In the last four years, I’ve noticed a pattern or a condition or pathology as it pertains to my watch hobby. I’ll buy a watch, sell it, regret selling it, re-buy it, sometimes sell it again, and sometimes re-buy it again. I’ve done this with the Seiko Black Monster first generation (bought it twice, sold it twice, currently don’t own it and don’t plan on getting another; however, I did buy the second generation); the Seiko Kinetic Diver SKA427 (sold it twice, currently don’t own it, and don’t plan on getting another); the gunmetal Invicta Ocean Reef 6761 (sold twice; don’t own one and don’t plan on getting another); the Orient M-Force Beast black dial (am now getting the blue dial version and may want the black again); the infamous Seiko Sumo (sold three times and re-bought one every time); Deep Blue Depthmaster (orange and black gone but I may buy the second generation which has bigger lume markers); my stainless steel EcoZilla, which I had to put back together with Suppa mods.
That’s seven watches and I doubt it will stop there. What’s the takeaway of all this? I can easily delude myself into believing that it’s time to let go of a watch to fund a new one, but in reality I’m just buying a new watch and spending out of pocket. It’s either that, or I have some incurable neurosis. Or a bit of both.
Go easy on yourself. What you describe IS the hobby, at least for many. In fact, many watch collectors seem to see every watch as a temporary rental.
Now of course flipping is one thing, and re-buying again and again another. Not sure what to say about that except don't sell the Sumo again, at least for awhile.
Posted by: jonnybardo | June 19, 2014 at 07:42 PM
What is it that compels you to sell watches you don't like any more? I'm talking about the ones that you repurchase after a while. That tells me you can't have disliked them that much, but there was a motivation beyond disliking the watch itself. Is it a desire to keep a "small" collection, or simply not having too much of your wealth invested in watches?
I've bought watches in the past that I now never wear, but I don't sell them on. They weren't that expensive though so it's not a huge loss. I suppose I could resell one or two but it doesn't bother me.
Posted by: Ulysses | June 20, 2014 at 09:49 AM
I end up selling my watches as an attempt, a futile one it turns out, to allay wrist rotation anxiety, which is in proportion to the size of my collection, but I find with my refined tastes I miss the watches I sell, so I'm thinking it may be time to stop selling since it's more expensive to re-buy them.
Posted by: herculodge | June 20, 2014 at 09:57 AM
As I see it you have three general options (with subtle variations possible):
1) Keep doing what you've been doing - buying and selling watches frequently and keeping your overall collection around 10.
2) Keep buying watches frequently but be more patient about selling, allowing your collection to build up a bit to the 12-18 range, then having a big sell off if and when you feel it is getting to large.
3) Buy fewer watches less frequently, and gradually sell off at a similarly slowed down rate.
The upside of the first approach is that you get the pleasure of a new watch frequently, but also don't have to experience the anxiety of too large of a collection. The downside is a poor rate of return and a gradual loss of money, especially if you buy and re-buy the same watch too frequently. Also, this is the classic "trying to fill the void that can't be filled" psychology that keeps the craving alive.
The second approach is similar but it delays the sell-off and thereby gives you a longer period of time to decide whether a watch is a long-term keeper. The down-side is the risk of anxiety due to a collection of increasing size.
The third approach is probably wisest but harder to do because it involves moderation and a reduction in obsession, and of course you don't get the thrill of frequent purchasing.
Posted by: jonnybardo | June 20, 2014 at 11:34 AM
I'm always aspiring to cut down on my consumer fix and the power of the watch chimera in general. I think now though I'll be more hesitant to sell my watches. For one, I already have my collection pared down.
Posted by: herculodge | June 20, 2014 at 12:40 PM
Unfortunately there's no way to cut down on the fix and power of the chimera but through abstaining from purchasing, or at least winding down (watch pun intended).
It feels like I haven't bought a new watch in awhile, but I actually bought two in May. But overall my purchases have been down - "only" six in 2014 with the year half over (almost), compared to 26 (!) in 2013, 35 (!!) in 2012, and 8 in 2011. Of course the price point has increased substantially over the years. Crazy to think of those 75 purchases I only own 13, half of which I plan on selling.
Posted by: jonnybardo | June 20, 2014 at 01:58 PM
And then there's this:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/study-finds-americans-lead-world-in-ability-to-jus,36316/
Posted by: jonnybardo | June 20, 2014 at 02:25 PM