Away from the watch box
Hello fellow fairly-normal-on-the-outside-but-pathologically-watch-obsessed people,
I own 12 watches.
I think it’s probably too many and I’m thinking of how to downsize a bit but that’s another conversation.
So when I’m at home on a day off, I find myself swapping 3, 4, 5 times a day, sometimes more. I’m not sure if it’s because I want to enjoy them all, fear of missing out, chronic dissatisfaction or anything else. I end up not really taking the time to enjoy each individual piece for its particularities, rather I thnk I get to experience the collection as a whole.
However when I go to work, I usually leave home for 2 to 4 days in a row and I only take one watch with me. Right now I’m away on a trip to visit my family and I only have the one watch. (It’s never a straightforward process to choose which watch I’ll take with me each time, but again, another conversation)
Now, having just the one watch with me for a few days seems to bring me a renewed fondness for it. Now I’m taking the time to appreciate it more, to really connect with it and I find myself thinking “this is MY watch” meaning I could truly own just this one watch and feel complete with it.
For example I’ve had my Longines Spirit Zulu Time on the wrist for the last 5 days. Usually when I first put it on, I wonder if it’s too big for me or not. It does feel chunky compared to a 39mm Yema Superman, that’s for sure! But after a few days, that question just does not exist anymore.
And I’ve noticed that the same thing has happened with each watch I’ve worn long enough without swapping.
Anyone experiencing the same thing when going away from the watch box?
Airline pilot, expat, musician, and a bit of a watch nerd
Bingo! You're not going to bond with a watch if you don't wear it for a decent amount of time.
I'd like 4 ideally, but it's snuck up to 7...😂
I never pack more than one watch for a trip, just to keep things simple. Predictably also I never miss wearing the other watches in my collection, I think a rotation of more than one is a harmless affectation but one nevertheless. I do miss tinkering with watches, doesn’t have to me my own. A few years ago I rehabbed a broken ankle living in my daughter’s condo while she moved back home for a few weeks. I was able to examine her stash of watches to kill time. It was very pleasing to note that watches I gifted to her including a Seiko Mickey imitation Rolex gold Day/ Date was still cared for.
I say opt for an alternative strategy to downsizing. Ask a loved one to kindly bury 9 of your watches in your backyard. Once you come to your senses, you’ll have a pirate’s time collecting your treasure again!
Honestly, I think you should do whatever you think is best. Finding what ultimately satisfies and makes you happy is what is important… whether that’s 1 watch or 100 watches. 👍
Unless you don't really like your watches I would not sell, unless you need the cash. That's your watch journey even your mistakes might of help you refine your taste on watches etc. I personally have a love and hate relationship with the Seiko Flighty. The 21mm, The hard to read dial, How do you even use the alarm? then again if it wasn't for the flighty I would of not gotten into pilot watches and learn so much.
That said that's nice collection.
Great collection but I count 10 watches in the box. What are the other 2?
I see watches as just an object and so associate any additional emotional value to them. They tell time and I like them all, all 20 of them. Some I like more than others where I’ve classified them as Dailies, Specialists, and Others.
I think you should whatever you feel you need to do. I have 8 watches. I’m looking for more. Some I’ll never get rid of because they mean something to me. Some I might sell someday. I rotate watches every couple of days. I feel when the watch go on again after some time it feels new again. I don’t know if I could ever do I one watch. And is one watch really a collection?
Great collection but I count 10 watches in the box. What are the other 2?
I see watches as just an object and so associate any additional emotional value to them. They tell time and I like them all, all 20 of them. Some I like more than others where I’ve classified them as Dailies, Specialists, and Others.
A Vostok Amphibia and an Islander Mitchell Field Watch. they were either in the secondary box or on my wrist on that day…
I’m on day 8 of the Spirit Zulu time.
Holiday ends tomorrow and I will be swapping to my Seiko King Samaria that arrived on the eve of my departure.
Great post!
I have 17 watches (yes, WAY too many). I’m trying a new thing where, when picking a watch to wear, I have to commit to it for 3 days.
I’ve found myself setting the time to the EXAXCT time (didn’t bother with this in the past) as a fun way to motivate me to wear a watch for many days, to check the accuracy (yes, I know 🤓).
Still at the start of this journey but hoping it’ll help me work out which watches I really want to keep in my collection and which ones to say goodbye to.
Great post!
I have 17 watches (yes, WAY too many). I’m trying a new thing where, when picking a watch to wear, I have to commit to it for 3 days.
I’ve found myself setting the time to the EXAXCT time (didn’t bother with this in the past) as a fun way to motivate me to wear a watch for many days, to check the accuracy (yes, I know 🤓).
Still at the start of this journey but hoping it’ll help me work out which watches I really want to keep in my collection and which ones to say goodbye to.
Being a bit of an accuracy freak myself, I 100% second this strategy!
In general, I make a mental note of when I set the time when I grab a watch (the EXACT time, of course. Is there any other way to go?) so I can check it 24 hours later.
I like the idea of a 3-day commitment too
I usually bond with my watch every time I wear it to work for a full day. If I don't get in my feelings with it, I know it's not right for me and move on. I also never sell a watch without wearing it again first to see if the spark is still there. We're all neurotic and have our own ways. At the end of the day, it's all good and as long as it doesn't break the bank, enjoy the journey!