One Watch vs Collection of Watches
One Watch vs Collection of Watches
Author
Discussion

Slagathore

Original Poster:

6,178 posts

213 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
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Would you trade your entire watch collection for your dream watch?

I'm fairly easily pleased in this sense, as most of the watches I really like aren't hugely expensive, but I've noticed some guys on here are really in to the technical aspects of things, and it would seem the more interesting the design of the watch, the more expensive they are.

So, say you have a collection of nice watches, maybe 5-10. Regardless of the value of them (the collection could only be worth £10k, but the dream watch can be any amount), would you swap them all for just one watch?

And before its asked, no, you can't swap for a really expensive one then sell that and buy them back and then have a load of money in the bank.

I think I would prefer having a collection of different watches.


CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

247 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
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If I had to choose between, say, a single JLC Master whatever at £10K, and having my PO, a Rolex of some kind, a Dornblueth and a couple of quirky/beater watches, I'd probably go for the collection.

Although if the JLC was sitting on the table looking at me, it'd be a tough call.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Sunday 11th January 20:54

Don1

16,337 posts

229 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
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Collection, no contest.

Skyman

1,570 posts

245 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
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A collection, no doubt. In fact, three seems good to me - Sub LV, PAM00088 and Seiko Atlas.

Slagathore

Original Poster:

6,178 posts

213 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
quotequote all
yeah!

I think around 3, 4 or 5 will be enough for me biggrin

The top watch on my list is a Panerai! Which isn't the most expensive of watches, so is also realistic.

The other thing that interests me - why would we have more than, say, 2 watches. All you really need is a daily/beater watch and then a formal type watch to wear with suits?

I guess if you do certain activites, like diving, you would want a diving specific watch.

is that why most have more than 1 watch?

Animal

5,636 posts

289 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
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It's an impossible question!

If I chopped in every watch I had for my grail (AP Royal Oak Offshore Chrono) I wouldn't wear it every day and would have to buy a beater for everyday wear - even if it was a tenner from Argos!

Still, it's an interesting quandary to be in...

Cheers,

Animal

toohuge

3,469 posts

237 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
quotequote all
It's the same question when you ask a petrol head one car or a collection, ask an artist favourite colour and most will reply depends what for! For me i would like the dream watch, as why would you want anything else? Surely you would be settling for a compromise if you didn't own the dream?
Cool thread all the same!

Slagathore

Original Poster:

6,178 posts

213 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
quotequote all
Interesting stuff!

I guess it is the same as asking a petrolhead the equivalent question.

I'm just wondering why people have so many watches, when they could have one really good/expensive watch.

I just like the different looks of watches, and hope to get different style ones, Diver's watch, Pilot's watch etc.






Rob_R

2,451 posts

266 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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I suppose your tastes change as you buy different watches and live a little. Also the watch(es) you own are heavily dependent on how much you own and the associated difficulty (not to mention the patience required) to buy your dream watch.

There's also something very intimate about owning a watch that you really like and it seems as though you go through things together. I own shoes, jackets, suits, phones, wallets, belts, but with none of these other items do I get the same sense of companionship that I get with my watches. If this all sounds a bit sad that's probably because it is! But that's the harsh reality and I know I could never sell any of the watches that I currently own.

So for me it's collection > dream watch.

Asterix

24,438 posts

249 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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Collection.

lowdrag

13,139 posts

234 months

Monday 12th January 2009
quotequote all
I'd be happy with just one if it wasn't for reading these threads. I thought I was happy with the Spitfire chrono and sold my Breitlings and now I see the new IWC heritage collection and the latest posts on Stowa and Sinn and, and , and......

Will someone please get me banned - lol!

thegobetween

308 posts

238 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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Hmmm good post!

I'd probably say collection because over time you buy a watch, live with it and your wants change so invariably your dream watch may change over time. My aspirational watch now is a JLC Duometre, this time last year it was a Patek 5296!

anonymous-user

75 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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I'd rather have three £3,000 watches than one £9,000 watch any day.

I expect those buying the £10,000 watches can afford both them and a collection. hehe

toohuge

3,469 posts

237 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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What if you're dream is to own a collection of watches?

whoami

13,173 posts

261 months

Monday 12th January 2009
quotequote all
toohuge said:
What if you're dream is to own a collection of watches?
The the answer is no smile

toohuge

3,469 posts

237 months

Monday 12th January 2009
quotequote all
whoami said:
toohuge said:
What if you're dream is to own a collection of watches?
The the answer is no smile
true, touche

olic

170 posts

233 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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Collection for me, I like to have a watch for different occasions, I toyed with selling them to get one Dream watch but couldnt do it in the end as each one is there really one watch for all occasions?
Isnt variey the spice of life? (dont get me wrong if i could have 6 10k watches i would but one isnt enough.)

andy tims

5,598 posts

267 months

Monday 12th January 2009
quotequote all
Sensible sized (around 10) collection for me. Apart from having different watches for different occasions / uses, it's nice to have the choice just to wear something different each day / every few days.

You wouldn't want your favourite meal every single day would you?


Edited by andy tims on Monday 12th January 15:43

OPC100

258 posts

209 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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Has got to be a collection - mainly chronographs and divers for me. Vintage Heuer Monaco, vintage Heuer Autavia, about 3 vintage Seiko chronographs, Seiko diver for knocking about in, Anonimo Militare, Anonimo D-Date and a couple of oddballs. Get a variety of straps / bracelets and I would have a watch for almost any occasion.

Seb d

615 posts

218 months

Monday 12th January 2009
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This is a question that I often ask myself. There are some staggering watches which I would love to own but my problem is that I don't have just one ultimate grail watch, I have many, which are all just as fantastic as each other and which I would all like to own just as much. The other problem is that the list is constantly growing, so even if I sold all my watches, it wouldn't be to buy just one grail watch, it would be to start another collection.

toohuge said:
For me i would like the dream watch, as why would you want anything else? Surely you would be settling for a compromise if you didn't own the dream?
What if you have more than one dream watch? I couldn't just pick one, there would always be others I would want and I wouldn't be willing to sell one to fund another. For me, it's not a compromise if they're all watches that I love and desire.

sgathore said:
The other thing that interests me - why would we have more than, say, 2 watches. All you really need is a daily/beater watch and then a formal type watch to wear with suits?
That's the big difference between need and want wink I don't need 10 different ways of telling the time, but it's nice to have them.

sgathore said:
I'm just wondering why people have so many watches, when they could have one really good/expensive watch.
You can still have a collection of really good/expensive watches smile

Ultimately, watches for me aren't just a way of telling the time, I can look at my computer screen or phone for that, so it's not about need, I technically don't even need a watch. But I love watches, really love them, am fascinated by them, enthralled and captivated by them and they are a genuine passion of mine. For me, someone asking me why I have more than one is almost as hard to understand as the idea of having more than one watch is for other people.