Why a Watch Collection Will Divide Into Subcollections

Jonny writes:

There are two different things here, as I see it. One are "sub-collections" within the larger collection of certain styles or brands. The other is a "pre" and "post" differentation - pre/post some kind of change in taste or conversation. The latter better describes what I was talking about, which is based upon a relatively radical shift in my tastes - which is rather similar to your own "conversion" experience.

For me it really started at the beginning of September. Looking at my September Wishlist, most of the watches are Invictas with a few Seikos, Festinas, and Citizens sprinkled in.

By the way, Jeff, you might want to re-read this exchange between us from late September:

http://discipleofchronos.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/seiko-snad05-in-all-its-glory/#comments

At that point was teetering, still more focused on Invictas but now turning more towards Seiko - and the SNAD05 was what really opened the door for me. And then my tastes continued to change, but I was still into Invictas - purchasing two Ocean Reefs in early October on the Sunday Run (at least one of which I'm going to sell).

And then on October 21 I wrote the following post, "I Might Be Done with Honkin Huge Watches But I'm Not Done with Invicta":

http://discipleofchronos.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/i-might-be-done-with-honkin-huge-watches-but-im-not-done-with-invicta/

That marked my full transition from big watches. A few days later I wrote a post "Changin of the Watch Guard." I purchased two more Seikos, the SNAD33 and SNAD06, but I don't think it was until November that my conversion was complete. It was in November that I bought the SSC015 and the SKA425, and from that point on - for the last three plus months, really - I haven't worn anything but Seiko, with my newer Citizen sprinkled in.

(I should probably be reserving all of this for my own blog, but I suppose it isn't inappropriate given my "starring role" in your blog entry).

I won't say that I'll never buy another Invicta again, but I'm just not focused on it. If Invicta starts cranking out a whole line of mid-size Subaqua Specialty Reserves and Sea Hunters, they'll at least catch my attention. But going forward I see my focus remaining on Seiko, with a bit of Citizen, Festina, and Orient sprinkled in, and any branching out being on smaller or lesser known brands like Prometheus and Yema.

The short version of the above is that Invicta was synonymous to my adolescent phase of watch collecting, whereas Seiko is more mature. Further refinements (and maturation) going forward are deeper layers, more subtle approaches like the Prometheus Baiji (which is looming larger and larger in my mind).

I imagine that, a year from now, the bulk of my collection is Seiko with a few of a bunch of different brands sprinkled in. What I'm not sure about is if I'll go through a "die off" of unworn Seikos like I've been doing with Invicta; I'm already considering selling two or three Seikos that I haven't been wearing. Even if I do, it won't be as drastic as the Invicta - the Seiko style has a much longer lasting appeal, at least for me.

Again, I apologize for being so damn wordy!

 

Related articles

52MM Bezel Is Big Enough for a Manly Watch: Invicta Subaqua Specialty Reserve 6182

When Manly Watch Tastes Change, So Does Size Calibration

A Reader Describes His Transition from Invicta to Seiko: A Seiko SKZ267 Is a Good Start

Why Does the Seiko SKA427 Play So Big on the Wrist?

Why Seiko Watches Grow on You and Blinged-Out Ones Don't

A Well-Crafted Object, the Expression of Its Creator, Does Indeed Have a Soul

My Wife Likes the Simple, Clean Look of My Seiko SUN007 Kinetic Gunmetal Diver

Comparison Shots of the Beastly Seiko SNDA59 Velatura