My 2023 SOTC - Peace and Balance
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to share my collection for the first time. I'll also share some of my thoughts to help you understand why the collection has developed as it has, and how it may evolve in the future.
My Collecting Philosophy
Number
Despite a financial impact I wasn't too excited about, I realised a while back that I could never be a one watch guy. The question in my mind was how many watches would be the right number for me? I went back and forth on this for awhile. A simple, focused collection holds great appeal to me. But a three watch collection, or even a five watch collection just felt insufficient.
At the same time, I really wanted to avoid becoming a watch hoarder. When I die, I want to leave an inspirational collection as opposed to a cautionary tale. Eventually I settled on 12 + 1. Twelve traditional watches and one smart watch. (As a tech guy, not having a smart watch in my rotation is unthinkable.)
Style and Type
I try to collect watches that truly resonate with and represent me. It's also important that I enjoy wearing them. I tend to gravitate to simple watches in the 36mm-40mm range. For the most part, divers and Rolex have never really resonated with me. Vintage styling definitely does, however I greatly appreciate the advantages that modern manufacturing brings.
I tend to save splashes of colour for the bands, to be pulled out on special occasions or when the mood strikes. Generally I enjoy wearing a more subdued colour palette, so that is how I keep my watches stored.
My watches don't really correspond to specific life events, but they do correspond to aspects of me. Some were purchased specifically because of my family heritage. Others because of places I've lived over the years. Still others simply because of long held loves. Ultimately I've acquired pieces that are decided on by the heart and not the head.
I've spent many hours staring at my watch box, trying to "feel" what should be invited into the box, and what needs to leave. It's been both quite the journey of introspection, but today the collection feels solid and "right". Removing any single watch would disrupt the balance I feel I've achieved. Adding just one more would do the same. This feeling of balance means that I don't foresee any changes in the near future. But as I change and evolve, I'm sure my collection will also. So I try to keep both an open mind and an open heart.
The Collection
My smartwatch of choice (not pictured) is a stainless steel, Apple Watch Series 7. I've owned it for several years and continue to enjoy it. My twelve traditional watches are pictured and listed below.
Longines DolceVita
Mido Multifort Patrimony (Blue)
Tudor BlackBay 54
Grand Seiko SBGJ271G Yuki Gesho
Omega CK859 (2022)
Longines Heritage Classic Decor Dial (Black)
AnOrdain Model One (Payne's Grey Fume)
SUF Helsinki 180N
Hamilton Murph (38mm)
Junghans Max Bill Automatic
Santos de Cartier (Medium)
AnOrdain Fabrik Model One GMT
Going Forward
As we get ready to enter 2024, I don't see any changes to my collection on the immediate horizon. I see myself just enjoying 2024 and the collection I've been fortunate enough to assemble.
If there is a change, it will likely come from me replacing the Mido with some other blue dial watch that captivates me even more than the Patrimony does. Or maybe I'll win the lottery and replace the Longines DolceVita with a JLC Reverso. As I've already said, I try to keep an open heart and mind. But for now, I love all my watches and am really happy with where my collection is at.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts and collection with you. Please feel free to share your thoughts and collections. I truly enjoy seeing everyone's unique collections and learning from your approach to this amazing hobby we all share. Thank you for reading and Happy New Year everyone.
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
That's a beautiful, considered, collection. Thanks for sharing.
You have a very clean collection. I admire it.
What watch box do you have?
Good post and nice collection! What do you wear most and least? Also, is that a black strap you have on the Omega?
Truly superb Ellis!
That is really a beautiful collection. I love every piece in it!
Beautiful collection!
Pleas don’t get me wrong, but this is the perfect, boring collection for me! With boring I mean that there is no colorful dial or some crazy case shapes or stuff like that, but your taste in watches in my opinion is perfect. I would love to own this collection! Every single watch looks so clean and nice. I hope you get what I mean with my broken English! 😅
Top notch collection
Amazing collection, thanks for sharing this with us 👊
10/10. No notes 🤌
Omega CK! Strong
Yours is very measured and tempered connection 👍👍
Great and well curated collection!
I dig the +1 angle, for me it’s the Garmin 265. For me it’s about training as opposed to wanting more tech, I value the data provided as to whether a session should be aerobic or threshold.
Someday I’ll feel bold enough to do a STOTC but feels to in flux right now
Well done sir.
Excellent collection, and a great post! This watch thing of ours is so much about the reasons why, and the stories behind the purchases. You have curated a wide, interesting and unique collection here. The reasons you provide for your choices make a lot of sense, and it shows when you look at the watches as well. Furthermore it resonates a lot with me personally.
Great post, thanks for sharing! I hope you win the lottery so you can obtain a Reverso 🤞🤞
Excellent collection
You have a very pristine and versatile collection, I love it 🤌👍
Cool and clean, love it 👌
Wow never Seen a Collection with that much tranquility.
Wow never Seen a Collection with that much tranquility.
That's it. I was trying to think of the word. It's almost Zen like in its balance.
@ellisnichol lovely collection. The Mido, the anOrdain M1 and the SUF are the watches that particularly caught my eye! Just shows that they don't need to be the most expensive to be the most impressionable.
I like the fact that you have given each watch thought and consideration. I have done the same with my collection, which is why it’s so meaningful to me. Well done and enjoy!
Hey Ellis, cheers on having such a beautiful collection. I especially like your AnOrdain Model One, the gold tone spaced out arabic numerals with the grey (does it have a suede like texture to the dial?) is just 👌.
Thank you for sharing your thought process behind your collection. This is what I love about the community, everyone’s collection is personal and getting a small glimpse into that one’s thinking process as he/she puts it together makes me appreciate watches even more.
Happy New Year Ellis, here’s to a great 2024! 🎊
Love the grey of the anordain and the diversity of brands in your collection!
Thank you for sharing. I am curious, how do you decide what to wear between the Patrimony, CK859 and Heritage? These are all beautiful, clean and sleek sector dial watches.
Thank you for the comment. Actually my smart watch may well change in 2024. Garmin is one of the options I’m considering. Depends on what my fitness goals end up looking like this year. (Still need to figure those out.) It also took me awhile to feel right about posting my collection. In the meantime, just continue sharing your daily wear. I look forward to seeing your collection once it’s ready.
thanks! BTW - If you've any Q's regarding life with Garmin 935, 945, 965, or my current 265 ... I can give owner perspectives on all of 'em 😉 (Of course DC rainmaker also has the most details)
I put them through the paces:
Thank you for sharing. I am curious, how do you decide what to wear between the Patrimony, CK859 and Heritage? These are all beautiful, clean and sleek sector dial watches.
I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to sector dials. Like everything to do with my watch collection, I just choose what feels right. They are all pretty comparable in terms of specs or matching an outfit.
thanks! BTW - If you've any Q's regarding life with Garmin 935, 945, 965, or my current 265 ... I can give owner perspectives on all of 'em 😉 (Of course DC rainmaker also has the most details)
I put them through the paces:
Thanks. I will definitely keep that in mind. Weather here this morning was -30C, so might be a few months before I turn back to outdoor sports.
Wow what an incredible collection! I can see a place for each piece. 👏🏽
Great collection of watches, many of which I have found very elegant, well balanced yet somehow functional. I wonder why you didn't choose AnOrdain's Parisian Blue as for finding the perfect blue (that's on my bucket list). And as a Finn I should also go for a S.U.F. one day.
Great collection of watches, many of which I have found very elegant, well balanced yet somehow functional. I wonder why you didn't choose AnOrdain's Parisian Blue as for finding the perfect blue (that's on my bucket list). And as a Finn I should also go for a S.U.F. one day.
Thanks for your comment. I went back-and-forth on which watch to purchase from AnOrdain. Ultimately I chose the one that I thought I would wear the most. The Parisian blue looks beautiful, but I wanted a fume dial, and the blue fume wasn't quite the shade of blue that I wanted. Ultimately I'm really happy with the Payne's gray that I ordered. And I think it fits my overall aesthetic quite well. Definitely try on some watches from SUF. I love his 180 collection. Mine gets the most wear in my collection. It's just so comfortable and easy to wear. And a SUF is pretty much a must-have if you’re a Finn. 😉