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Fantastic read and thought provoking post!
I for one tend to have grouped my pieces into two areas. One that stays forever (heirloom) pieces that are associated with significant moments in my/our lives that are marked by a timepiece. These may not be of collector quality but due to its emotional value, will forever be in the collection. My first big watch purchase, the birth of my kids to name a few.
The other group of pieces are pieces that I "play" with in my watch collecting hobby. Some are approaching the move to heirloom group as I can't fathom moving them. Some I bought due to the points you have listed as "hot" or "chase" purchases (two traps that I have carelessly fallen in the past).
Mid last year, I went thru a 3 month period where I moved 5 piece around. A lot of the movement was due to the "hot" or the "chase." Afterwards, I actually felt spent emotionally with these pieces. I am at a stage right now where I am planning on sitting tight and enjoy these pieces that I have.
That's until the next "hot" one..LOL
Nice read Ping and thank you for stirring my mind.
What determines the longevity of a watch within a collection?
There is a question that I have been contemplating for a long time – What distinguishes a watch that is kept from one that is sold? To put it another way, what exactly determines the longevity of a watch within an individual's collection? I have seen watc...
Interesting theory!
Thanks for the thesis and I agree most of the points. Interesting analogy about watch vs woman (or man). And of course, the emotional attachment. I have bunch of cheapy almost junk watches my father left and they will, I swear, stay with me forever. I had...
Hi Ken!
That's great about the Timex. I still have my first Swatches Thanks for your comments.
excellent read
I will be sure to remember the above points before making any future purchases... Thanks for this excellent read... Cheers, GG
Great article, Ping!
Every time I read one of your articles, I'm floored by your flowing prose. Really, you are one of our great writers, regardless of subject! Kudos on that. Returning to the subject at hand, I think turnover has a lot to do with several factors facing the c...
Thank you Daos....
....for your comments about my writing. That really means so much to me, especially coming from you, a superb writer in your own right. You make some great points...ones that I didn't think of. Thank you!
Another superbly written article, Ping.
And very interesting topic... I strongly believe that you buy a watch for yourself, not according to others opinions. Don't get me wrong: Others opinions and posts may allow you to discover a watch, then to test it according to your own criterias and tast...
+1 In complete agreement...
In complete agreement (as usual). To extend one of the points you brought up, we buy watches for ourselves... Not for others... I would even go as far as discouraging the solicitation of other people's opinions, especially those who you do not know person...
Thanks for your kind words, Patrick.
Yes, you can be assured that this is an endless love story with the 5110P... You know, when your heart beats faster when you have this one on the wrist, this is a sign... A good and strong one. Best, Nicolas
Hello Nicholas!
Your comments are superbly insightful. Thank you for sharing them. It was precisely my intention to draw out all these angles of thought. Thanks again!
For me, the main factor is knowledge...
Firstly, Ping, thanks for such a great read! It's a thought provoking article and there are lots of wisdom in it! Thank you for sharing that! In response to the question "What determines the longevity of a watch within a collection?", I must agree that wh...
Another excellent point....
....yes, our tastes change as our knowledge grows. That would have been my next bullet point. Thank you!
An eloquently written article Ping...
that offers serious food for thought for all watch afficiondos, horology nuts and Purists alike. I cannot agree more with what you said but allow me to add my two cents worth: People's tastes may develop and change over time One day a certain piece may si...
Hi Sam!
Again....3 very good points. I think my article could have been twice as long. Thank you for your comments.
Great article. It makes me wonder ...
Background I started accumulating watches following a set of not so rational reasons but the mainly one was that a mechanical watch is something, in most of cases, produced to last. Since my business (IT) flows around things that are designed to be obsole...
Hi Nilo...
....very interesting perspective that you have. I have been noticing my tastes have also been veering more towards the conventional, safe, predictable...whatever you may call it . Sometimes when life gets complicated, I find it easier to simplify my physi...
A watch must endure the owner's changing tastes...
A question worth a deep conversation. In order for a watch to survive one's collection; it must be purchased with a sound mind, not a mind of buying the watch because it was "hot" when it came out. The individuals who buy watches because they were hot com...
Slow to jump ...
Good points, Patrick. I never place orders for the latest releases. There are always watches that catch my eye from SIHH, or whatever fair has recently occurred, but I tend to wait years before I commit. A
I predict that many who do place their orders prematurely end up regretting...
There are some watches that debut with so much hype that people get excited and buy it. Later losing that excitement. When the Zeitwerk from Lange debuted, I knew I loved it. And have been trying to procure one since.
I hope that we both get our watches someday...
I hope that we both get our watches someday. In the meanwhile, I don't blame you if you think about tattooing one onto your wrist!
Ha ha...yes but what time?
At least it will be right twice a day! WG for you Patrick? Mo
Hopefully soon...
I really like the platinum version... Unfortunately, a big client was ahead of me at the AD. He wasn't that thrilled about the watch initially; and I drove him home from a watch event so he wouldn't have gotten lost in a cab. During the drive I mentioned ...
Wow Patrick....
.....very insightful. Really appreciate you expressing your thoughts on this topic. I will need to digest some more Thank you!!
Always a pleasure...
Always a pleasure to share my thoughts with you. And thank you for posting this provoking and insightful question! Bottom line, the wearer has to be in love with the watch long after the "hype" has dissipated. Watches that truly pass the test of time are ...
Thank you.
If it's not on your wrist, it's difficult to enjoy. If you're not enjoying it, it's that much harder to be in love with it. Classic pieces really last and stand the test of time. The trick is finding one that is a classic but fun piece.
Very Well Said - Patrick
Hello Patrick: Very well said. I really enjoyed reading your very enlightened post. It struck a chord for me. The last time we saw each other was when you mysteriously appeared from thin air at the Lange Exhibition in NYC. Take care, until we meet again. ...
My warmest wishes to you as well...
It was such a pleasure to see you and Josh last October. I still have to say, I am so happy for you regarding your new acquisition; every time I look at that watch and I realize it is a great balance of style, fun, and practicality. Definitely a keeper; a...
Nice post :)
Timeless aesthetic and mechanical elegance are what has stayed in my collection, but this is all subjective. I used to have high turnover with changing moods and desires, but now I buy very selectively. I buy only what I love not just like and keep only w...
Yes....timeless is key
I completely agree, not just with watches either. It's with everything. Thank you for your comments!
Great post.
And wonderful read. Thanks do much. I'm a flip addict and have, more than once, bought the same watch twice.
Wow that was a fabulous read!
And yes, you are right about that certain legendary Panerai. I'm glad it's not gone Cheers, Anthony
As taste becomes more focused or sophisticated...
Terrific article! In my experience, as my watch knowledge and experience became more refined, my collecting became more focused on my tastes and preferences. So for me, my collection has become a better expression of my preferences and my deeper knowledge...
Growing knowledge along with....
...sophistication in taste seems to be a reoccurring theme that I did not think of. Thank you for pointing it out.
very good read
I think I will refer back to it as I learn ... until now, I am only sure about the pieces with sentimental value. Most of my current watches I love and cannot see parting with, but I have lost interest in hobbies before and switched to something else .......
Eh, no worries....
....There's enough going on in this industry that I'm sure it will hold your interest
This subject could be the foundation for a . . .
. . . dissertation in philosophy: the phenomenology of watch collecting! Aside from the answers already offered, there's another aspect to this question that resides deep within our psyches. My take is that aspects of design resonate (or not) with our sub...
Indeed, quite the foundation.
That being said, we need to talk again about your collecting philosophy... And the passion and story behind your procurements. All my best to you Art!
Hmm...interesting idea!
....think I'd have fun with that one. Very intuitively put Art, had to read a couple of times Thanks...
the ineffable
i have strong emotional attachments to all my watches. like any relationship, these attachments get stronger or weaker over time, but with time, the weaker become stronger and vice versa. my glasshutte sport evo just caught my eye at first sight and i lov...
Indeed art...
...but I guess you'd have to have a taste for the art. Thank you for your comments.
My thoughts ...
Watches are a blend of likes and dislikes; features and compromises for the individual wearer. And circumstances, knowledge and preferences change over time. But even if some watches get less wrist time than they first did, I enjoy their place in my colle...
I couldn't agree more...
...about little characteristics about the watch only exposed during wear. That is why "on the wrist" reviews are so important in getting a more comprehensive look at the watch. I like your thread topic idea. Maybe for the next one. Thanks Andrew!
Excellent post
and a neat subject... Ill get back to it with my personal opinion. Faisal
Fantastic write up Ping!
I can see who and which watch you are relating to in the article! Glad it worked out for you and Anths! Congrats as always on your husband's special grail! Have yet to see it in reality, but hopefully one day! Cheers Stephen
Thank you for this eloquent piece
I am not sure what it is about a watch that makes it special. Often it is not possible to know at the moment of purchase, even if we have been often to the dealer and done all our research. After all, most of us have dated someone seriously for quite a wh...
Thank you Ginger for your elegant response.
I find it fascinating how watches and relationships have so many parallels. Guess it makes it all the more fun
Great questions, and all interesting hypotheses
Great OP, and very interesting thread so far! My guess is that any and all of the root causes set forward by various posters apply to many individuals. For me, the one that really rings true is that the more striking the watch is (in unconventional visibl...
Subdials!
I realised Gary, that I like subdials, be they Journe-inspired or chronographs. I have been drawn the Lange 1 Moonphase for years for the same reason, but it's just the movement that puts me off committing. So it seems that these are the visual cues that ...
Thank you Gary for all your personal examples.
They really do illustrate well the ideas I was trying to set forth. Thanks!
Watch collecting is a difficult hobby because of the points you have
highlighted. This is a great discussion 1. There is no question that the quest far outshines the conquest in most ases. I have experienced this many times in the past but have not sold off anything after the glow has gone 2.The more I wear a watch, the mo...
Hi Julian,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad that you agree with me on the points There is nothing wrong with holding on to your watches. Perhaps you are one who doesn't let go easily Happy collecting and thanks again.
This is a great topic and something I have thought
about quite a bit in the last 2 years. A number of the watches I have were bought on impulse without taking a long time to think about the purchase. I think with any new purchase there is the initial excitement of having a new piece, and it typically gets...
Absolutely agree...
...that watches do not need to be worn in order to be kept. Otherwise, most collections would need to remain quite small. There's only so many days in a week, a month etc. The vast majority probably aren't. Thank you for your comments.
Thank you Anthony!
Exceptionally thoughtful and a provocative. Thank you for the effort you put into this. I truly enjoyed the read and am soaking this in. George
Dear Ping you hit that nail right on the head..
The essence of our hobby,the true spirit of it. Never believe any watch fan telling you that its over,or that after that watch the collection will be complete or done.A watch collection is always in a slow movement. As a relative newbie in the game,I tend...
Hi Mo...yes, it does take time...
...to build a collection and even then, it will always be changing because we are always changing, kind of the beauty of it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I could have written this :)
I completly agree and I would add that I think there exists no miraculous recipe. Taking time, seeing more and more watches before a purchase helps collecting datas about our tastes, understanding what we like and what we don't, and helps mitigate the ris...
Hi Mark...
....I agree that research and especially trying a watch on on person is very important in minimizing buyer's remorse, short or long term. But what about those times when you are up and there's a long list of names behind you who are ready to pull out thei...
Thought provoking and beautifully written. There is only one watch
that has stayed with me through the years - and for good reasons. All others have come and gone; usually a spur of the moment purchase that I later wondered about. For me, the one watch is: http://jlc.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-2/pi-4404698/ti-684...
A great story indeed...
Thank you Andrew for sharing yours. When a watch and an owner are meant to be together as clearly was the case in your situation, I don't think they will ever be separated. Thanks agian.
Unless you buy for investment, it's purely emotional...
...and emotions will change as you grow and change through life. Other than that, sentimental value would probably remain the most constant reason to keep a watch (no matter the value), whether it belonged to a cherished family member or was part of the "...
yes...it's all about sentimental value...
...what I was trying to get at was why...why does one watch hold onto sentimental value longer than another one. Thank you for your comments
Fantastic read and thought provoking post!
I for one tend to have grouped my pieces into two areas. One that stays forever (heirloom) pieces that are associated with significant moments in my/our lives that are marked by a timepiece. These may not be of collector quality but due to its emotional v...
Thank you!
Very interesting collecting habits Although I'm willing to bet that you are not alone. Maybe that is what keeps it fun. Thanks for your comments!
EITHER True Love OR Inability to sell the darn thing!
Hi Ping I look at other people's collections and look at what happens to their watches. Some turn over regardless of the purchaser. Is it the model? The brand? The fashion trends around us? I don't know. And I look at some specific watches - especially th...
That's ok...
I have seen and realize that this post has brought out all the different ways that people collect and enjoy their watches. It's very interesting how personal it can be. Thanks for sharing your comments.
Very interestin post
I personally like to buy watches some times after they are released because I need to understand fully the watch before buying it. After this I always find myself discovering new things after several months. I really try to avoid the "brand new" effect.
Sometimes it may be the WRIST TIME!
Hi Ping, thank you for your interesting question and some observations you made while answering it for yourself. My headline seems to be a tautology, because a watch you like will be regularly worn and stay in your collection. But I have observed that a w...
You make such a great point...
...The physical experience of a watch is definitely a big part of connecting with it. For it is sometimes moving the senses that gets us the most. Thanks!
I really enjoyed reading this post....
Ping, I can relate to each of the points you raised. Sometimes the journey (searching for the watch) is more fun than the destination (getting it). Thanks again for sharing. Dave
Enjoyed your post very much Ping
My collection shows no rhyme or reason . Some pieces I buy because of pedigree, Some I buy on a whim and they are still keepers.Some are keepers because of emotional attachment. I tend to be a hoarder and have sought advice from a few here on how to overc...
LOL....
...There can be beauty in chaos as well..."There is always something about dreaming...."
For sure
Sometimes, especially when there's a extreme rare and coveted watch, people 'TRY TO LOVE' it even if it actually does not look good to them. Because if you buy it, everyone will envy and pay attention to your watch. And there would be many other reasons a...
Hi Albert...
...I think we have all experienced the case of trying to "fit a square peg in a round hole." ...trying to fit ourselves to something or someone instead of finding the right thing that fits us. I'm glad you realized this Thanks for sharing.
For me it's all wrist time related.
Probably for all the reasons that you mentioned in your post. The only reason for me to keep a watch that is not getting enough wrist time is because it has sentimental value and as a result it is impossible to part with. One other reason that I have seen...
Hi George...
...You are another one for the physical experience connection. There is no arguing that it's the best way to enjoy a watch. Thanks!
I could not agree more!
Great post and very thought provoking as all of which you mentioned has happened to me. When I reached your comments about emotional attachments, I understood. Never say never, there are 3 watches I probably will never sell and I have even thought who I w...
Well thank you for agreeing...
...It is never necessary for anyone other than yourself to see or know why a watch means something to you. Just the fact that you met with the watchmaker to discuss the watch is already enough to make it special. It wouldn't even matter if the watch was e...
Watches with significance...
Indeed. Watches with significance will always be with us, as the story behind the piece makes the piece too sentimental to ever part with. All the best!
Interesting and perceptive post
Thanks for a very illuminating post---agree with much of your sentiments However, the reasons i've kept most ,if not all of my watches, is due to the length of the search for a particular piece and/or the memories attached to certain purchases. Sentiment ...
Thank you for your two bits....
...good point about maintenance costs. I didn't even think about that. That definitely is a factor in keeping anything. Thanks again for sharing.
Thank you Ping for this fantastic & thought provoking post...
... it invites you to think about what makes a watch to be declared "a keeper". It has been said that the search, the find, and the more or less complicated events which led to the "capture" of a new piece, is the most exciting part of the "art of collect...
Thank you Abel...
...You are right that it appears to be a process. Whether each watch passes and moves on to the second part of the process of connecting determines whether it stays or goes. There's a threshold and the makeup of that "threshold" is different for everyone....
This is not a watch question!
This is a human nature question. Rule 1) we covet what we either cannot get or is very difficult to come by Rule 2)usually...after a certain period of time...no matter what it is...the novelty wears off Rule 3)this also applies to women.....but not dogs R...
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