W72
857
A very interesting question...
Looking back at my journey and assessing where I stand now in this - I "started" innocently with a handful of watches (about four/five - gifted and bought) some forty years ago. It stayed that way for few years until I begun to pay attention to advertisements showing movement of watches. It fascinated me endlessly, looking at the escapement ticking away thrilled me to bits and that's when I lose it.
Fast forward.... I ended up having complications, grand complications and unique pieces. I ventured into pocket watches, pieces with high technical specialty, artsy dials, enamelling, or combination of both. All the while I enjoyed the chase as much as the watch. Like most of us here, my preference changes over time and suddenly, some ten years back, I had a big crush on three hands, simple manual wind watches. Then a couple of years ago - the endgame - I virtually stop looking at new watches, other than cursory boutique viewing with old friends and buying odd conventional pieces now and then but not really adding to anything.
So, what happened there? You can say that I am reaching stage 3. I have not become disillusioned with this hobby, just that the fire is not there. Surprisingly, even as I cool down from this hobby, I have not sold any of my watches. I no longer keep a close track of where each pieces are. I use to wear some 20+ watches in yearly rotation, even this I have stopped. Now the "timepiece" adorn on my wrist is a fitbit and occasionally a Garmin, to tell me yardage to the green - they are both very accurate in time keeping and need no setting after leaving it unworn for a while - just need to charge it now and then. I am in my sixties.. is this an age related change? or there is just no need for a mechanical wristwatch in my life anymore. /W72
What more?
Take a moment to look into your own watch loving soul and tell us where do you stand? This is what I have been thinking about lately, where do I stand now in the watch hobby, different camps of thought that come in and out of my mind: (1) There’s more on ...
Bravo for this thought-provoking and intimate post
I hope to devote some time to thinking through it and hopefully contribute something back commensurate with what I've gotten from your thoughts. In the meantime, I just want to thank you for sharing such an articulate post. One quick note...I completely a...
I’m looking forward to reading your perspective, Brandon
thanks. I had to get these thoughts off my chest and you guys are more open to it than my wife & daughter.
Hi Joepny
I believe it is a mixture of all three for me. I get bored with many watches but a good few I will never part with. I have anything I want and am so fortunate for that, but I got in in this place from a great deal of drive, ambition, accomplishment, passi...
I hope too that your passion stays strong, Jim
thanks for your reply. I have thought that the independents too would be a major paradigm shift for the watch hobby, but sometimes I don’t know if it matters... -joe
Thank you for the insight.
I am more than agree with you. Even though i still have list of my "grail" watch, lately i come to think that why do i want more, while i already have most of my "criterion" of an ideal watch for me. Anything else apparently just a variation of watches th...
It sounds good that you are satisfied by every piece you have.
You know, many of us go through the thought process that "I think my X number of watches in my collection is enough", and then later, we see something else that stays in our head and of course days or weeks later, we've bought another one. It is so funny ...
Thanks, Joepny :)
Of course, being watch lover, I can be impressed by any new watch, especially the ones that have "features" that i do not pen yet. And i'm sure we will see many exciting new pieces from time to time, after all, this is a crazy fun hobby. But every time I ...
I understand what you are saying
It is a sober & smart way that you’ve found. I think I have 6 watches currently and that seems like a good workable number to rotate for me. I don’t want 8 or 10 watches. I agree with you that if I do not wear a watch for a long time then I have a problem...
The pain of gain
Joepny, Your eloquent and elaborate precis will have injustice heaped upon it by inadequate responses; including mine. That may be a function of camp #4: The Apathetic as a result / reason of the aforementioned three camps. Camp #1 is too engrossed with s...
there are definitely different ways to look at it, for each of us, from where we come from
thanks for your thought!
With Age Comes Wisdom
An excellent reflection. It would be interesting to know the age of those who identify in each category. To some degree, I suspect we are all products of our time and culture. The peers in our chosen professions also affect us. As we age, we become aware ...
thanks for adding your thought
I do wonder too about how different age groups see it. I am approaching my mid-40s and as I have gotten older, I feel less of a need to justify anything for what I buy and enjoy. But at the same time, I have to catch myself and reflect that I have importa...
Interesting......
Hey Joe, Great post. I also think its interesting on another level. Namely that the original poem essentially suggests that regardless of the path one chooses, one often ends up in exactly the same place in the end. Having said that; 1) There’s more on my...
Joe, while reading your reply, I was imagining you at that beautiful outdoors of yours that you’ve photographed
and I thought of course you would have the inspiration to think about the depth of Frost’s famous poem. I’ve always liked how we can find different interpretations in the written word by the old masters. Thanks for reply, I enjoyed it. I think you are rig...
A very interesting question...
Looking back at my journey and assessing where I stand now in this - I "started" innocently with a handful of watches (about four/five - gifted and bought) some forty years ago. It stayed that way for few years until I begun to pay attention to advertisem...
I had hoped to hear from someone who felt he’s reached the endgame so thanks for adding your thoughts
I think you have a unique perspective with your long experience in this hobby. I have always thought if I will follow the same trajectory and how soon I will reach the stage when it doesn’t really excite me or matter much. That’s what I don’t know is how ...