Balancing wanting that lifelong companion watch vs a collection

[Heliopause]

Everybody has a different number at which they get bored of resetting watches and such.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by gtnator

I’ve done both and will say that there is value in both, and at the same time the grass is greener. I wore a Rolex GMT Master II Pepsi purchased new for 18 years straight. It took me through college, every adventure, trips around the world, going out on the town, getting married, and holding my first born child.

All this time I could not imagine wearing something else. Until it happened. I fell head over heals with another brand, Panerai, and then Breitling, then IWC, then Tudor, then all the other Rolex sports models. When I look at my collection, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to exclusively live a life with just one of my watches, for example a SS Daytona. Wouldn’t it be cool if that was my only watch and I “had” to take it everywhere? And I had to live with it on all my journeys? That thought does cross my mind often. But the practical me says, no, I get value in having a different watch for different vacations, activities, and life experiences. But I will say that I definitely spend long long rotations with some of my watches. For example I wore my DSSD almost (almost) exclusively for a year. I always switch it up on weekends regardless of what I wear during the week. Now a days I won’t wear a watch exclusively longer than a month (not counting weekends) but this is long enough for me to get a feel for what “one watch” feels like.


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This really resonates with me, thank you for posting it.

Do you still have that GMT?

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Maybe it’s not so much the exact watch that people might remember …

Maybe it’s more: “you’re that guy that always wore a nice watch”.

That is so true, my friend.

We get so balled up over model numbers and references here in our little watch world, we forget they mean nothing to the rest of the population. Your description is far more likely to be the one used by a non-WIS (or maybe a variation such as "he always wore a Rolex") than "he always wore a sub."

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

That is so true, my friend.



We get so balled up over model numbers and references here in our little watch world, we forget they mean nothing to the rest of the population. Your description is far more likely to be the one used by a non-WIS (or maybe a variation such as "he always wore a Rolex") than "he always wore a sub."

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[alphadweller]

I had one watch, got bored after 7 years of daily wear.

OP, you're not the only one, but why are so many people chasing the idea of going back to the one watch days? I don't get it.

Are people overwhelmed by their watch collection? Is it the money, too much cash gone into watches? What's going on?

[TheWatchmen]

Originally Posted by alphadweller

I had one watch, got bored after 7 years of daily wear.

OP, you're not the only one, but why are so many people chasing the idea of going back to the one watch days? I don't get it.

Are people overwhelmed by their watch collection? Is it the money, too much cash gone into watches? What's going on?

I think it’s all of the factors you mentioned, but also natural ebb and flow of human experience. Once you’ve done the thing, and have the experience under your belt it’s time to move on?

Maybe you’re at a point where you’ve owned a bunch and the chase/acquisition no longer excites you; you’re content with just “having what you need” and focusing more on other things in your life.

Maybe you’ve stretched yourself too thin financially and need to downsize to make room for other expenditures.

Maybe all of the hype and mental energy being expelled towards the hobby isn’t worth it anymore.

I would venture say that in Rolex land (notwithstanding the microcosm of TRF members and a collector’s mentality), there are FAR more people nowadays who aspire to own multiple pieces, though the general population still only aspires for one Rolex.

Just my opinion.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by Kenny G

It’s always an interesting topic…

The thing is, as a watch fan, you have multiple watches for a reason…because you’re a watch aficionado.

The one watch stories are usually not watch people but rather someone who just happens to be able to afford a nice watch and sees no reason for multiple pieces. It goes everywhere with them, they do everything with it on, and is in every picture…

As someone who owns multiples, you wish things could be that simple and you romanticize with the one-watch story but can’t replicate it yourself because you have a ton of them lol….that’s the sickness

I literally could not disagree with this any more. I consider myself an "aficionado", but I only own one watch. I don't own a nice watch just because I can. I love watches, but I don't feel the need to own a collection. Typically over the years I enjoy owning multiple watches by buying, enjoying for a bit then trading into something else. No need to own them all at the same time to prove to someone that I'm into watches.

I very recently had a small collection and I didn't feel like any more of a watch guy when I did.

[espanol]

Interesting topic. I think about it too.

Perhaps overstated, but I do feel like a shift had occurred in the last 10 years around watch collecting. If you look at some of the oldest threads here on TRF, many very active users were one-watch people, and happy that way. Conjecture, but I'd hypothesize that value increases and social media gave rise to hyper collecting.

I have three Rolex watches that I wear consistently, all of which I very much enjoy. That said, I get a different feeling when wearing my GMT BLRO. It's like wearing your favorite power suit, or driving your favorite car. It's a unique feeling to me, and one that I'd happily experience every day if times became tough and I needed to sell the others.

[logo]

Between these two, I wear the DJ about 75% of the time. I do not wish to have a large collection, and only intend on MAYBE adding a watch or two in the future for major life milestones. But even so, the plan is that if I do add then the DJ maintains its wrist time, only the additions get diluted for time.

[HERITAGE82]

I have a small collection & each one has a memory attached to to it.

- Breitling Chronomat: College graduation gift from my mother & the only Breilting my father ever owned (both now deceased)
- Tudor Tiger Chrono: Worn the day I met, proposed, and married my wife as well as many other big memories.
- Explorer: Wedding day gift from my wife & it was worn at the birth of both my children.
- Tudor Black Bay Blue: My wife gave it to me on my first fathers day & is now my family vacation watch
- Freres Speedmaster Prototype: I received the watch on my sons first birthday and it is my gem since I know there is no other one like it

So to me being a one watch guy is impossible since these watches have such high sentimental value.

[Stan Cooper]

My "signature" lifetime watch is the GMT-Master/GMT-Master II. First it was a 1675 pepsi and now a 16710 with several bezel inserts for some variety. The 16710 gets 95% of my wrist time, mostly with a pepsi insert. I'll be wearing it when I croak.

[Laostuh]

Personally, I can't be a one watch guy. I like variety. Have I thought about consolidating into 1 piece? Of course. But I've never gone through with it because I simply can't part with my Black GMT II as its the 1st acquisition brand new from AD for me. And My Black Daytona C has been a grail watch since it came out in 2016. I do rotate fairly often so variety works best for me.

[Krash]

I feel like I’m already there, but it’s not one Rolex, it’s two. Sub & DJ41.

My two Omegas are good for variety. I’m at a point where I don’t want another watch (at least for now).


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[Kenny G]

Originally Posted by Kenny G

It’s always an interesting topic…

The thing is, as a watch fan, you have multiple watches for a reason…because you’re a watch aficionado.

The one watch stories are usually not watch people but rather someone who just happens to be able to afford a nice watch and sees no reason for multiple pieces. It goes everywhere with them, they do everything with it on, and is in every picture…

As someone who owns multiples, you wish things could be that simple and you romanticize with the one-watch story but can’t replicate it yourself because you have a ton of them lol….that’s the sickness

Originally Posted by tifosi

I literally could not disagree with this any more. I consider myself an "aficionado", but I only own one watch. I don't own a nice watch just because I can. I love watches, but I don't feel the need to own a collection. Typically over the years I enjoy owning multiple watches by buying, enjoying for a bit then trading into something else. No need to own them all at the same time to prove to someone that I'm into watches.

I very recently had a small collection and I didn't feel like any more of a watch guy when I did.

Differing opinions is what makes the hobby fun.

To clarify though, I wasn’t insinuating that a watch aficionado has to have multiple watches all at one time to prove something…but rather that when one does have multiples (like the OP) there is a reason for it…as a watch fan, they prefer to own multiple watches. When that same person finds themselves drawn to the simpler life of the “one watch story” they are usually referring to folks who are not true watch aficionados. A true one watch person is not someone who buys and trades each year as you’re referring to….that would be someone who doesn’t have unlimited resources but still wants to experience as many watches as they desire…..so not a true one watch person.

[KeobNepo]

I am also a one-watch guy. I have several, but i seem to wear one all the time, which is the 126710 BLRO. The pepsi is really comfortable en versatile, i actually don't feel it on my wrist anymore. But not wearing it makes me feel naked.

I could also easily sell the other ones without getting uncomfortable.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by Kenny G

Differing opinions is what makes the hobby fun.

To clarify though, I wasn’t insinuating that a watch aficionado has to have multiple watches all at one time to prove something…but rather that when one does have multiples (like the OP) there is a reason for it…as a watch fan, they prefer to own multiple watches. When that same person finds themselves drawn to the simpler life of the “one watch story” they are usually referring to folks who are not true watch aficionados. A true one watch person is not someone who buys and trades each year as you’re referring to….that would be someone who doesn’t have unlimited resources but still wants to experience as many watches as they desire…..so not a true one watch person.

Ok, I can see the distinction between a “one watch guy” and a “one watch at a time guy”. Well explained, thank you. I guess I’m the latter, then, a one watch at a time guy!

[1William]

Great post and different views. I had a YG Daytona and a SS Submariner and was happy with that and a G-Shock for more than a decade. But as I grew in the hobby, I took the path of ownership of more watches. Not because I was unhappy but because my knowledge had increased and so had my bank account. It appeals to me in the abstract to have less watches but when it comes to actually doing it I am at a loss. I enjoy my watches and wear almost all of them some. I do not need the money a sale would bring and if I want a big ticket watch, 50K plus, I have the funds to do it. So I am at peace with my collection, for now and I am just looking at it as a hobby that I enjoy. Nothing more or less, just fun. If and when that changes then I will act accordingly.

[1995akcoop]

Originally Posted by Kiddodoc

I only had one Rolex and it was 1680 sub I bought at age 15. I wore it for 18 years until my Dad gave a DD upon graduation from med school. I now have 15 Rolex watches and now prefer having a collection to change with mood and dress but I should say I was ecstatic owning my sub only. It went everywhere with me. It is up to you and your style of life.

Sheeeeeeesh! Would love to see that collection.


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[Kenny G]

Originally Posted by Kenny G

Differing opinions is what makes the hobby fun.

To clarify though, I wasn’t insinuating that a watch aficionado has to have multiple watches all at one time to prove something…but rather that when one does have multiples (like the OP) there is a reason for it…as a watch fan, they prefer to own multiple watches. When that same person finds themselves drawn to the simpler life of the “one watch story” they are usually referring to folks who are not true watch aficionados. A true one watch person is not someone who buys and trades each year as you’re referring to….that would be someone who doesn’t have unlimited resources but still wants to experience as many watches as they desire…..so not a true one watch person.

Originally Posted by tifosi

Ok, I can see the distinction between a “one watch guy” and a “one watch at a time guy”. Well explained, thank you. I guess I’m the latter, then, a one watch at a time guy!

Nothing wrong with being a one watch at a time guy!

[JJGreen]

I think you can sort of have both...one or two that are with you forever...and then a collection that you might be willing to trade or sell. I have a few that I can't imagine parting with, and then a collection too.

[gtnator]

Originally Posted by brandrea

This really resonates with me, thank you for posting it.

Do you still have that GMT?

Yes! I do, and I would never part with it. Here’s a pic, sitting right up in the front row.




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