What are we REALLY searching for?

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The mentality of any collector is very difficult to unearth. Why do we continue hunting for these things? Endorphins that get released with conquest? Trying to fill a black-hole void from childhood, that can’t be satiated?

I remember speaking to a friend, who has one of the most prestigious collections of Japanese tin toys. He told me that once a new purchase is on the shelf, it’s on to the next one...

So, given that paradigm, one would hypothesize that a true collector doesn’t stop due to satiation, more like the money runs out, interests change and then there’s a new obsession. Or, you die. (Sorry guys, no after-life collecting...)

Nonetheless, have you ever had that fleeting feeling that maybe you reached your goal, that enough was enough?

I strapped this on the other day, and said, “Yeah, I’m good.” I felt that wanting more was just being greedy.



Post your, “Yeah, I’m good” watch.
 
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I would say it’s the euphoria-period-between-pulling-the-trigger-and-receiving-the-goods...

Sorry Bob I can’t post it as it’s in the mail 😉
 
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I would say it’s the euphoria-period-between-pulling-the-trigger-and-receiving-the-goods...

Sorry Bob I can’t post it as it’s in the mail 😉

Ha ha! So true.
 
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Three days ago I would have said those were the "I'm good" ones (I have a few other 😁 but these feel special):



But something came up, now I'm not so sure 🤨
 
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But something came up, now I'm not so sure

Have you ever experienced this irrationality? You see a watch offered for sale, it’s not a grail, but you’d like to have it anyway. You make an inquiry as to availability, you’re kind of hoping it’s available, kinda hoping it’s not?
 
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Have you ever experienced this irrationality? You see a watch offered for sale, it’s not a grail, but you’d like to have it anyway. You make an inquiry as to availability, you’re kind of hoping it’s available, kinda hoping it’s not?

Yes, and I also buy on ebay, the auction process makes it even more irrational.
But these days it feels less urgent to add new watches, I mostly sold since January. I'm maturing as a collector, yay.
 
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I would by the the Omega platinum tourbillon. And then I would sell it and finish funding my kid's college savings account, buy a handful of watches I really want, and a buy a new car 😁
 
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Having moved almost every year for the past decade and a half, I've developed an appreciation for a minimalist approach to owning/collecting things. In that spirit, I've slowly whittled my collection down to what I feel is the minimum number of pieces that still offers enough variety to prevent getting bored (frequent strap changes help too). I also like to think that having fewer pieces means I appreciate each one more fully, though it could also be that I'll start taking them for granted instead... anyways, my "I'm good" pair of watches:

 
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Have you ever experienced this irrationality? You see a watch offered for sale, it’s not a grail, but you’d like to have it anyway. You make an inquiry as to availability, you’re kind of hoping it’s available, kinda hoping it’s not?

I did a similar thing last night. Local AD posted a used BB58 on IG. I started messaging them, hoping that it would be gone already. In the end, willpower prevailed. I've decided that I'm going to save up and recast my mortgage before buying any new toys.

I think what draws me to watches, apart from enjoying design and engineering, is that they make me feel organized, which makes me feel reassured about myself: I'm on time, I'm prepared for the functions of the day, and, if I can afford such an expensive trinket, it probably means that I'm doing relatively ok in life. But when the net worth of the collection starts to get over $15K-$20K, I start to question my priorities in life and begin editing back down.
 
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I would say i´m more a hunter and maybe a collector. Cant see my own guideline so far.

Maybe it will come over the years.

It´s all about the kick finding a treasure and yes it´s a childhood thing that i can afford today.
 
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Three days ago I would have said those were the "I'm good" ones (I have a few other 😁 but these feel special):



But something came up, now I'm not so sure 🤨
Is that 6B/159 a stainless steel 1942 one ?
 
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I'm on time, I'm prepared for the functions of the day, and, if I can afford such an expensive trinket, it probably means that I'm doing relatively ok in life. But when the net worth of the collection starts to get over $15K-$20K, I start to question my priorities in life and begin editing back down.

I like the way you think.
 
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Having moved almost every year for the past decade and a half, I've developed an appreciation for a minimalist approach to owning/collecting things. In that spirit, I've slowly whittled my collection down to what I feel is the minimum number of pieces that still offers enough variety to prevent getting bored (frequent strap changes help too). I also like to think that having fewer pieces means I appreciate each one more fully, though it could also be that I'll start taking them for granted instead... anyways, my "I'm good" pair of watches:


Is this perhaps you?



(Respect o Zen Master 😀 Please teach Us.)
 
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Is that 6B/159 a stainless steel 1942 one ?

Well, it not a 6B but a Dennison case in stainless steel. The lugs are shorter and the sweep hand is slightly different, the movement is the same and is from 1942 too. Some say those are surplus 6Bs recased in locally produced cases post war... who knows.