SOTC Q4 2023 - radical change
Hi Crunchers,
Since my last SOTC a few months ago, much has changed. I thought the collection was done for now. But ever since seeing my Goal-Watch, the Omega Aqua Terra (220.10.38.20.03.001), at the AD here in Munich a couple of months ago, I'd been floating the idea of selling my collection and radically reducing the size. I never thought I'd actually do it, so it was a nice thought experiment we shared here on Watchcrunch.
Then a few weeks ago, the decision was basically made; I was strolling around Edinburgh with my wife and bought my first Grand Seiko (SBGW303 Mount Iwate Autumn Dusk). I wasn't planning on buying it, or a Grand Seiko at all for that matter, but it took my breath away and I decided: I'd "finance" it by selling some of my other watches. So from that moment on, the collection was getting radically downsized. I started planning how and where to sell what, when I got home from the trip I immediately started.
Since then, I've sold 7 watches with 2 more waiting for their next owner. My best case was to break even and get the money I put into the watches back again, amazingly enough I actually made a couple of € in total up until now. So very happy about that 🙂 Funny side note: my wife was sadder than me about some of the watches leaving the collection. I guess I had the new GS to keep my spirits up 😀
So at the moment, my daily wear collection consists of the two beauties in the pictures:
Longines Spirit 37mm Champagne dial (L3.410.4.63.6)
Grand Seiko Mount Iwate Autumn Dusk (SBGW303)
They're both amazing watches and are great daily wear watches in my eyes: light enough, legible, tough enough, and something I enjoy just looking at. I have a couple of other watches I basically keep as memorabilia, but they don't get any wrist time anymore. Also they're not worth any big amounts of money, so the memories are worth way more to me.
Where does that leave me going forward? When the final two are sold, and taking the extra money I got from the other sales into account, I'll have enough to go one more step. I might finally add my goal-watch, the Aqua Terra to my collection. This will make it a solid triple; an amount that I find managable and where I will be able to wear all three watches often.
Let's see if I get distracted on the way (there's been a fun blue Nomos smiling at me from the sidelines, Tudor is also waving at me from the stands...) or if the next NWA will be a shiny blue Aqua Terra in 38mm 😎
I look forward to hearing your thoughts 🍻
What platform did you use to sell the watches? Many of us, but certainly not all idealize a small collection. Those are two excellent watches so I hope they'll keep both your interest in the hobby and the € in your pocket.
Wow what a quick downsizing. Def think you need some color in the next one. Love the choices and can't go wrong with Nomos or Tudor, but I'd go with blue dial Omega Aqua Terra on their gorgeous rubber strap. The GADA god watch! It's next on my list ....
Very nice!
What platform did you use to sell the watches? Many of us, but certainly not all idealize a small collection. Those are two excellent watches so I hope they'll keep both your interest in the hobby and the € in your pocket.
Sold lots via Chrono24 and the local version of eBay here in Germany. Worked faster than I expected, nice to know that my watches are now spread all around the world 🙂
Stick to the one you really want.
In the case of tattoos (or my next watch) I have a simple rule: I set it as a wallpaper for my phone. If I’m happy to see it 3, 4 or even 6 months after I’ve first set it, I’m good.
If it even remotely bores me or I dislike even a minor thing about it, it’s out.
Wow what a quick downsizing. Def think you need some color in the next one. Love the choices and can't go wrong with Nomos or Tudor, but I'd go with blue dial Omega Aqua Terra on their gorgeous rubber strap. The GADA god watch! It's next on my list ....
Yeah, think the blue AT would fit in quite well 👍🏼 but the blue dial on the Nomos is crazy bright and would be a really cool summer watch
Stick to the one you really want.
In the case of tattoos (or my next watch) I have a simple rule: I set it as a wallpaper for my phone. If I’m happy to see it 3, 4 or even 6 months after I’ve first set it, I’m good.
If it even remotely bores me or I dislike even a minor thing about it, it’s out.
That's a really good idea! But not sure how my daughter and wife will fell about being replaced by a watch 😂😂
Great choices! The Spirit 37 may very well be my next watch.
That's a really good idea! But not sure how my daughter and wife will fell about being replaced by a watch 😂😂
Yeah I know 🤷🏻♂️
Or print it and put it in the wallet or somewhere.
The basic point being: Make yourself see it everyday and check if you get bored or annoyed ot feel the need to replace that picture for something else.
I wouldn’t replace my wallpaper of my doggo either. My tattooartist makes his own amazing designs, so I can’t really put anything on my phone either way ;)
Yeah I know 🤷🏻♂️
Or print it and put it in the wallet or somewhere.
The basic point being: Make yourself see it everyday and check if you get bored or annoyed ot feel the need to replace that picture for something else.
I wouldn’t replace my wallpaper of my doggo either. My tattooartist makes his own amazing designs, so I can’t really put anything on my phone either way ;)
Fair enough.... but I actually will take your point and have a picture of the AT somewhere handy, where I can see it every day. Will be interesting to see what happens, as I've been after an AT for around 2 years and strangely haven't grown bored of looking at pictures of it yet
That's a lovely pair
But three's a g shock
That's a great 3 watch collection with the AT (or nomos) this is kind of what I'm going for with my collection but with a few more watches/complications and less expensive.
My thoughts are this: love what you are doing. This entire journey is so personal and I actually love hearing the why (if any).
The two you’ve gone down to are both absolutely stunning watches and I’m looking forward to you sharing which AT you end up with!!
Fair enough.... but I actually will take your point and have a picture of the AT somewhere handy, where I can see it every day. Will be interesting to see what happens, as I've been after an AT for around 2 years and strangely haven't grown bored of looking at pictures of it yet
Then you basically have your answer ;)
That's a lovely pair
But three's a g shock
I had a GSHOCK, but it was one of the ones to go... Don't know why, something about the way it wears bugged me. But did enjoy the convenience (solar, radio, etc.)
This is brillant and a beautiful collection. My collection currently also consists of a GS and a Longines Spirit with a Seamaster to be added soon. But u can’t go wrong with the spirit and gs is always great
All I can say is that those two watches are a great pair.
Definitely go for what you want and if that is AT so be it. My only comment would be that with buying AT you will essentially have 3 very simmilar style of watches. Don't know your daily work and hobbies but a beater like GShock and one dress watch would round up the collection nicely.
I guess I like one style of watch most 😂 was trying out different styles and types with my collection so far, and enjoyed the variety... But if I'm putting larger amounts of money in each watch, this is the style I'd focus on
This is brillant and a beautiful collection. My collection currently also consists of a GS and a Longines Spirit with a Seamaster to be added soon. But u can’t go wrong with the spirit and gs is always great
Very nice! Which Seamaster are you planning?
Very nice! Which Seamaster are you planning?
Im gonna get myself a beautiful seaweed green one in January!
Don't be distracted by other brands, go for that grail. Yours is a real achievement trimming the collection to that extent. I have a small clear out every few years but It's always really difficult.
Don't be distracted by other brands, go for that grail. Yours is a real achievement trimming the collection to that extent. I have a small clear out every few years but It's always really difficult.
Thanks, I'm quite surprised I managed, but am happy about it!
Yeah a clean out every couple of years is probably wise. I do it with all of my material possessions once on a while, just so I don't collect too much and can't enjoy it anymore...
Thanks, I'm quite surprised I managed, but am happy about it!
Yeah a clean out every couple of years is probably wise. I do it with all of my material possessions once on a while, just so I don't collect too much and can't enjoy it anymore...
Yeah, it keeps the collection to a more manageable size. Keeps me focused on the most important pieces.😃
Nice. Awesome change. That GS could be a one watcher for me.
Nice. Awesome change. That GS could be a one watcher for me.
Agreed! It is great and super wearable. But the Spirit is also one-watch material in my eyes
Cool story bro! Yeah who need tons of watch anyway…right? Lol interesting to see what watch you let it go and is there sentimental value to it? I couldn’t let go the watch that I built memories with! Cheers!
Cool story bro! Yeah who need tons of watch anyway…right? Lol interesting to see what watch you let it go and is there sentimental value to it? I couldn’t let go the watch that I built memories with! Cheers!
I'd love to have tons of watches, but I definitely wouldn't need them
The really sentimental ones I'm going to keep (TH Carrera, Junkers Bauhaus, because they are strongly connected to the two women in my life). Obviously I have memories with all the others, but I can't keep everything I have memories with... don't have the space here in Europe 🤣
I'd love to have tons of watches, but I definitely wouldn't need them
The really sentimental ones I'm going to keep (TH Carrera, Junkers Bauhaus, because they are strongly connected to the two women in my life). Obviously I have memories with all the others, but I can't keep everything I have memories with... don't have the space here in Europe 🤣
Haha yeah same here in hong kong tbh, i couldn’t justify owning too many watches(but then again how much is too many watches lol) what watch you let it go to get to this point?
Haha yeah same here in hong kong tbh, i couldn’t justify owning too many watches(but then again how much is too many watches lol) what watch you let it go to get to this point?
red X are all sold, red is for sale, yellow is current collection (+SBGW303) and green are sentimental watches that will stay but aren't really worn much.
Wow amazing achievement really and strong will! Kudos to you brother! Wear it in good health 🍻