SOTC(state of the collection) thread.

So that time of year again

my collection is down to 4 pieces now, i find that most manageable in terms of wearing everything as often as i should but still having a choice. The insurance company requires me to keep everything in a safe so i can be lazy about swapping them around so any more than 4 means one is left unworn for long periods.



First up, and my keeper, is my iwc portuguese, i have had this watch 6 or 7 year now so must be due a service soon, the only change in that time is a new oem strap and a new oem deployant instead of the pin buckle. this is my dressiest watch and tends to get worn for formal occasions or formal work occasions.

Secondly is my hulk submariner, i traded my trusty black dial ceramic sub against this stickered 2015 model in watchfinder in london. it cost a few quid, but factoring in the service soon to be due on the black sub, and the price differential between both when new, it wasnt outrageous.

i loved the black submariner, but have always admired the lv, its something a little different to the ubiquitous black dialled submariner.

The new watch also benefits from a 5 year warranty, i admit i havent yet removed all the stickers!

Thirdly, another rolex and another one new in 2015, i was after a blue dialled watch, and this 116300 fit the bill, a lovely dark blue dial that catches the light beautifully, and the 41mm size suits me a lot better than the older 36mm DJ. Again a 5 year warranty and some stickers to be removed !

Lastly, my navitimer, another one new to me last year, this is the 43mm version with the B01 movement, another classic and the inhouse movement and subtle changes (black date wheel, red chrono hand, larger size) make it a worthy upgrade on the old ETA powered version.

Strangely enough all of these watches were bought by me new, such is my OCD buying used has become more difficult so i tend to scour C24 and the UK based sellers for the best deals on unworn watches instead.

For this year i would really like to add a calibre 11 Monaco (breaking my 4 watch rule!) but not sure what else, the other watches that interest me are a lot more expensive now, id love an AP RO 15400 or a Patek Nautilus but dont see it happening in the next 12 months. That said i am pretty please with this foursome

Thanks for reading!

Deep Thought wrote: »

Mine at the Moment...

So much potential☺

Deep Thought wrote: »

aye...

It used to be full...

What happened?

A year or so of (predominately Russian/Soviet) watch collecting and it's escalated quickly. A few pics to show the lot, with some making it into more than one 'family' pic.

Dress Watches


Some 24Hr watches


A LOT of Vostoks


Chrono Crazy


And then the rest..

peasant wrote: »

Any more info on that 24h Vostok...never seen one of those before (neither the dial nor the case)?

Presume you mean the one below. That was my first Russian, bought sometime around the late 90's I reckon. I had a hankering for a 24hr watch at the time so trawled the web and it was the only affordable one I found. That it was a Vostok was neither here nor there at the time.
It stopped working after about a year and I never replaced it until I got back into wearing watches last year. Was a pleasant surprise to find it in the bottom of my 'computer stuff' box, had it serviced and it works perfectly again.

Agreed it's a bit of a rare one. I haven't seen a single instance in a year of daily ebay searching, in fact the only one I've seen is the pic on the Vostok Wikipedia page.

Lovely FW, what flieger model is that in the first pic?

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

Its a Stowa Flieger Classic no date, no logo. Grail for years and years being an "affordables" kind of watch guy couldnt bring myselef to splash the cash. Eventually sold a few that were not getting wrist time and finally convinced myself to pull the trigger on one last year.

Lovely, it's my next purchase I would say. I've been looking at Archimede no date/no logo similar to that as it's a bit more affordable than the Stowa. Nice collection, love the OVM as well.

mynameis905 wrote: »

Details on the Black Bay homage, fret?

It was a beautiful watch, a modified seiko, based on the rock solid skx007, modified by dagaz(Jake duarte) with a Murphy coin edge bezel, custom face, aluminium chapter ring, custom bezel insert and domed crystal.

Nice watch but when I looked at it, I always would think how could I upgrade to a real black Bay, and once I realized that, it's days were numbered.

Any watches I have are in the collection because I like them for what they are, and not as a stop gap until I get "the real thing", whatever I think that might be.

G rock wrote: »

How do you like the alpinist? Is something that I find myself looking at a lot.

Which one!? There's the sarb017, on the leather strap that's the classic seiko alpinist. That watch is worth many times its price. Face is just beautifully detailed, raised gold seiko logo and numerals, deep emerald green color that changes and shimmers as it moves, very detailed polished case that is just the right size at 38mm and a 200m water resistance rating so you can trust it if you get caught in the rain.

The internal Bezel is well made also. I've played with a few internal Bezel watches and the Bezel felt lose and and inaccurate, but there is zero play in this one, the tiniest turn of the Bezel crown will adjust the position of the internal Bezel, tight precise engineering the way it should be.

The other alpinist is the one on the metal bracelet, a sarb059, it's a skx case, but finished to a much higher standard, some parts brushed, some polished and thr brushing is beautifully done. Also has a nicer crown engraved with the seiko "s". Face looks black but in the right light it's a deep green, amazing when you notice it but didn't expect it. Has a 6r15 movement, seikos upper level workhorse for the past few years. Bezel is BI directional non ratcheting type.

It's semi dressy, works with with a shirt and tie as a desk diver, but is 200m rated so is also trustworthy if out in the elements.

This was my first "expensive" watch(I had just started working and earning very very little). My better half helped me get it, as an engagement present.

Timekeeping wise they are all more than accurate for me. I never tested them, but they are never out more than a minute or so,based on real world usage.
If I wanted to the second accuracy I'd by a 10 euro Casio.

Zombie thread but no point starting another really!

Current SOTC.


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And individually in rough order of preference.........

1) Omega AT "Skyfall" 38.5mm. In collection 4 years I think. Oozes class IMO. Very versatile. I almost sold this 2 years ago.....so glad i didn't. Got a nice Omega blue strap for it and never looked back.


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2) Patek 5167. Under the radar to 99.9% of the public. Incredible depth and finishing to this piece. In collection 6 months.


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3) Rolex BLNR. Great watch but a little more recognizable than I prefer. The only watch I ever bought from new from an AD. In collection 18 months




4) Omega Sea master Planet Ocean 42mm 2500C. Almost sold this too! Now it looks great on Omega Nato. I have this 7 years.



5) Stowa Antea Creme. I think i have this just over 2 years. I also had the version with the blue hand but a friend wanted it desperately so I passed it on.


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6) Tag Heuer Monaco CAW211C. 6month in my collection. This is the only piece I have up for sale. Wearing it tonight though and wondering if I really want to sell.....


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7) VC overseas 42040. Only at number 7 as its only a few weeks in my position and I am still figuring it it is here to stay or not.




Where to next? No where unless I move the Monaco. On a watch buying ban this year but watches on the list include the below in no order:

1) Rolex Hulk
2) Rolex Yachtmaster 42
3) JLC ultra thin Moon
4) Glashutte Panoreserve (Blue or grey)
5) Blue faced Monaco
6) Omega Speedmaster Tuesday 1