SOTC23 2/3 - The Collection

Now the time has come. After the first post about the watches that have left us, I now present my main collection. For this I also used a discount offer from Delugs and ordered the long awaited new box and a tray.😍

It all starts with Tissot, which along with Certina were actually our family brands. In the meantime, this has mutated into Rado and Longines, but you have to start somewhere 🍻

The Tissot V8 was a gift from my parents for my graduation and is my most worn watch (along with a Casio F-91W). The LeLocle was the watch I always wanted as a beginning watch enthusiast. At first, I couldn't afford it and bought another model, which was then given to my wife (and broke...).

As an aerospace and F1 fan for as long as I can remember, there have always been two icons: Tag Heuer and Omega. The youth icons were the Monaco and the Moonwatch (there was also briefly a Moonswatch that was sold), but over time the tastes have evolved especially regarding case size and after a long search I became happy with the Monza and the Day-Date.

Over time, there were also some professional and family milestones to celebrate: great professional successes, starting a family, first son, working in international teams. First came the Longines Spirit, which also relaunched the watch collection, and then this Batavi Geograaf Worldtimer, because I thought it was cool and I work with diverse time zones. I also wanted to try a microbrand and see how it works with Kickstarter projects. The watch, by the way, is the only one I've ever received compliments on (from women) and almost always when I wear it. However, I find the bracelet terrible 😬

The only two watches I bought because of the dial: the Seiko Baby Alpinist and the Oris Aquis Upcycle. The Alpinist is the watch I wear least often, also because the green-gold combination is great, but it doesn't always match the outfit. But I will not sell it, because I have also baptized my child with it and have many nice memories of it. After my bad purchase of a Baume 10587 with a similar "upcycle concept", which I also immediately returned, I was then able to fall in love with the Oris and bought it for me to wear it the first time at Watch&Wonders23.

In search of outfit-suitable watches, I got excited about the two German brothers. The Nomos Club Campus with metal bracelet was always interesting with its sporty-casual simplicity and when I saw it on the first family trip to Germany with baby (where he also laughed for the first time), I had to buy it! The aviation style of the Sinn 556 had always fascinated me and when there was a deal at Flughansa, I was able to buy the watch with my miles. After a few changes of the metal/leather bracelet/straps, it worked out with a BOR from Strapcode.

For me, the last two watches in the watch box stand for the maturation in my collecting journey. For a long time Grand Seiko was not on my list, and small vintage watches certainly not. Both are now among my most worn watches. The GS SBGX263 is a wonderfully designed and crafted watch for any occasion, while the Longines Weems was a more difficult project for me. I wanted a fresh summer watch, and found it while looking for a Cartier Tank. After restoring it (at Longines) and with the new leather strap, it is the perfect casual watch for me.

Finally, two watches outside the box: The Casios (Casioak Rainbow and an F-91W). The F-91W is the second oldest watch in my collection and came after the Tissot V8. Have it on often while exercising along with my Fitbit Charge 5. It is exchanged for the Casioak, when it has to go little more sophisticated in addition to sports.

That will be all. I am curious about your comments. The last part will be about how the collection might develop in the future. Have fun reading! 🍻