SOTC(state of the collection) thread.

njburke wrote: »

Which watch/brand are you asking about?
I'ld generally only trust well established brands such as seiko or citizen on depth rating. Watches tested to ISO6425 are also good bet.
Automatics or solar have the advantage that the factory tested seal remains intact as for longer( no need to break the tested seal to replace battery). I got 17 years on my seiko orange monster before the seal was broken to replace the movement.

unkel wrote: »

Maybe I'll try some sort of orange Seiko first

njburke wrote: »

A watch box arrived from ebay this morning for15€, figured I'd get something to keep them tidy at least. Also the burglar doesn't have to root around too much to find them.

I've been collecting for about two years, I had 3 or so and then banged up the everyday watch, a seiko orange monster so that spurred me to get a replacement. I've been snacking on the affordables ever since.

Most of these are in the 100 to 300 euro range. The Doxa and breitling a bit more. The Scubapro is actually a dive computer, retailed at £1200 when it was new. Some are second hand some are new, micro brands and vintage.

The box is holds 20 and I still have some that won't fit inside. The box also made me realise I've got one missing in action , a Casio T200. I last remember taking that off my wrist when I collected the Accutron from the parcel motel, my guess is its in the car somewhere.
Also not shown is whats on my wrist, my latest acquisition a Casio GBX100.
And there are two more to come in a Lip Super Nautic and a Seiko Advan (a chunk of 70s funk).

Fitz II wrote: »

Rolex Daytona – I wanted a Daytona like everyone else in the world and was doing a futile wait for one retail, I was on holidays in the Canaries and this cropped up on adverts with photos so bad Unkle could have taken them, the scariest purchase of my life, transferring that much money to some unknown fellow in the midlands. Turned out a great purchase from a great bloke and we have since become good friends, it has been back to Rolex for service and its good as new.
It’s a solid white gold watch, and while it can look in photos like stainless, its got a slight gold sheen to the metal that side by side with stainless is quite different. Yellow Gold bracelet watch is a strong statement that I don’t feel is really me, maybe in time. The white gold is the humble brag. The dial is silver sunburst with red accents and is quite unusual. I like the light dial as the Daytona wears small enough watch and the light dial and metal bezel opens the face out more. Although the Arabic’s are a little cluttered. The weight is something else at 200 grams, and along with the Daytona case shape it is a lovely comfortable watch to wear. Anyone that tried it on, immediately sees the quality, but at a glance its just another Daytona. The eagle eyed will spot the dial which is a PM only dial, and the little triangles on the bezel indices that only come on PM. I bought this when gold Daytona’s were less expensive than stainless ones (another sign of the dysfunction of the Rolex market) but its flipped back now, but it still sells for well under retail price, which is rare in Daytona land however retail on this watch is a preposterous €38k. This is a keeper never to leave unless I consolidate everything into one watch, I could never replace it for what it owes me in a million years.


The downside is that it is hard to read the time on any Daytona, busy dial. Another one that is easy to pick as it’s a fast two hand set without date. Great water resistance, and a hardy watch. This watch really feels good to wear.


Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono – Latest watch and unbelievably happy with this one. Had my eyes on one for a long time. It’s a fairly predictable move from Rolex to AP, but AP does not have the resale value of Rolex so you have to tread carefully, an almost impossible watch to try on in Ireland, but tried a few in “Watches of Switzerland” in London last year (remember international travel…good times). The offshore is an acquired taste, and despite what Thin wrists Mosso would say the 37mm Royal Oak is far too small for a man of my “huskiness”. I was careful to try choose one that is popular, in case I needed to bail.


My contact in Watchfinder eventually came up with a trade that made some “man maths” sense. Aggressive looking watch and the shape is unmistakable. Bought the big boy, 41mm with blue “boutique only” waffle dial. Went for the Chrono because I prefer that it is a complex AP and strangely chronographs are cheaper than the 3 hander/date. In the 41mm the 3 handers dial is a bit empty looking. The star of the show is the bracelet and case. The design and finishing are exceptional, the way the light bounces off the brushed and polished facets is mesmerising. Wherever you look there is a detail and a play of the light you never noticed before. Large lug to lug, and 41mm but it is beautifully thin, and wears big but not obnoxious. I have a larger than average wrist anyway.
I always wanted one because the shape is similar to the head of a common type of dental implant with which I have spent my adult life using ( and thanks to which I have the opportunity to own these watches). The watch is honestly stunning and anyone that knows what this is, is most certainly a watch person. It’s a very angular and masculine and edgy watch, and when it comes to overpriced stainless watches this is the original, Gerald Genta blah blah blah. Imposing, interesting and actually rare to see. Have it 4 weeks now, and already have had more unsolicited interest in it than all my other watches put together. The finish is flawless, and the level of detail is like going from SD on a Rolex television to HD holy trinity watch. Of course, like busses, as soon as I get one another one pop up on the forum (Time where are the photos dude?), such is life.

The Others:
My wife has a 31mm Two Tone datejust and a Cartier Tank. I have a Ani-Digi Tag Heuer that was my wedding watch, a Raymond Weil that was a 16th birthday present from my parents. Space for my Solas whenever that comes and my dads Omega Seamaster Quartz. I don’t count these as part of the collection honestly and once I stopped thinking of them there, I got a lot more focus.

What’s next?
Hopefully watch collecting maturity, but that is unlikely. Working on a 3-piece collection plus an everyday steel, I feel that is the perfect size for me, everything gets a go, no beaters, no sh1tters, no bullsh1t. Maybe 3 Chrono’s, that has some continuity and focus. Omega Dark side/Grey side of the moon interests me. But really the JLC/Daytona and AP make an exceptionally fine and ever so slightly unconventional 3-piece collection. All bases covered and all vastly different. Maybe trade the JLC to a rose or yellow gold dress watch (JLC polaris chrono rose gold? VC traditionalle? Simple Calatrava?) Maybe flog them all and get a Patek 5712 (love that watch but barely worth retail yet alone the looney money they go for). I do not know? I am nudging phase 8 (having skipped the vintage thing, that’s not for me).

Fitz II wrote: »

Hi All, Glad to be back after my enforced time off. I have been watching the forum and was sorry I could not participate, of all the forums on boards, this is the only one I missed. I spent a lot of time thinking about my watch collection over the last 3 months and decided to make a few changes both in collection mentality and collection content.

I am a self-confessed Rolex fanboy, and for robustness, recognisably, classic design, and resale value they cannot be beaten. However, it has become a bit of a “chase the popular model” game, and really, I want out of the game to stop chasing the cliche and enjoy the ones I have. Paying way over retail is not for me either, if I am paying 20k I want a watch the manufacturer values at 20k, not a 9k watch that the fake scarcity has distorted the grey market values to 20k but that you find is worth far from it when you go to actually sell.

I am getting bored of Rolex, and chasing and waiting for slight variants of the same old watch has become a bit tedious for me, the new releases have really confirmed this for me. Rolex don’t really innovate, they iterate. And while that’s fine and dandy, its easy tire of it once you have had a few. Been there done that, had loads and over it now.

I realise a lot on here would class my frequent watch trading as flipping and wonder why I do not stick to a lot of watches. Like a sailboat into the wind, I need to tack from side to side to get to the intended destination. It is a form of fun saving so long as I do not make stupid decisions. It also allows me to better form opinions on my collection and changing tastes. I think I am not a huge big fan of dive watches; I have had a lot but I think apart from maybe a discount diver, I don’t want a big money diver.

Recently I have ditched a lot of watches, trading them up and culling ones I never wear. If I seem to have dismissed a watch that you like, there is absolutely no offence intended. There are almost as many watches as there are collectors, and everyone has their own tastes. But remember I never bought a watch I did not like, because you never know when you will get stuck. At the same time, I actively try not to buy watches that nobody likes.,. This notion on watch forums of “wear what you like” is fine if you are a) Really rich or b) buying cheap watches. If you are neither you need to take a bit of care not to impulse buy things. I got stung recently with a watch I purchased while drinking too much beer and lost more money on a 500 euro purchase than I did selling a 9k datejust.

What I have come to realise is that for me interesting watches are often not popular and often popular watches are not interesting. However, I am not into being a “wacky crazy and unique guy”, I would rather a few generally desirable and quality, iconic pieces than a ton of average watches that get no wrist time, or worse soak up wrist time I could be spending with my heavy hitters. Iconic watches is a naff term, but these designs that have stood the test of time are usually really nice, and usually have a broad resale market. A friend aptly described filler watches in your collection as “blockers”, so I ruthlessly culled them all. I just look at them and feel guilt for never wearing them no matter how affordable, or wonder when I am wearing them why I am not wearing one of my better ones (often thought I need a “my other watch is a Rolex tee shirt”). Hell, you only have so many days left of watch wear in your life, why am I bothering not wearing my best watches?

I sold the Hulk and no date sub. Both were fantastic watches. I had dismissed the hulk before but I was wrong, it’s a stunner and the green colour is fantastic…its just not 13-15k fantastic (or 29k fantastic if the internet is to be believed, which it is not) by any stretch of the imagination, so I got out while the going was good and riding the wave of “soon to be discontinued” hype. Great watch, I would have one again at retail. No date sub was good too, however my wife stole it on me, and I never got to wear it, so I got that gone before she got too used to it.


So, I have trimmed the collection down to the following 4 watches