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Why do we collect watches? Does the term collector resonate with you and your behaviour to watch acquisitions? What does this term mean? If you look at some dictionary definitions, collectors collect objects because they are beautiful, valuable or interesting. Collectors don’t have to like what they collect. This could be on an investment basis where the collector puts things away, in a safe, under the bed, in a bank vault, only to be seen again to sell.

What type of collector are you

I’m thinking this isn’t the type of collector you are. It’s certainly not me. But am I a collector at all? As children we like to collect and we always want what we can’t have. These early learned behaviours pursue us into adulthood where jealousy and desire are dampened by the need to put food on the table, pay the mortgage and buy shoes for your children.

My Collecting Journey

You can check out my previous post about My first Luxury Watch to see how I arrived at the Omega Seamaster 120. You will read that my enjoyment of watches is very recent with the trusty 120 filling a very long period as a single watch collection. But hang on, looking back further you can start to see influences that must subliminally have affected my choices.

Back in the 80’s and 90’s, my watch purchasing habits normally involved a quick trip to the local H Samuel. Never stopped to check out the Seiko’s, and for reasons lost to me, was drawn to the Sekonda display. Maybe I was after ‘the look’, at an affordable price. Early homage watches indeed. With Sekonda’s prominent marketing in the UK and the slogan of “Beware of Expensive Imitations”, I was directly in Sekonda’s sights as a fashion conscious New Romantic.

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The fact that you’re able to see these watches all lined up must mean something. They are all cheap, disposable watches, but for some reason I have kept them all. Only the ICE watch and Casio still work, so the older pieces must mean something to me. None of them are beautiful, valuable or interesting (to most), and it’s a shame I no longer have the Casio CA-53W Calculator watch I owned through the early to mid eighties. I have no recollection of watch ownership earlier than that, but do have a distant memory in the back of my mind that involves an old, split leather strap.

My Collection of Watches

I have chosen this topic today as I am looking at my collection of watches (I am holding back on calling it a collection for now). I’m looking and thinking about the 5 core watches I have and if they make sense to me. If you look inside my watch box today, you will see a 300m Dive Watch, a 600m Dive watch, a GMT, a Chronograph and a Smart Watch. Without discussing brands or colours you could say this is a collection focused on complications and could be progressed with the addition of a simple no date 3 hander, a moon phase and maybe a calendar. But wait, tucked away in a cupboard and never worn is my cheapest watch. The Swatch Q No Time to Die.

So what is my problem then? This is a nice collection of ‘affordable’ watches. Any one of which most regular collectors have either considered or own. Safe is a word that springs to mind. All these models are current and all bought within the last 2 years following the premature death of my father in 2018, and the opportunity this sad event unlocked. This could be seen as a haul of feel good events to help with the grieving process, so why am I left a little cold when I stare into the box.

Out With The Old

2 pieces are now absent from the 2018 collection. The Seamaster 120 was sold at the end of 2019. Having worn the new, bigger Sports Watches for a year, it no longer interested me. It got no wrist time and felt under sized and a little effeminate. My 2 boys had no connection to it despite me wearing this watch during their birth years. I did offer it to them, but I guess it was of it’s time and hasn’t dated well, especially the bracelet.

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The Aqua Terra was passed to me following my father death. This was a quartz model from 2003 that he bought for his 60th birthday. I’d like to say I have early life experience of vintage Rolex or Omega’s that influenced my choices, but I don’t. My dad wore cheap watches, period. Not even good cheap watches. I was the influencer and he bought an Omega because of me. He looked up to me. At 39mm it’s a nice size. Some would say perfect for this style of watch and the average wrist. At this time I only had the 36mm 120, so the Aqua Terra was a nice addition and made me feel close to him. I wore this watch for a few months, but grew tired of way the bracelet would pull at my arm hair. Almost as though my father was speaking to me from the grave and willing me to let go. He knew I would do the right thing.

In With The New

I received a small inheritance mid 2018, and I decided I didn’t want to buy anything disposable. I wanted some enduring legacy to show for the small savings my father had amassed. This was when the Planet Ocean turned up. The year before, I had the 120 serviced and got talking to the salesman in my local Goldsmith’s. Brian had been in the business some time and would always spend time with me as I started to ‘pop in for a chat’ on a more regular basis. We talked about the Speedmaster, but I wanted a Dive Watch. The Speedmaster would wait. At the time I had only just started consuming YouTube content. Just as well really, as I wouldn’t have asked for a discount otherwise. Sure enough 10% was wiped off the £4,700 price tag and a decent 5 watch Wolf watch box thrown in as well.

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Birth Year Watch

My eldest son, was showing a keen interest in watches also. He was obviously interested in what his dad was in to, quite normal for a 14 year old. His first watch was a Lego Star Wars Watch. He still has this and the subsequent Casio’s and G-Shock’s. He would often read my copies of Revolution Magazine and watch YouTube content. He’s developed early knowledge of this business that I wish I had. Like his dad, he also looks after his possessions and is very sentimental.

With the Planet Ocean getting all the wrist time, I would often allow my son to wear the Aqua Terra for special occasions. Fast forward another year or so and 3 more watches in my collection, I decide it’s time to give up my fathers watch. By chance 2003 is also the year my eldest son was born, so I felt it fitting to gift him his grandfathers watch of his birth year. I’m pleased to report he looks after it, in a watch box. His G-Shock DW-5600 does most of the heavy lifting, and I trust him.

I’m sure in time my younger son will start to look at my collection, but I have no watch from 2006. I’m looking into it.

Thoughts of a Novice Collector

Here we are then. After owning a collection of affordable watches with no interest in luxury or the internal workings. Moving on to own a single luxury Swiss watch for 15 years, I am now in the fortunate position to acquire additional fine time pieces, albeit at the loss of my father.

As I rush towards my 50th birthday, I’d like to think that this ‘hobby’ would have evolved naturally anyway. As we move through life, we amass stuff to a point where we are only adding more to replace things that have worn out. I have cloths in my closet that have been around longer than a model run of a Seamaster Diver 300. I have most things I need, although my kids may differ on that one.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a Porsche on the drive as well. But do you know what, I wouldn’t enjoy it. I’d enjoy the purchase and the initial honeymoon period of owning a luxury sports car. But as reality bites and I find no time to enjoy driving it, only time to pay annual service, insurance, tax and finance the shine would quickly dull. It’s no wonder these are the preserve of the silver surfers who have cast off their progeny and free of the commute and daily grind, left to enjoy at a time of their pleasure.

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For now, wrist Watches offer to me the ability to own luxury in a small and convenient package. I can use them whenever and wherever I like. They require no interventions, other than a fettle every decade and offer wondrous enjoyment. The number of forums, YouTube channels and accessories are testament to this.

We’ll see in Part 2 of this blog how I may have moved a little to quickly at times and reflect back on the later purchases and lay out my plan for the future. Please stay tuned.

I have used images found through Google, so if you believe I have used one of yours, please let me know and I’ll credit you in the post.