Do you wear all your watches?
I like to have a collection of watches that I use. Maybe some of them are only used for very specific occasions; like my old vintage Zenith that I only use as a dress watch (and I don't dress up often). But all of them have wrist time.
Although I talk about a “collection” of watches, I don’t consider myself a watch collector, but a watch enthusiast. I think a collector would have watches for the sake of having them and “collecting” them.
I only have two watches of that kind: an old Orient automatic watch that I bought to wear to my wedding 10 years ago, which I used as an everyday watch for years. It is very battered, and it has been repaired a few times. I’m only saving it because of its history (it does not have monetary value either):
And an old gold pocket watch inherited from my grand-grandfather. I fought for it to be repaired, and I will use it only for a special family wedding (I bought a dress vest only to be able to wear it):
But aside from these two, if I see that any watch is not being used, I’ll start considering selling it.
And I really like the morning time when I decide which watch I’m going to wear today. Take it, wind it if needed, and set it to the exact current time... to the second!.
But I've only been enjoying this hobby for eight months. So my way of "watch collecting” may change at any moment.
And you, do you collect watches that have no wrist time? Do you wear different watches almost every day?
I'm not that useless; at least I can act as a bad example.
Generally I wear all of my watches but like you I have a few that are worn or carried only on select occasions. Some of the older vintage watches from the 30s or 40s I'm only going to wear when I know it's a day that they can't be damaged such as a meeting in an air conditioned office on a non rainy day. The pocket watch my father gave me from the 1890s only comes out for weddings and me to look at it
Generally I wear all of my watches but like you I have a few that are worn or carried only on select occasions. Some of the older vintage watches from the 30s or 40s I'm only going to wear when I know it's a day that they can't be damaged such as a meeting in an air conditioned office on a non rainy day. The pocket watch my father gave me from the 1890s only comes out for weddings and me to look at it
Very very similar ways then.
I showed my pocket watch on a watch forum specialising in old pocket watches to see if they were able to tell me anything about that watch. It seems that the watch's movement was made by James Dubois de Le Loche in 1892!
Hampden railroad certified from 1893
Hampden railroad certified from 1893
I'm not into pocket watches. I own the one I inherited, but I know nothing about them. But yours looks nice!, that back is amazing!
Thank you
That pocket watch...👌 Gorgeous!
My collection is around 130 or so, so I usually change out watches at a minimum twice per day, sometimes more, since I have so many from which to choose. Most all get wrist time, depending on what I'm doing and my mood.
There are some that I don't wear but keep anyway just to have in the collection.
I try to. And in pursuit of doing so consistently, I have with considerable effort and some time, reduced the size of my watch collection down to a dozen and aiming higher (smaller).
I have some from when I started collecting that just sit. They’re not worth much and my tastes have changed so I don’t like the style of them anymore. Maybe dump them off at a pawn shop or give them away?
For me it is a number game. If I own just a small number like eg three all of them get used. If a certain threshold is passed I am still choosing but not anymore out of the whole pool. Instead now I choose out of the most beloved half or quarter of the pool. The rest gets only seldomly attention. But this is not watch specific. It is all the same witch clothes or just any good. If I own just four pair of shoes chances are high I wear all of them from time to time. If I own 40 pair most likely the 6 or 7 most beloved pairs get all the wearing time. Would be the same with cars and even houses - but I will never be in a position were this might become relevant. 😎
That pocket watch...👌 Gorgeous!
My collection is around 130 or so, so I usually change out watches at a minimum twice per day, sometimes more, since I have so many from which to choose. Most all get wrist time, depending on what I'm doing and my mood.
There are some that I don't wear but keep anyway just to have in the collection.
Having 130 I would forget some of them for sure! You have plenty of options every morning?? How do you manage to make a decision every day?? Amazing!!!!🤩
I try to. And in pursuit of doing so consistently, I have with considerable effort and some time, reduced the size of my watch collection down to a dozen and aiming higher (smaller).
It’s not an easy path… it’s so easy to fall in love with new toys but not to get rid of the current ones 😱
Yes, all the ones I purchased in the last two years for sure...older quartz or "fashion stuff" no...this is why I'm focusing on the top 10 going forward minus a few exceptions
I have some from when I started collecting that just sit. They’re not worth much and my tastes have changed so I don’t like the style of them anymore. Maybe dump them off at a pawn shop or give them away?
I’m just starting (a few months ago) and I think time will make the decisions harder. I’m pretty sure that it will be difficult to reduce my collection in the future because, although my taste could change, those “old” watches that I won’t wear will have lots of history attached and will be difficult to let them go.
I switch up daily. If I had to guess, I wear around 75% of the watches I own over the span of a month or so.
For me it is a number game. If I own just a small number like eg three all of them get used. If a certain threshold is passed I am still choosing but not anymore out of the whole pool. Instead now I choose out of the most beloved half or quarter of the pool. The rest gets only seldomly attention. But this is not watch specific. It is all the same witch clothes or just any good. If I own just four pair of shoes chances are high I wear all of them from time to time. If I own 40 pair most likely the 6 or 7 most beloved pairs get all the wearing time. Would be the same with cars and even houses - but I will never be in a position were this might become relevant. 😎
But I do the same with clothes. I don’t own a lot of anything and, if I buy a new shirt, I dump an old one that I don’t use anymore.
Yes and no. I wear all my watches in a given year, but I certainly have my favorites AND rotation is affected by seasonal factors and activities.
Yes, I wear them all but I fall in and out of love with certain ones which obviously has an effect on wrist time…overall I try to wear each one at least once a week
I wear about 95% of my collection. Some I'm selling and don't wanna risk banging into something. And some are passed down by my Dad or Grandfather, or my wife got me them. And I just want to keep those in the best condition possible
Yeah I rotate different watches daily….one from morning to midday ….one from midday to evening. After owning many many watches over decades I’m now realizing I’m gravitating towards 5 or 6 core styles
I have watches that I haven't worn for years, but I still keep then running properly, and with quartz ones I even replace the battery twice before putting it on my wrist 😂🙈
I wear them all!!.they all get a turn, no keep score for me ..I just find ways or reasons to wear them all
Absolutely. Not the type of person to buy a watch and not use it. Some due sit for long periods without being touched, but eventually they all get some wrist time.
Yes
My collection started about three yeas ago in a haphazard way, and I bought a couple of pieces that I recently sold or gave away. I then bought some niche pieces (railroad approved wristwatches) which I enjoy wearing occasionally. Lately I’ve focused on a very few practical, shock protected automatics and a Grand Seiko spring drive that I wear in rotation. I have a couple of G-Shocks that I wear to the gym and an even cheaper little Casio that I wear when working in my shop or riding my bikes. I love them all.
I think I’m about done buying watches, but I’ve said that before and have been wrong.
My collection started about three yeas ago in a haphazard way, and I bought a couple of pieces that I recently sold or gave away. I then bought some niche pieces (railroad approved wristwatches) which I enjoy wearing occasionally. Lately I’ve focused on a very few practical, shock protected automatics and a Grand Seiko spring drive that I wear in rotation. I have a couple of G-Shocks that I wear to the gym and an even cheaper little Casio that I wear when working in my shop or riding my bikes. I love them all.
I think I’m about done buying watches, but I’ve said that before and have been wrong.
Railroad approved watches? How are those? Which characteristics must have a watch to be a railroad approved one?
Just curious 🧐
I have watches that I haven't worn for years, but I still keep then running properly, and with quartz ones I even replace the battery twice before putting it on my wrist 😂🙈
Replace the battery twice before wearing it again?? That’s years!!!!
I go through my collection and wear one different watch a week so I can wear them all
But. Is it not a bit difficult to keep on with this method? Sometimes you’re wearing something that looks better with a watch you wore two days before, or similar situations…
Hey Jordi,
Love the Orient and super cool pocketwatch.
I am new to watches - I haven’t even purchased my first automatic - so I don’t have watches that I only wear for special occassions. Instead, I have a core set within my larger set of watches that take up a disproportionate amount of my available wrist time.
I generally don’t think of selling bec I only have very affordable watches. If it cost me a couple of bucks to buy it new, I don’t think it’s worth the effort of exploring the world of selling to get back a fraction of that couple of bucks 😅.
That Orient is full of scratches (the Sapphire crystal too). It had been fixed two times after falling and having to replace some parts too. The last time I brought the watch to a watchmaker that made a very horrible work. There are rests of glue now inside the border of the dial.
It lived a long life. And served me well enough all these past years. Currently. It is in a watchful box stored. I don’t think I’ll wear it again. But it has no value en the market and it is full of memories.
Replace the battery twice before wearing it again?? That’s years!!!!
I know! 😅
Railroad approved watches? How are those? Which characteristics must have a watch to be a railroad approved one?
Just curious 🧐
RR approval started in the 1870s out of necessity. Standards required high grade accurate movements that could be set to the exact second, white dials with black hands and Arabic numerals. Standards evolved in pocket watches and were applied to wristwatches in 1950s. Quartz rendered the standards largely obsolete.