Your Watch Obsession Propelled You Into Forbidden Waters

I've put you on a 6-month watch hiatus. And that's minimum. Longer might be better. What happened is this: You got educated about watches. Maybe too educated. Your tastes in fine watches became more and more expensive. 

You came to realize that you wanted a spare, clean collection of only 3 watches. And what were these 3 timepieces? 

Oris Pro Diver Titanium Chronograph 51mm model

Seiko Spring Diver SBDB009

Breitling Super Avenger II black dial with Arabic numerals

The total cost for these watches is about 12K plus long-term service costs. 

I could sell all my watches and just buy one of the above, but I lack the conviction to do such a thing, so instead I've said, "My current collection is going to have to be good enough."

And that's where I stand. 

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Comments

[Ulysses]

Didn't you have that Oris a while back, or am I just imagining things? So much flipping goes on that I lose track.

[herculodge]

I've never owned an Oris but have discussed the Oris Aquis Titan 46mm. Before I even bought it, I coveted the more expensive 51mm Oris Pro Diver Chrono. These caprices in watch tastes make me balk at spending 4k or so on Grails whose definition proves somewhat protean.

[Gary]

Would you really want to wear $4K watches on a daily basis? I know some people do, but I wouldn't want to do it. I'd constantly be afraid of damaging it. I guess if I had $100M or more in net worth, I'd probably feel differently.

[herculodge]

Who knows what I'd wear if I had that kind of an income. Perhaps the watches I wear, which cost between 400-1,000, are in my sweet spot.

[Gary]

BTW, to me Jonny's Oris Diver's Date looks just as nice as the Oris Pro Diver Chrono above, and it's more refined and jewel-like in my opinion. Also, it's available for just a fraction of the cost. Something to consider if you really want an Oris, but without spousal disapproval.

[jonnybardo]

That Pro Diver is massive - have you seen one in the metal? Really worth checking out, putting on your wrist.

I think at some point you'll bite the bullet, or gain the conviction, to transmute a host of your watches into a higher end piece. Here's how I could see things playing out:

You'll eventually sell the two "Benari," the silver Promaster Sky, the Seiko Fieldmaster, Seiko Tuna, and OSD. Selling those would probably get you about two-thirds of the way towards the Seiko SBDB009 and Oris Pro Diver. I could see your collection heading into 2016 being:

Seiko SBDB009
Oris Pro Diver chronograph
Citizen Promaster Sky black
Seiko SRP637 (your default/home watch)
Citizen Ecozilla (your beater)

What do you think? The Super Avenger can wait, but maybe with that tighter collection you can put away a few hundred a month and but the Breitling for your birthday in 2016.

[herculodge]

I like the collection you've listed and I've even compiled an almost if not identical list. If I have the conviction to do this during my hiatus, I may get to work. I could do without the Breitling.

[jonnybardo]

Gary, I think my Oris would be too small for Jeff's mighty thews, or at least his taste. That said, there's a non-chrono which is much cheaper and the small second hand Aquis is pretty big too.

Jeff, sometimes it is hard to whittle down the collection without the next purchase lined up, which is probably analogous to being hungry - something Americans abhor. But it is very healthy to feel hunger/emptiness and not immediate binge to fill it.

That said, I'd recommend standing pat for a few months, see how your current collection feels. A hiatus helps put things in perspective, if nothing else. After a few months you might be ready to sell watches that you're not wearing, and it may also be that you fall in love again with an old favorite. Constant buying and selling obfuscates clarity of vision.

[herculodge]

"Constant buying and selling obfuscates clarity of vision." Exactly. I need some distance. We're dealing with big money here.