Exit Strategy
I'm not sure this is the place for this topic. It might upset people. I can't imagine a lot of Crunchers are at all interested in ending the game or walking away. But after a year of intense buying (hoarding more like) watches I am thinking of the endgame.
I'm still very much in love with watches and every time I see a watch I like I know I can't stop. At least, not right now. But even with that much passion for the hobby, I know--in that small part of my brain that's still rational--this is not a sustainable hobby. At least not for the likes of me.
There are other things to think about, spend money on, obsess about than watches. So, even though I'm a baby in the watch collecting game I've started wondering how do I leave this hobby?
I've got a collection. I have no plans of selling the collection. I will wear the collection. But how many watches do I really want to spend my money on moving forward? When is enough enough?
I know most people here don't believe in stopping nor want to stop the "hunt". It's fun, yes, and addicting and at times therapeutic. But I'm thinking of the money and I'm thinking of the waste. Mostly I'm thinking that I don't want to succumb to overconsumption.
There is such a thing as gluttony when it comes to collecting things. I've experienced this when I collected comics. What made me realize that I should stop collecting them? When their "condition" was more important than their content. When I started caring more about completing issues even though the stories stopped making sense to me or stopped getting me excited.
I used to collect books. When did that stop? When I bought more books in a year that I hadn't read than books I had read in the same year.
I used to watch superhero movies. I stopped when it felt like watching them was doing homework for the next movie. I completely left all superhero content after that.
I could go on. Some might call it burnout or fatigue. I call it getting my fill.
With watches, I didn't expect to get my fill to come this soon. I only had a year and already thinking of stopping. I have too many watches and I want to be able to fully enjoy all of them. And more keeps coming.
Some might say, "well then, slow down kid. You're coming in too hot. Slow down but don't fully stop." But again, I have to ask, how many watches are enough? There will always be new (or old, since I'm into vintage) watches that will pique my interest. I'm not financially able to keep up. And even if I could keep up from a monetary standpoint, what's the endgame anyway? Have boxes and boxes of seldom used watches? Are a hundred watches too much? At that point, why not keep going until two hundred? Three hundred even? You get my point.
In other areas of my life I'm a minimalist. I have 4 pairs of shoes (and I even think that's too many). I don't buy month-long groceries. I buy what I need for a very short period of time and when I need more I just buy again. So why do I over indulge or overconsume when it comes to collecting things? Because as I said in my earlier posts, I've always been a collector. And a collector collects always, just as a writer writes always, or else why call yourself one?
So, a long rant to point out that I'm thinking of getting out. How do I do it? Do I go for the big, big grail? A Reverso finally? Do I just stop altogether without ceremony? Quit cold turkey?
I don't know. All I know is that, right now, I have a sickness that needs to be taken care of. There are way too many watches to collect and way too small a wallet to keep doing this. Watches are still enjoyable but the hunt is now exhausting and worrisome. So more important than anything else, if the hunt no longer sparks joy, why do it at all?
I've got a god-shaped hole in my life that I'm trying to fill in futility with watches.
hmmm, that was interesting.......😉
I know this hobby and WC in particular is fun. But in all seriousness, if you’re not finding joy anymore in watch collecting, you already know the answer, as you’ve experienced with other hobbies. Maybe in the future, something will reignite that fire. Good luck to you in your journey.
When I feel like a hoarder, I find that selling feels really good.
Hello mate. I think I’ve got the very point of your post. You are going hell or high water to justify our hobby from financial perspective. To put some moral foundation to go on.
So I think I’ve got a potential solution.
There is and never will be an endgame. Not for me, not for you. Not for any cruncher here. The love for watches is in your blood. It is a part of you. And it will never go away.
Each hobby at some point has to become profitable to proceed. So, some eBay will be involved. You will eventually become not just a collector but a flipper. You will go out there hunting for yet another rare vintage watch or a limited edition of Hamilton Khaki just to flip them. And you will eventually know your buyers. So you will start counting Seiko 5 sports military pieces to sell to get to yet another Grand Seiko.
That is the only endgame possible for all of us here.
My collection is currently at 7 and I am happy to add 1 more, but after that it will strictly be 1 in 1 out. If it isn't better than something I already have, or add something new to the collection then it has to go.
Just vibe with the ones you got for a while and take a break from looking others up, maybe from WC and and what ever social media you’re taking in about watches.
When the joy is derived from owning and acquiring vs learning and wearing, it is time to re-evaluate.
My endgame is a tight 6 piece core collection and then only swapping in clear upgrades.
A diver; already in collection.
A GMT; Happy with what I have now, but depending on the rest of the 6 pieces, might change.
A Field watch; preferrably white dial in titanium.
A Flieger; bronze with a green dial. Type A no date
A GADA like an Aqua Terra, probably silver dial, blue indices & hands
Mid century tool-ish watch that would look like a dress watch now.
If you have what you need and want then stop buying or just occasionally buy a new watch the answer is in what you really want, i know from experience it can get out of hand im the same with watches, clothes and trainers I have a house full lol 😆
It sounds like you’re already at the end game, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I kinda feel im towards the end, mainly because I feel I don’t wear my watches enough. With a dozen watches, I thought I’d like the diversity, but when I look at the bigger picture, I don’t wear them enough to add another watch. I’m still looking at watches, and when I’m ready to add (if I add) it will be another dress watch. At which point I will call it a wrap.
I’ll still look at watches, visit ADs, interact with collectors, but I’ll be doing it with what I currently have and won’t look to add any more.
Just park it you sound like you are hunting for a watch to give you an out. That won’t happen as you say aways another. At this point I believe anything you buy will fail to give you any sense of completion
You can stay interested in a couple of ways. Set the value of the collection and stick to that. Sell before you buy
Or keep what you have wear them enjoy them and understand is fine to look but you don’t have to buy any just enjoy them as art.
I'm in the same place as you at this time. It's crazy to keep accumulating watches for the sake of it. It shows an incredible lack of control to continually invent reasons inside your mind as to how you can justify making an additional purchase. On the other hand it displays great creativity & resilience 😀
Honestly it's like trying to give up smoking when you don't really want to give up smoking.
"I'm going to stop definitely after this next cigarette, honestly I am....& after the one in the car on the way, then I'll stop. Mind you, I have a 50th birthday party on Saturday night, better stop on the Monday then because I'll wake up hungover on Sunday & I really need a cigarette when I'm hungover. Monday it is then, first Monday in January."
You may find that you like owning and wearing them more than hunting them down. If that's true than you may have reached an equilibrium where you can get off of the wheel and enjoy what you have. Like me, you have a preference for vintage. My mission is to sell or gift them in better condition that I found them, thereby preserving them for my or someone else's enjoyment.
Collecting and hoarding are related, but they are not the same. In rural parts of the United States there are properties that have many rusted frames of old cars. In Northern Louisiana my son and I tried to get an older man to sell us a Pontiac that he had rusting away. He wouldn't sell at any price. He was going to restore it someday. He was nearly 80 and hadn't worked on a car in a decade or more. He was hoarding at that point. The car wasn't going to be restored so that it could be enjoyed. Another beautiful car was going to be lost.
If I can't improve a watch I sell it or give it to someone who can. My core collection has stayed intact for a while. Certain temporary infatuations come and go. I am willing to admit defeat on some vintage purchases.
Have a strategy and try to stick to it. You may have reached the end, or a pause. Make time to smell the roses.
One in = one out
Or more extreme
Value in = value out - you may need to let several go to get that grail 😯
You may find that you like owning and wearing them more than hunting them down. If that's true than you may have reached an equilibrium where you can get off of the wheel and enjoy what you have. Like me, you have a preference for vintage. My mission is to sell or gift them in better condition that I found them, thereby preserving them for my or someone else's enjoyment.
Collecting and hoarding are related, but they are not the same. In rural parts of the United States there are properties that have many rusted frames of old cars. In Northern Louisiana my son and I tried to get an older man to sell us a Pontiac that he had rusting away. He wouldn't sell at any price. He was going to restore it someday. He was nearly 80 and hadn't worked on a car in a decade or more. He was hoarding at that point. The car wasn't going to be restored so that it could be enjoyed. Another beautiful car was going to be lost.
If I can't improve a watch I sell it or give it to someone who can. My core collection has stayed intact for a while. Certain temporary infatuations come and go. I am willing to admit defeat on some vintage purchases.
Have a strategy and try to stick to it. You may have reached the end, or a pause. Make time to smell the roses.
These are nice suggestions! I know they will help me improve my collecting strategy and the example with the Pontiac was very aspiring! I think it is time for me to take a breath and smell the roses 🌹🙏
I’ve been asking questions like those you listed too. And my conclusion or at least some pointers to myself:
Before any impulse purchases, do I already have one watch that serve the same function?
How many pieces are considered enough? (For me I end up with 6-7 pieces for now. So I’m downsizing my collection from 15-18 now)
Once I hit 6-7 pieces, then before I purchase any new pieces, one need to leave my collection.
In this case, I can enjoy this hobby with it still being sustainable. I’m nowhere better for sneakers, I’ve 40+ pairs in which I’m trying to downsize to just 6-7 pairs. And you probably know better, it’s easy to “hoard” but so much tougher to downsize. Cause you need to hold the item till a sales happen while controlling next purchase.
I’m definitely going to downsize my sneakers and watch collection. Then aim for maybe my grail which is an AP RO Offshore Navy or Rolex Sub Bluesy 😊 tbh, good to know someone is like minded on not continuing the “over consumption/consumerism” path. If we look at the bigger picture, not only does it do us good, it helps the environment and future generations as well.
I recommend to read this book “Your money or your life” if you haven’t already read it before 😎
I’ve been asking questions like those you listed too. And my conclusion or at least some pointers to myself:
Before any impulse purchases, do I already have one watch that serve the same function?
How many pieces are considered enough? (For me I end up with 6-7 pieces for now. So I’m downsizing my collection from 15-18 now)
Once I hit 6-7 pieces, then before I purchase any new pieces, one need to leave my collection.
In this case, I can enjoy this hobby with it still being sustainable. I’m nowhere better for sneakers, I’ve 40+ pairs in which I’m trying to downsize to just 6-7 pairs. And you probably know better, it’s easy to “hoard” but so much tougher to downsize. Cause you need to hold the item till a sales happen while controlling next purchase.
I’m definitely going to downsize my sneakers and watch collection. Then aim for maybe my grail which is an AP RO Offshore Navy or Rolex Sub Bluesy 😊 tbh, good to know someone is like minded on not continuing the “over consumption/consumerism” path. If we look at the bigger picture, not only does it do us good, it helps the environment and future generations as well.
I recommend to read this book “Your money or your life” if you haven’t already read it before 😎
This is why I prefer vintage. They’re not new and therefore not damaging the environment anymore than they already had when they were first made. I’m “recycling” so to speak. Wow. Am I a superhero? I mean that’s too much. Please don’t worship me. I’m just a regular folk who’s doing his bit for the environment. Fine, you can call me a superhero. But I’m really not. But maybe I am.
I'll try to be brief. I have wondered about this myself. I think @citizengray and @ayadai talk a lot of sense. I'm not sure if there is an endgame and if I really desire one, especially because watches have been a lifelong interest for me, although morphing into collecting is far more recent. I do also agree with the OP that I feel like I'm overindulging already and probably have too many pieces, yet I have a long and growing list of other pieces I'd like to add, even if some of those a financially a pipedream so rationally prohibitive. My current take is this: I think I might accept that I'm on a path as described by @ayadai . I've never sold a watch yet and dread the hassle, which is one of the reasons all my purchases have been long and deeply contemplated ones, profundity depending on if the purchasing opportunity allowed this. I still have a desire to try more styles and potentially 'levels' of watchmaking. (I consider myself to have operated exclusively at the affordable end, only just nipping over about 1000 on a single purchase, but at the same time never dipping under 250, generally desiring a certain level of expected quality and characteristics. I draw a line at vintage, though potentially open to neo-vintage/NOS and used. My concentration is, also for budgetary constraints while seeking idiosyncrasies in design, microbrands.)
I think this path is a form of curating, and I think developing from collecting into curating makes both a lot of sense and doesn't necessarily predetermine what the end game will be like, while allowing different levels of intensity to stay in the game. That said, it requires possibly some rules and parameters and strong self-discipline, although you could be a fast flipper and still curate a collection.
I think that if you are a collector, a single piece is unlikely to satisfy, but there are different balances to be found. A quick tally suggests I'm up to 15 pieces, and I'm ready to let go of three of these, and thus probably should. Those are still the easier decisions, and I might yet decide that the pleasure of owning a number of others has satisfied my curiosity beyond necessitating continued ownership. That decision is harder, because I generally enjoy looking over things I have collected as part of my personal biography. They become part of my story. A reminder to myself and potential showcase to others.
Although I don't have a design in mind for an ideal collection, I think I'll probably always maintain a collection and the decision that another watch ran its course may also come down to how I perceive the balance in that collection. Curating doesn't put a full stop to collecting. A collection can still grow, or a collection can reduce, or can be upgraded, or develop goals, but it certainly means that 'anything goes' isn't good enough for collecting anymore. As much as I enjoy collecting what I call 'authentic designs', one additional factor is that I also have to want to wear them and that it is sort of disinteresting to me that one can achieve an awful lot for 20k+, because that is rather a given, isn't it? So yes, I can marvel at such pieces, but I probably don't want to walk around with that great a value swinging on my wrist and the level of ingenuity reduces with increasing prices, because the more money, the more limits (should) disappear. High priced watches are thus likely extravagance rather than genius. So, I personally don't think I'd feel fully satisfied trading in all my pieces for e.g. one high ticket item. It would likely have too much to live up to and disallows the activity of curating thereafter. It's important to stress, though, that curating itself is thus not an exit, but it can be a malleable and satisfying end game.
(I failed at being brief.)
Thanks for the brief insight. I agree with most of your point except that if the natural progression of the hobby is from collecting to curating, that makes me even less interested in continuing. I don’t want a museum, I want a walk-in closet
This is an excellent post. I currently find myself in a very similar situation. I share the collector mentality that you mention here. My interests include video games, pocket knives, edc tools, etc. In 2020/2021, I finally (after years of passing interest) began to indulge my interest in watches.
This year I built most of my collection. I was gifted 1 mechanical watch, purchased 3 mechanical watches, 1 Casio, and sold 1 watch. My collection now consists of 5 mechanical watches and 3 Casios; I’ve decided definitively to take a solid break from any watch purchases.
So what’s my plan? How am I going to stop? Well, as a collector, I “justify” my purchases with a sort of collector’s criteria. In the case of my watches, I have my first mechanical watch (which is a field watch), a luxury GADA watch, a dive watch, a chronograph, and a GMT. One of the Casios serves as a dedicated “beater” both stylistically and functionally (though I wear a couple of my mechanical watches pretty hard). I knew I wanted a dive watch and a GMT, and I stumbled upon a chronograph that really surprised me with how much I liked it. This collection has filled my 6-watch box.
I definitely didn’t expect to blast through the entire collection process in less than a year… but that’s collecting for you.
I absolutely love the watches I have. I’m not a fan of redundancy (because having 6 watches isn’t redundant. They’re different, OK? They’re different!!!) so anything I’m interested in the future will have to really speak to me to justify selling a watch or making more room. I’m extremely satisfied with what I’ve purchased though. That satisfaction, with a bit of discipline, should hold me out (even as a collector) until I find truly special piece.
When it comes to stopping, I think you need to have a picture of what you want your collection to be/look like, and make sure that picture matches what you really want. Then stick to it. If you can’t find a “picture” that looks good to you, or you don’t know what you “really want,” you’re going to have a hard time. I’d take a good look at what you have, apply that collector’s mentality. Maybe a few pieces have to go. Maybe you’ve got a “full box.” Whatever the answer, I really loved your post, and really doubt that anyone is going to read all of this 😂
I read all of your comment. Thanks for the insight. In my head, if I picture my ideal watch box of ten, I want them all to be heavy hitters from the top two tiers of watch heirarchy. The trinity should be there. That’s three. JLC makes four. A Lange and Glashutte, 5 and 6, iconic Omega like the moon watch makes 7. The remaining two could be whatever else I could find. That’s the dream box. Not sure I can work through that, unless I win the lottery.
Agreed fully. And i don’t want to be a curator in the slightest.
No one needs more that fourteen really well considered watches IMHO :) that is wear every watch at least once a month , even if your only in your PJs at home sometimes !
After reading your story and experience with collecting other stuff, and how you ended it, I think you will get to that point on your own. And when you get there, you will just know it.
My collection is currently at 7 and I am happy to add 1 more, but after that it will strictly be 1 in 1 out. If it isn't better than something I already have, or add something new to the collection then it has to go.
I’ve often thought that about a week’s worth of different watches would be a good maximum suze for a collection. So why did I buy a watch box that holds 12? Because it’s hard to stop. 😅
Thanks for the brief insight. I agree with most of your point except that if the natural progression of the hobby is from collecting to curating, that makes me even less interested in continuing. I don’t want a museum, I want a walk-in closet
You can curate s walk-in closet. I'm also not sure if it is a natural progression, but it's something that has started like natural progression to me. Most of those who say they're reducing to a certain number of pieces, effectively have reached a similar point and process too.
Agreed fully. And i don’t want to be a curator in the slightest.
I may have misunderstood @citizengray, but for me curating is as much the potential to have one of each colour or to maintain a select few pieces. Important is to decide what kind of collection you want and then good curation becomes meeting that aim: the purpose the collection need to serve to you. For me, I think I won't let my collection just grow and grow and probably reduce it a bit to a satisfying and supremely wearable and diverse smaller set that reflects my watch design interests (and budget).
I was just feeling a similar thing looking at my watch box. I just want to blow it up and start all over again, or something to that affect. I don't want to 'get out' of the hobby, but I'm certainly feeling a bit overwhelmed and a little 'weighed down' when picking a watch in the morning.
I had been pacing myself fairly well then this year I added 5 in the blink of an eye (gift, 2 vintage finds, and 2 quartz models). I agree with a previous post that selling can be just as rewarding as the hunt. I finally made my first sale and it was a great feeling moving a watch on to someone more excited to wear it than me. That feeling of almost guilt from not wearing it and hording it was gone. Not only had I cleared a space in the box but also a little headspace as well.
That's my 2 cents for what it's worth. I've still got to make a bit more room but don't want to rush this part of the process either, because that would open up a whole other can of worms for a different remorse filled post.
I'd like to offer you another perspective or solution in your watch collection "End Game.". Try 'STARING' at your collection intensively. Bring only the box of 10 watches to your eyeballs length—ideally 30cm apart—to create that intense atmosphere and simulate the effect of do-all-die approach.
Then count them backwards and see who survives the longest like in the 'HUNGER GAME'.
Try to eliminate each of them 'one after another'. Strike the ones you can let go of without much thought. When you start feeling "real heart pain'', when trying to eliminate the very watch in front of you, you will know that THAT'S the watch you truly love. Work through this process and bring all your watches inside this "box cage of 10" and treat it like your own royal rumble. The ones being eliminated, should put at the 'RIP zone.' You will be satisfied after this, and there will be no remorse in letting go your watches that you have been hoarding for so long.
Don't curse me. Good luck.
I think if you're a watch lover there is no real exit strategy. I do think taking a break from researching is a very good thing. The more I research and consume watch content, the more I'm tempted to buy another piece.
The way I get around it is just to stop reading articles, stop watching youtube videos and I stop coming to places like WC. When you're not constantly getting fed watch content you can enjoy the watch on your wrist.
I'll never stop collecting, but I try to make my purchases really thought out and deliberate now versus other times where i read like 3 articles in one day and then hit the buy button. Much more satisfying for me to get what I really want, not what I really want "right now".
I have 33 watches. I enjoy them all. I carefully considered the purchase of each one. They cost from $10 to $180 because my collection has to make financial common sense. As a guy who has loved watches since childhood, now that my own children are grown I have some time and some money to have a collection.
I can collect watches in this price range because I don't have to die with ecstasy when I look at my watch. That's a lot to expect from some material thing. When I look at it I simply have to enjoy it. There are still lots of sub $200 Seikos, Citizens and Tissots I wouldn't mind having, but nothing much will change if I get them or not, as long as I can save some $$$, donate some $$$ and have enough $$$ to buy necessities.