SOTC after a year without a watch purchase!

This is a state of the collection, end of year wrap up, and ramble about what I want to do in 2024. So buckle in as I like to ramble.

The last time I bought a watch was November 6th 2022, which meant I went all of 2023 without buying a watch (exception for a Garmin, but that goes on my right wrist and thus doesn’t count).

I know what you are thinking, my picture has the watches upside down! I figured it would be more fun to reveal them in the order of how much I wore them. Can’t be putting spoilers in the cover photo now can we. Of course I’m sure a lot of you have recognized some of not most of my collection from the backs. I have boring tastes, what can I say. With that let’s kick things off:

(Side note, there were two days I forgot to track for those who bothered to check my math)

8) Louis Pion Axel something or another skeleton watch - worn 2 days in 2023, bought in January 2018

This is the watch that started my modern watch enthusiasm. I bought it on my honeymoon in France, and it is a French microbrand watch. Is it a good microbrand? It certainly isn’t a spec monster, or particularly well made if I’m honest. But it started it all, my wife loves it, and it will never get sold (particularly since it isn’t worth much). That being said after 5 years and simply better options in the collection, it really doesn’t get worn. Tied for last

7) Casio Baby-G Pokémon limited edition - worn 2 days in 2023, bought in April 2020

I am a child of the 90’s and Pokémon ruled the school bus. I feel like this is the Mickey Mouse watch for Millenials. Its dimensions split the difference between a standard G-Shock Square and an F91W which I think makes it wear great. Except the strap is incredibly stiff and uncomfortable, and as such it ties for last place wear time. Do better Casio. I should probably sell it since I don’t wear it and it has some resale value. But it’s cool and I love Pokémon, so I won’t.

6) G-Shock Square with Bluetooth. Worn 25 days in 2023, bought in August 2019

Your more typical Square G-Shock. I bought this when my wife and I were training to hike the Inca trail in Peru and it has remained my go to watch whenever I do something overly hazardous to watches. Its wear time is probably under rated as it got several days with a few hours in the day but another watch got the majority of the day. Unfortunately I feel like I just don’t connect as well to a digital watch as well as I do an analog watch, and as such it rarely gets a full day. It’s not going anywhere, but probably will remain with limited wrist time.

5) Seiko SLA049. Worn 48 days in 2023, bought in March 2022

Everyone needs a Seiko in their collection! Too bad this one is on the chopping block for 2024. It’s a great watch, I have enjoyed my time with it, but I am ready to move on and have other watches I want to buy. I felt I had to force myself to put this on for a lot of those 48 days. I feel bad letting a watch sit too long. It is big and heavy, and the bracelet is pretty meh, despite Seiko asking $3200 retail for it (although you can find them used for half of that). Sorry Seiko fans, I’ve tried a few different Seiko now and they just don’t seem to stick, this just being my latest attempt.

4) Cartier Santos. Worn 61 times in 2023, bought December 2021.

There is no other watch quite like the Cartier Santos. It’s thin, it wears great, it catches the light incredibly, and it makes me feel like a million bucks. I wore this watch the day my son was born. I wore it to my mother in law’s funeral this year. There is a chance I wear it to my own funeral. Having a toddler around makes me a little nervous wearing it since I don’t want it to get too banged up, so it has dropped a bit of wrist time. 4th place is respectable though.

3) Ginault Ocean Rover. Worn 65 times, got in February 2020.

From an iconic Swiss watch to an homage watch. I had this custom ordered with the red and gold bezel, and as far as I know it is the only one quite like it in the world. Ginault make great watches despite some internet hate, and this is my most worn watch of all time. I love its “greatest hits submariner” take with taking the best parts of several different submariner references to make pretty much the perfect watch for me. Another piece that I think will never get sold

Note: the last two tied for wrist time, so I am going to order them in my preference

1b) Omega Speedmaster. Worn 80 times, bought November 2022

The Omega Speedmaster. The watch that has gone to the moon, and its retail price seems to be following suit (this thing now costs $8k!?). Luckily I got one used for a pretty good deal, and it has been a great daily watch. I love handwinding it, I love using the chronograph, and it really is a strap monster. I put it on a lot, and yet I rarely seem to find myself getting excited to wear it. This will probably stick around, but it is on shakier ground than you would think for a watch that tied for the most wrist time on the year

1a) Rolex Explorer. Worn 80 days in 2023, bought in December 2021

“Wow, a speedy and Explorer, how original”. I know, I am a basic bitch collector who spends too much money on shiny objects. But when I say the moonwatch never got me excited to wear it, the exact opposite is true of the Explorer. Every time I wear it I think I should just sell everything else and keep only this. I feel like I had to make a conscious effort to wear other watches, and I was shocked this didn’t win outright. Honestly I should sell everything else. I won’t have course. Instead I’m plan to keep on buying (and less frequently selling) watches like an insane person. If I did have to sell everything though there is no doubt that this would be the last to go though. Which is especially strange as I do find timing capability genuinely useful (whether through a bezel or chronograph).

What does 2024 have in store?

I have my 30th birthday coming up soon and I plan to sell my Seiko and get a Pelagos FXD Marine Nationale. I love titanium despite not having any in Ti in my collection currently. The fixed lugs are cool, the story behind it is cool, and it is weird in a way that my collection needs. Plus my wife and I moved back to our home state of Minnesota (abbreviated MN), and we are in the process of buying a house. So on the back it will say MN24 when we bought a house in MN in ‘24. This is the only watch I know will happen this year.

Other watches on my Radar

Doxa 300 Carbon with an orange or yellow dial - expanding on the “my collection needs some weird” this watch is weird in the most wonderful ways. I love the mixture of 70’s design with modern materials. I was able to try one on at watches of Switzerland and it wears amazing with the low center of gravity and light weight

Pelagos 2-liner - If I was to sell the moonwatch it would be to fund this and the Doxa. That way I have another black dial under the radar watch that I can put on anytime, and something funky with the Doxa. I like that the original Pelagos is a bit thinner than the in-house movement versions, and has less dial text. Like I said though, probably won’t happen.

Seiko MM200 GMT or Alpinist GMT - I keep trying to love Seiko’s and these look awesome. Plus my collection is missing a GMT, even though my lifestyle really isn’t. These probably won’t happen though

Stowa Classic Flieger 36mm Bronze - a 36mm field watch, which means it would compete for wrist time with my Explorer, and that is a competition the Explorer would win. That being said I love the looks of this watch, I can get it with a handwound movement which I do love, and I would love to get another bronze watch in my collection. That being said, another unlikely one.

With that being said, what do you think