Collection reflection
I’ve just added the blue bezel Cartier Santos to my collection as a milestone piece - 50th birthday - and it has me really pondering the state of my collection and what I want to do going forward. The first pic shows what I consider to be the top 3 pieces that if I had to choose would be the ones. But the 2nd pic tells more if the story - and there are 40+ other watches not shown. Yes, it’s a bit over board, I know.
I know it’s an old story, told over and over, but in the process of narrowing down the choice for my birthday watch, I found - to my surprise to be honest - that I did not want most of the watches I looked at. And that realization made me consider do I really still even like/want most of the ones I already have? I’m seriously considering liquidating the vast majority of excess and putting the money to 1 or 2 more significant pieces and trying to live that small collection dream. The silver dial OP41 would likely be the next one I would add to the list if/when I get the call to buy it.
I find the sentimental attachment force very hard to overcome when pondering moving watches on. Heck, I have a box of 10 Seikos alone that I love every single one of - but probably only wear 2 or 3 of, and only those once in a month or two.
The mind games this hobby plays on ourselves.
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Yes!! I know how you feel … it if was that easy to liquidate most pieces I would have done so as well, aside from some pieces are not worth selling I rather keep it…
I see u like bracelets and sport watches. I can only speak to my own problem that sometimes I overcompensate, i.e., why get only one when two is better, or why not get multiples of very similar designs so one can get it out of your system. All this is to suggest that you can’t go around your wants and desires but can certainly learn from them. A very positive thing about watch collecting is that there is a tremendous depth of variety, design, quality, history and people one meets along the way. So it’s also natural to change as you gain knowledge and appreciate what you’ve learned. You have some great pieces already and it follows that you may be ready to do a little spring cleaning. Maybe a little foray into dress watches to widen the range. Good luck on your journey.
Beautiful collection you have. That Seamaster is outstanding. 😍
At 50, it's fair to say there are less decades ahead of you, than behind you. With that said, do you want to go another 10, 20, 30 years with a box of watches you hardly wear... yet every time you do wear one, it's taking time away from forming a relationship with these three watches? Once you wrap your head around that, I think it will be easy to liquidate a large chunk of those 40 watches and simplify things a little.
You gotta keep that Sinn no matter what.
I'm a one in, one out kinda guy and I typically only buy one watch per year, on average. I have 10 pieces, not including my father's vintage Hamilton that I never wear and only keep for sentimental purposes. If I buy a new watch, another one has to go. If a watch doesn't get worn at least 30 days a year, I typically try to move on from it. My collection has been trending up in value of late (buy a higher priced watch than I typically sell), but at least every one gets worn, a lot.
But I'm now getting to the point where a lot of watches in my collection have commemorated a special time in my life. A work promotion, or a milestone birthday or my first mechanical watch. It's getting harder and harder to move on from watches, which ups the scrutiny on the watches I do add to the collection.
Very nice collection
Great collection. I have the same Santos. If it were me I would consolidate and try and get a OP41. Then maybe add a GMT and chrono.