Help! I think I might be a bit bored of watches!

[Maxf]

I've a modest collection by many standards, although it's kept me pretty happy for a few years and I havent bought/sold anything. I put my house up for sale in February and, as I'd have loads of random people around the place, I put all but my Speedmaster away which I've worn everyday.

In my collection I've got:

Speedmaster Pro
Black faced SS Daytona
Submariner 14060m
IWC Flieger Chrono

As I havent worn them, and havent really hankered after wearing them, I thought it might be time for a change around, so I wondered about selling all aside from the Speedy (which has a bit of sentimental value) and buying one or more new watches.

I've trawled around a few of the dealers near me and have tried on a few awesome watches, but am really not sure that I can get that excited about ANY! I've tried Audemars Piquet (Carbon Ceramic Diver), Breguet (XXI, Marine), Panerai, Omega (the digital one!) and a a few others, and have tried on numerous other brands over the years. Nothing really encourages me to part with my money, or go through the hassle of selling up.

Has anybody else got stale? Whats the cure?

Shall I just sell them all and buy a Patek or something to take to the grave with me, or swap them for 3 different watches? Maybe I should go down the vintage route, although the vintage watches I lust after are outside my price range at the moment, and it also appears like a minefield.

A thoroughly useless and annoying thread I'm sure. Apologies!

[yeti]

Maxf said:

Has anybody else got stale? Whats the cure?

2 options - sell them all and do something else with the money (would buy a cracking track-day car!) or do as I did and change them for other watches.

I had around 30-40 watches and have sold almost all of them with two noteable exceptions; a Heuer Bundeswehr and a Radiomir 8 Days. I wouldn't have predicted they were the stayers but there you go.

I am now back up to about 20 watches I think but have several real keepers. Much of my collection was in place because the watches were iconic much like yours; Speedy, Sub, Flieger, Daytona, I had them all and sold them all as I realised they were the watches I was supposed to have rather than the ones I wanted.

Core of my collection now is the two abocve, a 1665 Double-Red Sea-Dweller, Deepsea, Breguet 5707, JLC Duometre and Reverso Grande, IWC Doppelchrono, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Calendar, Heuer Silverstone, vintage Breitling Navitimer and a Breitling Aerospace Avantage. They're the keepers, the others can be sold or traded though I am bizarrely fond of an orange-faced Doxa I picked up recently! I have a vintage gold Sub on the way and a Patek Nautilus to come for my 40th and then things are in great shape for me.

The journey on the way has seen a an AP ROO, Breguet XXI, Yacht-Master and a few other stunning watches which didn't make the keeper zone. If you're not fidning the love though, if there's nothing you aspire to watch-wise then maybe bale with your money.

[Maxf]

Great reply - thank you. You've got a fantastic collection and quite a few watches I'd love to own one day.

Thats a very interesting thought, that we (I) sometime buyt he watches we feel we are 'supposed' to have - thats definitely true of the Daytona in my case.

I have looked at DRSDs for sometime, but never managed to pull the trigger - perhaps now is the time! I have seen a Patek 5134 Travel Time, which I really like the look of, but might save for my 40th. I have fancied a Radiomir for a while too.

I am drawn towards vintage watches, which is probably why my Speedy (1972 .861) is still regularly worn.

It seems that a change around is needed - first step is probably to get the Daytona, Sub and IWC sold so I have a fighting fund!

[anonymous-user]

They are indeed all beautiful, iconic watches.

Perhaps your collection is complete and that's why you've gone off watches a bit. There isn't actually any others that you really want.

You'll never go wrong with the watches you have, your descendants will admire your good taste. I'd keep them all, and move on. Why get rid of beautiful watches that you like and will never go out of style for something else?

[counterofbeans]

Man who is tired of watches is tired of life

or something

CofB

[yeti]

counterofbeans said:

Man who is tired of watches is tired of life

I like that

I was though, and now I am most definitely not, but it was a long journey with a lot of changes and some hard decisions (or as hard as decisions about man-jewellery can be!).

[andy_s]

What vintage ones are you interested in? It's true that they can be a minefield however there is a lot of info about that should take care of that with a little research.

[yeti]

Maxf said:

Thats a very interesting thought, that we (I) sometime buyt he watches we feel we are 'supposed' to have - thats definitely true of the Daytona in my case.

100% agree with that. It was the hardest to make the decision to sell as I had bought new after a 3 1/2 year wait. Don;t mis it at all, I never wore it.

Maxf said:

I have looked at DRSDs for sometime, but never managed to pull the trigger - perhaps now is the time! I have seen a Patek 5134 Travel Time, which I really like the look of, but might save for my 40th. I have fancied a Radiomir for a while too.

I only bought my DRSD because it was an unexpected birth year watch; I was in the right place, right time, and it was the right money. I actually wanted a 'Great White' 1665 and I have seen drop-dead gorgeous ones go for as little as 7k on the forums from impeccable sources. It's a worthwhile investment as they still have some way to climb - I think the DRSD has peaked or certainly plateaued.

Also buy the Patek you want rather than the Patek you can afford - If you can't buy the one you want, don't just buy for the name!

Radiomirs are beautiful, the wearable Panerai, but the base models have humble movements considering the costs. Mine has a wonderful 8 Day Jaeger-LeCoultre movement so it's actually a great value piece (PAM190)

Maxf said:

I am drawn towards vintage watches, which is probably why my Speedy (1972 .861) is still regularly worn.

It seems that a change around is needed - first step is probably to get the Daytona, Sub and IWC sold so I have a fighting fund!

If you're coming up to 40, the 'birth year' watches for you are great! 5513 Subs, 1675/16750 GMTs, 806 Navitimers, it's all good. I would recommend Rolex though, simply because they retain their water resistance, retain their value and can take a knock. I have a lovely gold plate navitimer but am scared to wear it... it seems so fragile even though I know it's not!

You have got three easy watches to sell and TBH it sounds like you've already made the decision. The good thing is if you realise you've made a mistake, you can always get them back, they aren't rare like your Speedy!

[yeti]

andy_s said:

What vintage ones are you interested in? It's true that they can be a minefield however there is a lot of info about that should take care of that with a little research.

I'm selling a couple of vintage Carreras (45 and 1553) and an 809 Cosmonaute... Just sayin'

[Maxf]

I was born in '77, so a couple of years to go but a great choice of brith year watches as you say... 5512, 5513, Sea Dwellers, 1655, GMTs etc

Excellent point on the Patek. I can't afford the model I would really like (yet) and on reflection, the traval time is a little on the small side.

I think the Daytona and IWC will probably go first. I'm a little hesitent to let the Sub go only to potentially replace it with a vintage equivalent at greater cost!

[marcosgt]

Good for you OP, you'll have loads of spare cash to spend on something else now!

I'm bored with fishing and football, but that's fine...

M

[detee]

I agree with the OP and Yeti on the Daytona front, I got one as it always looks cool on other people but for some reason I did not bond with it. My local AD got it for me as I had bought a few watches but I sold it as I never wore it. Funnily enough I have a Zenith striking 10th that gets a lot of attention I guess because it is different.

I think as most people say the key is to buy what you like whatever that is, at least that way you enjoy what you have. I sold a lot of watches and bought a Nautilus then only recently started wearing it. I think we all end up with a core squad and then do a bit of incoming/ outgoing.

I think my core with be the Zenith, Green Sub, Black Blue GMT and the Nautilus, I hanker after a reverso at some point.

As long as we are all sensible it is actually not to expensive a hobby.

Most importantly enjoy what you have.

Edited by detee on Tuesday 20th May 16:42

[sjg]

I don't understand the opposite - people who buy and sell all the time.

What's wrong with just buying a watch you really like, and wearing it every day?

[andy_s]

sjg said:

I don't understand the opposite - people who buy and sell all the time.

What's wrong with just buying a watch you really like, and wearing it every day?

We don't have 20 wrists.

[yeti]

sjg said:

I don't understand the opposite - people who buy and sell all the time.

What's wrong with just buying a watch you really like, and wearing it every day?

I have lots of watches I really like and I wear them all. Not sure I understand your point, if indeed you were making one..?

[PJ S]

yeti said:

sjg said:

I don't understand the opposite - people who buy and sell all the time.

What's wrong with just buying a watch you really like, and wearing it every day?

I have lots of watches I really like and I wear them all. Not sure I understand your point, if indeed you were making one..?

I think his point was one of not fathoming why one good watch can't be sufficient.
It's similar to the person who changes their car every 6 months or so, just so they can say they've driven lots of different makes and models.

Have to say, reading your list of ins and outs, I've still yet to see you venture towards the German brands or a Grand Seiko.
Surely you can't really call yourself a WIS if you've not driven a GO or Grand Seiko, in anger.

[Chim]

I can understand the OP's predicament, once you have got over the fact that its pretty and tells the time there really isn't a lot left to get excited about

[sjg]

yeti said:

I have lots of watches I really like and I wear them all. Not sure I understand your point, if indeed you were making one..?

That if you already have watch(es) that you really like, that are to your taste and style, then why wouldn't it be normal to look at others and think "I don't like that as much as what I already have"?

The poster is asking for a "cure" to being completely satisfied with what he has. I'm not sure he needs one, that's an excellent position to be in.

[Maxf]

sjg said:

The poster is asking for a "cure" to being completely satisfied with what he has. I'm not sure he needs one, that's an excellent position to be in.

Kind of. I guess it's more that I could do without some (I think) where previously I used to just open the watch box to have a gaze.

I think I've found a cure anyway... talk about watches - I now have about 5 watches in my sights that I'd previously fancied and would like to try. I might even keep most of mine (the Daytona might go still).

[marcosgt]

I don't know about others, but I'm a terrible hoarder.

I buy watches (and other things) and think "I really like that" if I think about selling, but I was tough with myself recently and sold a couple of watches "I really liked" and, you know what, I don't miss them at all.

If I was the OP and didn't REALLY love the Daytona, I'd sell it, he won't regret it.

I've got some hardcore keepers, but I reckon I could sell a good 75% of my 'collection' without any qualms, now I've done it with a couple!

M