regular basis, I only wear 4 of the 12 I own: the 2254, 3570 (those 2 I will never part with), Tutima Flieger, and the Muhle M2 Mrs. Kitty gave me as a wedding gift 15 years ago. The beater Tag 1000 is now my gym watch. The 3 vintage Omegas and Certina Blue Ribbon I scored here only see daylight on rare occasions; I suspect 2 of those 4 will soon be on the chopping block as they never get worn. I won't be sad to see them go to a more appreciative home. The remaining ones were either my Dad's (GP and Gruen) or the Seiko, which he gave me in 1975. I'd have a hard time parting with those.

* James, I've heard about your predilection for hitting 'Buy Now' at 2am.

8821385C-782D-4E90-9726-80F299178492.jpeg
Edited:
 
M'Bob
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What’s so much fun about collecting insanity is the plethora of irrational sentiments. How many of you have bought a brand new watch by mail, and took months to open the box? Or not yet even, but you know you have it, and it will be there when you’re ready to open it?

I have a friend who collects Japanese tin toys from the 1950’s and ‘60’s. I’ve gone over to his house, and witnessed box after box unopened on the floor. When I asked him when he was going to open them he said,”The thrill is in the hunt, the negotiation, the acquisition; actually opening them and putting them on display is an afterthought.”
 
JwRosenthal
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M'Bob M'Bob
What’s so much fun about collecting insanity is the plethora of irrational sentiments. How many of you have bought a brand new watch by mail, and took months to open the box? Or not yet even, but you know you have it, and it will be there when you’re ready to open it?

I have a friend who collects Japanese tin toys from the 1950’s and ‘60’s. I’ve gone over to his house, and witnessed box after box unopened on the floor. When I asked him when he was going to open them he said,”The thrill is in the hunt, the negotiation, the acquisition; actually opening them and putting them on display is an afterthought.”
Some of us enjoy the journey, others the goal. Neither is wrong, just different
 
tpatta
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Some of us enjoy the journey, others the goal. Neither is wrong, just different
I have always enjoyed the hunt to find the perfect piece to round out the collection. Sadly every time I find "the one" another "the one" pops up. Since I am not a flipper I end up with a safe full of watches I can enjoy admiring and wearing for years to come. Downsizing would be very hard. Short of an economic calamity I can't see any reason to sell or slow down.
 
DaveK
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noelekal noelekal
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.

Reminds me of one of my favourite shows

LMT.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
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tpatta tpatta
I have always enjoyed the hunt to find the perfect piece to round out the collection. Sadly every time I find "the one" another "the one" pops up. Since I am not a flipper I end up with a safe full of watches I can enjoy admiring and wearing for years to come. Downsizing would be very hard. Short of an economic calamity I can't see any reason to sell or slow down.
For me it’s about trying to keep it sane. Like @Dan S tried to do, I try limiting the number by limited storage. I have two watch drawers- one holds 40 and the other 30 (the additional space that could be used for another 10 is for straps). It used to just be the 40 drawer (which I thought I would never fill- who needs 40 fυcking watches??) , but I expanded to the second drawer. Then there is the project watch box and the archives like my old pocket watches and such (they don’t count).
When I start spilling on to the dresser, it’s time to prune it down again. It was easier a few years ago, but as my collection kept getting more refined and I more discriminating it’s gotten harder to choose what isn’t worth keeping. I am overflowing again and the decisions to keep it sane are starting to get very hard, I would be breaking up sub-collections to clear space.
 
Taddyangle
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I too have been thinking of downsizing, but for several years. Too lazy to make a move, but feel like it's wasteful to have watches I never wear. So at Christmas, I gave my son 2 sub $250 watches and asked him to sell them, and that he could keep the proceeds. I have about 3 more watches I want to sell. A yema blue bronze and a couple of Omegas. Hopefully I will get around to posting soon.

But I'm with you on the Go-To watches. It's very situational, and my Go-To changes. The Gemini IV was my main, but now it's been the blue CK2998. And for a beach vacation, it's the modern ploprof. But if it's not a beach vacation it's the 3572.50. If it's a fancy evening out, then the Speedmaster Italian (in rare cases the skeleton gets worn), but a casual evening then I might wear the racing mark 2 or the vintage ploprof depending on how I'm feeling.
 
tpatta
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I try limiting the number by limited storage.
Jw, I tried that initially, finally gave in to my obsession and bought a bigger safe. 🤦
 
cineaste
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Larry S 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.
Dibs on everything below 2K 😜

JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
BF9256E9-0B4E-4C1C-A280-776A129A1338.gif
James is really a master enabler, we would be in trouble if he was using his skills for nefarious purposes 😜
 
OzGaz68
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It gets worse ... what if you collect other stuff as well (I'll put my hand up to coins)? The whole house can end up as a storage depot if you are not careful.
 
noelekal
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OzGaz68 OzGaz68
It gets worse ... what if you collect other stuff as well (I'll put my hand up to coins)? The whole house can end up as a storage depot if you are not careful.[/QUOTE

Ain't it the truth! Numasmatics, firearms, antiquarian books, music, Gillette double edged razors, pea whistles
 
JwRosenthal
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OzGaz68 OzGaz68
It gets worse ... what if you collect other stuff as well (I'll put my hand up to coins)? The whole house can end up as a storage depot if you are not careful.
Firearms, English tobacco pipes, camera equipment, vintage hifi, fountain pens (what’s left of that collection)…shit, I still have my coin and baseball card collection from when I was a kid! Ok, disregard everything I have previously said about purging- I fail!
 
NGO1
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
baseball card collection
Hey man, baseball card is coming back STRONG.
Wait, forget I said that. Let me buy back your old useless cards for...$10
Edited:
 
OzGaz68
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Firearms, English tobacco pipes, camera equipment, vintage hifi, fountain pens (what’s left of that collection)…shit, I still have my coin and baseball card collection from when I was a kid! Ok, disregard everything I have previously said about purging- I fail!
You have both my respect and my sympathy, JwR.
 
E
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The bad part about this is that sometimes you sell something and a few months later is when you regret it. I regret selling my FOIS and I don’t regret it yet but I think I’ll regret selling my Sub.
 
Dan S
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I have sold dozens of watches and the only one I wish I had back is this one, mainly because of the excellent case-back, but I don't lose sleep over it. There are plenty that I regret getting so little for.

dial.jpg back.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
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Dan S Dan S
I have sold dozens of watches and the only one I wish I had back is this one, mainly because of the excellent case-back, but I don't lose sleep over it. There are plenty that I regret getting so little for.

dial.jpg back.jpg
Yeah, that’s pretty. What I respect about you Dan, is that it appears (I don’t claim to “know” you) that you purge lesser examples when you get better ones. That’s a curated collection. When you just keep everything, then you’re a hoarder.
 
Dan S
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Yeah, that’s pretty. What I respect about you Dan, is that it appears (I don’t claim to “know” you) that you purge lesser examples when you get better ones. That’s a curated collection. When you just keep everything, then you’re a hoarder.

It's definitely easier to let go of duplicates.
 
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