Bites: Burnout, blowtorches and the secret lives of Crunchers

Happy Tuesday fellow Crunchers!

Before we find out exactly what @Max is getting up to with that blow torch lets have a quick round up of some fun posts this week that you should check out if you haven’t already:

Self-imposed watch collecting rules - @ten_and_two starts the discussion on which watch collecting rules we choose to follow.

The WatchCrunch Valentine's Challenge - @Velomax challenges the guys to find the perfection valentines watch.

REALLY ROLEX!!!! - @Stricko begins the debate on the recent Rolex law suit and in...

Well, that's a Rolex off my list... - @Ditchy13 continues the conversation.

Best “Mini Collection” from your collection? - @garythegreat asks people to share their favourite ‘mini collections’.

Photograph of the week

The winner of last weeks watch photography theme, 'Definity not junk', is @TheSharperTheBetter with this gorgeous picture...

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@TheSharperTheBetter 

This upcoming weeks theme has been set by guest judge @Fiatjeepdriver so come find out what he's chosen for this week and post your photos here!.

Weekly new member welcome!

Just some of the new faces I have seen around this week…

@bipennate, @ChrisLuxurybazaar1, @seihyun, @T1meband1t, @Obsessed, @JohnGalt, @Richards, @TomBakov, @lecalibre, @IvanRomero, @CMAC_25, @tiernzwatchbox, @TwiceTollingClock

…looking forward to the watch chat with you all!

Meetups

Quick reminder of the upcoming meetups over the next month.

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Don’t forget to keep checking out the ‘meetups’ section to see if anything is happening near you.

I also saw that @Gauthier is looking to organise a meetup in Belgium, so check this out if you're in the area: Calling on all Belgium (and neighbors) based Crunchers - let’s meet !

And now let’s find out what the deal is with that blow torch…

The Weekly 3-6-9

3 topics, 6(+) posts and 9 pictures from the WC universe.

This week....

  1. Watch burnout
  2. The watch detox
  3. 10 things that are not buying a watch

Watch burnout

This week I read an interesting post from @mjosamannen in which he shared some thoughts about the end point of watch collecting and if a watch collection was even what he wished to aim for any more.

I’ve noticed these kinds of posts do pop up occasionally and they seem to have their basis in a general fatigue of the hobby. @watchyourintruder has a discussion on this in his thread ‘Watch fatigue! - Do you get it? What causes it and what is your cure? and it seems there can be a few different reasons for this burnout and a number of different ways people go about getting their watch collecting mojo back.

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@Christo1963, @Fiatjeepdriver, @whitesalmon, @GasWorks 

The Watch Detox

In response to @watchyourintruders question about how to tackle watch burnout a number of people talked about the power of taking a step back from social media, stripping back to one watch and shifting focus at something else in life.

Here are some great comments from that thread:

"I got off watch media for almost a month, I switched to digital watches until further notice, and unsubscribed from basically everything watch related. I even took a little break from the blog. I feel surprisingly refreshed. It's great." - @erikswrist

"I've been known to put all of my watches away for a couple of weeks and let the watch tan line fade away. It's a nice feeling, kind of like "turning off your notifications" ramped up a notch." - @ds760476

"I think i had this when i was on instagram. Deleted it a few months ago and dont look back. Now i only read online magazines, watch yt reviews and chat here on watchcrunch. I think the scrolling feed on instagram is really bad for your brain." - @collectandchill

"I have at at various points of the journey, taken a step back to evaluate what I am trying to accomplish and re-adjust my plans and goals accordingly. Ask yourself the difficult questions, and set goals that are incrementally achievable. I've found more focus is exactly what is in order." - @SurferJohn

"I’ve been there and for myself I find it occurs only when I‘ve dived to deep. A healthy rebalance is what I find works best. I do so by limiting my exposure to watch content and reinvesting that time into other hobbies - specifically those where I am accomplishing/crafting something that isn’t so focused on acquiring an object" - @bevelwerks

There were loads of great comments on that thread so I urge you to check it out. A watch detox may be what you need to rekindle your passion, but if going cold-turkey feels like too drastic a step there are other ways to tackle what can feel like a constant chase for the next watch purchase...

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@ManCaveLeather, @nunomargalha, @Pascal 

10 things that are not buying a watch

It isn’t always necessary to cut off from the watch world completely if the perpetual churn of watches is feeling a bit exhausting. Sometimes engaging with the community in a different way can reignite the joy for the hobby. Here are 10 things that other Crunchers are getting up to behind the scenes that aren’t buying more watches:

  1. Read books, blogs and articles - There are loads of great watch related books and articles out there looking at the history, mechanics and design which can help build our appreciation of horology and encourage us to look at our watches in a new light. Check out @jakaplan4s post on building a watch book library. Also consider following some of the bloggers in the watch-o-sphere who don’t necessarily focus on consumerism, but explore the hobby in other ways. There are some great writers on WC who focus more on the journey and experience of watch enthusiasm rather than pure acquisition. If you’re looking for somewhere to start @Edge168n made a post on his favourite WC writers.

2. Watch YouTube – Many times social media is the burnout inducing factor we need to avoid, but there is more out there than watch reviews. Consider checking out alternative content instead, like the wonderfully relaxing watch refurbishment videos from @FrenchWatchCollector instead.

3. Watch movies – Give yourself a break from the constant scrolling on your phone, be it eBay or social media, and try watching a great movie. Consider sticking on some James Bond, Brad Pit or Arnie and do some movie watch-spotting.

4. Turn your hand to writing – WC is a great forum for sharing whatever watch related chatter is going on in your head. @Edge168n shares his watch-spots for the week, @Porthole contemplates watch destruction and @Aurelian levels up our vintage knowledge (and works on his Pollster badge). Come and share your watch experiences!

5. Refurbing, modding and building – Consider learning how to create your own special piece or giving an old watch a new lease of life. Certainly not for the faint hearted, but you can start simple and have a look at @Fiatjeepdrivers great post on creating a watch for his mum. Also check out @Max being brave and watch-modding with a blowtorch!

6. Make something – Be like some of our fellow clever Crunchers looking to create their own watch storage solutions and accessories. You can see @unholiestjedis exploits in creating his own watch box or be amazed by these handmade watch stands, straps and rolls.

7. Get active – Try joining fellow crunchers as we walk, cycle and dance to Mordor, or keep it simple and just get out and about to find some great wrist shots in the wilderness.

8. Meet people – sharing your joy of watches with likeminded folks in person is one of the great joys of this hobby. Seize the opportunity for a meetup when you have the chance or organise your own.

9. Get arty – there are some amazingly skilful people on WC creating watch related drawings and digital art. Checkout some of the photos I’ve included in this weeks letter to see some fabulous examples and think about making some creations of your own!

10. Do something good - @Hotwatchchick69, @VictorAdameArt and @edge168n have all organised charity watch auctions on WatchCrunch. This is a great way of doing something positive while culling unwanted pieces from your watch collection. @Gasworks is currently building a watch specially designed by the WC community, which he will be auctioning for charity in the coming weeks. Check out his profile to find the latest design poll and help create something wonderful.

Also check out @HotWatchChick69s most recent charity auction for this beauty...

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@watstoki 

It’s a long letter this week so I think that’s definitely enough from me!

Share your experiences of watch burnout below and the other ways you engage with the hobby outside of watch buying.

Thank you for reading and take care.

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Reply
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Good stuff as always, thanks for doing this. 

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Mr.Dee.Bater

Have you posted it yet?? I'll edit the letter and add the link to your auction 👍

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thekris

Good stuff as always, thanks for doing this. 

Thank you! 🍻

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DeeperBlue

Have you posted it yet?? I'll edit the letter and add the link to your auction 👍

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Watch Winder.

And thanks for these update posts/digests! :) 

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Added!

You can always tell me if you're planning one and it can go in the letter ☺️👍

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JaimeMadeira

Watch Winder.

And thanks for these update posts/digests! :) 

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Really the only news that matters at this point!! 😉

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DeeperBlue

Added!

You can always tell me if you're planning one and it can go in the letter ☺️👍

Awesome!  Will do!!!

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Oh wow that was startling 😅. Welcome to burn out city, you just met the mayor

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Max

Oh wow that was startling 😅. Welcome to burn out city, you just met the mayor

I certainly have a go with watch modding with a blow torch!.... But perhaps I'd start on a cheaper watch 😆

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MinnKonaMike

Really the only news that matters at this point!! 😉

All the hard-hitting gritty stories from the dark world of the watch scene 😆

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I always look forward to these Bites. Thanks for taking the time to put them together.

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Thank you for your effort to put these weekly ”Magazine” together. They certainly bring the community closer together.

I had to go back to my old post to see what I wrote at the time. Still valid from my view. Haven’t been hit by the fatique after that. As you point out there is a solid toolbox, from the comments, that helps us to keep it away.

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DeeperBlue

Is it a serious plan then?

I'd be interested to read about your experiences if you do decide to go down that path 👍

I don't know... But I suspect that is what I'll end up trying 🤔 And it might turn out that I'm a self deceiving twat 😅 Spoiler alert!!

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Social media also normalises large numbers of watch purchases and paying what is a ridiculous price for some.

We all need a dose of perspective sometimes, but it can feel uncomfortable when all you want is for someone to collude with you and reassure you that 3 watch purchases in a week is perfectly reasonable 😏

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Sounds like a good plan 💪 Our thinking isn't that different, I think it's the cut-off point mostly 😅

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Very nice read, and helpful.  I particularly love the "Not Buying a Watch" suggestions, keeping us on track and out of a rut!

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mjosamannen

I don't know... But I suspect that is what I'll end up trying 🤔 And it might turn out that I'm a self deceiving twat 😅 Spoiler alert!!

Honestly, it wouldn't matter if you decided a one watch collection was Nirvana in the end or not. I think the thought processes behind the journey would be the insightful part 👍 ☺️

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SurferJohn

Very nice read, and helpful.  I particularly love the "Not Buying a Watch" suggestions, keeping us on track and out of a rut!

Thank you for the kind comments and glad you enjoyed!🍻

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Brilliantly put. Couldn't say it better myself.

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Another awesome Tuesday post so thankyou Deeperblue, and I got a mention as well(I'm truly made up). Now when I saw the headline and the picture I thought Max was going to show us the easy and surefire way of getting rid of those horrible carbuncle date magnifiers.

It certainly got me thinking earlier when I had a quick read, and I'm certainly not at the burnout stage more of let's sit back and take stock. My collection has certainly grown, and probably to the point of well let's say how the dickens are you going to enjoy it. Its all well and good having all this 'stuff' but are you enjoying it ie wearing it, and of course the answer is no. There's not enough high days n holidays to wear the full collection on a regular basis so maybe a break from buying a little reconsidering of really what means a lot to me and what I most get the pleasure out of. My work precludes wearing a nice watch, a delicate vintage peice or an expensive item, I work in an industrial setting and steel, heat,vibration and high voltages means (to me) wearing a nice watch is a fools errand.

 Now these thoughts have been rattling in my head for a while now, a devil on one shoulder screaming buy,buy,buy add to it you need it, and an angel on the other saying really!!! Do you need it, will it make a watch guru of you. No of course it won't, and as of now the ebay 'watch' list has been cleared of the 20 odd 'bargains and must have's'.

 Its time to take a little breather and of course replenish the watch fund,and spring is just around the corner so I will be doing a lot of making things (my dad and I make planters n veg boxes out of reclaimed wood) which my share of the sales helps out with my hobbies and interests, and I was asked the other week do I sell any watches, I said no but maybe now i might and condense the collection somewhat. And it's time to do more of other things watch related than just collect.

OK let's get to the 10 points originally posted.

1.Read blogs n articles. Not just about all the new stuff out there but to get into the more technical aspects and also the historical side of the game. Its a fascinating topic and one I'm eager to expand my knowledge of.

2. U tube. Again not just the advertising of new stuff and watching the latest reviews and releases, although they are great and entertaining, most are selling and I will try and diversify into more of the learning and the how to,especially the repairing(see number 5)

4. Writing. I've got lots of ideas on things to write on the forum so hopefully I'm going to contine to contribute, entertaine you(a little) and keep improving.

5. Refurbing. I'm not a modder (as yet) but I'm definitely going to have a go at repairing,got a few that need some attention and I want to have a go,getting some reasonably proper tools, a couple of peices need reluming(hand sets) a quartz needs bringing back to life and I want to be able to service my wind ups.

6. Make something. Yes I love making things and have got a couple of watch related projects in the pipeline,storage solutions and hopefully if they're good enough could tie in with number 10 on this list.

7. Get active. Yes cracking on with the elf kick (Modor as well). After getting totally out of condition in the last couple of years it's time to put things right.

8. Meet people. After losing five good friends in the last 18 months it's certainly brought it home that people are the most important thing (even more so than what's on your wrist) so I will continue to try and meet face to face and if that's not possible (because we're a global community) to meet n greet and chat on here.

9. Get arty. Well as black adder said 'as much artistic talent as a bunch of blind badgers..in a bag', that's me but I will try  and do some better photo shots.

10. Do something good. Hopefully if the making of things works out will have something to contribute. And maybe stop doing long winded pieces like this that bore you all to death(fat chance😅)

So no burn out, but plenty to keep me occupied in the watch world. And I know that this list isn't what everybody can do, but it's what I'm on with, hopefully there's some practical ideas for you all.

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Stricko

Another awesome Tuesday post so thankyou Deeperblue, and I got a mention as well(I'm truly made up). Now when I saw the headline and the picture I thought Max was going to show us the easy and surefire way of getting rid of those horrible carbuncle date magnifiers.

It certainly got me thinking earlier when I had a quick read, and I'm certainly not at the burnout stage more of let's sit back and take stock. My collection has certainly grown, and probably to the point of well let's say how the dickens are you going to enjoy it. Its all well and good having all this 'stuff' but are you enjoying it ie wearing it, and of course the answer is no. There's not enough high days n holidays to wear the full collection on a regular basis so maybe a break from buying a little reconsidering of really what means a lot to me and what I most get the pleasure out of. My work precludes wearing a nice watch, a delicate vintage peice or an expensive item, I work in an industrial setting and steel, heat,vibration and high voltages means (to me) wearing a nice watch is a fools errand.

 Now these thoughts have been rattling in my head for a while now, a devil on one shoulder screaming buy,buy,buy add to it you need it, and an angel on the other saying really!!! Do you need it, will it make a watch guru of you. No of course it won't, and as of now the ebay 'watch' list has been cleared of the 20 odd 'bargains and must have's'.

 Its time to take a little breather and of course replenish the watch fund,and spring is just around the corner so I will be doing a lot of making things (my dad and I make planters n veg boxes out of reclaimed wood) which my share of the sales helps out with my hobbies and interests, and I was asked the other week do I sell any watches, I said no but maybe now i might and condense the collection somewhat. And it's time to do more of other things watch related than just collect.

OK let's get to the 10 points originally posted.

1.Read blogs n articles. Not just about all the new stuff out there but to get into the more technical aspects and also the historical side of the game. Its a fascinating topic and one I'm eager to expand my knowledge of.

2. U tube. Again not just the advertising of new stuff and watching the latest reviews and releases, although they are great and entertaining, most are selling and I will try and diversify into more of the learning and the how to,especially the repairing(see number 5)

4. Writing. I've got lots of ideas on things to write on the forum so hopefully I'm going to contine to contribute, entertaine you(a little) and keep improving.

5. Refurbing. I'm not a modder (as yet) but I'm definitely going to have a go at repairing,got a few that need some attention and I want to have a go,getting some reasonably proper tools, a couple of peices need reluming(hand sets) a quartz needs bringing back to life and I want to be able to service my wind ups.

6. Make something. Yes I love making things and have got a couple of watch related projects in the pipeline,storage solutions and hopefully if they're good enough could tie in with number 10 on this list.

7. Get active. Yes cracking on with the elf kick (Modor as well). After getting totally out of condition in the last couple of years it's time to put things right.

8. Meet people. After losing five good friends in the last 18 months it's certainly brought it home that people are the most important thing (even more so than what's on your wrist) so I will continue to try and meet face to face and if that's not possible (because we're a global community) to meet n greet and chat on here.

9. Get arty. Well as black adder said 'as much artistic talent as a bunch of blind badgers..in a bag', that's me but I will try  and do some better photo shots.

10. Do something good. Hopefully if the making of things works out will have something to contribute. And maybe stop doing long winded pieces like this that bore you all to death(fat chance😅)

So no burn out, but plenty to keep me occupied in the watch world. And I know that this list isn't what everybody can do, but it's what I'm on with, hopefully there's some practical ideas for you all.

Great insights Rob.  🍻

I think later in the year I may consolidate my collection a bit also. I've never sold a watch before, so I'm a bit apprehensive!

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DeeperBlue

Honestly, it wouldn't matter if you decided a one watch collection was Nirvana in the end or not. I think the thought processes behind the journey would be the insightful part 👍 ☺️

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This popped up in my IG-feed this morning 😅 Great minds, and so on 😜

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DeeperBlue

Great insights Rob.  🍻

I think later in the year I may consolidate my collection a bit also. I've never sold a watch before, so I'm a bit apprehensive!

Thanks, yes it's a bit of a minefield. I do  a lot of selling on Facebook marketplace (not watches) and it's great, face to face,cash and no fees. And that might be a way to start especially on let's say a popular known model ie a seiko diver. But more specialist stuff it would have to be one of the Internet sites and for that definitely a good bit of research and advice will be sought.

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mjosamannen
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This popped up in my IG-feed this morning 😅 Great minds, and so on 😜

That is brutally true 😆

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Thanks for this 👍

I may start prepping some watches for departure then. Dig out the boxes and take some pictures.

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Thank you for the mention. 😀

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IvanRomero

Thank you for the mention. 😀

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