Starting my Mid-Tier Collection Journey
A little backstory for myself. I’m 21, turning 22 right as we all age a year up once the clock hits 2024 and my birthday is right around the corner too. Just recently graduated and I’m working as a watch & jewellery sales rep in Australia. Wouldn’t say I’m well off, but I’m finally happy where I’m at and can’t wait to hopefully jump into the marketing career next year and see where that field takes me.
I have always loved watches, collecting those stupid fake Ice Watches as a kid and Fossil watches in my teen, but I would say the Orient Bambino was my first “real” mechanical watch, and I purchased that right after I turned 18, and I guess the rest was history.
Here’s a cute little photo of my watch collection back in 2021. Since then, I have bought a Seiko Alpinist, and bought and sold multiple G-Shocks after that (the one that stayed with me was the GM5600B-D). I also bought an Apple Watch too, though I’m currently contemplating on selling that. I have sold most of the cheaper watches, only keeping the Fossil Watch on the right that was gifted to me by my sister when I finished year 11 in highschool.
Now firstly, the Baumé and Mercier Clifton. This would probably the first serious watch purchase after the Seiko Alpinist. I was scratching through multiple brands, debating between the Rado Captain Cook, Longines Spirit, Longines Silver Arrow, Tag Heuer Carrera, and even the Baumé and Mercier Riveria which I almost pulled the trigger on. I decided to go with the Clifton because not only does it have a “in-house” Baumatic movement (yes keep those quotations in mind), but the 120 hours of power reserve, 8 years warranty, and being Chronometer certified means this watch won’t skip a beat. Plus it’ll look great in my suit while I’m still working as an AD and when I change to other professions in the future. Some people may call 3000$ an entry level watch, but to me, this definitely is a luxury watch, and I’m amaze that I’m even spending this amount of money for it (with employee discount of course).
The second watch I chose to go for probably at the beginning or middle of 2024 is the Seiko SPB143, or the modern interpretation of the 62MAS. This may come as a surprise that I’m going back to Seiko despite not carrying that brand, but Seiko always had a soft spot in my heart, and I was always looking for a diver, and a cheaper price wouldn’t hurt me as much. I was thinking long about it because I really love the design of the Captain Cook, but the Seiko won my heart, and the 40.5mm sizing makes it slightly more wearable compared to the 42mm on the Captain Cook (though this is still up for consideration in the future).
I think these 2 watches would make a solid combination for my mid-watch collection journey. I may consider swinging back to the Longines Spirit in 37mm as the third or maybe a Sinn 556/Sinn 105, though that may be another year for me to financially recover after these next two purchases. After that, I think I’ll be done with watches for a while and probably focus more in life, housing, cars, then maybe after that set some money aside to get a nice grail piece or two (hoping to one day own a GMT Batman and Grand Seiko something).
I’ll definitely post a photo once Baumé and Mercier sends me the watch. Can’t wait to buy it once I get my Christmas paycheck.
I want more watches but I’m broke
I am sure you are going to enjoy your Baume&Mercier Clifton, my first grand daughter made her entrance in October, I bought this moonphase watch for her, I do not intend to wear it but will pass the watch along to her mom to hold until she is old enough to wear a proper timepiece in 15-18 years. There will be many other watches but she was born around the period when we Chinese celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival, perhaps more an excuse to pick up a moonphase watch but also fitting due to the time of her birth. Good luck with your future projects, my father in law graduated law but believed in the future of sales when he operated a pharmaceutical business in Taiwan before he retired.
I am sure you are going to enjoy your Baume&Mercier Clifton, my first grand daughter made her entrance in October, I bought this moonphase watch for her, I do not intend to wear it but will pass the watch along to her mom to hold until she is old enough to wear a proper timepiece in 15-18 years. There will be many other watches but she was born around the period when we Chinese celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival, perhaps more an excuse to pick up a moonphase watch but also fitting due to the time of her birth. Good luck with your future projects, my father in law graduated law but believed in the future of sales when he operated a pharmaceutical business in Taiwan before he retired.
Harvest Moon Festival is a lovely season, and that’s a stunning watch. It’ll be a stunning watch for her and maybe even an heirloom piece to pass down the generations.
Also thanks for the encouragement. Hope to succeed in whatever field I enter next.
Harvest Moon Festival is a lovely season, and that’s a stunning watch. It’ll be a stunning watch for her and maybe even an heirloom piece to pass down the generations.
Also thanks for the encouragement. Hope to succeed in whatever field I enter next.
You are a young man, take your time, be careful, be bold, it all works out. Wear a nice watch, people notice persons who care about details. Best of luck! Enjoy your occasional posts. 👍
Great collection! Already miles above from where most people (definitely myself) were at your age! I remember in my early 20s seeing Citizen watches and thinking “ I hope i get to point in my life where i can afford one or two of these”. 30+ watches later now…
Man, great selections! That 120 hour power reserve is kind of mind-blowing. Been a huge fan of that movement and the watches they put it in for a while.
I might lean towards the Sinn rather than the Longines at the end. It seems like the Sinn fills a bigger spot in the wearing conditions/aesthetics.
Even though the Seiko is a robust watch, I find divers a little bulky when doing stuff like working on a car, light plumbing, etc. I appreciate a watch that wears a little smaller, and can get banged on a little. The Sinn is ~2mm thinner and 2mm shorter lug-to-lug. Since it is down the road, hopefully you will have time to try it on in real life and see how it fits for you.
I love the restrained look of the Baume & Mercier Clifton and I'm hoping (probably in vain) to find something similar in my three-digit price bracket. But a 120 year power reserve would convince me to acquire a heirloom piece for 3000.
Nice that you have your collecting path mapped out already. Advance happy birthday. The Baume and Mercier model you picked was my choice from their online catalog as well. Great taste 😁
Just saw the Clifton visiting the local AD and it really popped out. Liked it more than anything in the store.
Great piece! 👌🏻 Underrated too 👍🏻
Enjoy your watch journey 💪🏻
Dude you are killing it. What a marvellous collection for someone your age.
I love the restrained look of the Baume & Mercier Clifton and I'm hoping (probably in vain) to find something similar in my three-digit price bracket. But a 120 year power reserve would convince me to acquire a heirloom piece for 3000.
Hmm, something in the 3 digit price bracket will be a little bit tough. My recommendations would be the tissot chemin des tourelles for something right under the 1000$ mark (and maybe cheaper with all the Christmas discounts you can get at a authorised dealer) or one of the Seiko Presage Cocktails. Nothing really like the Clifton, only other watch I know with a crosshair dial would be the gentleman, but that leans more sporty than dressy.
Hmm, something in the 3 digit price bracket will be a little bit tough. My recommendations would be the tissot chemin des tourelles for something right under the 1000$ mark (and maybe cheaper with all the Christmas discounts you can get at a authorised dealer) or one of the Seiko Presage Cocktails. Nothing really like the Clifton, only other watch I know with a crosshair dial would be the gentleman, but that leans more sporty than dressy.
Thank you for the recommendation, but I guess I'll scratch that crosshair dial itch with a Citizen C7.
Thank you for the recommendation, but I guess I'll scratch that crosshair dial itch with a Citizen C7.
Yeah Citizen makes some solid watches for the money. Swap off the default bracelet because they are hair pullers and put a leather strap. Elevates the watch a lot.