How do you build your collection?

[Cimballi]

First, let me say that I clearly understand that purchasing a watch can be driven by a combination of logic and emotion.

Second, from my humble point of view, a watch collection is defined by a logic.
In absence of logic, it is what I would call "an accumulation of watches", which could be an awesome one, BTW.

From the beginning, I tried to set a logic and a target number for the watches I purchase.

Here are a few examples of numbers/logics in a collection:

One watch: engagement present
Two watches: weekdays/ weekend
Three watches: work/home/sports
Four watches: steel work/ gold work/ sports beater/ formal gold
And so on...

You can base your logic on so many parameters: usage, metal, complication, provenance, brand, age, movement, color,...

After much thinking, I ended up with a target of 10 watches and a logic based on dress style and usage:

SS diver,
SS chronograph,
SS pilot,
YG dress,
SS dress with silver or white dial,
SS dress with blue dial,
SS or titanium beater,
Plastic quartz sports,
SS GMT,
Vintage from my birth year (my wild card)

What is your logic for building your collection?

[subtona]

Variety and balance, most importantly functionality in the interest of my daily needs.


Nothing gets put up on a shelf, they are all meant to be worn and used

General guide:
Sports watch: auto wind SS on bracelet

Dress watch: manual wind PM on strap

[Jason71]

Almost exclusively Rolex divers

[japenney]

one watch to rule them all.

[beer]

when "moving up", purchasing "higher" brands or more complicated movements, rather than gold watches

not sure if this is logic or completely illogical mind you, paying gold prices for steel

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Cimballi

What is your logic for building your collection?

I buy what I like and want to wear

[Daytona88]

Here is how I rationalize my 7:
White Dial Chrono (SS Daytona)
Black Dial Chrono (Moonwatch)
A touch of Color (Blue Dial YM)
A touch of gold (YG Cartier Tank Francaise Chronoflex on strap)
Super simple dial (Tudor Ranger)
Vintage from Dad (YG Rolex)
Vintage from Grandfather (RG Rolex)

[Cimballi]

Originally Posted by beshannon

I buy what I like and want to wear

Your choices may not be driven by any logic BUT your collection is absolutely awesome!!!

[Cimballi]

Originally Posted by beer

when "moving up", purchasing "higher" brands or more complicated movements, rather than gold watches

not sure if this is logic or completely illogical mind you, paying gold prices for steel

I agree.
I could be wrong but I think that the higher you go the less the metal is a factor in the price.

[Boaters]

Just variety it is the spice of life

[liuk3]

I like it. Check bank account. Go buy it.

[drfaulkner]

Originally Posted by subtona

Variety and balance, most importantly functionality in the interest of my daily needs.

Nothing gets put up on a shelf, they are all meant to be worn and used

this

[WhatTheDeuce]

Unfortunately, I don't use logic when making watch purchases. This means two things:
1. I love every watch I purchase
2. I have too many watches



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[joejoe1225]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Almost exclusively Rolex divers

X2

[flw]

Some inherited, some vintage, some new ... Mainly what appeals to me, and in that sense I generally like SS dive watches for their durability. Next on the list: a Speedy Moonwatch, since I don't have a mechanical chronograph, and it appeals to me a bit more than a Daytona (especially the price!).

[slashd0t]

Originally Posted by beshannon

I buy what I like and want to wear

This .. Not much more thought required.

[Abdullasaif]

Anything that I like which fits my current mojo. Before I use to follow a one watch one complication rule but, I ended up having 2 gmt functions stopped that vibe ever since.


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[stil]

I would say for most...and definitely for me...most end up with a few experiments before they truly realize they are/ want to start a collection.

It wasn't until my 4th or 5th watch that I had a plan and a remote resemblance to any knowledge of what I was doing. However, that's still very much up for debate...especially if you ask my wife.

[hoanghung45]

unique & uncommon. I'm never going to add a BLNR

[kilyung]

I'm just an illogical hoarder

[fullcourt]

buy and wear what i like....

[AK797]

To quote the Fast Show, "This year I will be mostly collecting my fav PM Rolex and SS Rolex, my fav PP and my fav AP."

Between them there is enough divergence for any occasion.

[Snow-Dweller]

Not sure about logic, but it took me a while to understand that less is more.

[East Bay Rider]

My humble 'collection' consists of watches I like and find interesting regardless of cost or status.
For instance while my Rolex GMT was away being serviced I bought an atomic radio controlled Citizen Eco-drive. While not everyone's cup of tea on TRF, the technology certainly is pretty cool and it has a place in my collection along with other mechanical watches and a G-Shock.

[droptopman]

"Collection" has changed a lot over 30 years. Initially in the 80's, I wanted a 16803/16613 for a daily and a 1803/18038 for a dress watch. I wore YG exclusively back then. That was a good tandem, but I started moving away from gold and wanted an SS 16710 Pepsi. Went on a flipping spree for 15 years or so with no rhyme or reason other than I bought what I liked. I didn't know or study the references back then.
Few years ago I really started studying Rolex history and my tastes really shifted towards vintage pieces. That was when I made a list of the watches I wanted for a collection. So it took many years...with that said I buy what I like and also what wears well on me. Often overlooked is the comfort factor. For example I love the 1665 and it would be #2 on my list, but it does not wear good on my wrist. Sits way to high.
Here is the current list:
1966 Gilt Bart 5513, MKI 1675 Pepsi, 6265 Big Red Silver dial, and a vintage 1803 on a strap for a dress watch. Polar 16570.
Still on the hunt for the Daytona and DD.
I waver on the Daytona. Some days I think of trading off the 16750 Polar for a white dialed Zenith Daytona. Need one white dial in the collection. Also much easier than finding a four digit.
I recently sold my second 16613 and miss the blue dial so if I was going to add one it would be that.

[Widows Son]

What's a collection??? I have more of an accumulation!!! No rhyme or reason. I have dress watches, divers, chronos, alarm watches, inherited watches...........Rolex, Hamilton. Bulova, Omega, IWC, Vulcain, Swiss Army, Wenger, Seiko, Breitling, Benrus, and who else knows what's hiding in the watch box....

[Widows Son]

Originally Posted by Clivek

Not sure about logic, but it took me a while to understand that less is more.

Trying to thin the herd also. Just dropped of 10 vintage dress watches to a friend to put on the bay...

[Roll the Lex]

Initially it was to go for diversity- one from each brand, i.e. patek, rolex, ap, jlc.

Then I decided to stick with Rolex and go with a diversity of metals- ss, tt, pm

Then thinking about it, it just didn't sit right with me to have the cash tied up in two watches that would have to sit in a safe. It didn't seem right to spend all that money to have two watches just sitting in a safe and not being enjoyed.

So now I only have one watch- a PM watch. Expensive? Yes. But I feel comfortable in the fact that the watch is being used daily and I'm not wasting it away in a safe.. It's on my wrist at all times expect to take a shower. Has been that way for several months now. I think about getting another piece but nothing really to motivate me to spend more on something else and enough to convince me to put my current watch in the safe.

[HogwldFLTR]

For me I wanted to capture the Rolex line-up so pretty much what I could afford ranging from OP to DJ to DD and from Exp to Sub to GMT. After that a few Tudors were thrown into the mix. Pretty much the choices were what caught my eye and held my interest.

[red1108nyc]

When you feel the need, you just grip it and rip it.