FOL: Fear of Losing
FOL, The Fear of Losing. I invented that (I guess, maybe someone else did. Anyways.). Ok, I didn't lose any watches (thankfully). But I'm beginning to have a FOL.
The watch presented here is my Ginza Alpinist SPB259, limited globally to 3500 pieces. One of my favorite watches in my humble collection. I had worn it on the bracelet for months, then I switched to a NATO strap, and now I'm putting it on a beautiful blue leather strap. Yet it is having decreasing wrist time. I wonder if it is because my collection had expanded. Or has my favorite changed? But when I put it on my wrist. I have this feeling of fear. Fear of Losing. Fear of damaging it. Bc this piece is pretty rare in my city. I'm pretty certain I can't find another one. And I'm pretty sure right now Seiko doesn't have any watches that have a similar dial layout like that. I guess you can put it that I treasure this watch, well I do. Yet, I don't have this feeling (I coined this as FOL) with other watches I have when I wear them (The Arita dial Seiko, The Day-date Tissot, the baby Alpinist or Seiko 5 Ultra7).
Just putting it here to see if anyone also has such feelings for their watch or limited watch or a piece that holds great sentimental value to them.
Or perhaps, the Ginza Alpinist simply isn't the "everyday" watch for me anymore. Perhaps it's been upgraded in my heart to the "collection watch".
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It's a cool watch, but I can see it being a bit "much" for daily wear. I now avoid "cool"/"interesting" dials, as I find I get bored of them after the novelty wears off.
I get where you are coming from with not wanting to damage/lose the watch, but I suspect Seiko has a replacement parts bin for them in the event anything happens to yours. My guess is they made dials for 4000, and kept a few hundred back as replacements. If it's just fear of damage holding you back, I'd suggest you're likely safer than you think you are.
I used to get this feeling occasionally, but I've given so many watches away over the last few months that I once had an attachment to that I don't get it at all now.
That's great to hear!
It's a cool watch, but I can see it being a bit "much" for daily wear. I now avoid "cool"/"interesting" dials, as I find I get bored of them after the novelty wears off.
I get where you are coming from with not wanting to damage/lose the watch, but I suspect Seiko has a replacement parts bin for them in the event anything happens to yours. My guess is they made dials for 4000, and kept a few hundred back as replacements. If it's just fear of damage holding you back, I'd suggest you're likely safer than you think you are.
Oh wow. Thank you KristianG! I never think of it from that perspective. Thank you, perhaps I'll wear it more with this perspective in mind.
Hmmm I never get bored of cool and interesting dials. I thought of selling my Ginza after I see such an increase in price. But, I still find I love the watch every time I put on my wrist.
Thanks KristianG!
The best Seiko since the past years. Smart decission to buy that. I missed it.
What a coincidence, when I was getting ready for work this morning I was watching YouTube and "Just One More Watch" came on where Jody was reviewing this Alpinist special edition. 🍻
What a coincidence, when I was getting ready for work this morning I was watching YouTube and "Just One More Watch" came on where Jody was reviewing this Alpinist special edition. 🍻
😂 what a conincidence!
The best Seiko since the past years. Smart decission to buy that. I missed it.
Yes Uhrologe. I totally agree! I think Seiko should lean in more to their dial designs!
Just like this 2 years, they are definitely milking the "Glacier pattern".
That dial is sensational! Gorgeous.
It's a fine balance between wanting to wear it and not want to damage it. Unfortunately, damage is bound to happen. Whether it be a half open door, a drawer that's not closed all the way or an inconsiderate passerby. At some point there will be scratches. I keep telling myself, whatever happens, happens. It's not always easy though. Then again, there is one I will not wear period. My grandfather's GP. Mainly because the bracelet doesn't fit my larger 8inch wrist. Changing the bracelet is out of the question. It is all original and should remain as is. And it looks silly on my at 34mm diameters. But that's beside the point.
Relate that to cars and how some people will never drive their high price exotics. bEcAusE REsAle ValUe. On the other hand, I know someone who owns a Lamborghini and drives it daily. His mentality is, it was ment to be driven. It was made beautiful for people to look at. So let's drive it and let people see it. He let's pretty much anyone sit in it. Even me... Go figure. My little BMW M3 had around 300,000 miles when I decided to pass it on. It never went wrong.
All in all, watches were made to be worn. They were made beautiful, intricate, detailed so we can look at them. Wear them and enjoy them the way they were meant to be.
accept that watches will get scratched and damaged. that’s a fact of life. living with that fear is a terrible thing. if you have such a fear and it’s preventing you from enjoying your watches then you should sell them and get out of the hobby, because i would not want you to live with that fear in your life. it’s not worth it to have that fear hanging over you preventing you from enjoying the watches.
these watches that we appreciate and hold in such high regard are just things. it doesn’t matter if they get damaged. you get to experience them for the period you have them. enjoy them and live your life.
keeping a watch in a box and not wearing it for “fear of losing” would be such a shame.
I'm still in love with mine!
I think it's a great watch, you should wear it! Also, as long as you don't damage the inside you can always find another case, crystal!
There is no part of the concept of a “collection” that requires usage. I rarely wear my Dad’s vintage watches. They cannot be replaced. Remember, the world is filled with evil door jams.
If I want to take special care of a particular watch, I will often use it as an “evening watch”. Wearing it at very low risk times when I’m done for the day and just relaxing at home. A watch can see much appreciation during these times.
The first watch that my wife ever gave me was a fashion watch. (Marc Ecko.) And I truly love that watch, for purely sentimental reasons. I recently had the badly-scratched crystal replaced, and it now looks AMAZING. It stays in the display case, except for Sundays (church), and special occasions when we go out (Birthday dinners, Valentine's Day dinner, etc.) But it DOES get worn. As @BillableHours said above, it is just a thing. Not wearing it for fear of it getting damaged is an unhealthy mindset. It is a watch. It is meant to be worn. Objects which do not fulfill their purpose are hollow, empty, useless things.
Does that mean you shouldn't take care of it? Of course not. Taking good care of your things enables you to get more use and enjoyment out of them. I shoot airguns, and I have in my collection a Diana Model 27 that was made in 1934(?) I think. I replaced the old, leather breech seal with a silicone seal. I keep it well-oiled, and I never dry-fire it (i.e., I never fire it without a pellet being loaded. Doing so protects the integrity of the mainspring.) I take really good care of it, and most of the time, it sits in my safe. But I DO shoot it, in fact, it is one of the most accurate, hardest-hitting airguns that I own. It's old school, wood and steel, no plastic parts. And when you pick it up, it feels like you're holding a small tree! 😎🤣 But I digress.
My point is, take care of your watch. That's just being cautious, and practicing good stewardship. But wear it! Not wearing it out of fear is detrimental to your well-being! It's far less about the material thing, than it is about YOU, the person. You want to talk about replacements? There's only ONE you! Take care of yourself! 😀 Don't let fear control you! 😎 Cheers! 🍻
Stunning watch 😍
I'm still in love with mine!
Wow these shots are beautiful !
I think you're in the same boat as me, with the Christmas watch. It has sentimental value, because of the event it is tied to, and because of the feelings associated with it. And maybe you should only wear it on special occasions. But you should wear it! Even if you only wear it once a year, on your anniversary, you should have a time when you do put it to use.
Also, think of it this way: I saw a video recently on YouTube about this Rolex that this lady had restored. Her father wore his Rolex every day for like 40 years before his death, and then she inherited it. When she got it, the watch wasn't working. Her dad had really used the hell out of it, abused it, put it through the wringer, etc. But she still had a strong, sentimental attachment to the watch, because it was her dad's. And that's my point. She wasn't attached to the watch, she was attached to the memory of her father, which the watch reminded her of. When she had the guy restore it, she said that she didn't want the parts replaced with new ones, she wanted the old parts cleaned and refurbished, because she wanted the watch to remain the exact watch that her father used. And this guy pulled it off, it looked amazing after he cleaned it, serviced the movement, and polished the crystal. Getting the watch back to working condition, with its original parts, wasn't about the watch itself; it was about being able to see her father's watch tick again. Bringing the watch back to life helped her deal a little better with her loss, because wearing her father's watch was to her, like a little piece of him that was still alive. But the point is: It's not about the thing. It's about the people, emotions, and memories that the thing represents. Wear your watch! 😀😀
Well said TwiceTollingClock! Thank you for your great comment and sharing your stories!
What a beautiful dial. If I had one, I would wear it a lot more often. For me, it is more of "fear of damaging" when I wear nice watches. I like what other commented here: "accept that watches will get scratched and damaged. that’s a fact of life" That is so true. I think those small scratches here and there add a certain personal charm to the watches I wore (I know every one of the scratch such as when and where... Hahahaha)
Well said Juanitozapato! I guess maybe because I'm quite new to this hobby. Got my first mechanical watch (Tissot Day-date) more than 2 years ago.
Perhaps after a few more years I'll learn to appreciate the scratches and dents on my watches!
Hear you buddy - same boat for me!
Mine isn't getting much wear time lately since I've recently bought some fancy GS models that were in the grail status for me.
My general ethos on the Ginza is a 'will not ever sell', and as such I'll wear it anywhere since scratches don't matter to me on a permanent addition to the collection. So it's one of my watches that's got a solid patina of scratches now.
My wife helped me get from Japan, it so it's got some extra personal value from that, and also Ginza and Gion are fave destinations for both of us.
Wifey in Gion, you can see what a great match the dial is.
Hogging all my wrist time these days are the replacement killers below...the SBGA413 hana ikada, and the SLGA017 the Blue Glacier 😍
Oh wow! All these watches are so beautiful!
I can't wait till the day I save up enough for my Grand Seiko (Evo 9 with Spring Drive)!
Thanks! 🙌 It's my favorite combo for this watch, apart from this one:
Ohhhh the strap looks sick with the Ginza! Love the tiny light blue stitches on the strap!
Thanks Twostitchstraps for sharing!
“You see this goblet?” asks Achaan Chaa, the Thai meditation master. “For me this glass is already broken. I enjoy it; I drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, sometimes even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. If I should tap it, it has a lovely ring to it. But when I put this glass on the shelf and the wind knocks it over or my elbow brushes it off the table and it falls to the ground and shatters, I say, ‘Of course.’ When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.”
One more thing I would like to add. We are in this hobby because we truly appreciate watches. Their movements, their designs or lack thereof, the history. For the rest of the population who couldn't care less about watches, these things we wear on our wrists are just there to tell time. It's just a tool. Like forks in your kitchen drawer (that's been left halfway open and will ding your watch because you didn't notice).
For us they have meaning. They have sentimental value. Unlike most of us here, there are people who will buy that fancy Rolex Submariner because it has a name attached to it. It costs a fortune. And this is their only way to show they have standing in society. Showing off their wealth because they have everything else (half the time on credit). So if it breaks, scratches or gets stolen... It doesn't matter. They will just go back and buy another. They are not watch people like us.
Different strokes for different folks.
Wear your watch proudly. Especially when they look this good. Embrace the scars. They tell a story.
one of the things I realised when I started working at 18 is that more than half of the people you meet are in debt and have most of there possessions on credit.
one of the things I realised when I started working at 18 is that more than half of the people you meet are in debt and have most of there possessions on credit.
Absolutely! It blows my mind to see yougins on social media showcasing "their" supercars, 100k+ watch, multimillion dollar mansion, trips to far out places... Yet work part time as butterfly trappers. I think I'm in the he wrong business 🤷
I'm sacrificing quite a bit right to get my business going. We'll see if my grail watches are in my near future... Or still distant future.
Absolutely! It blows my mind to see yougins on social media showcasing "their" supercars, 100k+ watch, multimillion dollar mansion, trips to far out places... Yet work part time as butterfly trappers. I think I'm in the he wrong business 🤷
I'm sacrificing quite a bit right to get my business going. We'll see if my grail watches are in my near future... Or still distant future.
There was a video or documentary about that I saw a while back , Teen were going in 50k + debt to try get famous on youtube , but ended up just get burned out and the going bankrupt at 25.
Crazy...
I buy like 1-2 watches a year max on 0% but I put down a pretty big deposit so its not really like I am risking anything as by the time I have made 3 payments I could sell the watch and pay off the loan anyway.
Its a good system that had worked for me , and allowed me to get some nice watches and not stress about parting with a chunk of cash.
I've got a fully restored, very rare car here in Australia (the one in my profile pic) which is worth some serious dollarydoos (aussie dollars) and I drive that thing as much as possible. I'm not going to be on my death bed thinking "I wish I didn't drive my dream car so much!".
If I want to take special care of a particular watch, I will often use it as an “evening watch”. Wearing it at very low risk times when I’m done for the day and just relaxing at home. A watch can see much appreciation during these times.
Yes and I have "special occasion watches". These are more elegant than the everydays, so I would only wear them to the Sunday Mass, weddings and graduations, dinners out with my daughters, etc. If I think something is a borderline special occasion, I'll also wear one of these to make the occasion a little better.
This is ridiculous that this Seiko is a limited edition, but I'm sure glad some of my friends here on WatchCrunch were able to snag one. Decent price too. And I'm NOT green with envy, because the color green was created for beautiful watch dials, although this one is blue. That is flat-out, no holds barred, my absolute favorite watch dial, the most beautiful dial I've ever seen, maybe the most beautiful man-made thing I've ever seen. So everybody that has this watch should wear it all the time, on the off chance that I will meet up with you some place and I can stare at it.
Oh wow! All these watches are so beautiful!
I can't wait till the day I save up enough for my Grand Seiko (Evo 9 with Spring Drive)!
That's a step down in my opinion. You already have the Ginza.
Absolutely! It blows my mind to see yougins on social media showcasing "their" supercars, 100k+ watch, multimillion dollar mansion, trips to far out places... Yet work part time as butterfly trappers. I think I'm in the he wrong business 🤷
I'm sacrificing quite a bit right to get my business going. We'll see if my grail watches are in my near future... Or still distant future.
Sac . . . ri . . . fi . . . cing. That's an old word, isn't it? Haven't seen that one in a while. Let me think. That means you give up something now for a good outcome in the future. Something like that?
Sac . . . ri . . . fi . . . cing. That's an old word, isn't it? Haven't seen that one in a while. Let me think. That means you give up something now for a good outcome in the future. Something like that?
It is an old word. Sometimes I like to dust them off and use them in sentences. But your definition sounds about right! Depending on the outcome you want. You may try the other definitions for something else entirely.