You can only have 3
Inspired by @mjosamannen ’s decision, or ambition, to have an all set 3 watch collection I started to think about if I could do that? The obvious answer is no, I can’t. I love my toys, or jewelry, to much. But if I had to do it what would my choises be out of my existing collection? For full disclosure I have excluded 2 watches given to me in this process. Bare with me when I describe my thinking. Share with me if you done it yourself.
This turned out to be a really severe test of what I really need when it comes to watches. Need in the sence that I always wear a watch whatever situation there might be. The result surprised me. If you only are allowed 3 watches you have to give up a lot. You can’t have one watch for every cathegory, so you have to chose those as well. The result forced me to give up many of what might be considered high end watches to be able to fulfill both what I like the look of but also take me through a week, year or remaining life even in a practical and confident way. It also forced me to give up watches that is the real cornerstone in my watch journey.
My first watch was a simple choise. The daily wearer. The Rolex Explorer is a beautiful, robust, totally under the radar watch that works in most situations. My SARB could do the same job. But since I could only pick one out of my collection the Explorer it is.
The second watch is much trickier. The hart wants what the hart wants and the hart wants a dress piece. Not the most obvious choise. The Explorer could serve as a dress watch in most situations, for sure. But I like the look and feel of a nice dress watch. For me they are versetile even, able to dress up or down. Here comes my toughest decision. A real dealbreaker. I have one modern proper dress watch and approximately 20 vintage ones. Surprisingly enough to myself I choose the modern route with the Reverso. It will probably be more care free and the design is most unique amongst my dresspieces. But this was a really tough call. I feel I almost give up my identity as a watch enthusiast.
My final watch is a sportwatch. It also has to serve as a beater. Even if I don’t like the term it’s a good description. I quite quickly realized I had two options. One of my divers or my only digital watch, a G-Shock. I like analog watches to much so a diver it is. I have a Submariner but I wouldn’t feel comfortable to wear it as my only sportwatch. I don’t mind using it for the beater part but today’s climate with stories about robberies and physical abuse would make me uncomfortable in many situations when it normally should be used. Instead I take my Seiko SLA043. Blue dial and and a robust construction completes the trio.
This was not easy and I’m not sure I come up with the same result if I do it again. So no vintage, no chronographs no GMTs and what not. For me an exercise I hope I don’t have to do in reality. But I must admit the exercise was an interesting journey. Have you forced yourself with the same exercise? If so, what’s your 3?
I collect new as well as vintage. I have a weak spot for 50s and 60s Omegas. Besides from those I consider myself allround.
You really like the hard questions! As of writing this, I think I have decided on three...maybe? As you stated, that will probably change if I do this tomorrow, but here it is. 😂
Something analog and mechanical that can serve as a good daily wear/dress watch, my new Islander Rangemaster. Just swap it to its bracelet for dress situations. It also has the added benefit of being both loved and hated! 🤣
My next selection satisfies my desire to have a solar watch, a sport watch, and a true Diver's watch; my Seiko Arnie. It also has a digital aspect, but my last selection really takes care of that.
My final selection is another watch that has both analog and digital displays, and is a straight battery operated quartz watch from a brand with a lot of heritage, my Hamilton Khaki Pilot Flight Timer.
I am really trying to get down to a 4 watch collection of Explorer, Santos, Moonwatch, and Tudor P39. Plus a couple of sentimental watches. And my pair of G-Shocks. You know, a 4 watch collection with 8 total watches.
For a dream 3 watch collection it would be some combination of the 4 I listed at first, but I really can’t decide which one would get the boot.
3 down, one to go. The moonwatch just came in yesterday, it will probably take like a year and a half for my watch fund to recover enough for the P39
sentimentality - it’s a simple decision. Excluding gifts and current darlings, yes, difficult, but for a core 3, you could bury me with these.
Tough!
Tag Carrera Twin Time
Protrek prg 270-1
Orient Kamasu RA-AA08
If I had to narrow down my collection to three?
Rolex Pepsi on jubilee
Polar Exp II
Blue Seamaster 300M
Only 3 is super tough! My three:
Pretty much my only watch for 25 years.
This one I found in a memory box that belonged to my Grandfather (Idont ever remember him wearing it but there it was).
This is one of my most worn CWs. 1 of 300 with a hand done dial unique to every watch.
For me, this is pretty easy.
I'm never letting go of watch #1. I got married with it on my wrist, and the only way I'm parting with it is if I have a kid who doesn't think that watches are silly and dumb.
Watch #2 is the watch that I chose as the watch that "most defines me" on a watch forum that I read. It's pretty versatile and great quality, and sure, it's from an Asian country, so it hits that right on the nose.
Watch #3, by contrast, is so not me, but I love it anyway. I'll never need it for what it was designed to do, but I love that it's built like a tank and that it's odd and asymmetrical and it doesn't really care what you think about it.
Only 3 is super tough! My three:
Pretty much my only watch for 25 years.
This one I found in a memory box that belonged to my Grandfather (Idont ever remember him wearing it but there it was).
This is one of my most worn CWs. 1 of 300 with a hand done dial unique to every watch.
Nice CW, rkovars! and good to see another CWL forum member here!
Tough.... But not impossible. Firstly, Hamilton Pilot Pioneer Mechanical
Speedy reduced
Tudor BB58
Wow. I’ve heard people doing this. It takes such discipline, which I lack, I do not think I could pull it off.
#1 Was easy Longines Spirit Zulu Time
#2 Was a pick between my Hamilton "Cooper", Longines Full Calendar and PRX Chrono. I like the Hamilton more but for versatility and max complications I went with another Longines.
#3 Was a choice between my Omega Deville and Grand Seiko Kanro GMT. Had to go with the GS for versatility.
Rolex explorer for everyday wear, cartier santos galbee for dress up vintage movado datron, because it was a gift from my father
If it’s existing collection, then my PD1667 auto, my inherited Lanco Swiss Auto dress watch, and probably my G-Shock. For sentimental reasons I would give up the 1667 for my Citizen Eco-drive but at the moment I need to find the money, time, and a place to get it repaired. (Was zeroing the hands for a daily wrist shot when it froze up into ‘stop’ mode and no amount of sun or lamps has brought it back) I do like the PD as my only ‘me’ auto though.
If it’s pie in the sky, and I can keep my sentimental old watches in a drawer somewhere, then I would go for an Aqua Terra, a seamaster (PO,NTTD or maybe a standard) both from Omega, and then I suppose for difference a GMT Rolex Explorer II. Thought that would take a lottery win or similar I suspect.
Even though I have only recently become a ‘change watches all the time’ sort of chap instead of just wearing what I wear, I am not sure 3 watches would work for me. I only got my first G Shock in the last couple of years, and my first automatic really.
Also, those posh watches would likely have me mugged in a week — it’s nerve wracking enough wearing ones that look similar and a bit decent.
Tough one!
2. GS SBGJ255 cause it's a strap monster
3. GS SLGA007 for the wave dial
Great selection!
Since you did not select even a single watch from your "boring" (😉 your words) vintage selection, I will be sending you my address in a separate email. Feel free to send over any one of your vintage Omega's. I will pay postage😀😀
I relate 100% to your Explorer analysis:
My first mechanical watch was the Sarb035 (which I still consider one of the best bang-for-buck watches I've ever bought), and I've often compared it to my Explorer 39. They really do hit the same note - which is part of the value-magic of the sarb, but if I had to pick one, I'm going with the Explorer. It's more accurate, durable, has longer power reserve, screw down crown, better lume, more history, and a more unique design.
It's just better.
But they're both awesome watches.
The SARB035 is outstanding. I also have/had the 033 but it competed directly against the Explorer. So I did an UncleSeiko mod to a 037. So now I have black, cream and salmon out of these 3.
I know that most watch enthusiasts have some amount of OCD... but...
...I'm going to make an admission here...
...Deep breath...
I have a spread sheet with weighted categories. I've added my watches to it and then given each watch a rating out of 10 in each category so that I can more "objectively" compare them. Categories are like, finishing, accuracy/durability, history/story, etc. The spread sheet then does some math and spits out a total score based on how the categories are weighted (e.g. I don't actually care about investment so even though it's category, it's worth almost nothing - I think 2.5% or something like that, but I really do care about design, so that's weighted heavily).
Yes, I know, I have a problem.
My top three watches are an Explorer, Submariner, and Armin Strom. I would have liked to have had three different brands, and my collection is actually very diverse but the math doesn't lie... Ugh...
#1 Explorer - 214270
#2 Submariner 16808
#3 Armin Strorm - Tribute 1
Photo credit Monochrome (I don't have a good one).
Brilliant👌Thank you for sharing. Don’t you get biased when you rank a new watch during the honeymoon phase?
I would have to say it would be these three:
2. Tudor BB58 - since I enjoy going to the beach and getting some sun. I also won't feel as bad once it gets banged up. 😁
3. GS SBGA415 - my daily wear and generally goes under the radar. I love the fact the when people notice the watch, the usual comment is "Nice Seiko".😊 Plus, when I'm stressed at work, I can just look at the dial and forget my worries even for a moment.
The BB58 was toe to toe against the Seiko choise in my 3 watch line up. I wanted variaty and the BB58 felt as the same family as the Explorer.
The daily, the grab and go quartz and the diver
This is one Really cool 3 Watch collection you have thought of there.
I have had this thought too and I think I came to the same conclusion I wouldn't be able to sell my other watches but I could try it out and go with 3 watches while the others rest for a few months somewhere I don't see them. All of my watches have their stories and reasons I got them so selling them seems stupid to me. I think my 3 Watch collection would contain of 3 Watches which I only own 1 of :D.
First my Daily which is my Daily at the moment
I think this could also very well be the Dresswatch especially since I don't dress up that often.
Then the second one would be
I like the thought of the hardened Case and having a really solid fun watch to wear to do whatever. The only downside to this is the missing date which always puts me off a bit. BUT I have searched all over the internet and the only other Dual crown Design watch with a Date that is fairly thin and is 39mm I could find is the JLC Polaris and that one is slightly out of reach:)
The third one would be the Baltic Aquascaphe GMT
For the longest time I was set on the CW C63 GMT but I feel like the Baltic speaks to me more at the moment. But the fact Im fluctuating worries me a bit so I will hold off on buying one of them .
What do you think
after much thought I’d have to pick these 3
hhhh
Seiko SPB143, my wife got me this at the Seiko store in Tokyo.
Aristo 5H100 38.5mm Flieger, I love the look on different leather and NATOs
Second Hour Mandala, I'm just a fan
And I realize this is four and cheating but there's no way I'm living without a G-Shock for the gym, mountain biking, and general beating purposes I won't mess up a nicer watch doing. It's not a daily rotation piece, but purpose-driven.
I know that most watch enthusiasts have some amount of OCD... but...
...I'm going to make an admission here...
...Deep breath...
I have a spread sheet with weighted categories. I've added my watches to it and then given each watch a rating out of 10 in each category so that I can more "objectively" compare them. Categories are like, finishing, accuracy/durability, history/story, etc. The spread sheet then does some math and spits out a total score based on how the categories are weighted (e.g. I don't actually care about investment so even though it's category, it's worth almost nothing - I think 2.5% or something like that, but I really do care about design, so that's weighted heavily).
Yes, I know, I have a problem.
My top three watches are an Explorer, Submariner, and Armin Strom. I would have liked to have had three different brands, and my collection is actually very diverse but the math doesn't lie... Ugh...
#1 Explorer - 214270
#2 Submariner 16808
#3 Armin Strorm - Tribute 1
Photo credit Monochrome (I don't have a good one).
Since you used a spreadsheet, I can’t believe it didn’t say Navitimer…slide rule and all.
I recentlly thought about that.
And i came to the conclusion,that i will do a 3 mainwatch collection in the future. Of course i can't sell any of my beloved peaces.
But i really want to focus on 3 main watches in the future.
(And yes i don't own any of those yet)
Tudor Blackbay Pro
Swiss,GMT,Beaterwatch,for everyday
Union Johannes Dürrstein Edition
German,Full calender, watch for work,
Grandseiko Omiwatari
Japan,Dresswatch,Springdrive
This little selection covers a lot of ocasions and also the 3 most important countrys in watchmaking.
What do you think,should i go for this main collection in the future?
Let me know😆
Brilliant👌Thank you for sharing. Don’t you get biased when you rank a new watch during the honeymoon phase?
I think I do, but theoretically, the categories help to remove some of the halo affect of a new purchase.
Why have three if i can have only one with all the common complications for the price of a BB58?
This is one Really cool 3 Watch collection you have thought of there.
I have had this thought too and I think I came to the same conclusion I wouldn't be able to sell my other watches but I could try it out and go with 3 watches while the others rest for a few months somewhere I don't see them. All of my watches have their stories and reasons I got them so selling them seems stupid to me. I think my 3 Watch collection would contain of 3 Watches which I only own 1 of :D.
First my Daily which is my Daily at the moment
I think this could also very well be the Dresswatch especially since I don't dress up that often.
Then the second one would be
I like the thought of the hardened Case and having a really solid fun watch to wear to do whatever. The only downside to this is the missing date which always puts me off a bit. BUT I have searched all over the internet and the only other Dual crown Design watch with a Date that is fairly thin and is 39mm I could find is the JLC Polaris and that one is slightly out of reach:)
The third one would be the Baltic Aquascaphe GMT
For the longest time I was set on the CW C63 GMT but I feel like the Baltic speaks to me more at the moment. But the fact Im fluctuating worries me a bit so I will hold off on buying one of them .
What do you think
I think it is really interesting to hear about your thinking how you found your final top 3. Thank you for sharing👍
after much thought I’d have to pick these 3
Arghh ,beautiful line up. Thank you for sharing.
hhhh
Seiko SPB143, my wife got me this at the Seiko store in Tokyo.
Aristo 5H100 38.5mm Flieger, I love the look on different leather and NATOs
Second Hour Mandala, I'm just a fan
And I realize this is four and cheating but there's no way I'm living without a G-Shock for the gym, mountain biking, and general beating purposes I won't mess up a nicer watch doing. It's not a daily rotation piece, but purpose-driven.
3+1 is fully ok. It is hard.
This would ONLY happen if someone were holding a gun to my head or threatening great harm. This was a hard exercise! But Here it goes.
Tudor Ranger: #gada
simple, rugged, reliable. From strolling to jumping in the pool. This is one of my favorites.
Longines Spirit Zulu Time: #gmt #complications
I travel a lot for work. It’s always good to know what time it is locally, especially, when changing planes. You can also jump in the pool with it
Rolex Datejust 41: #dresswatch
This something I’d wear out or with a suit. I love the elegance of this watch. You can also jump in the pool with it. HEY! You never know! Don’t judge me!🤣
Honorable Mention: Rolex Explorer
The explorer does it all dressy ,GADA.
also, you can jump in the pool with it.