blau
3530
I'd consider your proposal a "mild consolidation"
I've done that a couple of times over the years of collecting and never regretted it. I haven't had the guts for a *major consolidation* where I cut things down so far that it seriously changes the scope of the collection. But, like you, when I get up in the mid-20s I start to feel a bit out of control, and get eager to pare back a bit.
The thing that always slows me down when I'm considering it is the sense that the 6-8 lower-value watches I'm trading away represent WAY more collective beauty and excellence than the one higher-value watch I'm trading them for. Which is generally true! The 1016, in this case, is probably not more intrinsic watch goodness than the combination of the ones you'll trade for it. But here's the thing: it will bring you more watch joy than any one or two of the others, and, once you trade them away and get it, you'll have something awesome that you couldn't have otherwise, AND, you'll still have a watch collection! In fact you'll still have a watch collection that's a little too large for you to give everything its fair wearing time. Thus, when you do it, you will not regret it.
At least that's how it's gone for me.
Consolidation of the collection for a grail watch - what is your take on this topic?
Lately I´ve been thinking a lot about consolidating my collection to release some funds to be able to buy my grail watch which is a Rolex Explorer 1016. While my current collection status is not unmanageable by any means (currently we are talking about 26...
I am all for consolidating
especially if it is to buy a grail. A watch being rare or irreplaceable is not a good enough reason to keep it. You have to love it. And if you do, don't sell it. But if you merely like a watch, definitely sell it to help finance a grail. I feel I have to...
Good points you make,
I am still on the fence between 1-2 pieces but more or less I know which ones will leave my collection. In the end it is all about one loving a certain watch or not, for the personal collection terms like "rarity" or "desirability" are overrated IMHO.
I would consolidate
I’ve somehow the same challenge, but I’m giving watches that I almost don’t wear anymore to my children ( only the ones they like). And that is irrespective of the watches value , so not making money off them, just giving enjoyment). As long as someone en...
Thanks for your thoughtful reply,
seems like every watch guy is in this exact situation sooner or later... Well, my daughter is still a toddler so giving watches to her is not an option (yet) but I am working for a very fine collection I can share with her one day, I am already working on...
Recently I sold all but 3
It actually feels good. No regrets. Never looked back. Personally , I’d do it.
Thanks, 3 would be a bit too little for my personal preferences,
and I have certain watches with sentimental value attached to them (heirlooms, gifts, etc.) but I will try to make some room in the collection for the aspirational watch that I have been dreaming about for so long...
Go for it.
Otherwise, you’ll forever be thinking about it. And what with how time passes, aging and all…there really is no time like the present. In fact, there’s a perfect specimen out there as we speak (and no, I’m in no way affiliated or associated). Best of luck...
Exactly my thougts,
next year is my 40th Birthday so that would be a great target for a consolidatet collection with a new "milestone" watch added for the anniversary in form of the 1016.
This is my philosophy on everything...
...If I were a billionaire, I'd buy a $20M Ferrari and daily drive it to the grocery store : ) Why not?
Jeeves follows me in the Range Rover, of course : )
...btw, sometimes I see a fairly well-known older multi-billionaire at a local grocery store. He chats with everyone and does his own shopping. He usually drives a Camry Hybrid : )
I am considering the same thing,
I have a few that are worn less ffrequently than some of the others. I could sell them, reduce the size of the collection, and add a piece that would see considerable wrist time. Right now my biggest fear is "sellers remorse". What I probably will do is s...
Sellers remorse is a thing I still think about,
but so far I have not regretted a single watch sale in the past and I am not planning to rush anything, the consolidation of my collection will be a process over many months and I hope the addition of my dream watch will outweigh the departure of some les...
I'd consider your proposal a "mild consolidation"
I've done that a couple of times over the years of collecting and never regretted it. I haven't had the guts for a *major consolidation* where I cut things down so far that it seriously changes the scope of the collection. But, like you, when I get up in ...
You are right, "mild consolidation" would have been a better term.
Selling everything for 1 ultra high end watch is out of question for me as I like a bit of variety and I also have a bit of a "collection" in the classical sense in my watch box around a certain brand/theme - I have for example 3 Polerouters that I don´t ...
I say get started on it.
I found myself with a collection of about 25, but have sold off about half over the last 2-3 years, with more to go. It was the realization that about 75% of those watches were never being worn that moved me to start selling. I do have sellers remorse ove...
Thanks for your reply,
my thoughts exactly. My watch collection is never static and always evolving, with some "fixed" core pieces and watches with sentimental value.
A grail is a grail...
...I'll likely never have the $ for mine (just my luck to not love less expensive watches), but if I only had to sell a few of my current watches, I'd do it in a heartbeat...
Take the leap… but make sure you’ve thought through the service considerations, etc
You’ll need a really good, trusted service outlet at some point that can help preserve a vintage watch like that and not destroy it in the process.
Thanks for mentioning that point!
This is indeed something to consider. I am, however, very very lucky to have a very good watchmaker at hand who is specialized in vintage watches - he has even serviced watches for me with bad parts availability like multiple Universal Geneve Microrotor M...
Bobby Fischer said -
to get squares, you have to give squares. Unless one is rolling in dough, we're in the same position with watches. It's gone both ways for me. I've been delighted with getting something I'd wanted for a while and don't really miss the pieces I sold. I've ...
It really depends
I was offered a 37mm Simplicity by the manufacture directly but at a very elevated price. I thought long over it because this would mean sacrifices and compromise. In the end I did not proceed with the offer because I think I will enjoy the other watches ...
You never know for sure -
sellers remores or buyers remorse, I guess we will always have live with one of these two things either way.
Without any hesitation, yes.
I am in the same process, I already sold a good ten watches, in order to get two. One recently caught, the other before this summer. But for this second one, I will probably have to sell two or three more watches. Both of these two are watches I am runnin...
Sounds it was the right thing for you to do as well.
You have only two wrists so if you want to give every watch a fair amount of time where you actually wear the thing then the amount of watches in a collection is limited. Of course there are watches with sentimental value and some watches that are the cor...
I feel alike,
but after selling most of the "OK but not great" watches I will shift down the tempo a bit and only try to buy less but better watches for a more upscale collection. On the other hand "hunting and flipping" can also be fun just for the sake of the wearing...