Does anyone have a 1 watch collection?

At WatchCrunch? We are nerds, try asking for a 1 hundred watch collection 😂

But I might say that your question is actually very good, I hope someone has a 1 watch collection. I'd love to hear about the story behind it. 

I understand the question and why you ask.  You may even receive a considered and intelligent response. However, definitionally a "collection" is a group of things. It must be contain at least two items. One watch can not be a collection.

That is a hill that I am willing to die on. (The rule that you can't end a sentence with a proposition is stupid.)

So, the question then becomes: "if you are so engaged with watches that you are willing to discuss them on a forum with complete strangers, why do you own only one?" Or, more succinctly, "why are you lying about owning only one watch?"

I started out with a one watch "collection" - sorry, @Aurelian.  My first mechanical watch was the Porsche Design 1919 Datetimer Eternity.  Bought it because I was a car guy and really into Porsche.  And during the pandemic, sitting around all day, bored out of my skull, found myself configuring a Taycan, obsessing over every little detail every day.  Then, woke from my stupor and said, "WTF am I going to do with a Taycan?  I already have my fun car.  I'm just bored.  If I'm going to buy a Porsche thing, I'll just buy this Porsche watch, and save myself a ton of money."  

Got it for 75% off MSRP, store display watch, on eBay, because...  I guess people don't want a titanium 3-hander with a Sellita movement?  Didn't understand any of that before I ordered the watch.  Absolutely LOVED it.  And then...  next thing you know...   I have 15 watches now.  

I've spent more on watches than I would have on a Taycan!!!  Stupid!

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

-Chinese proverb

I, in fact, have 18 separate 1-watch collections. 😂

On a serious note, I can’t remember having just one watch - even when I didn’t consider myself an enthusiast. Always a couple knocking around in a drawer.

I don't think you'll find that person on Watchcrunch LOL 🤣

I would say most people who wear a watch, only wear one. They might have others in a drawer somewhere, but they only wear one.

However, they will not be here. I suspect the progression of this hobby, will find people with more than one watch before they progress to the point of joining a forum about watches.

I had a zero watch collection for about 15 years. Then starting in 2020, I had one watch for almost 2 years. I didn’t really care about watches during that whole time until I suddenly got the watch bug. Now here we are at a thirty something watch collection as of today.

people with one watch collection are described as the man with the strongest willpower. they can resist and say no to the new watch temptation. however after a few months joining this forum i doubt i can find one of them 😂

My father. Had a DJ that rarely saw light, passed it on to my brother a few years ago. Some time after, he got himself an IWC Portofino, which he wears daily. Which is weird to me because for most of my life he told me that wearing a watch was cumbersome 🤷🏻‍♂. Apparently he just loved the watch at first sight, and had to get it. Guess we both love Roman numerals on our watches.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: 1 watch is not a collection. It is a watch.

If you want one watch that can do it all then fine, I believe it does not exist in the true spirit of things - there are many watches that will tick a lot of boxes depending on what you want, but at some point you will have to compromise. You can still consider yourself an enthusiast if you only have 1 watch, but you are not a collector, and that’s fine, you just own a watch. Please stay and talk about that watch if you wish, or if you want to continue down the slippery slope to more watches then you are definitely in the right place 👍

I have 1 drawer full of watches,does that count?!!!

Is one watch a collection or just someone with a watch?  Is a single sheep a small herd of sheep?

Depends on the size of the sheep - no, sorry, I’m taking the mickey.

All collections may start with one, so we have to bear that in mind. A lot of watch collections often start with a sentimental piece, or an expensive piece… some may be a cheap gateway piece into pieces of rising value. I also do not begrudge people just saving up for that one Rolex or JLC, and appreciate watches but just want the one. Some people may even like them and never own one - it happens. But one watch is not a collection. 2 is a pair. I see people touting 3 watch collections, so that’s when I think we sensibly draw the line for the collective noun, but regardless all number of watches are welcome to the discussion. This forum is not pay to play.

I buy far too many watches, I also sell them, I can’t seem to settle, I’m not entirely sure what motivates me, obviously I research watches and don’t just buy any old one for the sake of it, but  I’m coming to the conclusion that I like the anticipation of the watch arriving just as much as when it arrives, I’m mostly underwhelmed, so keep repeating the process. So in 2014 I bought myself a new Rolex Submariner and intended that we would grow old together, and I would just keep a “couple” of others for wearing at work or on holiday around the beach. This would then stop me buying any more watches.

it worked …………… for two weeks!

then the madness continued and still does. Possibly once a month I try and shake myself out of the watch buying obsession, I decide to get my collection down to three again, but then Mr Jeckyl who is perched on my shoulder chips away at me “how can you be a watch collector with only three watches” he says …. “ ….”your watch box holds twelve watches it will look stupid with only three in it” and other such things.

I think I need some help, I honestly do.

Love this, I agree lots of people go up and down buying and selling watches. I think a lot of people have at least one watch they will never sell no matter what. I have definitely gone down to one watch as of my collection and then back up and so on and so forth. And I definitely agree some enthusiast will save and save and save to get that one grail watch and that will be there whole collection forever.

Sensible. I was merely quibbling on the use of language. Collection implies a group. We all start with one (at any price point) then eventually they seem to multiply. 

I think there's something very attractive about the idea of being happy with a one watch collection. And then that watch being a legacy to your son or daughter with all of the associated memories and history. I guess if I could settle on the "perfect watch", I might consider a one-watch collection possible, but I just don't think there is. 

I agree that one watch is just a watch. I just had a watch for 28 years (two tone datejust I got as a wedding gift that I wore every day). 

I bought my “grail” watch (Speedy Pro) after my kids were out of the house and I thought that would be it but the Speedy gave me the bug and started my collection.

My dad's never had just one watch, but there have been a couple of times he's only had "one watch". A while back his collection was two Pepsi GMT's (one new one vintage). Now he just has two Sea Dwellers (43mm and 40mm). 

Yes my collection was built one watch at a time.