Discussion
hs111 initiates a thoughtful discussion on the challenging decision of which watches to keep or sell from a collection, moving beyond simple financial considerations. He explores the emotional and practical factors that influence a collector's choices, such as changing personal tastes, the desire for collection refinement, and the impact of life priorities. This post delves into the nuanced psychology behind watch collecting and divestment.
Yes, there is this IF, (only if "push comes to shove", based on the modified thread headline)
If we/ I would need the funds, because of other life-priorities ( family, health, big projects etc etc)
Baron has outlined this very well, culminating in the position, that each and every watch would be a candidate to go ! - Of course we all probably would second this, no doubt..
Why ? - Well, because we have more important issues than our passion for tic-tacs, Basta
Having said so, my/ one's selling policy would be a totally different one,
because one would possibly like to achieve the biggest turnout;
Thus, the very good, if not the best pieces might go first..
Quite the contrary, what we are discussing there and here, if I get the message right :
" Which ones we would mark NOW, as "to go", either because we are unhappy with them,
or they are playing a different role, to what we had in mind, when getting them..
or because WE have changed (!)..
Or we needed to condense the collection, to make room for new and maybe a better quality,
defined by which yardstick ever..
- Many of us here have experienced similiar periods,
a process, which you also may call "maturation";
Or because simply said, it might have been an error, or even a mistake,
we later want to correct
Or because there are others, we appreciate more and/ the piece in question is valued
differently than at the time, we had acquired it..
- " Tempora mutantur" - The tides of time lead to change..
I found it also interesting, how some of us there have described the phenomenon,
of "coming back" : getting- selling - and getting again,
of a given piece, not only once, but even several times ...
" Human nature" does rarely change but - luckily so - tends to forget, sometimes
- so we select the same or a very similiar watch we had been letting go.
Stupidity ? - Not necessarily, just human behaviour !!
I guess, enough of drooling and rambling, I'll ( almost) stop here,
Now, finally on a very humble personal note, although in fact there is no such candidate, in my
small collection;
but there are some with lots of wrist-time, some with less, but these are looked upon
- yes, often looked - some which are loved a bit more, or where the emotional bands,
because of the stories, the slices of life connected, are stronger than for others.
So I defined just one single watch as a potential candidate: a watch, which I really like ,
because it was acquired during a trip in Amsterdam, where both,
my wife and myself bought a Vintage watch, each:
the one of my wife, is a very nice JLC 159, in excellent condition, she loved it and still does.
Mine, was bought more casually, as a goodie- ad- on, as we got a better deal, when taking
two,
and thus, it was pretty inexpensive, a nice little Omega from 1947, in a quite patinated condition,
but in a two- tone mode, which has been frequently seen for that time.
Now, to make the point: I wear this watch quite rarely, eg: if my clothing fits,
or if I want to be "low key"and to blend into the crowd.
(the Omega sign is painted and thus, almost disappearing,
the rest of the patina I like, quite a bit, and the watch is rather small, 32mm);
it is neither the most beautiful, nor sophisticated, neither an icon, nor a " must- have"..
So, one could say : well , this is the one to go,
BUT:
I am sure, that currently, I would not let her go, as she reminds me on a very happy
trip and time with my wife..
As simple as that.. A very simple reason, having nothing
to do with the "true value",
whatever that is, or importance of this little piece..
It's purely the emotion, which puts the " Not for sale" sign there..
I'll end finally, with just 2 pics of it, depicting nothing great at all, but a cute specimen..
( sorry , folks - I simply forgot, how to produce a link within a text..)
All the Best for the Sunday and Have a Happy New Year !
hs
PS:
If you are interested in more and this week's discussion, see the WS section..
A breakup. Like with an old girlfriend. If you can live without it then you should be able to let it go as you will not be hurt emotionally. The monetary side is just math Plus or Minus. You don't need to make 100 calculations. I think it is almost a healthy action to shed some pieces from time to time to bring in some fresh items and this way you are not desperately selling to fund an incoming and sell it cheap. Keep it simple. Best for 2014 Bill
Your point is really appreciated and very well taken. :) I do appreciate your advice, and the avoidance of selling short, to fund something new and/ or incoming.. It is also interesting how people "collect", which IMHO, would also include "select" for me, as I'm still early in my collector's time.. The "wallet - factor", however is a point, not quite to neglect, but you're right : no matter, at which level one operates, math it remains - on the other hand, I've already seen people who have exhau
.....I love wearing my watches. If i find that a specific watch is just never getting worn, it poses a question in my head. If, after noticing that i am not wearing a watch, I continue to not wear it, then this is a big signal to me. It will not be an immediate sell signal.....sometimes a watch comes back into fashion for me....so i always give a watch a year or more grace in order to see if my affection for it revives. If after that time I find I am still not wearing the watch, then definitely
.. Nevertheless, at least at this point in time, I'm not yet really at that crossroad, ( also maybe due to my rather limited collection - although I'm happy with it ). I fully understand your reasoning - so for you, if you are not wearing a watch, it raises the first flag, and if that goes on .. well, then she is a candidate for change. - And that is in part pretty much exactly what my point was - it all depends what is your yardstick, your decision threshold, no matter what the "value" ( there
Just kidding, I feel your passion for the watches. Sadly more and more the timepieces are turned into financial investments. Thanks for your post and a Happy New 2014 to all purists out there!
.. sooo right you are, that (after the heart has spoken), the brain is just following. Dr Mamadu knows his patients, usually quite well, on occasions better than they themselves.. Hence if, and only IF, the signals are all on "GO" - there luckily are more than enough to stay, being kept with pleasure and passion. Furthermore, if one has not seen a piece for quite some time ( because in the bank - safe only, or because "I-Don't-know"), the reunion can foster unexpected surprises. Next, as Nilo an
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