Watch Stories: When One Watch Ruins Your One Watch Collection
The One Watch Pledge
Back in May I was all-in on a one-watch collection for the next two years. Sold off everything but my sentimental watches and happily wore my Oris Aquis date every day since I purchased it brand new from an AD to be my "grad school watch".
OK, How about two watches?
Then ... I found a Divers Sixty Five Bicolor. No harm right? Two watch collection. I'll wear the BiCo now and then just for variety and some fun. No harm in that!
Three Watches?
Then ... I found a KILLER deal on an Aquis Staghorn Restoration Limited Edition. OK then ... three-watch collection. And maybe I'll sell the BiCo now that I have the Staghorn, which will become my daily. It's the watch I really wanted anyway. I just didn't think I'd find once since they're not really out there. Its just so fun and playful with the orange accents and the cool dial. No harm, right? RIGHT?????
Wait. suddenly, I'm Oris heavy. How did that happen? That's OK, I'll sell the original Aquis Date. Except every time I take it out of the box to list it for sale I can't because its MY watch. It's my grad school watch! How can I sell THAT one? I'm attached to it!
Wait. FOUR Watches, but this one doesn't count. 😉
Oh, and the Colt is due back from service shortly so I'll just sell that even though I always loved that watch. But I can't have a FOUR watch collection! No way! But ... I wanted one of these for so long. But I have to sell it. Things are getting out of hand now and I'm not a guy that likes to have things just to have things. But ... but ... but ...
Then ...
THIS HAPPENS
I will swear until my dying day that I was abducted by aliens and trolling watch forums while they had me in some kind of trance. It's the only explanation that makes sense for buying this one.
Now everything is clearly ruined. By this one watch. This 24-year-old amazing bit of stainless steel sculpture. It's perfect. Strong and with presence, but thin and oh, so wearable. Forward, but also elegant. The lines. The twisted lugs. The way the bezel slopes into the case. The way that insanely comfortable bracelet fits perfectly even though there's no micro-adjust. That's just some kind of wizardry right there.
Ruined. My one-watch collection is ruined. I can't seem to wear anything but the SMP, yet I can't seem to sell anything else. It's the nicest watch I've ever worn and the only watch that I instantly connected with the minute I put it on.
What the hell happened here? It's all blur. Is this reality?
I will continue to delude myself into saying that the Seamaster ruined my best-laid plans to be an ascetic watch enthusiast for the next two years. I'll just ignore the fact that there were those other watches that came before it. Reality is so inconvenient, so we'll just pretend none of that ever happened.
I'm a one-watch guy with five watches that I really enjoy.
I blame Omega. They ruined everything. Just humor me here, OK?
PS. There's a Sinn 104 white dial arriving tomorrow. But I'll just sell that one right away. Yeah. I'll sell it. That's it. I'll sell it right away.
Author, podcaster, grad student, therapist in training. No, I cannot cure your watch addiction. 😂 Just a guy that digs watches. Not a flipper or a dealer.
We need to recognise that denial is always the first stage. It gets easier from there.
I’m not sure if I should spur you on or call for an intervention.
I’m not sure if I should spur you on or call for an intervention.
It really could go either way here. It's a very fluid situation.
It really could go either way here. It's a very fluid situation.
I'm just going to go ahead and hide all the knives. Also, I'll need you to give up your belt and shoelaces. It's for your own good.
Another way of looking at it is that you have 5 one-watch-collections 😉
It’s ok, you’re amongst friends. We understand completely. Everything will be just fine. To help free yourself of this ridiculous “one watch” delusion please repeat this mantra over and over… “N + 1”
Since the rest of y'all gentlemen are afraid of the truth let this dugong be the bad guy and say, "Welcome to the brotherhood of watch collecting, sucka!"
Enjoy your stay and we expect 30 to life, minimum here. Also glad to see we filled up the hole left by @mjosamannen's 'exit watch' announcement.
The watch industry thank you for your hard earned money and bade you carry on, good sir.
Lit his cigar like a badass and exit left
You know you're in deep when your first reaction to 5 watches purchased in 5 months isn't "Wow that's a lot of watches" but instead "You should sell some of those divers to diversify the collection."
You know you're in deep when your first reaction to 5 watches purchased in 5 months isn't "Wow that's a lot of watches" but instead "You should sell some of those divers to diversify the collection."
Amen, brother, amen!
🍻
I think you are over analysing the situation. Just enjoy the watches you have. at the end of the day they are just inanimate objects
Another way of looking at it is that you have 5 one-watch-collections 😉
Yes!!! This!!!! 😂
Since the rest of y'all gentlemen are afraid of the truth let this dugong be the bad guy and say, "Welcome to the brotherhood of watch collecting, sucka!"
Enjoy your stay and we expect 30 to life, minimum here. Also glad to see we filled up the hole left by @mjosamannen's 'exit watch' announcement.
The watch industry thank you for your hard earned money and bade you carry on, good sir.
Lit his cigar like a badass and exit left
Me, after watch number three …
Get a STAIB-bracelet and sell everything else? Back to one watch 🤣
Get a STAIB-bracelet and sell everything else? Back to one watch 🤣
Genius!!!! If I could only combine a rotating bezel and leather without becoming moderately nauseous I'd have a better shot of successfully executing this plan. I just can't do it, man. I can't. It's not natural!
Genius!!!! If I could only combine a rotating bezel and leather without becoming moderately nauseous I'd have a better shot of successfully executing this plan. I just can't do it, man. I can't. It's not natural!
They make waterproof leatherstraps now btw 😉
LOL. I like how long your 2 year pledge lasted but DAMN YOU. My one year pledge not to get another non-affordable watch (much easier than your one watch pledge) is now ruined as I go searching for an Aquis Staghorn Restoration. I really like vintage Seamasters too especially after seeing a co-worker wearing a pre wave dial quartz version (those will be affordable, right?).
Cool collection.
LOL. I like how long your 2 year pledge lasted but DAMN YOU. My one year pledge not to get another non-affordable watch (much easier than your one watch pledge) is now ruined as I go searching for an Aquis Staghorn Restoration. I really like vintage Seamasters too especially after seeing a co-worker wearing a pre wave dial quartz version (those will be affordable, right?).
Cool collection.
I stepped in shit with the Staghorn to be honest. Dealers want RRP or more for them because they know they’re rare. I got it for 50 cents on the dollar from a private seller on Chrono24. He was even local to me. Otherwise I would not have it.
That Staghorn is amazing... I didn't know this watch before. And I totally understand how you feel. I now have 8 watches and I feel that I should sell some of my watches to consolidate my collection, but I just can't give up anything!
Good read. Thanks for posting!