MTF[PuristS]
13383
The next phase is the hardest...
DaveG,
Thank you for the precis of 30 years in horology and PuristS.
I can empathise as our time footprints overlap.
Even some brands and geography overlap.
I agree with your conclusions. Some watch buddies wondered why I kept buying from dealers in Singapore or Tokyo when I was not resident in those cities at the time of purchase. It was a continuation of relationships from when I lived there.
As an engineer, you indexed and cross reference all your watches; all have a memory attached...places, life event, date. That is perhaps their greatest gift.
Now comes the hardest phase as you intimated...Consolidation.
You need to chose 7 watches to keep.
With four sons, it may be easier because you already have 4 'heirlooms' chosen that you can still wear until time to "let go".
Now, you only need to select 3 personal watches for yourself:
Daily wear.
Sportiest.
Black Tie.
A gentleman only needs three watches......
It would be an interesting Thought Experiment choosing your top-7.
I used to have one watch to be buried with but that has changed twice since 2004.
That means you can find new homes for the others.
I profer the first bid for this one:
Regards,
MTF