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What if you could do it all over again?
Thought experiment:
Your entire watch collection has disappeared and been replaced by the exact sum of money you originally spent on those watches. No loss for wear-and-tear and no gains for in-demand models, just a straight return of the money you already spent (or the current market value of the watch(es) if you traded rather than bought).
What do you do with this lump sum? Try and repurchase some or all of your lost watches? Use this opportunity to buy the high-end watches you've never before had the resources for? Pocket the cash and find yourself a new hobby? Pay off that student loan? Square the bookies?
In my case this would entail losing about 15 watches and getting back a low five figure windfall. As much as I enjoy most of my existing collection I think I would likely 'reinvest' most or all of the money and buy a wholly new 2/3 watch collection (stainless steel braceleted sport/precious metal dress/beater or similar) and maybe even take the opportunity to jump off the horological merry-go-round.
What would you do?
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1. Never buy anything new. Used is always better value, at the sensible end of the market at any rate.
2. Buy whatever watches take my fancy and sell the ones I no longer like when I've had enough of them. My tastes/enthusiasms change with time and that's what I find fun about watches - the hunt and the variety. I don't think that much would change all-in-all as a result of this hypothetical event.
I'd re-buy my steel Marathon Navigator, and Timex Atlantis, then maybe grab Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar. I'd likely stick to quartz, and drop mechanical entirely.
The more I wear quartz again, the more I understand why it took over in the 70s/80s.
I'd forgo the PAM372 in lieu of a Rolex 16613, or 36mm Explorer and a Tag.
I'd forgo the PAM372 in lieu of a Rolex 16613, or 36mm Explorer and a Tag.
Yup, that seems like the kind of sober upgrade I could get behind. I suspect I would get a 36mm Explorer as an almost given and then think long and hard about the second and possibly third watches.
There are cheaper ones out there where that money would go a lot further, that's for sure. I'm fond of my whisky, rye and rum and thinking about how five figures could be applied in the world of top tier booze is interesting...
You know, these sorts of thought experiments are best done when drunk or after a few edibles!
Is the gist of the question about regret? Or is the thought experiment about "what are you into right at this very moment"?
Option A - It's about regret and doing it all over again
I always think to myself, "Why was I such an idiot in my twenties? When Jenny S. put her head on my shoulder that one night, what that meant was she was interested in you! Why didn't you make a move, you moron???"
I got like 20 of these episodes where I was a completely clueless doof, and I regret every single one of them!!!
But, would I go back and do it differently? Hell no! Given the information I had at the time, being who I was at that time, constrained by my situation at that time, I was doing the best I could. I tried to make all my choices in life to maximize net present value of utility, to the best of my limited ability. No more, no less.
I would say the same about every single watch I've purchased, sold, re-purchased, re-sold, etc., etc. I wouldn't do anything differently.
Option B - It's about "what are you into right at this very moment"?
However, if I had the total lump sum value of all my current watches, would I go out and buy again all the same watches? No! Because every moment of every day I'm changing, and I would guess that my tastes have changed between 7am this morning, when I had a croissant for breakfast, and now, as I'm sipping a Japanese whisky at 4pm. And then, tomorrow, if I got a lump sum again, I would buy a completely different collection all over again.
I wish your thought experiment were real. It would be a lot of fun to own a completely different collection every single day for the rest of eternity!
You know, these sorts of thought experiments are best done when drunk or after a few edibles!
Is the gist of the question about regret? Or is the thought experiment about "what are you into right at this very moment"?
Option A - It's about regret and doing it all over again
I always think to myself, "Why was I such an idiot in my twenties? When Jenny S. put her head on my shoulder that one night, what that meant was she was interested in you! Why didn't you make a move, you moron???"
I got like 20 of these episodes where I was a completely clueless doof, and I regret every single one of them!!!
But, would I go back and do it differently? Hell no! Given the information I had at the time, being who I was at that time, constrained by my situation at that time, I was doing the best I could. I tried to make all my choices in life to maximize net present value of utility, to the best of my limited ability. No more, no less.
I would say the same about every single watch I've purchased, sold, re-purchased, re-sold, etc., etc. I wouldn't do anything differently.
Option B - It's about "what are you into right at this very moment"?
However, if I had the total lump sum value of all my current watches, would I go out and buy again all the same watches? No! Because every moment of every day I'm changing, and I would guess that my tastes have changed between 7am this morning, when I had a croissant for breakfast, and now, as I'm sipping a Japanese whisky at 4pm. And then, tomorrow, if I got a lump sum again, I would buy a completely different collection all over again.
I wish your thought experiment were real. It would be a lot of fun to own a completely different collection every single day for the rest of eternity!
I have to agree with the regret part seems like this thought experiment is about regretting purchases that one could have invested somewhere else, but for me Is the only regret is not having enough funds for all my hobbies 🥳…
I have a wishlist of 40+. I guess I could exchange my current collection with that entire new collection. But then I'd be in the same position but reversed, trying to collect the ones I've just let go.
If I had it in cash I'd just blow it on art, so I'm better putting back into wrist-trinkets.
I have a wishlist of 40+. I guess I could exchange my current collection with that entire new collection. But then I'd be in the same position but reversed, trying to collect the ones I've just let go.
If I had it in cash I'd just blow it on art, so I'm better putting back into wrist-trinkets.
You'd blow it on art? Tell me more! Would the cash value of your collection score you an old master or two? He asked enviously...
You know, these sorts of thought experiments are best done when drunk or after a few edibles!
Is the gist of the question about regret? Or is the thought experiment about "what are you into right at this very moment"?
Option A - It's about regret and doing it all over again
I always think to myself, "Why was I such an idiot in my twenties? When Jenny S. put her head on my shoulder that one night, what that meant was she was interested in you! Why didn't you make a move, you moron???"
I got like 20 of these episodes where I was a completely clueless doof, and I regret every single one of them!!!
But, would I go back and do it differently? Hell no! Given the information I had at the time, being who I was at that time, constrained by my situation at that time, I was doing the best I could. I tried to make all my choices in life to maximize net present value of utility, to the best of my limited ability. No more, no less.
I would say the same about every single watch I've purchased, sold, re-purchased, re-sold, etc., etc. I wouldn't do anything differently.
Option B - It's about "what are you into right at this very moment"?
However, if I had the total lump sum value of all my current watches, would I go out and buy again all the same watches? No! Because every moment of every day I'm changing, and I would guess that my tastes have changed between 7am this morning, when I had a croissant for breakfast, and now, as I'm sipping a Japanese whisky at 4pm. And then, tomorrow, if I got a lump sum again, I would buy a completely different collection all over again.
I wish your thought experiment were real. It would be a lot of fun to own a completely different collection every single day for the rest of eternity!
OK, so you can't make a decision on your watch spend, but at least tell me which Japanese whisky you're sipping on while you procrastinate?
OK, so you can't make a decision on your watch spend, but at least tell me which Japanese whisky you're sipping on while you procrastinate?
I only discovered Suntory recently!!! The Toki. And it's only like $30 a bottle!!! I recently saw they had the Hibiki for like $80 at Costco, but why would I pay $80 for the Hibiki, when I love the $30/bottle Toki???
And, every time I have a glass, it makes me think of Bill Murray in this scene in Lost in Translation...
... which fills me with endless joy!
Okay, if I could get a lump sum of cash for all my current watches, what I would do is I would sample every single brand out there
I would buy a whole collection of Breitlings
Then Tudors
Then Panerai
Then IWC
Etc., etc., etc.
I would love to experience a smattering of sample watches from every single brand!
I only discovered Suntory recently!!! The Toki. And it's only like $30 a bottle!!! I recently saw they had the Hibiki for like $80 at Costco, but why would I pay $80 for the Hibiki, when I love the $30/bottle Toki???
And, every time I have a glass, it makes me think of Bill Murray in this scene in Lost in Translation...
... which fills me with endless joy!
Okay, if I could get a lump sum of cash for all my current watches, what I would do is I would sample every single brand out there
I would buy a whole collection of Breitlings
Then Tudors
Then Panerai
Then IWC
Etc., etc., etc.
I would love to experience a smattering of sample watches from every single brand!
Hmmm… cheers my friend 🍻…
Hmmm… cheers my friend 🍻…
Hey, is the Hibiki worth it? Is it that much better than the Toki???
Hey, is the Hibiki worth it? Is it that much better than the Toki???
The Hibiki has more depth in taste compared to TOki. I can’t say one is better than the other it just depends on the day. For me when it kinda cold out, it’s Hibiki and if it’s warm then Toki.
Hmmm… cheers my friend 🍻…
Ah, perfect example: the Yamazaki 12y. I think I would require my total watch cash returned to me before I could consider paying what they want for a bottle of that stuff... Delicious though.