What makes a watch a 'keeper'?
I'm building a ten-watch collection. So far I have seven 'keepers' - watches I can't ever see myself tiring of, or selling, for any reason.
Also currently in the box is one that I'll retire to storage when I have the final 3 - a Vostok Komandirskie Amfibia I bought new, as I was curious about a 24-hr dial. Can't fault the watch, looks mean on the black Milanese, but I don't feel for it in the same way.
And so I got to thinking - what exactly makes a watch resonate so strongly that you know deep inside it'll be with you for the rest of your journey? Not a passing fancy, however long it may be, or an old piece in storage kept for sentimental reasons, but a permeant, prominent fixture in your life.
I arrived at the conclusion that I would define a keeper as; the ability to re-discover it again and again.
You may not pick it up for week or so, but when you do, you experience the same wonder/admiration that you did when you first acquired it, rediscovering it time and time again.
Vintage Seiko & Soviet, Hamilton, & few of my own builds.
I agree with your definition. If I still enjoy it 6 months after the initial infatuation wears off, then again at a year, etc…it’s a keeper.
Good question. For me, sentimentality comes into play. If I’m able to attribute some nostalgia or memory to a watch, it’ll be a keeper. The very first luxury watch I bought is a keeper though I hardly use it these days. The watch gifted to me by my girlfriend is an important piece of treasure. Even if we break up, that Glashutte is staying home with daddy. The Zenith I bought in Italy, keeper. The watch I bought for myself for Christmas… meh. Maybe. So on and so forth.
For me it’s feelings. Sentimental is a big one. The watch my wife gave me. Priceless I’ll never give that one up. Another feeling of awe. When you get the watch you never thought you’d get. A Grail maybe. Maybe it was an achievement. I got one when I achieved a goal. Sometimes it the fit and finish.
My keepers at the end to the day are the watches that speak to me the loudest.
So I guess it’s that simple.
If you bond with a watch and “imprint” memories on it, then it’s a keeper.
If you bond with a watch and “imprint” memories on it, then it’s a keeper.
Not necessarily. Have you ever fallen out of love with a watch? You must have bonded with it initially, and made memories no doubt, but eventually it wasn't a keeper?
If I want to wear it and never desire to sell it, it's a keeper. Receiving a watch as a gift also is a keeper. Buying a watch to commemorate a milestone is also a keeper. If a watch just sits in my box like a museum exhibit, I'm selling it
I agree with your definition. If I still enjoy it 6 months after the initial infatuation wears off, then again at a year, etc…it’s a keeper.
I think infatuation and rediscovery may be different things.
Not necessarily. Have you ever fallen out of love with a watch? You must have bonded with it initially, and made memories no doubt, but eventually it wasn't a keeper?
Never experienced that. I would say in that case you didn’t bond with the watch.
I agree with others here as well. I always try and tie a watch purchase to an event in my life. That way it has sentimental value to me, and I remember those memories every time I pick it up. Birthdays, promotions, significant others, all good reasons.
I also think your point is valid for being able to fall for that piece again and again. I didn’t know what that was until I got my Longines Legend Diver. Every time I picked it up, I wanted to wear it more. I also had sentimental value from the purchase, so for me that watch is never going anywhere
The story of the Watch.
I like your definition- one you don’t look at for a while but are fascinated by when you pick up again. Could be an amazing dial or quality of build or its sentimental significance.. or all of these.
Looks, performance, pedigree and sadly value too. Aside from memories, these are why I Love the watches I do.
I found that I never want to keep watches that someone wore before me. I don't care for whose name is on he papers, I can always throw these out if it bothers me, but I need to be the first one to put a dent in it.
I started looking at watches differently after I reached 100, yes you read that right. I knew most of them would never see the light of day, so I decided to view watches the way I view art and now I wear whatever I want without the guilt of not wearing the others. I built a mini museum in my office which I have promoted ad nauseum and enjoy my unworn watches the way one enjoys any piece of art in their home.
I have sentimental pieces that, although I wouldn’t have purchased them, have made their way to me. To me, they are keepers and I make a point to wear them all. I have 9 watches currently on my way to a 20 watch collection. I’ve already picked out the next 11 pieces to be acquired at certain life/business milestones. Those will be keepers too.
I suppose my definition of a keeper is a watch that means so much to me that I will always wear it and I could never bring myself to part with it for any reason, money or otherwise.
My keepers are, by default, the watches given to me by special people in my life (gifts from my wife, family, friends, etc). I can't sell those even if my tastes have changed since getting them. Of the watches I've bought for myself, I could see myself selling any of them because who knows if I'll grow tired of it one day and sell it to pay for something I love more. I had a vintage Speedmaster that I swore I'd never sell but...I did. I got bored of it and it was becoming too fragile and expensive to keep repairing. All of that said, I have a Seiko I love that does so much so well and so reliably that it feels like the last watch I'd ever sell...for now...
I started looking at watches differently after I reached 100, yes you read that right. I knew most of them would never see the light of day, so I decided to view watches the way I view art and now I wear whatever I want without the guilt of not wearing the others. I built a mini museum in my office which I have promoted ad nauseum and enjoy my unworn watches the way one enjoys any piece of art in their home.
Exactly. Five Stars. Two thumbs way up.
I made a post a few days ago called "Don't Wear Your Watch." It said what you are saying here, but it took me about 500 more words to do it. Nevertheless, you might enjoy reading it.
That is, if you have the time. And you can check the time on one of your Timexes, on or off your wrist.
Exactly. Five Stars. Two thumbs way up.
I made a post a few days ago called "Don't Wear Your Watch." It said what you are saying here, but it took me about 500 more words to do it. Nevertheless, you might enjoy reading it.
That is, if you have the time. And you can check the time on one of your Timexes, on or off your wrist.
Thanks for the heads up will definitely read it.