State of the B Box....
Currently sitting at 34, my collection of watches is absolutely at the point of becoming disfunctional.
Too many choices = not enough wrist time to justify many being kept. The problem is just how do you thin out the numbers? Some have some sentimental attachment. Some simply aren't worth anything at this time.
I currently have a rather fluid ranking system:
A Box - 12 of my nicest watches.
B Box - Microbrands & Seiko.
Vintage - Self explanatory, 3*Omegas
Fun - Tsar Bombas
At Risk Roll - Heading back to their parents after my fostering period ends.
Safety deposit box - A mint Datejust & currently a blue dial OP.
I want to share with you the current B Box;
4 of these pieces I've had for a few years. Since I converted to Seikoism at the end of 2023, there are a few in the B Box feeling very insecure. They know that their permanent residence in the B Box, mid table security without fear of being transferred to the At Risk Roll, is very much under threat. The Unimatics & the Yema are trying to form a Union making it much more difficult to evict them. The Christopher Wards & the Sinn are all fighting for the dominant lion position, the winner securing the rights to mate with the Moels & Co & Studio Underd0g when they're in heat.
This B Box is going to suffer some serious turmoil in the next 4 weeks once my An Ordain arrives. The An Ordain will oust either my Tudor BB58 925 or my Nomos Tangente from the A Box. Either of these two watches dropping down a division will immediately see a challenge to the dominant male & subsequently somebody is getting sent to the At Risk Roll. Next stop is eBay for that poor soul.
The only safe timepiece in the B Box is the freshly acquired Clemence. It enters the box with a good 6 months immunity from eviction. It should spend the time wisely, building solid foundations & flattering it's wearer frequently. This could see it become an established resident.
Unfortunately the At Risk Roll is full, the current children sitting waiting to be returned to their irresponsible parents are this sorry lot;
A pair of unidentical Unimatic twins & a difficult child with no respect for authority that goes by the name of Boldr. His original parents couldn't even spell his name properly, what chance did he have?
The Unimatic twins are presenting me with a tough moral dilemma. Ideally you'd want them both to go to the same home, it feels cruel to split them up. Let's face it though, it's unlikely that out there in the broken world that is the used market, anybody is going to take them off my hands unless it's two for the price of one.
So there you have the soap opera world that is life's struggle for timepieces that aren't quite A listers but still much loved by their temporary keeper.
Stay tuned to hear who comes out on top in the battle to become the dominant male & how the Tudor or Nomos cope with their rejection, demotion & subsequent big fish in a smaller pond status.
ps The total actually stands at 35. My Omega Seamaster Polaris left home for the big city lights of London seeking to make his fortune. His mother tells me he returned home last week & is now working in Asda.
I'm really a strap collector just looking for the right watch.
Love the Yema Flygraf Pilot. Gave mine to my nephew. But I miss it!! But he loves it. Love your Unimatics 🫡
Oh and a sold my SPB 333. I never got on with it despite the dial
Love the Yema Flygraf Pilot. Gave mine to my nephew. But I miss it!! But he loves it. Love your Unimatics 🫡
The three watches you've mentioned Mike are actually the watches that I have the most sentimental bond with. I too love the Yema, a really solid pilot's watch, albeit without any of the useful complications.
Unimatic was one of the first microbrands that I bought from & I particularly like the Troupe Alpine.
Oh and a sold my SPB 333. I never got on with it despite the dial
I wish I could remember which one I called SPB 333. I can never remember whether it's the silver dial scamp or his brother in the pale blue 😀
I wish I could remember which one I called SPB 333. I can never remember whether it's the silver dial scamp or his brother in the pale blue 😀
Silver !
Silver !
Ah that's a shame Mike, I really like everything about it.
Ah that's a shame Mike, I really like everything about it.
It was the case shape more than anything else Chris
It was the case shape more than anything else Chris
Yeah I can see how it can be quite polarising. I happen to really like the shape which is a bit of a surprise if I'm honest. It's not a shape I would thought I would be drawn to.
Nice collection. Very well balanced IMO.
Man, it’s like an episode of Survivor in your watch box (except everyone’s fully clothed). I can hear Joel Dommett saying “I’ll go count the votes” (another one who’s not great at English).
What process do they have to go through to earn the right to stay in the box? I assume there’s a “+/- spd” round. Who’s most likely to lose that?
My advice - keep an eye on the Sinn. Never underestimate the Germans! Also, I’m on Team Tangente to stay in the A Box.
Nice collection. Very well balanced IMO.
Thank you Clive, although some would say I'm lacking some chronographs. The Studio Underd0g is a chronograph but not your typical chrono I'd say.
Man, it’s like an episode of Survivor in your watch box (except everyone’s fully clothed). I can hear Joel Dommett saying “I’ll go count the votes” (another one who’s not great at English).
What process do they have to go through to earn the right to stay in the box? I assume there’s a “+/- spd” round. Who’s most likely to lose that?
My advice - keep an eye on the Sinn. Never underestimate the Germans! Also, I’m on Team Tangente to stay in the A Box.
To be honest Bee, I just made it up as I went along 😀 The story developed from my facination & love of The Savage Kingdom series on Nat Geo.
The most vulnerable at this time are the Unimatic U4 & the Yema Flygraf. The U4 was the first from the brand that I bought but it's as plain & industrial as you can get in a watch. That appealed to me originally but now les so. The Yema is in the same boat. Both have got there as a result of the Sinn, which I think makes them redundant.
The Tangente is probably likeliest to make the move, purely because I have a Pasha & a Datejust in the A Box which are my go to watches for dress occasions.
To be honest Bee, I just made it up as I went along 😀 The story developed from my facination & love of The Savage Kingdom series on Nat Geo.
The most vulnerable at this time are the Unimatic U4 & the Yema Flygraf. The U4 was the first from the brand that I bought but it's as plain & industrial as you can get in a watch. That appealed to me originally but now les so. The Yema is in the same boat. Both have got there as a result of the Sinn, which I think makes them redundant.
The Tangente is probably likeliest to make the move, purely because I have a Pasha & a Datejust in the A Box which are my go to watches for dress occasions.
You seem to have quite a few Unimatics. It’s funny how tastes change though over time - I can see why you might want to move on.
I hadn’t realised the company the Tangente is keeping! Now I can see that its face might not fit at the top table!
I’ll never watch a nature programme in the same way again…
I’m biased as I have both of these but the clemence and 556rs I feel are permanent residents. Only had the Munro since Monday but it’s such a looker with that polishing I can’t see me parting with it!
Good luck with your dilemma
You seem to have quite a few Unimatics. It’s funny how tastes change though over time - I can see why you might want to move on.
I hadn’t realised the company the Tangente is keeping! Now I can see that its face might not fit at the top table!
I’ll never watch a nature programme in the same way again…
😂 my apologies. The awesome natural world should never be brought down a level by my inane ramblings.
Hey we're all on a journey in life & in collecting. It wasn't so long ago that my A Box was full of Zelos & Christopher Wards. 👍
Haha. Yeah it’s an interesting journey. Mine has shifted a bit lately. Most my box is now made up watches I modded or assembled. Most my “real” watches hardly get worn. But I do appreciate em more when I wear them now.
Thanks for the Friday afternoon laugh. I’m a Seiko girl but loved seeing that Moels in the box.
Thank you, glad I managed to bring a smile to your face in what can be an overly serious subject at times :)
I want to show my girlfriend this post so she realizes that I’m not that crazy. 😂😂😂(I myself have too many as well. Some so low in value they aren’t worth selling. Some I will sell over time).
Wow, I find four watches ‘dysfunctional’ in terms of wrist time. Good luck!
Disfunctional is good, more choice
Hilarious!
Best post I've read in a while!
Poor watches on the "at risk roll". I feel very bad for them but life is rough.
Best post I've read in a while!
Poor watches on the "at risk roll". I feel very bad for them but life is rough.
Thank you 👍
Very very cool collection
Very very cool collection
Many thanks 👍
My family gave me a 30 hole box, it is full and I am disfunctional.😂
My family gave me a 30 hole box, it is full and I am disfunctional.😂
That sounds like a great solution to me. All those unsetlled timepieces in Box B would be getting a promotion & the At Risk Roll would be redundant for a little while longer 😀
Tiffer those green unimatics are on another level mate ..
Tiffer those green unimatics are on another level mate ..
I have tried selling them tbh, very unsuccessfully I might add. The black PVD cased is number 2 of 88 & was for sale at £500, half price & not even a sniff of interest.
The one on the right is the FAI which I foolishly bought new at the ridiculous RRP of £1,200. Again, I had it for sale for half price & I was chucking in a free Unimatic stainless steel bracelet that I bought separately at a cost of £200. Not a whiff of interest.
I have tried selling them tbh, very unsuccessfully I might add. The black PVD cased is number 2 of 88 & was for sale at £500, half price & not even a sniff of interest.
The one on the right is the FAI which I foolishly bought new at the ridiculous RRP of £1,200. Again, I had it for sale for half price & I was chucking in a free Unimatic stainless steel bracelet that I bought separately at a cost of £200. Not a whiff of interest.
I'm shocked they didn't sell mate .emmm thats my brain going into overdrive.