By-Tor Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I've always wondered this... how many of us collect and keep watches that they rarely wear? I've always tried to resist becoming a collector, but lately I've noticed that I simply can't sell any of my remaining watches... and I had to break my 8 watches "rule limit". Still... I definitely don't want to own more than 10 watches, I want to wear them all regularly. It's some kind of weird principle to me... I guess I'm kind of a practical person. I've always traded all the watches that won't get any wrist time. I've had some really nice ones that I wouldn't mind still owning, but then again I have never regretted selling any of them. There was always a reason for the trade. So I'm definitely a "wearer". Which are you? Discuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ztech Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I'd say I'm a bit of both. I try to keep my collection/rotation to about 10 watches, but there are a few watches, like a few of my Doxas for example, that I hardly wear but would never sell. BTW, this goes for both reps and gens. On the rep side I don't wear the Graham CF much, but I don't think I'll ever sell her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted October 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Good answer. I guess most of us are a bit of both, really. Where to draw the line, that's interesting. I think all people who own more than 15 watches are serious collectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 i would consider myself a "wearer" within the rep scene. i keep those that are worn more than others. i would consider myself a "collector" with my gen as they could possibly be investments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Fleischer Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 i've definitely become a collector, now with almost 50 watches! the truth is i can't wear them all that much, yet i don't seem to want to part with them either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfran42 Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 For me if you can't use it, it is worthless. I guess if I had a family heirloom watch, I would "collect" it, but as it stands now...every one of my SS beauties are going to live a happy life getting all nicked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I don't know anybody really, who wears more than 1 watch per limb...but you can certainly wear 1 watch PER limb. So, if you any have more watches than you have appendages...it means you're a collector to a certain degree because some watches will be at home in the box. For Men, that's >5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted October 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 So, if you any have more watches than you have appendages...it means you're a collector to a certain degree because some watches will be at home in the box. Yeah, you have a point. But we're watch geeks, we have different standards... we even have people who own 100+ watches. My 8-10 watch "collection" is NOTHING compared to those, so in that sense I can hardly call myself a "collector". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 The only ones I rotate on dialy wear now are the vintage Rolex's that has been to Ziggy ... but I like to take the others out and wear them on occasion.. so I guess I would say a little of both.. I jus love to look at the ones I don't wear from time to time.. Yes.. I have a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted October 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Yes.. I have a problem Hey Lani, I wouldn't mind having your problem... and your watches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 i am ALSO BOTH. wearer and collector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff g Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I currently own 23 watches. Only wear 3 or 4. I suppose that makes me a collector. I have no plans to sell the 20 that I never wear. I guess that I feel as though I will wear all of them whenever the feeling moves me. Even though 20 sit in my cases unworn, I still love them all. If the MBK PP Nautilus had never been repped, who knows...the mix might have been a bit more diverse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chronoluvvv Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 well as of now, i'm a wearer but i'm sure to have a hard time letting any of them go so i reckon its a matter of time before i turn into a collector Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmg Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I'm a bit of both too I guess. I'm probably more a collector of gens for the mere fact I have several that I never wear and definitely more a wearer of my reps/frankens, which is currently 8 with 2 projects in the (very slow) works. I'm a bit more fickle with my PAM's as I am now down to only 2 (dumped 2 in the last few months) but vintage Rolex is where my heart is -who knew! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiki_hr Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Good answer. I guess most of us are a bit of both, really. Where to draw the line, that's interesting. I think all people who own more than 15 watches are serious collectors. Than, according to your definition, I am collector:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Interresting question. Difficult answer though. I still have around 30 watches allthough I sold a lot shortly after getting them. I wouldn't mind getting rid of the ones I trully never wear. So, I'm more a wearer in this case. But with around 15 Rolex, gens and frankens, I guess I'm a collector too as I can't really wear them all regularly. I notice something though: - some evenings, when at home, I like to wear a watch I usualy never wear outside like the Single Red or a Pam. - I also have periods where I suddenly wear "the unworn ones" during a week or so. I guess I'm a wearor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Both. I think that anyone with more than 2 working watches, is, by default, a collector since, at any given time, at least 1 watch will always be sitting idle while the other is being worn. I also have some watches that I never wear because they are not my style, but I can appreciate their beauty from afar. The new Rolex Deepsea is 1 of the watches that (once I acquire it) will fall into this latter category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kronos twin Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I guess I'd have to call myself a collector, although I have a habit of wearing my PAMs more than anything else. I love to be a completist, and part of me likes to have representations of the history of watchmaking. It's my own personal museum, and I love it. I too find myself wearing my case fraus as one member here calls them. I wear them around the house sometimes. It's a great freaking hobby, man. A passion, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im2 Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I can understand people having 15 or 30 watches..but this is not my styl... I prefer to wear proudly my (few) loved watches!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieG Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Wearer. Definitely a wearer which is why my collection keeps shrinking. I was up over thirty and now under ten - and that may shrink too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Definately a wearer.. if I don't wear something off it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonSlayer Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I'm a wearer all the way. Any which are not getting wristtime are sold. I suppose I can't be a collector as the ones that are not worn sit on a shelf in my room collecting dust, (there is no display cabinet where I can 'admire their beauty) So I don't see the point in that. Before I used to care about every little scratch or mark that would show up on the bracelets, now I can't stand every single one of them looking new so want to age them through wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieG Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 On another note, my best bud is not into reps but has one of the foremost gen collections I have ever seen (probably in the world I would think but I wouldn't know). Anyway, over $1M worth and over 100 pieces now. It is just silly to me though and I tell him so all the time. He has a huge walk in closet in his master bedroom with a "watch island" in the middle which is a giant built in with a flat top and drawers on both sides custom made with individual watch pillows for the manuals and a Scatola 64 in the other room for the autos. Impressive but silly. He doesn't even know what he has. I mean we go watch shopping and he will find a piece and say, "Wow, I really like this" and I will say, "Dude, you have the same watch with a different dial..." He just loses track. He just has so much f'n money he has no idea what to do with it. I wouldn't mind having that problem but I wouldn't do that that is for sure. Makes no sense to me. Meanwhile, he always wears the same few pieces and they are not what you would expect from a collector like him. I see him with his Tag Carerra on rubber as much as anything - or a TT Cartier Roadster - yuk. But then he has these sicko pieces from de Bethune and Corum Golden Bridges in all three metals and collector edition Vacheron's and Dewitt Academias and AP RO chronos in several dial combos, etc. and they have literally never been on his wrist since taking them home from the AD a year ago. I just don't get it... Not that there is anything wrong with "collecting" but I think to be meaningful it just has to have some limits or at least some kind of theme... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siesta181 Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Wearer. If it doesn't get worn after 2 months. Its gone. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordRasta Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I consider myself both. I wear all my watches, although some obviously sit longer than others. I like to collect the harder to find watches, like the handwind Broad Arrow with no date. I started a new job this past April and someone has already said "you sure like watches". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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