Selling regrets
I’m in the process of narrowing down my collection. Having a smaller collection will allow me to appreciate and wear what I have that much more. I currently have 13 watches and some are barely worn. I think I would appreciate the watches I own much more if I could narrow it down to seven or less watches. These five watches are on the chopping block and currently listed for sale on Chrono24. The watches are(top to bottom) Stowa Partitio hand wound, Yema Speedgraf X Klokkeriet, Laco Venedig Erbstuck, Tissot PRX with rose gold fluted bezel and Seiko Presage Sharp Edge. There are varying reasons these watches are the ones I’ve chosen to part with, but that’s not the point of this post. I’m curious if anyone has any watches they regret selling? Have you gone through a “watch purge”, or are you the type of collector that keeps adding to their collection and doesn’t sell anything? What do feel is a good number of watches in your collection for you?
I started this hobby in 2020. I have a humble 14 watch collection which ranges from Casio to Cartier.
These in themselves are a pretty nice and versatile collection. Can't imagine the ones you're keeping. I understand the move though, you only "need" so many watches. Only one I can definitely say I couldnt sell, the Yema.
A watch I regretted selling was my Orient Kamasu one of my more affordable watches. I regretted it so much that I ended up getting a new one last month. Since then whenever I’m thinking about selling a watch I’ll pack it up hide it under the bed and wait 3 months. If I don’t miss it it’s onto Chrono24 it goes (probably for another few months) but if I miss it I’ll unpack it and put it back into rotation.
When I collected vintage, sellers made Tudor watches a necessary extra purchase when the buyer was anxious to add a nice Rolex bubbleback or something even sweeter. My watchmaker lectured that most of the Rollies that I delivered to his shop were Franken or cocktail( mix and match)but the Tudors were nice little vintage watches mostly intact. I dumped all the Franken Rolex watches and the Tudors as well in anger. I should have kept all the Tudors.
These in themselves are a pretty nice and versatile collection. Can't imagine the ones you're keeping. I understand the move though, you only "need" so many watches. Only one I can definitely say I couldnt sell, the Yema.
The Yema might be the hardest to let go as it’s my only chronograph. However, I don’t have any connection to the collaboration with Klokkeriet. At the time I bought it, I was looking for an automatic chronograph with a panda dial and I came accross this one by chance. Hoping it will sell to someone with a connection to Klokkeriet so it can be more appreciated for what it is.
A watch I regretted selling was my Orient Kamasu one of my more affordable watches. I regretted it so much that I ended up getting a new one last month. Since then whenever I’m thinking about selling a watch I’ll pack it up hide it under the bed and wait 3 months. If I don’t miss it it’s onto Chrono24 it goes (probably for another few months) but if I miss it I’ll unpack it and put it back into rotation.
That’s good advice. At least your regret was an affordable one (and a great watch too). I should try that with some of these watches while they’re listed. Maybe it will change my mind. Thanks!
When I collected vintage, sellers made Tudor watches a necessary extra purchase when the buyer was anxious to add a nice Rolex bubbleback or something even sweeter. My watchmaker lectured that most of the Rollies that I delivered to his shop were Franken or cocktail( mix and match)but the Tudors were nice little vintage watches mostly intact. I dumped all the Franken Rolex watches and the Tudors as well in anger. I should have kept all the Tudors.
Thanks for sharing. I find that to be an interesting story. I can definitely see why you’d regret selling those Tudors. They have some real great references in their archives.
I hold on to almost all of mine - the collection just grows! In all my years collecting I've lost a Raymond Weil which I should have replaced (sentimental value), and sold off two. Rolex OP, without doubt the dullest watch I've ever owned, even worse when you measure it in £/smile, and a pre-moon Speedy which was enjoyable until I grew bored of it.
I think the more expensive watches have to earn their keep, the cheaper ones get a free ride!
I hold on to almost all of mine - the collection just grows! In all my years collecting I've lost a Raymond Weil which I should have replaced (sentimental value), and sold off two. Rolex OP, without doubt the dullest watch I've ever owned, even worse when you measure it in £/smile, and a pre-moon Speedy which was enjoyable until I grew bored of it.
I think the more expensive watches have to earn their keep, the cheaper ones get a free ride!
The cheaper watches in my collection get a free ride as well. My Casio is my highest $/smile ratio in my collection. Since I wouldn’t really gain that much money by selling them I just hold on to them and wear them every once in a while. I plan on giving them to my sons one day which will make them that much more special. Thanks for sharing!
That’s how I thought I’d be when I got started in the hobby. The fact that you hold on to them must mean that you’re still getting enjoyment and appreciating them. Good luck on your way to 150, that sounds like a lot of fun!
Haven’t sold anything yet. Might start giving away some watches to make room though
Haven’t sold anything yet. Might start giving away some watches to make room though
I have a “subset” in my collection of watches I plan on giving to my sons. I have three of these subsets. 1. Keepers 2. Giveaways 3. Sellers. Giving watches away is a great way to make room in your collection while still getting to see the watch being enjoyed to someone close to you.
I had a lovely 1980s Raymond Weil Flamenco - totally original and a beautiful bracelet - hardly wore it and let it go for a small profit - regretted it the day it sold and still do
I had a lovely 1980s Raymond Weil Flamenco - totally original and a beautiful bracelet - hardly wore it and let it go for a small profit - regretted it the day it sold and still do
At least you were able to make a little money. To be honest, I wasn’t familiar with that model from Raymond Weil. I just took a look at them and I can see why you regret it. Very classicly designed timepiece.
I have heard it but. I personally haven’t been in the situation
I have heard it but. I personally haven’t been in the situation
Nice that you have no selling regrets. My tastes and collecting philosophy has changed since I started. I find it interesting how everyone has their own unique way of approaching the hobby.
At least thus far! if I am moving on watches it’s for a reason. Also, unless selling is a necessity I usually end up gifting to family - which gives me a chance to see it occasionally on the wrist of a loved one! Good luck on the purge! 👍
I wouldn’t let the Laco go. Very unique. I have 10 and rotate in order. Depending how I feel about it I may wear it 1 - 4 datbefore moving to next. Start over again in about a month. Keeeps the changes fresh.
i regret selling my 2000 Omega Seamaster James Bond watch and my 2004/5 Omega Planet Ocean 😢 I'll get them back eventually ✨
I have 2 daughters who can barely read analog watches. One took my F91-w already so it’s a good start.
My oldest son got his first watch just a couple weeks ago. It’s a Bluey watch.
I never regret selling for a good price as you can always pick them up again. Sometimes I never look back - sometimes I pick up something similar (eg I’ve been through multiple cartier tank.)
So true. They can always be bought back. My Cartier Tank was a 10 year wedding anniversary gift from my wife so I would never sell that one. We don’t normally get each other big gifts like that but it was 2020 during the pandemic and we couldn’t throw a party or go on vacation so we used the money for gifts instead.
I always feel regret when I part with a watch (there was always a reason I bought it in the first place) but to me, they are just ‘things’ - if they have to be sold then so be it. I believe in the phrase “better to have love and lost, than never to have loved at all”.
Any watch I own, does have a requirement to be worn by me (anything that gets fewer wrist time is also a source of regret). To that end, I’ve kept a checklist of watches worn throughout the year and that may have the biggest influence on whether anything leaves my ownership or not.
I feel the same way. If it’s not getting worn, it should move on and be appreciated by someone who will wear it.
Sometimes you just have to cut em" loose! I never thought I would sell my Seiko SSC813 panda but then the SSC911 took it's place. its heartbreak at first and then a new start
A new start is what I’m looking forward to. I enjoyed these watches for a few years, but it’s time to let them go and try out something new.
Tissot Gentleman, I sold it to fund my BB58 but regretted selling the Gentleman once I let go of the BB58 and realised I liked that watch more and it was unnecessary. But I have become more careful with my purchases currently cause at this point I buy if I'm going to keep it and only if will get time in my rotation. The little Casios are a bit of an exception. The only watch I'm currently thinking of selling is the PRX, still not sure about it but I don't enjoy the wearing experience on the bracelet and the green dial just has become dull alongside my other green watches. Eventually will decide once it is back from the service.
The wearing experience of my PRX is why I’m selling mine as well. Absolutely love the watch on its own, but I put it on my wrist and it’s just to chunky with the squared case for my small wrist.
Yes, way to many to remember let alone list!! But I'm due another purge soon, a cull of the cheapest to buy another Omega (probably)
My proceeds will be going to an Omega as well. The Aqua Terra Terracotta. Should arrive at my AD in September.
Less is more, would rather have a few, thought out higher end pieces than a bunch of "cheaper" pieces that tick boxes or urges. I've purged a few times to end up with 2 watches, a black bay 58 and IWC mark series. Then sold those 2 for an Explorer 1. Biggest selling regrets are probably the speedy reduced I had and the IWC.
I do have more than the explorer, but the other watches I in my collection were gifts.
Sounds about like what I’m going through. Hoping to get the Explorer soon and that watch can do it all so you don’t really need anything else. That’s a big reason I’m moving on from these.
At least thus far! if I am moving on watches it’s for a reason. Also, unless selling is a necessity I usually end up gifting to family - which gives me a chance to see it occasionally on the wrist of a loved one! Good luck on the purge! 👍
I have no regrets so far as well. Closest thing to regret is selling the Longines Legend Dover that I won in the WatchCrunch giveaway last year, but it was too big for my wrist so it wasn’t getting worn. It ended up just being a trophy collecting dust. I used all the funds from that sale to purchase my Black Bay Pro which I wear multiple times per week.
I wouldn’t let the Laco go. Very unique. I have 10 and rotate in order. Depending how I feel about it I may wear it 1 - 4 datbefore moving to next. Start over again in about a month. Keeeps the changes fresh.
I like that approach. I just tend to open the box and wear what I feel like wearing that day. These watches in the photo are getting worn less and less so it’s time to move on. The Laco will be a tough one for me to part with. It was my first watch and the one that got me hooked. However it’s just WAY to big for my small wrist and I didn’t really know what size watches I liked on my wrist at the time I bought it. Tastes change over time.
i regret selling my 2000 Omega Seamaster James Bond watch and my 2004/5 Omega Planet Ocean 😢 I'll get them back eventually ✨
Good luck getting them back! Proceeds from these watch sales will be going to the Omega Aqua Terra Terracotta which will be my first Omega.
Sounds about like what I’m going through. Hoping to get the Explorer soon and that watch can do it all so you don’t really need anything else. That’s a big reason I’m moving on from these.
Yeah the explorer is an interesting piece (conceptually LOL), it's a journey of experiencing all kinds of different watches and then choosing this one and saying "this is it." I know a lot of folks get an explorer and aren't all enthused with it or connect with it, but it's a "coming full circle" watch that made sense to me after a long collecting journey
Good luck getting them back! Proceeds from these watch sales will be going to the Omega Aqua Terra Terracotta which will be my first Omega.
They are readily available just at a slightly higher price, I paid £1050 and £2650 respectively 😔