Is the 3 watch collection a pipe dream ?

You could say I have a 3 watch collection. About 25 of them. Three is just not enough.

Three isn’t enough for me. For me more like 5-10 solid first box pieces is the right amount. Variety is very important to me. In general for most people I think a 3 watch collection is just the first step to a 5 watch collection and so on.

I want a collection where I have enough to show my kids, nephews and nieces and they can choose whatever they like and that there will be watches that they like. 😆

I have multiple three watch collections. I organize them and build them in groups of 3:

• 3 Seikos

• 3 Grand Seikos (edit: I have no Grand Seikos, but three G-Shocks🥺)

• 3 entry level Swiss

• 3 mid-level Swiss

• Currently building a three luxury watch collection over three years. Have the Speedmaster and am planning on a Cartier Santos medium and Tudor Pelagos to finish it out.

• After that will be three scientist watches I think.

I bought 3 watches in the first month of collecting. 3 watches makes a great travel rotation or 3 for a weekly rotation. I could give 3 watches to each of my 3 sons. But a 3 watch collection wouldn’t work because I’m going to buy more. I guess I could become a flipper to keep a 3 watch collection. But what’s the point or fun in that.

3 watch collection is possible… if you have multiple 3 watch collections 🤔

I would say 3 watches are more for utility rather than collecting. One for everyday wear, one for dressier occasions and one for more functional or sportier scenarios. And that is certainly attainable, one would replace and sell within those pillars. I doubt collectors would stop at 3.

I tried. And I failed. Bought a 4th after a year. I feel like I'm still at a stage where I'm experimenting with new styles and finding what I like. But at some point I think I might go back to 3. I certainly don't need that many divers for starters...

I was going to post a lighthearted comment because I might change watches 3X just boiling water or toasting a bagel for my lunch but then I thought about my sis in law who rotates her mom’s gold Rolex, her husband’s 1980’s two tone Santos which I promised to never let on that he purchased when he was supposed to be saving for their wedding ( he wasn’t entirely ready for marriage, haha) and the two tone Rolex Datejust that he gifted to her when they finally did marry. For her it is the perfect 3 watch collection, she intends to plan a trip one day to place her name on a list for something called a Birkin but I do not see her buying another watch. My wife also owns a 3+1 collection 2 deeply personal Cartier watches the Hermes quartz watch that I bought her when we were still just very good friends until her visa was no longer valid after she completed her university studies, I needed to keep in the country, lol. After her 95 year old mom passed last year she noticed the simple quartz Omega watch that none of her family wanted so she claimed ownership. It needed some TLC and a battery which her enthusiast husband was happy to help.

I had 14 watches and now own 13. 3 of them are what I call my real string base 3 watch collection. I’m in the process of down sizing the rest I’d like to own 4-6 total that I can have for my lifetime and do the servicing on and take care of. My 3 watch base collection is a Rolex OP 41 green dial, an omega seamaster, and a Panerai luminor Marina 8 day

https://youtu.be/ok_Tst0j9T0

So true.

I think 3 is a little short of my ideal collection. I could stop at 5 and then have a one in one out policy.

Currently owned -

1. Cartier Santos

2. Omega SMP

3. Tudor BB Pro

On the list

1. Rolex DJ36

2. Rolex GMT II

3. Zenith (pilot or chrono.. or both)

Yes I agree that 5 is workable. Im currently on 7 but I think I can get to 5 soon

It's always seemed to me, that the 3 watch collection isn't actually for watch enthusiasts. It's for people who pay attention to their fashion, their clothing choices and want to ensure they have the right piece to accompany that.

In my mind, it's the sort of person that knows how and when to wear a double breasted sport coat and goes to their barber every four weeks.

This is not me, I have no fashion sense, I often wear clashing colours or patterns and would wear a sports watch with a morning suit because that's what I wanted to wear that day...

I have three. All imperfect in little ways and could do with upgrades. But they are the best I could find for me at the moment.

I think I want to add one or two. I want a space suit themed watch in orange or white.

And maybe an extra model of G Shock for some variation. But at the moment the only one I find comfortable is the GBD 200 I already have.

I don't want a big collection because it becomes a lot of money. And also I like my place neat and minimal.

So I take my time with purchases. I only get stuff I think I'm really gonna use. And I sell if I don't.

I struggle to keep it to 3 watch per brand.. 😅

Personally It is about functionality for me .

I can wear my Junghans dress watch to the office but not the beach .

At the beach I wear my CW diver to swim but if I am going to a casual dinner with friends my Seiko field is perfect , playful but a bit dressier.

All 3 watches will get good rotational wear too and carry some good stories.

There isn't any scenario that I can mentally envision and think I need a different watch other than those 3 from a functionality point of view .

If there was I just wouldn't wear one :)

I have about 5 watches at any one time. They come and go, some stay for longer than others, but I like trying different watches, appreciating them for their unique style and quirks and then moving on. I've given up on the romantic idea of permanence.

I was getting a haircut from the solemn Japanese man who has been cutting my hair as well as my wife’s during the past decade ( tempus fugit, seems like just yesterday that we first became acquainted) when I thought about some younger fellas in my extended family who are almost bald and said that there are times that I envy guys who just need to wash their faces a bit higher each day upon waking. I added that while I care about my appearance and even buy designer footwear, I am not the least bit vain about my physical appearance. Without any irony he pointed to the black ceramic watch that I wore that morning with an inquisitive look. My watches are an addition, nothing to do with something as trivial as vanity.

I had 3.. some 10-20 years ago. Now, its grown organically to much more than that... by choice/purchase, by gift, by inheritance and it aint a problem at all, cause i get to wear what i like or need for any occasion...

Well it all starts with one watch, and then it grows from there. You’ll have hard task of truely sticking to a trio, because your three short of a six piece collection. If you can stay satisfied and not lust over anything new watches then your not off to buying a bigger box that fits ten.

Good luck… sincerly

I had a 1 watch collection since 2014 with my beloved Nomos Ahoi, then expanded to a 2 watch collection by adding a Braun as a beater/backup when my Nomos had to go to Germany for service the first time. Now it's time for service number 2 and I'm sorely missing it. Thinking of adding a tool watch of some sort (likely a Sinn 358, 856, or 3006) for something harder wearing. My Ahoi works great in so many settings - water resistant enough for a swim, dressy enough for the opera (with the right strap), just maybe not quite tough enough to go on bike rides or to play sports.

I think if you have a versatile enough everyday watch, something to contrast it (maybe a dress watch if the every day is too casual or something sporty if you've got a dressier daily driver like me) plus a beater is all you need.

I do get the sense that I might be in the minority here though...