The start of my watch collecting journey
This is my grandfather’s Rolex OP Date, which I inherited on my 21st birthday. It was my first luxury watch, and got me intrigued to the world of watches.
My grandfather is no longer with me but he continues to live next to me alongside this watch. The memory and history that this brought to me shaped the way I wanted to curate my own watch collection.
To me, wearing a watch on my wrist transcends the appearance and function of it. What appealed to me is the history and story the watch carried with it. As such, I wanted to collect watches that has a very rich history behind them.
I only started out this journey about 6 months ago. I am new to this but have been doing lots of research and purchased the Omega Speedmaster Professional (my first luxury watch purchase), given its undisputable heritage.
What should be the next watch I should be looking at?
I enjoy watches with a heritage, ones that has made an impact on history.
That's a very nice watch you inherited and with it great memories.
Looks like you need a dive watch now ,I'd suggest the Blancian fifty fathoms great looking watch with history or something different would be the Paneria range
What a great start, watches with stories are the best.
Very nice watches to start. You could consider a diver and a beater something like a G-Shock.
What an epitome of a classic, clean and crisp looking watch….. excuse the pun but a timeless look, Your grandads watch must be worn but also cherished so I guess an expendable watch for daily work wear is in order here.
The world is your oyster so to speak so start looking👍🏻
That's a very nice watch you inherited and with it great memories.
Looks like you need a dive watch now ,I'd suggest the Blancian fifty fathoms great looking watch with history or something different would be the Paneria range
I’ve been looking at the fifty fathom quite a lot. Definitely iconic, but the price tag is a little on the higher side to some other watches in my current shortlist. Going to dig in and do more research.
Sorry about your grandfather, that’s a beautiful watch you inherited.
In terms of watches to look at is really up to you. There’s no rule saying you have to get a certain watch. Figure out what u like, your lifestyle and build around that.
Whoa what a great start! 👌
Change the name of the post to: "The end of my watch collecting journey" or "I'm getting a G-Shock and I'm done".
You have one of the best Rolexes IMO with sentimental value added and a watch that can handle wear. Allround. Beautiful. You can keep looking, but it won't get better than right now 😊
A Casio F-91W which you can wear when you want to enjoy things without worrying about damaging your more expensive watches, the first of which you know is irreplaceable. After that, wait at least another10 years before even thinking about buying another one unless, of course, you see something that you want so much that you just have to have it.
Also avoid influencers.
I really enjoy the journey and research of finding out about the history behind each watch, going through different reviews and fact checking them against each other. I guess that means it will be a while before I finally end up getting another one, to ensure I have thoroughly enjoyed the research journey.
Beautiful watch, and wonderful connection to your grandfather. Like others, I'd recommend a dive watch. Something a bit more robust, with more water protection, that you can wear around without worrying as much. Tons of options out there.
You should get whatever interests you. Do you like pilot watches, for example? I could recommend half a dozen, but if you're not into them, it would be a bit futile. What are you interested in?
What a lovely legacy from your Grandfather - a timeless, beautiful watch.
In terms of what next.. I'd recommend you live with the OP and Speedy for a while. Try on a bunch of different things, see where your taste takes you.
From my experience, I bought stuff I ended up not liking, then struggled to get out of it - I lost money as a result.
I would recommend not delving into microbrand stuff early on. They dont hold their value and you end up losing out as your taste changes and you try to move pieces on. Stick to the more mainstream/established brands.
I'd also suggest buying pre-owned from sites like Chrono24 with some buyer protection, to avoid the sting of depreciation.
I am somewhat of a Breitling fan, would you investigate either a Chronomat or Navitimer, the Super Ocean Heritage is also a robust appealing model. Sorry for your loss, but your grandfather left you a memorable token! Best wishes.
You should get whatever interests you. Do you like pilot watches, for example? I could recommend half a dozen, but if you're not into them, it would be a bit futile. What are you interested in?
I find myself gravitating towards dress watches. Before I inherited the Rolex OP Date, my go-to watch as a student was the Daniel Wellington, so I guess that is my styling preference.
However, what I enjoyed the most wearing my grandfather’s watch is the heritage link, the story I remember behind the watch. That seems to have a higher weight to my enjoyment.
I am somewhat of a Breitling fan, would you investigate either a Chronomat or Navitimer, the Super Ocean Heritage is also a robust appealing model. Sorry for your loss, but your grandfather left you a memorable token! Best wishes.
Bristling Navitimer is on the list of watches I am researching about!
What a beautiful watch to start a journey with!
My brother has my grandfathers watch in his watch box and I tear up every time I see it. It's amazing how watches connect you to someone. It's such a great hobby and industry. Glad you find joy in it now. Your wallet may not be happy though! Lol
Your grandfather left an amazing legacy. When I gift a watch it means the time I have spent with that person is valued. You wear a timeless classic. The Speedmaster is iconic. The next logical step is a dive watch, pilots watch, or field watch. You have a sports/dress (a Datejustcovers both) & chronograph. Of course Rolex is a benchmark with the Submariner. Blancpainand Omega have a long history in dive. Tudor, Doxa, Seiko are all dive kings. IWC , Longines and Breitling are great pilot options. The field watch category isnfun: there are $500.00 to 3K options. The Longines Spirit is a great middle of the road price wise field option. It's a pilots watch but it checks a lot of field boxes on specs. The no date Titaniumn version comes to mind. Hamilton has some awesome entry level watches. I wear one and love it.
I would look at many (there are too many) classic dive, pilot, and field watches. Grand Seiko Spring Drive technology is incredible. I mentioned Titaniumn. Metal choice also plays a part. Titaniumn is super light. The watch may feel like a toy on wrist. Stainless Steel, bronze and gold are options. Try to wear/try on a watch you truly intend to purchase. A watch in the metal aka in person may look and feel very different from on line reviews.
What an Inheritance. Your grandfather thought the world of you I'm sure. Treasure the memories of the past experiences and future ones you will make with the timepeice. Wear the watch in good health.
I wrote a post about gifting your timepeices down to the next generation. Hopefully you will do the same with your son/daughter or grandchildren.
https://www.watchcrunch.com/drcarter13/posts/gift-of-time-45329
That OP is beautiful and with the backstory and sentimental reasons it just makes it all the more special. As to what to get next 🤔 I would probably look at Cartier Santos or tank, or a JLC Reverseo
Dude, I’m totally of like mind. Fantastic heirloom you have there! This is my grandfather’s watch that my mom gave me last year for my 40th birthday. My grandmother gave it to him for Christmas for their engagement in 1952. I got it serviced and it works great! I wear it every Sunday to remember them at Mass. Longines has great heritage and their new watches have such great value.
My plan was also to get the Speedmaster for my military retirement next year (I’m a space nerd) but got such a great deal from the Exchange that I had to get it. So that’ll be my 20-year Air Force retirement watch… heritage and sentimental watch to pass down. I wear it as often as I can so my kids have memories of me wearing it as “Dad’s watch.”
The other watches that are on my list that sound like you may also be interested like me are the Rolex Explorer, the Tudor Black Bay 58 (blue for me), and I’d personally add a Grand Seiko for a dress watch. They would rival the Omega Constellation in accuracy trials back in the day. Plus I’d love to get a Spring Drive because they advanced watch movement technology like Omega did with their Co-Axial METAS watches.
Have to echo what others are saying...your starting off point is pretty awesome. Hopefully you can grow your collection with more high quality pieces!
That's a very nice watch you inherited and with it great memories.
Looks like you need a dive watch now ,I'd suggest the Blancian fifty fathoms great looking watch with history or something different would be the Paneria range
Very cool suggestions!
A Casio F-91W which you can wear when you want to enjoy things without worrying about damaging your more expensive watches, the first of which you know is irreplaceable. After that, wait at least another10 years before even thinking about buying another one unless, of course, you see something that you want so much that you just have to have it.
Also avoid influencers.
Wait 10 years before buying what? Another watch or another Casio F-91W?
Whichever one expires first. 😉 But my money is on the Casio still going strong. 😜
That's a long-ass time to wait if you're getting into a new hobby!
How about a compromise with...buy something new for your birthday? That's a decent rate to both reward yourself for making it another year, and growing your collection at a reasonable clip.
This isn't a hobby, it's just buying accessories.
True, but at that rate the guy will have a collection of...5-8 watches over a lifetime, if I'm understanding your suggestion correctly.
Still a collection though, and a nicely thought out and manageable one. 😉
Can't argue there! I also promote the "quality over quantity" mindset.
That OP is beautiful and with the backstory and sentimental reasons it just makes it all the more special. As to what to get next 🤔 I would probably look at Cartier Santos or tank, or a JLC Reverseo
Cartier Santos is on the list of my next watch, love the history behind it.
Dude, I’m totally of like mind. Fantastic heirloom you have there! This is my grandfather’s watch that my mom gave me last year for my 40th birthday. My grandmother gave it to him for Christmas for their engagement in 1952. I got it serviced and it works great! I wear it every Sunday to remember them at Mass. Longines has great heritage and their new watches have such great value.
My plan was also to get the Speedmaster for my military retirement next year (I’m a space nerd) but got such a great deal from the Exchange that I had to get it. So that’ll be my 20-year Air Force retirement watch… heritage and sentimental watch to pass down. I wear it as often as I can so my kids have memories of me wearing it as “Dad’s watch.”
The other watches that are on my list that sound like you may also be interested like me are the Rolex Explorer, the Tudor Black Bay 58 (blue for me), and I’d personally add a Grand Seiko for a dress watch. They would rival the Omega Constellation in accuracy trials back in the day. Plus I’d love to get a Spring Drive because they advanced watch movement technology like Omega did with their Co-Axial METAS watches.
That’s lovely, and huge respect for all military servicemen! I really like the Speedmaster and I want to do the same thing my grandfather did and pass down a well loved collection to my kids someday!
I’m currently leaning towards my next one being a white dial dress watch, the shortlist currently is: Cartier Santos, Grand Seiko Snowflake/Omiwatari/Nishiki, Breitling Navitimer.
That’s lovely, and huge respect for all military servicemen! I really like the Speedmaster and I want to do the same thing my grandfather did and pass down a well loved collection to my kids someday!
I’m currently leaning towards my next one being a white dial dress watch, the shortlist currently is: Cartier Santos, Grand Seiko Snowflake/Omiwatari/Nishiki, Breitling Navitimer.
All great choices! The good (or bad) thing nowadays is that there are so many great choices! It’s all in about what you like best! Enjoy!