Seems Like Watch Hunger Is Winding Down: State of the Collection

My watch tastes evolved over the last six years or so from oversized fashion watches, costing between $200-300 to Seiko Tunas, Orient Saturation Divers, Citizen Signature series, and one microdiver (Benarus) ranging from $750-$1,000. I still like the Sumo and having sold it twice may or may not buy one in the next year.

I've stopped craving in a sense. Watches that cost more, such as Breitling and Panerai, are too problematic for me with their upfront and service costs. I would only have them if I were a celebrity or such.

I have one diver on a rubber strap, my trusty Citizen Pro Diver.

My watch needs feel met. I think at 13 watches (ten if I surrender the urge to sell my 3 Invicta Force Masters), it's time for me to move on. I think I'd be happier and healthier.

One thing for sure: There's currently no watch that I don't own that has captured my imagination, become a grail or an obsession. This is a sign.

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Comments

[jonnybardo]

I'm of two minds/voices. One is to say "for now." Nothing catches your obsession for now. Let's see what tune you're playing in a month or two.

The other is to say, "more power to you." Think of how much energy (and time) goes into watch obsession that could be channeled elsewhere.

In both voices, I speak just as much to you as to me, although I DO have a list of watches that I feel a strong obsession for - at least one Omega and a Zixen Nitrox LS feel like must haves for me, everything else being "someday" or negotiable.

I will do my best not to encourage you to get "pulled back into the madness," as the second voice is, I think, wiser. On the other hand, don't beat yourself up if you find yourself craving another watch in the not-so different future. But if you really can get off the treadmill and be happy with what you have, more power to you.

I hope to come to a place where I can both be happy with what I have AND enjoy a new watch once or twice a year. I'm still hoping...

[herculodge]

I'm not happy unless I'm obsessed, so let's see where I am in a month or two.

[Angelo]

I maintain that if you're still into the hobby (you are), there will always be the strong possibility of something catching your attention. Even if you could get to the point of the "must have" list being checked off----from time to time, you might see a variation of a watch you love, a new model from a manufacturer you love----or even a great deal on a watch you like a lot----and the urge to tinker is very strong. Many times, I thought I was "done" with radios or watches----happy, content, having everything I want or need. I'd even go into hibernation or hiatus for a long while and think the urge to add/buy was licked. Then, inevitably, the fire starts again. As long as you are not doing financial destruction to yourself/family and are enjoying yourself, I think these are relatively healthy obsessions. People blow money on things that are far more problematic than a watch collection.

[jonnybardo]

That's a healthy--and realistic--attitude, Angelo. I think for Jeff and I, were' both a bit on the extreme side and trying to get out of the mentality of needing a new watch every month.

Speaking for myself, I've gradually whittled down so that, over the last half year or so I've purchased six watches, although kept only three of them. I'd like to get to the point where in a year I'm maybe making 2-3 major purchases, and maybe 1-2 smaller impulse buys, and selling 2-3 to partially offset the expenditure. But the days of multiple watches, or even a single watch, per month are over.