Do you have a strategy or rationals for your collection?

My only rule is to fill the box. If the box is full then it’s 1 in 1 out if I want a new watch. I don’t have a rule on watch type as long as I have a little brand and color diversity. I like 3 handers, divers, chronos, dress anything really.

Not really. I’ve narrowed my taste to exclude some watches and spotlight others but it’s nothing concrete.

Similar to yours, tho I'm in the process of slowly upgrading & refining. One in one out, or one in a few out.

Prefer no date, basic 3 handers, no complications (maybe a GMT in the future) , prime concerns are legibility, robustness and history/brand.

Yes, yes and yes!

I've been thinking about this recently - the idea that it helps whilst collecting to give yourself set parameters as to what you'll purchase. It helps in more ways than one. You have a brake against spending lots of money on every piece that catches your eye. Arguably, though, giving yourself strict parameters also gives more meaning to your collecting habit and enables you to discover the deeper intricacies and nuances of the particular style of watch which takes your fancy. There is also pleasure and a kind of skill in creating balance within your collection, and also within the limits you have set yourself.

This got me thinking about something I'd read in Decoded by Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) Virgin Books (2010). I've finally found the passage (on page 26). He discusses the history, influences and meaning behind the lyrics in his rap, and also mounts an argument as to why rap should be considered an art-form at the same level as, say, poetry. When discussing "Public Service Announcement" he says:

The subject of the first verse wasn't blazingly unique. It's a variation on a story I've been telling since I was ten years old rapping into a tape recorder: I'm dope. Doper than you. But even when a rapper is just rapping about how dope he is, there's something a little bit deeper going on. It's like a sonnet, believe it or not. Sonnets have a set structure, but also a limited subject matter: They are mostly about love. Taking on such a familiar subject and writing about it in a set structure forced sonnet writers to find every nook and cranny in the subject and challenged them to invent new language for saying old things. It's the same with braggadacio in rap. When we take the most familiar subject in the history of rap - why I'm dope - and frame it within the sixteen-bar structure of a rap verse, synced to the specific rhythm and feel of the track, more than anything it's a test of creativity and wit. It's like a metaphor for itself; if you can say how dope you are in a completely original, clever, and powerful way, the rhyme itself becomes proof of the boast's truth. And there are deeper layers of meaning buried in the simplest verses.

So well done for exploring your no date windows, no sports watches and simple two and three handers. You are pursuing a noble aim of exploring every nook and cranny, and testing your curation skills to fit a balanced collection within those limits.

For me, I've chosen to concentrate on German brands and, for the moment, they all have either white, blue or black dials. I might need to give some hard thought, though, as to what I need to sell to give my collection a bit more meaning.

I want to one one of every Rolex model I can. I love the brands history and want my watch box to look like a history lot of the brand

I have a very similar rationale to the OP. No dates, almost no sports watches (I have allowed myself one nice dive watch and one only) and no doubling up on brands except for Nomos, which I maintain a separate, small, collection of.

While I have a few more than this, this is really the core.

but isn't it a little boring? They basically look all the same, same cases, 3 bracelet versions, two hands versions, all rotating bezels look the same...

The brand is quite interesting, the perfect symbol of capitalism and marketing. The magic around it lead also to one that stayed in my box.

OMG, congrats to the Armin Strom, this is amazing! It's on my radar, but sadly never have seen one in the wild.

Thanks, it’s really a great watch and cool company. Nothing close to like it in the price range, at least when it comes to hand finishing.

I found what I like and go with it. When looking at my box I rarely would choose anything else than a rolex. I get the most joy out of them and I find them the most comfortable. I also wear my Panerai but that’s half rolex because Rolex used to make their movements. I like the consistency between models as it makes you appreciate the differences more and when you switch models you pickup on the little differences way more and can see why they were made. To me each rolex model is completely perfect for it’s intended purpose

Agree 100%!

Collecting German brands is also a nice theme. My only problem with the most German brands (like my Sinn) is, that they state Made in Germany, however one of the most interesting parts, the movement, is Swiss. There are no strikt rules on the claim "Made in Germany", only "Glashütte" is protected. So there are just a few brands, where the biggest part is made in Germany.

Very nice, outside the box collection! I simply buy what I like. If it looks good and suits my lifestyle, though I lean toward sport watches. You could argue that several of yours fall into that category.

That's right, Panerai has a strong historical connection to Rolex. However, the movements were coming from Aegler, Rolex' supplier back then, now part of Rolex. The cases of Panerai were made by Rolex, these cushion cases of Panerai you also see at Rolex of that time a lot.

Different color, preferrably different brand, different function, different price point

That’s true. I have a few from Glashütte (Nomos, Mühle, Wempe) and a few from Pforzheim and around (Laco, Stowa, Archimede, Dekla), and only the Nomos can be said to have a German movement.

Add to that the other thing about “Made in Germany” - why is it in English, even when other text on the dial is in German?! I believe it is for historical reasons. Only my Dekla has it in German!

Still, I won’t let an anomaly like that stop me! If the Swiss have cornered the market in the best movements at these price points, then it doesn’t bother me much if it finds its way into my watch. 😀

I can tell you love clean, symmetrical dials. Fantastic collection, how do you like the Cartier Tank? Been thinking about buying one for a little while.

Its all about the looks for me and also the price. The most expensive watch I own is the lunar pilot and I intend to keep it that way

The Tank is amazing, it sits so flush on the wrist. It is simply perfect. And since Cartier has revitalized the Tank Louis and Must there so nice options available.

I like it. Good, clear rules and a collection of excellent pieces. 👏

Fantastic choices.

The one in one out strategy is a lot tougher these days with used watch prices plummeting!

Absolutely right… on the one hand the resale value goes down but the prices for new watches are going up…

Aren't the Explorer and Streamliner sports watches?

Which sports do you do with that ones?!

That are simple three hander with no function dedicated to a certain special usage…

Wow! The Streamliner is so classy but the Glashutte Original really pops!

I set all sorts of rules and eventually break them. Tough I guess!

I wouldn't play sports with anything other than a G-Shock or Garmin. I'd consider "sports watch" an aesthetic category, like "tool watch". They don't fulfill that purpose today.

But even taking that into consideration, an Explorer is well suited for hiking/trekking or other low-impact sports.

Okay, but what makes an Explorer I with a half gold bracelet and a gold bezel more suitable for a hike than the Glashütte Sixties except of the lies about Mount Everest that Rolex marketing is telling you?!

I'm not quite at your watch level here. My collection ranges from £250-£3000.

Average being £900.

At one point I have 50+ and another 30+ casios.

I have sold most and am down to 19 in total.

My strategy is to have classic brands and classic types of watch and some classic designs. In my current price range...

So we are talking...

2x GShocks

Citizen

Seiko

Omega

Accutron 2020

Squale

Divers

Field watches

Dress watch

Sports watch

Swiss

Seiko or Myota

Some microbrands

Alpinist

Nighthawk

I want to got to say 10 which represent the above.

Perhaps in the future I'll drop to 6 say Luxury Watches....

Surely you jest.