Three-watch collection - why?

Some one some where once said something along the lines of"it takes three of a thing to be a collection." It does not matter what hobby, it is a concept that transcends. A dumb one, but a yet here we are.

As far as how? With a set list of watches I want, one opportunistic purchase at a time.

I have five watches but could see myself going down to three. Currently have an everyday, diver, chrono, field and dress. Could easily live with everyday, diver and dress.

I think it depends on the person, really. For me, paradoxically, I don't like having a lot of watches. I like putting more love into only a few pieces. For a decade, that was 1 watch. Then 3. Then 4. Now 6. Six because it's a perfect number (mathematically), but I feel that's too many for me. My number is probably 3... But it's all part of the journey.

I think limiting to a small number when you get joy from a large collection is silly, especially if it's externally motivated. Do what brings you happiness from the hobby.

I think three sort of makes sense as a landing point because it seems vaguely doable to a large number of collectors. When you get to two or one, it's nearly impossible to cover what a lot of people would consider the key bases for watches. I think dress, gada, and maybe beater or wild pick seems like it could be enough. Depends on the person and what they want options for.

I don't really care to have a dress watch, a subtle tool watch like my Khaki Auto or the sinn 556 would be more versatile for me. I like having a bit of a chunky diver like my GSAR or the planet ocean I have my eye on. Then I could get by with my 5610 square as a beater. I happen to enjoy the master of G stuff tho, so I have a couple. Then I have a couple watches I don't wear anymore. Three would be about the slimmest collection I might get down to, and I think that's true for a lot of people, which is why the idea gets associated with that number.

Yup, people talk about ideal collections at all sizes.

But three is kind of a minimum number because the assumption is that to have a watch for every scenario you need a casual/everyday watch, a dress watch, and a sports watch that can handle activity and water.

No settled number, style of collecting or particular types an enthusiast or collector should own. It's all so arbitrary. I have 10 watches in my core collection which is 90% of the watches I rotate. I have 5 others that get an occasional wear. I've never tried to check boxes and buy what works for my style and lifestyle.

In my personal opinion, there is a difference between watch buying and watch collecting. Watch buying is just the act of accumulating cool pieces. Watch collecting is more purposeful. Collecting has an express or implied standard for what is allowed to enter or remain in the collection. Collectors carefully curate, thinking about the significance of each piece and why it belongs or doesn’t belong in the collection (regardless of how cool it is). By having a set limit, it forces you into a collector’s mindset and gets you away from simple consumerism.

I just like watches..I see one I like and is cool to me, I buy it, wear it, enjoy it.

Curating, in my opinion, is for museums, and things to display.

I view any watch I wear as a tool, for telling the time and/or tracking something. To be used, no safe queens, regardless of price. #useyourtools

As in all niche arenas, there will about 100^nth ways to "collect".

I think it’s good to keep it smaller (3-5 watches) to prevent wastefulness and keep a connection to the watches. I like the lineup of Sporty, dressy, wildcard, Beater.

Polerouter looks fantastic on that strap. Such a gorgeous watch. 👌🏼

Not sure how folks arrived at 3 as a magical number for a watch collection, but I think there is something about odd numbers (as opposed to even) that we psychologically might naturally gravitate to. I have zero actual proof of this 😂 but as an architect and part time graphic designer, special elements or groupings that I want to bring attention to have always tended to land on odd numbers. 👍

Interesting!

Considering we have a 3+1 thread running at the moment (or 4, when people use numbers properly), I think people are just making stuff up to justify how many watches they want or have. Anything less than 6 is a selection, and whatever works for you is the right number.

I guess that 3+1 usage is due to the popularity of three-slot watch boxes/rolls + 1 wrist space for the rotation. Also, according to an ancient formula the ideal size of a collection is n+1 one, with n = the number of collectibles you currently own.

So then the key is to buy the larger watch box. 5+1 or whatever takes your fancy.

My guess is that this 3+1 is a way of self imposed control on a collection and then does allow you to get real use of of each watch.

That said when people have a dress watch and a GMT watch, I do wonder how often they are at formal aka tux events, and similarly how often most are travelling multiple time zones. I find I can add/subtract 1 or 2 hours relatively easily.

Fair point. My work attire is also usually a suit, so my daily watch has to work in that setting. Combined with the fact that I’m rarely in a tux or true formal evening wear, the line between my “daily” and “dress” watch isn’t all that bright.

But the functionality of the GMT is a different thing. I’m not necessarily hopping between time zones all the time, but I do like to track a time zone in another country, where family members live. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but it sometimes takes some effort to figure out the time on the other side of the world.

“Three is the magic number” and it has been for millennia, long before De La Soul put it to song.

In proto-Christian tradition, there were the Three Magi, and then the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. That’s just one recent example. Dig deeper and the number three recurs throughout human history. The idea of a trinity has worked its way into the watch world too, in ways that need no elaboration here.

Suffice to say the number resonates with intangible - even spiritual - significance. It represents balance, understanding and wisdom. We feel its organizing force even when we can’t express why. The idea of having three watches is just another expression of the number’s power.

A lot of value in a actively managed a s curated Three Watch Collection if you can be disciplined. Less is more.

I am not - I have a core 12 - but several of gifts and memory pieces too. I actively give away or sell pieces I no longer want.

Yes. Primarily the three watch collection is talked about for three types of people:

1. Someone new to the hobby and looking for some pointers as to how to start off.

2. Someone with limited funds or doesn’t want to overspend but still wants a very solid collection.

3. Someone who currently has many timepieces but looking to reduce down to the “essentials” (I use that in quotes because really watches are no longer essential with the exception of just a few use cases)

I think it’s a great concept to have and works for both new enthusiasts and seasoned collectors alike.