What’s your ideal number of watches in your collection?
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Mike Scalice
Real Estate investor based in northern New Jersey. Though I have loved and owned watches since 2010, I decided to start over in 2023. My goal is to build a collection that is meaningful to me. My tast...
New Jersey
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All of them
Because I'm well past 13 already.
I went with 10-12. That leaves enough room for sentimental pieces from family, but then additional space for a few really special pieces that I love. I'm afraid that with a collection greater than 12 I just won't get to enjoy them all.
Funny that as of now 0-3 has no votes since every YouTuber, Blog or Forum always has an “ultimate 3 watch collection” run down.
I have 43 so far lol
Cheers!
x+1
How many do you have in your non-core collection?
6-12 allows you to have a watch for all occasions as well as varied brands, colors, and complications. I have 11, but only wear 7. I will probably end up with 12-18.
While I have core collection and non-core collection, I count them all together. I would think 3-6 is appropriate for a core, then there are the sentimental, occasional, and why haven’t I sold these yet watches.
I voted 4-9 but right now I've got 15 and trying to reduce. Do you count gshocks and casios?
I chose 13+ and here's why:
Eventually, I want to have a multi-genre collection. I want to have a bunch of 6-watch boxes; 1 box for family-gifted watches, 1 for Casio Digital, 1 for Casio Analog, 1 for Tissot, 1 for Seiko, 1 for Citizen, etc.
And when I have amassed a massive collection of fine watches, I will have a little "treasure trove" to pass down to my kids one day.
And in the meantime, I could wear a different watch for every day of a given month. 😎
Nine for my core collection. Those are bought, set, and completed. That said, I have budget watches which I don’t consider ‘core’. That’s where I let myself play a bit and try different things. Seiko, Pagani Design, and a Ball quartz now up to nine separate watches. I figure if it’s under $500 it’s cheap enough to try new things.
Nice choices 👍
6-12 allows you to have a watch for all occasions as well as varied brands, colors, and complications. I have 11, but only wear 7. I will probably end up with 12-18.
Exactly! For my the number to have the right watch for all occasions was 9. So I’m right there with your opinion.
As someone with over 20, 4-9 is my answer. 4-9 serious watches.
I currently have 6 watches I consider serious watches and am contemplating adding 2 more eventually.
I have 3 currently and have another 4 on my wishlist. These are watches I plan on keeping forever once acquired, barring any special circumstances.
They are 2 Rolex, a Speedmaster and a Superocean. But until they are acquired I’ll enjoy these three!
Realistically, for a collection where you're going to have a shot at wearing most of it on a regular basis, and feel something for each piece, I reckon it's about half a dozen watches, tops. So 'B' for me on this one.
Well....I want to have all the watches I can get in my collection.
I got a 10 slot watch box thinking it would pair down my collection goals. But the reality is I already have 5 sentimental watches taking up space in my 10 slot box. So I'll eventually need a 12 slot watch box
6-12 allows you to have a watch for all occasions as well as varied brands, colors, and complications. I have 11, but only wear 7. I will probably end up with 12-18.
I will end up with 12 in my core collection, though 5 are pieces that I hold onto for sentimental reasons, it's really the other 7 that I will wear the most. But I also dream about collecting all the Bond watches; not just the Omegas but the Seikos and Rolexes too. So that's about 43ish if I remember correctly. I'd definitely wear the Rolexes and Omegas, but probably not as often as my core 7
I voted 4-9 but right now I've got 15 and trying to reduce. Do you count gshocks and casios?
I suppose it's up to you... I plan to eventually have a G-Shock and Orient as beaters, but I don't count them in my core collection.
Realistically, for a collection where you're going to have a shot at wearing most of it on a regular basis, and feel something for each piece, I reckon it's about half a dozen watches, tops. So 'B' for me on this one.
I understand your opinion that the watches in a collection ought to be on the wrist on a regular basis. I respectfully disagree. If you don’t work in an office, you might not have occasion to wear a dress watch more than a few times a year. However, one (if not two), dress watches are required (IMHO) to have the depth of collection to have a ‘watch for every occasion’. Example: I absolutely wanted a Glashutte Original PanoMatic Lunar for formal occasions. I rarely attend such occasions. However, I acquired one (which I love, truly love) and reserve it for such occasions. Thus, while I feel that it is an intregal part of my collection, it does not get even wear time compared to my other watches. And, I truly think that is okay.
I understand your opinion that the watches in a collection ought to be on the wrist on a regular basis. I respectfully disagree. If you don’t work in an office, you might not have occasion to wear a dress watch more than a few times a year. However, one (if not two), dress watches are required (IMHO) to have the depth of collection to have a ‘watch for every occasion’. Example: I absolutely wanted a Glashutte Original PanoMatic Lunar for formal occasions. I rarely attend such occasions. However, I acquired one (which I love, truly love) and reserve it for such occasions. Thus, while I feel that it is an intregal part of my collection, it does not get even wear time compared to my other watches. And, I truly think that is okay.
That's a personal opinion, for sure, rather than a fact. Same as my comment. Meanwhile there are people out there with a three-watch, land, air, and sea 'collection', and they think that covers all their boxes.
Long story short, we can't all be right. We're certainly not all wrong, either 🙂
My POV is simply that watches should be worn. With an 8 watch collection at present, even I have watches that aren't worn often, and I know if I started adding to that number it would only compound the issue. At the same time, I'm conscious of people who own dozens, literally, of just GShocks for example, where it's like they are treated more as objects to possess, rather than watches to be worn. And that's certainly another way to collect, too. It runs counter to my feelings on watches, but it's not wrong, either.
That's a personal opinion, for sure, rather than a fact. Same as my comment. Meanwhile there are people out there with a three-watch, land, air, and sea 'collection', and they think that covers all their boxes.
Long story short, we can't all be right. We're certainly not all wrong, either 🙂
My POV is simply that watches should be worn. With an 8 watch collection at present, even I have watches that aren't worn often, and I know if I started adding to that number it would only compound the issue. At the same time, I'm conscious of people who own dozens, literally, of just GShocks for example, where it's like they are treated more as objects to possess, rather than watches to be worn. And that's certainly another way to collect, too. It runs counter to my feelings on watches, but it's not wrong, either.
My core collection is at nine. So, I think we have similar ideas on optimal collection size. However, since I store my watches in a safety deposit box I tend to wear the same watch from the core collection for weeks at a time, mixing it up with my budget watches in between going to the bank. Anyway, I do think it’s reasonable that there can be uneven use of individual pieces.
That's a personal opinion, for sure, rather than a fact. Same as my comment. Meanwhile there are people out there with a three-watch, land, air, and sea 'collection', and they think that covers all their boxes.
Long story short, we can't all be right. We're certainly not all wrong, either 🙂
My POV is simply that watches should be worn. With an 8 watch collection at present, even I have watches that aren't worn often, and I know if I started adding to that number it would only compound the issue. At the same time, I'm conscious of people who own dozens, literally, of just GShocks for example, where it's like they are treated more as objects to possess, rather than watches to be worn. And that's certainly another way to collect, too. It runs counter to my feelings on watches, but it's not wrong, either.
I agree that watches should be worn as much as possible. If I don't wear a watch then there's no point in having it. That said, I know that there will be watches in my collection which don't get worn as often. Ultimately I want 14 in my core collection: 5 are sentimental pieces, 7 are watches that I really want and plan to acquire at certain career/business milestones, and 2 will be beaters. Once I acquire an Explorer that will become my daily, the G-Shock beater will likely be worn every weekend while I do house projects and work on my cars. The Datejust will likely be my dress watch on special occasions, my Seamaster 300 GMT will be worn when traveling, and I'l swap between two different Speedmasters and a Chopard Mille Miglia for weekends drives and car shows. The Orient beater will be used for swimming.... So the plan is to wear them all, but some will certainly be worn more than others.
I agree that watches should be worn as much as possible. If I don't wear a watch then there's no point in having it. That said, I know that there will be watches in my collection which don't get worn as often. Ultimately I want 14 in my core collection: 5 are sentimental pieces, 7 are watches that I really want and plan to acquire at certain career/business milestones, and 2 will be beaters. Once I acquire an Explorer that will become my daily, the G-Shock beater will likely be worn every weekend while I do house projects and work on my cars. The Datejust will likely be my dress watch on special occasions, my Seamaster 300 GMT will be worn when traveling, and I'l swap between two different Speedmasters and a Chopard Mille Miglia for weekends drives and car shows. The Orient beater will be used for swimming.... So the plan is to wear them all, but some will certainly be worn more than others.
You may even find some of that shifts when you get the watches in hand. Before I had my Seamaster reference 2531.80, I had 'romantic' ideas that it would be my travel watch; a sporty, dressy thing that it would be fun to have on my wrist as I zipped around the place. Good enough for Bond; good enough for me! In reality, I don't wear it like that. I enjoy wearing it A LOT, but when I think, oh jeez, what do I want on my wrist in a variety of situations on holiday over the next week or two, I invariably choose one of my lower cost watches (like a Seiko Turtle), and wear that instead. Your mileage may vary, and I note you're chasing a GMT Seamaster, so seem to have definite ideas in that area. But I thought it was worth noting that when the 'rubber hit the road' for me, some ideas of mine certainly changed. Just thought I'd mention it.