What do you consider defines your watch collection as being personally special? And you can’t say “because it’s mine”. I just said that.
I have a theme for some of my watches https://omegaforums.net/threads/found-it-fun-without-a-date-or-a-brand.38423/ But really i could have the same thread with watches with Date,s And one for mixed chronos
You really need to focus Andy, focus your collecting/collection on day/date watches, and sell the crappy chronos and boring no-dates.
On a serious note. I wasn't a big Omega collector, but mainly interested in movements, so I wanted a Bidynator movement (first bi-directional automatic, eat that Rolex). Then I wanted a bumper, then I wanted a micro-rotor etc etc etc. If I was to think my "movement" collection was special, I would probably put this at the pinnacle.
I don t think that my collection is particularly special, but it is made up of late 60s and early 70s omega watches. Those are the designs I am drawn too. I dont know if it is because I am a child of the 70s or because of the designs them selves but I have to try very hard not to put my hand in my pocket when something from the 70s comes up for sale. Here are a few of my watches from that period.
Nothing spacial about my watches other than I like them. I purchase watches that appeal to me. So many types and makes of watches it's hard to focus. I'm not into collecting to make a profit or investment. All my watches are a dead horse type of thing to me. I have other hobbies that interest me. Collecting watches is just one of my interests.
I think it history the watches were around when they were new now there vintage makes them special. It's like history on the wrist or history in the pocket if a pocket watch. This one made in 1812 the war of 1812 was going on when this one was made. My Grandfather was given this on his 21st birthday around 1906 the great SF earth quake happen that year. This one issued to the RAF in 1940 so saw the battle of Britain Some US issued watches from WW2 the history they could tell This one issued to the IDF you wonder what tough missions it went on. This German issued Bund you wonder how many flight hours it was on what type of aircraft it was used on every nick on the case was from bumping it in the cockpit . This history some of my watches been through is what make my collection special to me, The aged steel the aged patina on the dial and hands history that takes a new watch 30 or more years to get. Even got some old US made pocket watches from the 1800's key wind you think of the wild west the civil war going on and to me the history some of these watches were around makes them more special to me maybe not others but we all collect for different reasons.
My collection is pretty straightforward: it consists of 3 pieces that have a lot of sentimental value (a Hamilton, a Dan Henry and a Sub), plus Heuer Carreras and Speedmasters from the 1960's. I only collect chronographs, and my ultimate collecting goal is to have one speedmaster per case reference year until 1969 (105.003-65, 105.012-66 and a 145.022-69x2 for the time being). I miss quite a few, and I'm not sure I'm going to afford the 1950's bit Yes, I am kind of crazy. I'd also like to have some of the very rare speedies (ultraman, speedymoon, A/S) down the line, but it will take quite a long time and it's going to be a lifetime achievement Special, crazy or not, you decide !
The question posed by the OP is the type that I would ordinarily ignore, and in fact did ignore the first couple of times that I saw it. However, on reflection, I thought of a response that could possibly prove useful to some less experienced collectors. I would say that there are two aspects of my collection that make it seem special to me. The first is that it has become extremely diverse. I began with a tight focus (on vintage IWC), but broadened my horizons over the years, and am very happy to have done so. I say that for several reasons. The first is that being eclectic makes the hunt much more fun and interesting! Secondly, it broadens the knowledge base tremendously. It also opens the mind, as, for example, there were many manufacturers that I had dismissed early on as being moderate, only to find subsequently that I had been ignorant of the fact that virtually all "mid-range" companies produced at least a few very good watches that are well worth collecting. The second aspect worth noting is that I have blazed my own trail, which is to say that I have collected watches that appeal to me, and not because they are necessarily in fashion. That has proven to be both gratifying and valuable, the former because it feels good to trust one's own judgement, rather than following the herd, and the latter because good value can be found even in today's inflated market by looking in relatively dark corners that many (if not most) other collectors miss.
What makes your kids special? They're yours. Sometimes, by consensus, watches, like kids, grow up to be something legitimately special. Like Lindsay Lohan. What a special kid.
My collection is mainly of American watches, I only own four watches that aren't American, my two Omegas, a Seiko I bought to put on my granddad's heavy silver and turquoise bracelet, and an old John Forrest fusee pocket watch.
@bubba48 - This is the one that belonged to my father. He chose this over a Speedmaster in 1961 because he thought the Speedmaster "looked too busy for a business man" aggghhhh!!!!!
Omegas, 'cause my Dad wore one at home. Railway watches, 'cause Dad worked on the railway. Hamiltons, 'cause that's what you wore on the engines back in the days of steam. 992B like Dad wore Dad's Omega
Growing up without Grandfaters I had a old grandfather type figure that worked for the Hawksburry Agricultural college in NSW as the manager for over 40 odd years. Remember visiting him as a kid and staying with them on holidays as they had a little farm in the outskirts of Sydney. Was always a treasure in the old shed and would always find something or was given something to take home. He was a great man with a thousand old stories and would ride his bike up the road for a beer all the way up to his late 80s. Even when he fell off a few times. He,s sign up for WW2 was refused on medical grounds but he latter found that he was deemed too valuable for the nation for the work he was doing in agriculture. A big gentle hard man that worked all he's life similar to my father who left school at 12 to look after his mother when he,s father passed away. When my mother passed away a uncle dropped over and was looking at his vintage watch and the fiancé mentioned I collected vintage Omegas. He said he had a old Omega at home that belonged to hes Uncle Len who was the man talked about above. At my mums funeral he gave me the below in the original box and said I deserved it probably more than him for all the help my mother and father din for hes Aunty Lou and Uncle Len. Think he got it as a gift when he retired from the Agricultural college Of to the best watchmaker for the job for any watch with sentimental value Thanks again @Archer Dial had some damage but wanted to leave it as dials not available from Omega, but now I would leave it with the dial as is after being around here for a while. Has some scars but that's how he would have worn it in those days Here it is all serviced and running well. After writing this I am going to wear this tomorrow and for a few days.......
My collection follows my grandfather having worn a Rolex, and my dad an Omega. As far as what makes them special, there are only two that fall under that category. First is the FAP 300 issued to a Lt. Col. who wore it through his military service, becoming the highest ranking general in the FAP. The other is a 300 that was owned by a Lt. Col. in the US Army who was killed in combat. It has a plethora of ephemera documenting his service. These two cannot be replaced.