sidneyc
2009
Great question..
.. and I love it that we're so open to discuss this in this forum 
There's a lot of wise suggestions, and my take is similar to many of you. Depending on the size of my collection, when the time comes, I will pass each of my child(ren) one or two pieces from my collection, and will allow them to select the one that they want. If there are any clash in preference (then it will be decided on by a draw).
With the residual, they will not be pass onto them, but will be sold as part of the greater estate, either through a trustee or auctioneer. However, if any of my children would like to keep items in this residual collection, they are free to purchase it at fair market value.
With the scenario that I don't have children nor spouse, which was the original question posed, my view is to first look at who is the most important person/people in my life. Once you have that in mind, you can work out whether they appreciate pieces in your collection or not. If there are people that are important to you that also like watches, I would allow them to choose their favourite, in a similar manner to what I mentioned about my children above, and the rest, again, will be sold with proceeds to the estate.
PuristS opinions needed
What should be done. If you have no children or spouse(after your death), and your relations are not interested in the watches, but maybe just their value. What would be the right way to do for the collection(it is difficult to say liquidation)? I
The Purist way is to be buried with them.
You will never be late, at least. Heaven can't wait. And if your case is a bit harder to defend, and that you have to first go to purgatory, some " valuable " watches can help you to go to Heaven. I'm sure there are some watchnuts, there. Best, Nicolas.
Ancient egypt pharao´s concept
and also that of many older cultures from Stone-, Bronze and Iron Age (motto: you never know what it will be good for). Considering your fantastic collection, Nicolas, it would be inexcusable to do so. Better donate it to a watch museum or something of th...
No, Anaesdoc, just a romantic idea...
Passion in Life, Passion in Death. There is something very constant behind that. I love these tic tacs so much that I would not take the risk to let them to people who won't appreciate them as much as I did / do. BUT... I live in the hope that I will pass...
Dracul can die?
I was under an impression that you will live happily ever after... cen@jkt
My plan
...is to ask a trusted watch buddy to supervise the sale of my pieces first to my collecting friends, then through the PuristS CM (and as needed subsequently through channels such as auctions). Proceeds to go to my trust, which first pays life income to m...
Sounds very sensible to me, Gary
Sadly enough I have no really close watch friends to give the watch to. I am still hoping to inherit the watches to my son ... BTW, I like the bit of not telling your closest friends . Best regards, anaesdoc
GARYYYYYYYYY.......long time no see :)-
I am gonna pretend not to have read this post, and act surprised, don't worry!!!! LOL Best mate EVER, Horo PS - I have no Voutilianens.....
I am awaiting your distribution, and here's some suggestions!!!
Rolex vintages to the next guy with the highest forum post counts. A JLC vintage piece each for those who have exchanged 5000pms with you alone. Everything else to augment the already impressive collection of Blohmen and Stefan. Oh yes...the JLC minute re...
Bequeath some..
To your protege, akin to Clint Eastwood in Gran Turino Movie willing his prized car to the Vietnamese boy whom respected and believed him as a mentor. That way your legacy lives on.. I would do that, surely.
I would...
... pre-arrange so that the watches be given to the trusted watch friend(s) upon my death, unless my collection grows to the point where building a museum makes more sense, which is unlikely with my current occupation of course Ken
Interposed question to Ronald:
"Are you currently preparing for the inadvertible or is it just an intellectual game?" Regards, anaesdoc
anaedoc, it is not an intellectual exercise. On the other hand...
I am not expecting to miss the next IGOTT.
Two thoughts
1. My guess is that many PuristS would find it much more an honor and a labor of love for the community rather than a burden 2. If you have an estate or trust set up with a trust company (such as the Northern Trust in Chicago) I am certain that they have ...
Jokes aside.....
I have already decided to hand to family members some of my favourite pieces, and their distribution would be based on their level of horological sophistication and appreciative skills, and also with a eye on what they might have already inherited from me...
The inner working dynamics of Horo's inherintace distribution mechanism.
PS: I'll sell all my watch and only leave 2. One to pass down and one to wear when I'm in the coffin. ) Best Tyler...
Hey, I had the idea first...
I mean, of the coffin. But is it strange when it comes from Vlad? Best, Nicolas.
Hey, how did you get my company organization chart!!
And good plan...monetarize everything, leave just one or two....maybe I should, but I fear selling my collection would prob precipitate and accelerate my demise faster and earlier. Best, seeya Saturday. Horo
And this is the map for where his direct descendents are located
All areas not colored lilght pink LOL. Green means 3 kids, light blue 4 kids, organge, 5 kids, dark pink, 6 kids, red 1 kid and blue 10 kids....
Sharks......if this chart is true, I don't think I have enough watches to distribute...
At best....all get Seiko 5s....or worse, Swatches....or horror of horrors...quartz watches!!! Best, Horo
Tyler, if you change your mind and want a cremation...
please pass the chosen one to me. It is painful to see it perished together with you. Regards Ling
Damn, I forgot about that part.
I'll make sure I don't pick the titanium watch so that no explosion take place Best Tyler
Hi, Ron... I mean... Hiiiiiiii, Dad! Long time no see. :-)
Seriously, for me, I may still leave it to a relative with whom I was the closest or had the most fun with or grew up with... or even to the one with whom I had a tough relationship with. Funny things happen after a person passes... you tend to miss them....
Gee I did not know that there was a birth control failure in the past....
Getting more serious, I am uncertain that the Moderators here would legally want to be burdened with selling off a collection, even if of modest size.
Yep! Didn't my mother tell you about me? :-)
Yes, perhaps a trusted friend would be best. Having plans already in place when the time comes is best. Aloha, Bob
Didn't happen Bob....
I currently do not know locally of anyone up for the large job.
I would sell all but keep the one I like most, donate
all the money to charity. The favorite one will follow you right till the end, however you would not know what will happen when you close your eye right?? Give to someone who takes care of you the most as a souvenir.
I will follow the plan of a friend who collects clocks...
He and I discuss our hobbies and he says, when I am 70 years old, I am going to sell off all but a few favorites. My wife and children wouldn't know what to do with them, and this way I get decent value and they go to reasonably good homes. I might choose...
This is like winning the lottery and lost for actions.
How about sending the pieces to the manufacture who have museums dedicated to their brands? It would be a great way to share knowledge and specimens. Cheers PAt
I am going to take a lesson from my father.
My dad was an avid stamp collector. He had an impressively large collection and spent many an hour working on his collection. Several months prior to his death he turned the whole collection over to an auction house who sold it piecemeal. Interestingly, m...
Shareeee
Give them to aspiring collectors on Purist who are not as well off as some :P
Great question..
.. and I love it that we're so open to discuss this in this forum There's a lot of wise suggestions, and my take is similar to many of you. Depending on the size of my collection, when the time comes, I will pass each of my child(ren) one or two pieces fr...
I thank everyone for all their responses, even if not so serious...
I will have to think about what to ultimately do with the watches.