Should one's collection be structured in a certain way? Or just buy what you like?

[aphil]

So you guys can see my small collection in my signature below. The watch that I am most interested in acquiring next is a 126710 BLNR, but realistically that might take some time since I'm not interested in paying premiums. In the interim, I'm browsing other smaller purchases. Now as I'm sure is the case with some (most) of us, I sometimes browse TRF then end up on watchrecon looking for watches I could potentially buy. Then I see a pic of a speedy and feel everybody needs a chrono in their collection and it's also such a classic. Then I gravitate towards JLC for their movements, subtlety and craftsmanship. Then I check out a 16570 with a white dial. You get the idea. The struggle is real.

My question is; do you guys follow a certain strategy when buying a new watch, aka assess your current collection, see what your collection is lacking, then take it from there? Or do you just see a watch, like it then buy it? Do you feel that sticking to just one model line (e.g. collecting subs only for instance) is redundant or do you see it as dedication and depth?
I realize the answers will be very different, but would be interesting to see how everyone decides what's next.

[FrontHeadlock]

I don't think a strategy matters so much once you pass the point of having 1-3 watches that are suitable for every occasion.

So, for example, if i have a DateJust, ALS Saxonia, and a Breitling SuperOcean on rubber, I'd really just buy what I like at that point. One doesn't need to start covering every complication or brand or metal.

I DO think people need to assess their collection when they are missing a watch that is essential for a put-together adult male, which is why I always find it more than bizarre when someone says "check out my collection!" on TRF and it's like 7 kinds of Subs and GMTs.

[Unclebuck]

I love dive watches because you can wash them with soap, and water in the sink. But I don't want ALL dive watches. I have a chronometer, and am currently looking at a GMT. Rolex is out of the question, so maybe a GS, or Omega. There are even some nice microbrand GMTs.

[wigdog63]

Good question-I'm sure we are all different.
I develop a new strategy each day over breakfast but this has usually changed by lunchtime.
Currently I can't keep my eyes off the white dial explorer II 216570 and deciding how to make space for this.Ask me tomorrow afternoon and that may have changed!
I have (only)5 watches, but 4 of these were bought in the last year to replace outgoing pieces-before that it was a few years since I bought a new one.
In summary-I don't have a fixed strategy, but seem to get drawn in to a watch and finally buy it when I have justified its need to myself.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by aphil

My question is; do you guys follow a certain strategy when buying a new watch, aka assess your current collection, see what your collection is lacking, then take it from there? Or do you just see a watch, like it then buy it? Do you feel that sticking to just one model line (e.g. collecting subs only for instance) is redundant or do you see it as dedication and depth?
I realize the answers will be very different, but would be interesting to see how everyone decides what's next.

I believe that as a collector, if you just buy what you want, your heart will gravitate towards things you don't have and you'll most likely end up with a rounded collection. I'm a GMT or dual time guy but 'had to have' a Chronograph. Then I 'had to have' a turny-bezel dive watch. Now I have to have a... It's cheaper than collecting wives I guess.

[Jona]

I just buy what I like. With other hobbies, like coin collecting, one may seek type coins, or all of a certain mint mark. I don't see just collecting GMT's for example to be similar.

[aphil]

Originally Posted by wigdog63

Good question-I'm sure we are all different.
I develop a new strategy each day over breakfast but this has usually changed by lunchtime.
Currently I can't keep my eyes off the white dial explorer II 216570 and deciding how to make space for this.Ask me tomorrow afternoon and that may have changed!
I have (only)5 watches, but 4 of these were bought in the last year to replace outgoing pieces-before that it was a few years since I bought a new one.
In summary-I don't have a fixed strategy, but seem to get drawn in to a watch and finally buy it when I have justified its need to myself.

I feel ya And oh the things we tell ourselves to justify a purchase, like "it will only go up in value". For me, explorer 16570 in white is also on my scope, and seeing a picture of it on a light brown leather strap makes it very difficult to not justify it

[AK797]

To start with I bought what I liked which was mainly Rolex, then I moved on to PM Rolex and then AP and PP, and those three brands are the core of my grail collection of 5/6 watches.

[Roll the Lex]

I have a few rules to collecting:

1) you should always have n-1 of your ideal number of watches
2) once you sell off a watch, you can never reacquire it again
3) there should be some diversity

I typically look at a watch on its own and if I like it, then I look at how it fits into the collection. Let's say I fall in love with a GMT, I'll then see how it fits into my collection. I've got a GMT already- so I wouldn't want 2. At that point I have to make a decision- either pass on the new GMT, or flip the old one to get the new one.

I keep my collection purposely lean and I don't want to take flipping or collecting watches lightly- I think I moved a bit fast early on. I try to put a lot of thought into obtaining watches and how I manage my collection (passing on adding).

My fear is to amass a collection of watches where I don't really use them and when I open up the watch box, I'm surprised to see a few watches there that I haven't used in awhile. It's a waste of money and a waste of a perfectly good watch sitting in a safe.

[Largoshark]

Originally Posted by FrontHeadlock

I DO think people need to assess their collection when they are missing a watch that is essential for a put-together adult male, which is why I always find it more than bizarre when someone says "check out my collection!" on TRF and it's like 7 kinds of Subs and GMTs.

I'm sorry, but I disagree with this. It's 2019 and no watch is "essential for a put together adult male." We are all enthusiasts here, but we are a very small minority of the population. Watches are purely a hobby nowadays, and I say you can buy/wear what you like. I also think it's fair to say that most people who do own a watch only own that one watch.

[10klakes]

I have a theme of getting a 5 digit and 6 digit of each mode I like. Example: I love Explorer 2s, so I have a black and white dial of each 5 and 6 digit reference.

I also have done some back tracking of 6 digits- example, 126600 and 116600, or 116500LN and 116520.

As I’ve continued my collection, I’ve done this with many models (GMTs, subs, Daytonas, etc) and I feel it rounds out my line-up nicely. I feel that today’s Rolex models are more robust and have improved but it’s fun to wear the predecessors and get that feeling of where the new models have come from.

[101031-28]

I started 30 some years ago, buying watches I liked, different brands but typically divers and chronographs. In the last 10 years, Rolex has become my only brand. I chose professionals, 40mm case with crown guards, in either SS or PM. As my daily, I wear a 1987 Sub, blue dial in SS/18K, I find that it nicely suits just about any occasion. Happy watch hunting, OP

[FrontHeadlock]

Originally Posted by Largoshark

I'm sorry, but I disagree with this. It's 2019 and no watch is "essential for a put together adult male." We are all enthusiasts here, but we are a very small minority of the population. Watches are purely a hobby nowadays, and I say you can buy/wear what you like. I also think it's fair to say that most people who do own a watch only own that one watch.

You can say that, but you are wrong. The "it's 2019" argument is just a lazy way of saying you don't care about how you present yourself.

You can have just one watch of course, but it depends on what watch that is.

A man could get by with one pair of shoes, but that pair of shoes can't be chuck taylors, nor can that pair be patent leather oxfords.

[joli160]

Only Rolex for me, considering Grand Seiko.

[cbiggs]

Originally Posted by wigdog63

Good question-I'm sure we are all different.
I develop a new strategy each day over breakfast but this has usually changed by lunchtime.
Currently I can't keep my eyes off the white dial explorer II 216570 and deciding how to make space for this.Ask me tomorrow afternoon and that may have changed!
I have (only)5 watches, but 4 of these were bought in the last year to replace outgoing pieces-before that it was a few years since I bought a new one.
In summary-I don't have a fixed strategy, but seem to get drawn in to a watch and finally buy it when I have justified its need to myself.

This is generally my thought process. Something like James Woods's character in Family Guy. For me, the deciding factor is when I keep circling back for the same piece of candy, it is then purchased.

I feel like all of the other thoughts of "This adds breadth to my collection" and I don't have a _______ yet" are all just ways of justifying the inevitable.

[wisguy]

Everyone is different.

In the beginning I had multiple pieces that were basically variations of the same watch (SS Rolexes), then I went for variety (dress, chrono, diver, GMT, etc).

Then I realized I did not rotate often so I consolidated, my sweet spot is 2/3 pieces.

Right now I think a dress watch, a nice sporty watch and a tool watch are all I need (and what I have). Brand wise I've owned plenty and, right now I have ALS, PP and Rolex, one of each.

Am I done? Obviously not, I think I will continue to upgrade the pieces if I can, but I won't change the 3 watch/use case rule that I think works for me and will probably stay whithin those 3 Brands.

[cloudplay]

It seems that the guiding principle for most recent "collections" is FOMO (says the guy with a BLNR and 116520). I wonder how many people, if left to decide on their own, would really pick a green sub, a pink/purple GMT and an oversized, unreadable datejust with some complications as must-haves.

[lee fowler]

You buy what you like and for me that happens to be GMT’s! I have other model Rolex and vintage as well but just love a GMT.

[Stew7]

I subscribe to the buy what I like but also buy what I will wear. There are many watches out there that I think are spectacular but just wouldn't jive with my work environment or lifestyle.

Even though it makes for a diverse collection, I wouldn't buy a watch I'd only wear once a month.

[Largoshark]

Originally Posted by FrontHeadlock

You can say that, but you are wrong. The "it's 2019" argument is just a lazy way of saying you don't care about how you present yourself.

You can have just one watch of course, but it depends on what watch that is.

A man could get by with one pair of shoes, but that pair of shoes can't be chuck taylors, nor can that pair be patent leather oxfords.

Hahaha okay, you're absolutely right. A man simply cannot be put together without a wristwatch...no point in arguing any further

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by joli160

Only Rolex for me, considering Grand Seiko.

Do it.

[nikesupremedunk]

Your tastes can also change so I’d say buy what you like, and sell what you no longer wear or don’t like. When I started, all I wanted to buy was a diver style sport Rolex so I ended up with a blnr and a black sub. Then I got tired of having 2 essentially same looking watches so I sold the blnr and upgraded to a Daytona and finally I’m pretty content with my collection.

I know it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and buy all the hyped up ss sports models but eventually I got tired of seeing them allll the time. Every thread is blnr hulk or Daytona c so I decided to go the other direction and stick with classic rolexes that will be timeless forever.

[NYG1121]

I enjoy different brands and types of watches with certain favorites of course. However, I have learned that if you buy simply because of arbitrary rules like "everyone should have a dress watch on leather", it ends up not being used much and ultimately sold off (usually for a loss). So buy and wear what you love. Everyone's different.

[dafuture]

I'm 100% in the buy what you like boat. It's all about enjoying what you wear. In the past, I've bought (or didn't buy things) because I felt like it had to "fit" in my collection? The reality was that none of those watches made me happy. Now that I've finally just bought what I wanted and stopped worrying about filling a slot, I'm much happier with my collection.

[aphil]

Originally Posted by cbiggs

This is generally my thought process. Something like James Woods's character in Family Guy. For me, the deciding factor is when I keep circling back for the same piece of candy, it is then purchased.

I feel like all of the other thoughts of "This adds breadth to my collection" and I don't have a _______ yet" are all just ways of justifying the inevitable.

I am a family guy fan and the james wood analogy is so on point What if i keep circling back to 5 different watches?

[aphil]

Originally Posted by wisguy

Everyone is different.

In the beginning I had multiple pieces that were basically variations of the same watch (SS Rolexes), then I went for variety (dress, chrono, diver, GMT, etc).

Then I realized I did not rotate often so I consolidated, my sweet spot is 2/3 pieces.

Right now I think a dress watch, a nice sporty watch and a tool watch are all I need (and what I have). Brand wise I've owned plenty and, right now I have ALS, PP and Rolex, one of each.

Am I done? Obviously not, I think I will continue to upgrade the pieces if I can, but I won't change the 3 watch/use case rule that I think works for me and will probably stay whithin those 3 Brands.

That's exactly the kind of input I was hoping to receive. Your collection speaks volumes and makes perfect sense. Very nicely done.

[jonnyz1245]

Buy what you like! Why spend a bunch of money on watches one doesn't want to own just to have a well rounded collection?

[cbiggs]

Originally Posted by aphil

I am a family guy fan and the james wood analogy is so on point What if i keep circling back to 5 different watches?

At that point, I make the call depending on whether or not it fits in the budget. Rank your 5 and if you're still having a difficult time, consult a trusted advisor. I never purchase more than one at a time. One always seems to lose out

[RobearH]

There is no right or wrong.

I am focusing on a total of five for now..everything does look better to the in odd #'s though.

A SEAL trio which I have already. Then later wish to add a PM on OF and a full PM bracelet.

[stylinleems]

I have purchased what I like and what to me, is unique and different (for my style/preference/taste).

Somehow with the uniqueness, I have just ended up with a pair of each reference (GMT, Sub and Daytona). I will add others in the future but I buy what will fit my lifestyle and not because it's the one to have.