Sparking Joy
I’ve been practicing the “wear-one-watch-a-week” exercise and I’ve had surprising results. My watch collection has grown to 30+ over the years, many of them getting no wear time. So I thought I’d try to spread the love and truly engage with each watch by wearing one a week (free to wear other watches in the evening or for events if I choose). I don’t want to hoard watches. I want to wear and enjoy them as the watch gods intended.
What I’ve discovered is that watches I thought necessary and valuable for my collection give me little actual pleasure. There are qualities I may appreciate about them but they don’t “spark joy” to borrow Marie Condo’s phrase. I found this independent of the cost or quality of the watch. I have affordable watches that spark far more joy than more expensive ones and vice versa.
For example, I’ve had unending joy wearing my Tissot PRX (a quartz no less!) and my Lorier Skyward while discovering little wearing my Grand Seiko SBGJ217 (and it’s a beauty, but no spark), Longines MC Moonphase (so many complications for the money! But no spark), and Junghans Max Bill (I appreciate that sleek black dial and the #4, but alas, no spark).
I find it deplorable to simply keep them around like Smaug with his treasure hoard. When I initially thought about selling or gifting them, I noticed some reluctance, some greedy impulse, and some pathological attachments. “But they’re mine, all mine, my precious…”
In the end, I value letting these objects be free. Let them spark joy in others who will appreciate and love them. Let them find new homes and new wrists to grace.
It wasn’t easy, but it has been worth it. My collection is dwindling but my joy is increasing.
What about you?
Do your all your watches spark joy? What keeps you from letting them go? What benefits might come from doing so?
Chad
Live in Oklahoma. Conversation. Connection. Community.
Nice Milanese on your Junghans!
All my watches spark joy. And although there are potential upgrades, each one is curated to fit a desired look and function. Of course, there will always be something "better", but I honestly can say that I am grateful and joyful with what I have.
All my watches spark joy. And although there are potential upgrades, each one is curated to fit a desired look and function. Of course, there will always be something "better", but I honestly can say that I am grateful and joyful with what I have.
That’s the goal. And our joy and desires change. What once sparked joy may no longer as our tastes change.
I tried this challenge sort of.
But I just felt guilty that I wasn’t wearing my other watches the whole week.
Also, most of my watches are just not versatile enough for a full week. Whether they be too dressy, or not durable enough. It was very hard to wear anything save my Cronos sub homage for more than a couple of days.
I think I’ve realized by now though that the moonswatches were only ever good marketing.
They are just such crap that I rarely ever wear them. Honestly glad I returned the Blancpain Sea of storms. Good looking watch, but a waste of money.
Very interesting. I've been through the same analysis and reached the same conclusions. Separately, I'll add that I found wearing a watch for a longer period of time allows me to appreciate that watch more. If I rotate every day, the jarring difference between watches makes the "new" watch seem less appealing until I get used to it after a few days. Then, I appreciate the little details about it. It's great.
Back to your point, given I reached the same conclusion, I want to sell some of my watches. My issue though is that so many of my watches are sentimental: gifted to me, bought for a special occasion, built special memories with it; etc. I'm really struggling with letting go of those watches...but they constitute probably 70% of my collection of 60 or so watches. Of the remaining 30%, I love 20% of them, wear them, and don't want to sell them. So, I can sell 10% of my watches and plan to; but I'd like to cut my collection in half but can't seem to.
Grand Seiko gmt is🤌 lol
I was in exactly the same position, my Sub 41mm date, no spark, my Pelagos blue 42mm, no spark etc etc. I had a 12 piece collection and found I was only wearing two pieces regularly and the rest gathered dust. I have now pruned my collection to two pieces, an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and a Rolex Explorer 2 Polar. They're both worn every week and I have a deeper connection with each piece. Best of luck on your collecting journey.
I had a similar experience with my Seiko kinetic tuna. On paper it was too big, too heavy and too thick. It was a Seiko, so the alignment would probably be off and it was not a popular watch so I couldn't try it on or see it other than in pictures. It is kinetic so is very high maintenance and even with all these faults it still makes me smile the most every time I look at it. If they ever made a smaller version it would definitely be my only watch.
Very interesting. I've been through the same analysis and reached the same conclusions. Separately, I'll add that I found wearing a watch for a longer period of time allows me to appreciate that watch more. If I rotate every day, the jarring difference between watches makes the "new" watch seem less appealing until I get used to it after a few days. Then, I appreciate the little details about it. It's great.
Back to your point, given I reached the same conclusion, I want to sell some of my watches. My issue though is that so many of my watches are sentimental: gifted to me, bought for a special occasion, built special memories with it; etc. I'm really struggling with letting go of those watches...but they constitute probably 70% of my collection of 60 or so watches. Of the remaining 30%, I love 20% of them, wear them, and don't want to sell them. So, I can sell 10% of my watches and plan to; but I'd like to cut my collection in half but can't seem to.
If you can't sell them because they have sentimental value maybe try gifting them to someone special, then you can still enjoy them every time you see someone else wearing them and you will have also added another memory to that watch.
I always gravitated toward the white dial max bill but that black dial is fire.
Same as in your case, when they lose the spark they leave
I would say your collection is a prime example and answer to the question “what is it means to be a true watch colletor?”. Absolutely 10/10 collection without a but!
I tried this challenge sort of.
But I just felt guilty that I wasn’t wearing my other watches the whole week.
Also, most of my watches are just not versatile enough for a full week. Whether they be too dressy, or not durable enough. It was very hard to wear anything save my Cronos sub homage for more than a couple of days.
I think I’ve realized by now though that the moonswatches were only ever good marketing.
They are just such crap that I rarely ever wear them. Honestly glad I returned the Blancpain Sea of storms. Good looking watch, but a waste of money.
I think the same about moonswatches. Had one, cheap junk. Sold it
Grand Seiko gmt is🤌 lol
I know! It’s a lovely watch and will make someone very happy
I was in exactly the same position, my Sub 41mm date, no spark, my Pelagos blue 42mm, no spark etc etc. I had a 12 piece collection and found I was only wearing two pieces regularly and the rest gathered dust. I have now pruned my collection to two pieces, an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and a Rolex Explorer 2 Polar. They're both worn every week and I have a deeper connection with each piece. Best of luck on your collecting journey.
Impressive. Don’t know if I can get down to two but that’s admirable
Completely agree, no joy-> please go! But it ain t that easy and that fast. I give them a fair try. Maybe it does not sparkle this week but maybe next month or season because it is a summer watch. But if I feel nothing after that, I definitely sell them. In additon to that, I am the one enthusiasts where my outfit should fit to the watch. I chose my outfits according the watch I would like to wear but buy watches according to my outfits and lifestyle. So what I am trying to say is that sometimes this way of selecting a watch activates a certain model because it fits your style in that moment.
I always gravitated toward the white dial max bill but that black dial is fire.
It really is a cool watch and dial
If you can't sell them because they have sentimental value maybe try gifting them to someone special, then you can still enjoy them every time you see someone else wearing them and you will have also added another memory to that watch.
That's a great idea and I've done that as much as possible (including as groomsmen gifts). But some pieces are above the financial threshold where I'd want to gift them (unless it's for a special occasion).
If you can't sell them because they have sentimental value maybe try gifting them to someone special, then you can still enjoy them every time you see someone else wearing them and you will have also added another memory to that watch.
That’s a great idea. I do this as well
Completely agree, no joy-> please go! But it ain t that easy and that fast. I give them a fair try. Maybe it does not sparkle this week but maybe next month or season because it is a summer watch. But if I feel nothing after that, I definitely sell them. In additon to that, I am the one enthusiasts where my outfit should fit to the watch. I chose my outfits according the watch I would like to wear but buy watches according to my outfits and lifestyle. So what I am trying to say is that sometimes this way of selecting a watch activates a certain model because it fits your style in that moment.
Very true
Impressive. Don’t know if I can get down to two but that’s admirable
Thanks, it's been very difficult but had to take my hoarding behaviour in check!😅