Watch collection size sweet spot?

Hello all, hope you had a good Bank Holiday weekend. 

I was wondering what everyones opinion is on the perfect collection size? 

I see people with 30+ watches and I also see people with just 3. I know it's different for everyone but I'm trying to gauge what collectively us watch nutters see as the perfect size. 

For me personally I'd probably say around 8 would be the sweetspot. It gives enough room for long term keepers and you can have a couple of slots that can rotate and have some fun with short term lusts. 

Thoughts? 

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I'd say that the sweet spot is somewhere between the number of watches that you can comfortably afford and the number of watches that will trigger a long argument with your spouse 🤭

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That's a very true statement. Although if you're only collecting affordable watches, some may be spouse'less by Christmas. 🎄😆

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10-12 is the sweet spot for me, I'm currently at 10. Btw, cool Orient 👌🏻

10. I'm a firm believer in wearing what you buy, so would find it hard to fit more than 10 watches into a rotation, even accounting for "wearing that special watch for special occasions".

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It depends on how you define and organize your collection. For example, you might have watches that reallistically you will not wear at all or wear once per year for example. Either because they do not work anymore or because you do not like them anymore but you still want to keep them for sentimental or other reasons.

And could be that part of your collection are watches you will wear a couple of time per year or in very specific situations (for example watches to go for extreme sports or in water etc).

And then the watches that you wear regularly, so the main rotating pool.

For the last one, I would say around 6 watches plus minus a couple. For the others... well.. 

∞ ... and beyond😜

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It's okay to have some watches that you don't wear but you keep for sentimental reasons etc, but normally, as long as the watches get wrist time, I don't see why you would put a limit.

However, to balance it out, it's wise to avoid buying just for the thrill of purchase. Take your time, browse through different categories you haven't explored before, figure out why you are drawn to the next watch, what's missing from your collection. To compliment a dress style, because of the history of the watch, craftsmanship, a dial you love, etc. All valid reasons. Then, as soon as you've built your case and you know why you're buying the watch, you'll be able to appreciate it. Every time you put it on your wrist, you'll get the flashback of all of the above, plus the memories you've experienced with the watch.

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Just one more...I love collecting watches that I find interesting and attractive. I have a couple dozen and I really like them all. Some I wear often, some rarely and some I hardly wear at all but I still like having them. It's a hobby; there is no explanation.

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Ideally for me I would like to be able to wear my watches at least 4x per month.  That would translate to about 7-8 watches in the rotation. However, it is valid that we would like to keep some pieces even if we don't wear them for all sorts of reasons. I guess whatever suits your circumstances making sure you are being financially responsible.

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I dont really care, as long as they are watches I enjoy. But my sweet spot is definitely a full box of 12 or less. I had to use a small second box for a short time, but I got rid of two watches I didn’t wear and found myself very happy with one box of 12.

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rodeenski

Ideally for me I would like to be able to wear my watches at least 4x per month.  That would translate to about 7-8 watches in the rotation. However, it is valid that we would like to keep some pieces even if we don't wear them for all sorts of reasons. I guess whatever suits your circumstances making sure you are being financially responsible.

That 4x rule is interesting.  Looking back on my WRUW for the last 30 days I have worn one watch, today's, four times.  A couple come in at three.  Some are just missing.

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I agree, there are watches you keep for sentimental reasons, just like my grandfather's cheap pocket watch, and watches that were gifted to me. They are a separate category.

Some watches work with particular outfits, meaning you won't wear a tuxedo watch every day, but it's perfect for certain occasions.

Then there are practice watches, which are another category, as far as modding is concerned.

Finally, I would say 12 - 14 watches in rotation would be close to ideal for me. Just enough to match outfits, and not too many that you "forget" about them.

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I’m in the 30+ boat but realistically, there are only 4 I wear on the regular (Glycine Airman, Orient Ray 2, Seiko Coutura SST743, and Citizen Navihawk AT). The others are just for collecting. Like my Japanese “Big 4”: Seiko 5, Citizen 7, Orient Crystal and Ricoh 61. Others are just cause I like them, like my HMTs. I’d say the perfect sized collection is whatever you deem it is on personal preference. That being said, I am trying to thin things down currently selling off a few of my Swatches 😁 to buy more watches 😆

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I categorize my collection in 3 parts.

  • Work (My more "dressier" watches, the pieces that I usually use, not necessary to work, but also when I want to present as the best version of myself);
  • Rest (My more relaxed watches, for my everyday use);
  • Play (More task-oriented watches);

The minimum I accept for each subcategory is 2 pieces. It would be 6 watches but, nowadays I have 12 watches, 4 under the Work category, 5 under the Rest category and 3 under the Play category.

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If you are not wearing your watches the collection is pointless. 

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I always liked the idea of a more curated collection, but I am also not good at selling things off so I'm currently at 9 total. Only 4 are on regular rotation right now. 

So I agree with @delta6, the collection can grow infinitely but my ideal collection/rotation would be 3.

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Would love an 8 - 10. Think you could near enough cover all aspects with this amount! 

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Realwatchclub

Would love an 8 - 10. Think you could near enough cover all aspects with this amount! 

This is quite the statement given your expansive collection! I've been following your insta for a while now and absolutely love your collection. Just waiting for you to post a NWA featuring a grand seiko 😆👌

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Ahh mate! I know, would love to add one soon! 

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wintermutt

One watch is the sweet spot.  I believe the reason most of us have several (3-300) watches is that we haven't found the right "one" yet.

For me, and my collection has numbered above fifty at times, I have come to the realization that the "one" will be some form of high end sports watch - a watch that's rugged enough for the day-to-day rough and tumble of the job-site, smart enough for the hurly-burly of the business world, but high quality enough to look sharp on an evening out, without pretence or ostentation.  It'll be a watch with some recognition value to a watch aficionado, but certainly not one you see every day.  Also nice to have a bit of history or some other personal connection with the watch.

I've come to the realization that a vintage Tudor Submariner (in tip-top condition) will fill the bill on all counts.

I'm gonna need to purge about thirty watches from the farm team.  😊😊😊

Don't personally ever see myself with just one watch. I just think there's wayyyyy to much fun to be had and just owning one takes all that away. There isn't much of a hobby if there's such a small limit on collection. Very nice choice with the tudor sub though. 

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watchdawg

If you are not wearing your watches the collection is pointless. 

IYO

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As one of those people currently with 30+ watches, I'm not sure I'm qualified to give a reasonable answer.  

And I make an effort to give them wear time, a little harder to do with dressier pieces.  And you I do get in moods where I'll wear the same watch for like two weeks.  But hey there's 30 days in a typical month and 365 days in most years.  And sometimes two to three watches can be worn in one day.  

More realistically 7-8 sounds about right for the reasonably sane rotation (obviously not me).  Maybe a few, say 2-3 extra nice pieces that aren't as easily rotated into daily wear.  

But in the end whether it's 10 or 100 the most important part is that you enjoy what you got.  Oh and can keep a relationship and a home over your head. 🙂

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Aurelian

That 4x rule is interesting.  Looking back on my WRUW for the last 30 days I have worn one watch, today's, four times.  A couple come in at three.  Some are just missing.

I just feel that if you don't give your watch enough wrist time then you are not giving it enough love.  That's just how I feel about the matter.  In any case, we all have our own take on the subject.  Cheers... 😉

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rodeenski

I just feel that if you don't give your watch enough wrist time then you are not giving it enough love.  That's just how I feel about the matter.  In any case, we all have our own take on the subject.  Cheers... 😉

No, I agree. I think that it is a good aspirational guideline.

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TopTierTicker

Don't personally ever see myself with just one watch. I just think there's wayyyyy to much fun to be had and just owning one takes all that away. There isn't much of a hobby if there's such a small limit on collection. Very nice choice with the tudor sub though. 

You are right of course TTT.  Nonetheless I wonder, if a person has refined their taste in watches enough over years of collecting all different types perhaps they finally know what they really need.  Like the traveller who eventually realizes that the result of all their travels is to finally go back home.  If I haven't learned something about horology and myself in the process I worry that my motives for collecting could stem from a darker impulse - or maybe not.

The challenge is to have as much fun getting rid of watches as one had collecting them.  Probably not practical, or possible.  😊🙄😉

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thiago

I categorize my collection in 3 parts.

  • Work (My more "dressier" watches, the pieces that I usually use, not necessary to work, but also when I want to present as the best version of myself);
  • Rest (My more relaxed watches, for my everyday use);
  • Play (More task-oriented watches);

The minimum I accept for each subcategory is 2 pieces. It would be 6 watches but, nowadays I have 12 watches, 4 under the Work category, 5 under the Rest category and 3 under the Play category.

Curious to hear what's in your current collection, sounds like a great balance

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As long they don’t effect my mental health, my economy and my relations I have no limitations.

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I’m up to 75… definitely less than that 😂😂

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The answer is 6. Don’t ask me why, but I ran out of fingers on one hand, and panicked. The science is there.

6

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12 I think is best especially if you are buying luxury pieces. 

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I'm currently in the ~20 range but with a "core" of ~10.  By "core" I mean those watches that I would wear on a regular, the ones that slightly "hurt" more when buying them...   I still want to acquire 2-3 additional pieces in the coming 3-6 months but that would also mean that some of my watches will get demoted into ternary storage (aka the hidden watch box).  Each of us are a different stages in our watch collecting journey.  Few years ago, I was mostly staying in the 3K-6K USD range and happy with that.  Nowadays I am mostly looking at timepieces in the 10-15K USD range but I know I will have to cross into the 30K+ USD range at some point in order to truly slow down and "consolidate".  The way I look at this is buy what you can afford, be patient and don't aim for instant gratification too often.  With that in mind, the sweet spot for me would be a 8-12 timepieces in the "core" collection and less than 2 dozens in the "playground" collection if that makes sense.