Does every collection need a mixed variety of functions and design?

[Vetracer]

Hi all

Maybe I'm getting old but right now I'm rethinking the whole sports watch craze and contemplating trading some of my hyped sports Rolex watches for dressy Patek Philippe watches.

My objective is to have a collection of sports and dress GMT functions for travelling, a mixture of sports and dress chronographs, date functions, some independent brands, some manual wind mechanisms with long power reserves, simple time only functions, an integrated bracelet design and cheaper durable watches I can wear whilst playing with the kids or doing chores around the house.

Does anyone feel the need to have different categories represented in their watch collection?

What's your opinion on having some redundancy?

[DoctorA]

A collection needs to have what satisfies the collector’s desires and peak their interest. So no hard rules of functions/metals/style/dial…….. etc.
Some might choose a collection of only divers, others might choose dress watches, and some might want a variety of everything……etc.
It also has to do with the number of watches in a collection. The larger the collection gets, I believe the more diverse it can get

For me, my collection evolved over time and as I added more watches, I wanted something “different” in function, color, brand, dial, finish, metal…..etc.

[thenewrick]

Collect whatever you like. There’s no right or wrong answer. The stuff I like is not the most popular.

If you’re collecting for investing that’s a whole other thing.

If you’re looking for value look for stuff that is unloved and inexpensive; 80s-mid 2000s references especially precious metal and 2 tone.

For me, because I have very limited funds, I choose my collection carefully and over the period of years per piece. My strategy is to start with a versatile and inexpensive OP41 to fit any situation and try out the benchmark original pure Rolex on oyster. Got that experience so now I’m looking at trying something modern on jubilee, something vintage, and something left field and fun, and a dress watch. This will probably take me 5 years or more to get the fundamentals of my collection.

I’ve found that the things I was interested in when I just got into the hobby is the stuff I still like. First impressions are almost the most important thing. Since then I’ve learned to appreciate more references but not as a priority purchase over the things I initially found appealing.

[brandrea]

Some folks collect divers only, some folks zone in or GMTs or Daytona’s.

No rules whatsoever IMO, buy what you like

[Malum]

A persons collection should be what they enjoy . Having a diverse collection just for the sake diversity doesn’t interest me .

[Epanerai12]

I know one guy who has nothing but sea-dwellers. like 6 of them representing different models over the past 40-50 yrs.

[Bruse Wayne]

to each his own! The beauty of collecting

*personally working on a variety pack ;)

[Dennisoul]

No…your collection is your collection, doesn’t have to be defined by anyone else’s requirements.

[HogwldFLTR]

Some only collect dive watches, some GMTs. Buy and wear what you like. None here will judge you. (Recycled response from last thread I commented on.)

[OrangeSport]

No

[RaZCaL]

I used to only collect sports watches but as I get older, I’ve been drawn to more dressy pieces. There is no wrong way of collecting. Whatever floats your boat!

[Epanerai12]

I also think we all have been here at some point, mostly to justify to ourselves the need to buy more/different watches :)

[HHIslander]

No way, rules-based collecting is kinda boring. Get how many you want of whatever you want. Many folks are content with just one.

[youthagainsttt]

I do like to round out my collection with quite different watches/functions, unless I really like a watch which is similar to one I've got

To summarise:
-A flyback chronograph
-Sports watch
-World time
-Precious metal
-Non-round versatile watch
-Beater
-Skeleton watch

[Tim Plains]

Buy what you like. A single watch like a Sub, Omega 300m or Speedmaster can really do it all.

I have a Sub and 300m, plan an buying a GMT II, BB58, Seamaster Heritage or Planet Ocean, all redundant but that's what I like and I don't look at it from the sense of having a complete collection for all scenarios.

[Driver8]

There's no rules with any of this.

Personally I have no need or desire for pure dress watches, so everything I own is in the professional/sports categories - divers, pilots watches, field watches, etc. I also don't go in for "flashy" metals or dials, so probably 75% of my watches have black dials, maybe 20% have blue, and the remainder are white/silver.

None of that criteria is a 'rule' for me - I just buy what I like.

[Rushne]

If your lifestyle supports a dress watch then go for it.

I had an IWC Portuguese 7 day that was stolen, but that was a nice mix of dress/casual and would get that again, however a full dress watch I will never get again as I just never wore it.

Over the years I have figured out I love travelling with a do it all watch. Head to the pool with the same watch that I head out to a nice dinner with. Daytona, Aquanaut and GMT, Datejust.... they all fit the bill. However, I am looking at a 5164 ... which will see me sell the GMT as then there is still a swimmable GMT in the collection

I just collect according to if I can swim with it... and what interesting complications I can have.

However.. an ALS 1815 Chrono has me very tempted right now. Then it will play to Portuguese roll of Casual and dress.

Long story short, collect what you love wearing.

[brucethemanlee]

nope

as someone has said you can have all black divers from same brand and that would be a collection

[harvey]

My collection has references which I like and can afford…

[DESH]

just buy what you like-

[rushca01]

I think every collection is unique to that person. Take me for example, I love the 5 digit references. So, in my collection of 5 digit reference I have three dive watches, some would say that’s over kill. But, each one is unique 16600 vs 14060M vs 16610LV. To diversify I also have a 16570 polar and purposely did not get a black dial and I have a 16710 on both a oyster and jubilee.

[NachoNeal]

As above poster stated "whatever floats your boat".
I kind of think the perfect collection would be a dress watch, a sports watch and a beater watch.

[alphadweller]

Some people have collections of several Subs, or Speedys etc. Others like variety. No need for rhyme or reason, just follow your heart.

[jdp12199]

It's your collection... do as you please.

[Gab27]

The only thing you have to have in your collection is a Submariner, as this is Horology Law. The rest is up to you.

[danwang0520]

1. Buy what you love! Most important lesson.
2. People can collect on one particular brand or a wide range of different brands, up to you.
3. Can collect on particular model and historical pieces – this is called vintage watches. For example, people collect Rolex Submariner/Daytona/GMT-Master or Omega Moonwatch Professional for different past color variations or historical reasons – based on movement or text/bezel variations of the watch.
4. Can collect based on sea/air/land/dress ideology: diving + pilot(either GMT, pilot style or both) + chronograph or date/calendar + dress watch. I collect based on this idea, gives the most variety in a collection. Dress watch works in an office(Mon-Fri), Diving works in weekend since it’s casual watch and you can take it to swimming or diving, chronograph works well when you’re cooking, GMT watch works well in weekdays or when you travel.
5. Can collect based on complications or features. Some people love to collect only diving or dress watches or calendar watches or bling-bling watches because they like one particular look or a particular complication.

[flyboyyy]

I think a collection that represents what you find interesting or speaks to you personally is a good collection. A collection based on other people's opinions is nothing more than an assemblage of popularity.

The ones I cringe at (and there are many examples posted here regularly) are just a checklist of popular models, with an added Speedy, Santos, and maybe an AP or PP to make up the "default instafabulous collection".

You'll note they are typically assembled (collected) in weeks or months as the owner of said collection is always in a hurry to stuff the box with the popular models. Those "collections" are utterly uninspired and tell the story that you have zero personal character beyond a healthy credit card or bank account (which is fine, I'm a bit jealous)!

[B2 Stealth]

I like GMTs and divers. Diverse enough for me.

[Vetracer]

I recently saw a collection reviewed on Hodinkee where the collector had every single Rolex Explorer variant that had ever been made. To me this is quite obsessive and he clearly has no intention of wearing the watches but it made him happy.

It was interesting to see the latest bi-metal edition adding some colour though.

[macrowatch]

The only thing a watch collection needs to do is make the owner happy.