Horological Meandering

I was discussing, with another purist, the choice of consolidating to a one-watch collection. We both agreed that there would be merits to doing so, but couldn’t agree on what kind of timepiece would fulfill the requirements of such a collection. Hypothet...  

since it would be your only, would there be situations in which you would feel uncomfortable wearing the watch (or where it would be out of place)?

Going to Les Cabinotiers would be about having my ideal complications (alarm-related) in one watch, not really about the artistry (which they are certainly capable of). But this is extremely hypothetical because (among other reasons) I already have essent... 

And sentimental watches will always win

Damn, that makes 17... You see, I am a lost cause. Best, Nicolas

A combination of luck and patience, but I ended up with something I thought was incredible. A very elegant Moritz Grossmann Tefnut, incredibly well finished, white gold, enamel dial, a perfect size for me at 36mm, and piece unique on top of that! Overall,...  

your's is gorgeous. hat's off to you my friend; you have achieved horological nirvana.

Mine says hello! ...  

Grossmann at its best in my opinion

Not the best distribution and management strategies, if i may say so. that's what held me back.

some of their watches are just too beautiful to resist - both dial and movement are exquisitely finished, arguably the best from Glashutte and would give Lang & Heyne a run for their money.

Definitely worthy of one-watch choice!

it would be this Grossmann for sure.

...but this one is a remarkable beauty in all of its aspects! Enjoy.

Indeed, I was very fortunate to win this one. And as you said, the hands are probably my favorite thing about it!

but rather large at 46.5mm don't you think?! Would a 41.4mm Signature One be a more wearable watch and a great choice for a one watch collection?! My other candidates for a one watch collection would be a Voutialinen 28E, a Roger Smith Series 1, a Charles...  

I wouldn't argue with you, but would hope that its 3 ATM water resistance isn't a case of overpromising and underdelivering ..and thanks for calling me out on rocking 46.6mm on my puny 6.5 inch wrist

if I were to pick a watch from the GF stable but I am more of a dress watch guy so a modest Voutilainen 28E in a custom made 37mm case would be my number one choice. A wearable simple time only watch.

From vacheron website As the one watch I'd want wouldn't likely be a good watch for day to day activities in regards to finish holding up and not messing with the complications. Patek 5970 comes to mind as the one watch I'd want. A grail. Something more v...  

Let's keep it at that, because grails are allowed. That being said, these new VC ultrathin perpetuals are formidable. plenty of water resistance too, if i recall correctly. And with that avant-garde easy-change strap system, you can dress it for the pool,... 

and discussable.

Yesterday i’ve got my milestone of 5 mechanical watches. I can only think about expanding, so let’s make all bigger, better, faster.

What new piece did you get? Did I miss the “incoming” post ? Congrats!

Revue Thommen. Resurrected some decades ago. I seen it at an auction website and started to bid. I was looking for a Roamer or Louis Erard. Came through this watch, a Airspeed day date per accident. Not expensive what so ever, but good enough to enjoy it....  

Perhaps this is because I'm a promiscuous dabbler and view monogamy in watches as needlessly restrictive. I don't know. There are too many qualities in too many watches that I want to savour, and it would be difficult if not impossible to find them all bu... 

One day I want to take a sabbatical from my job (and family?) and travel through all 7 continents. Not camp and rough it up, but also not take extra things that I don't need. I'd love to take along a horological masterpiece which is both tough and beautif... 

i'd venture that a modern sapphire moonwatch can fit that niche as well.

Even though I only listed two watches below as one-watch-only candidates, a Speedy would *definitely* be a candidate for me, too.

If I was to take such an excursion, it would be to visit some of the world's oldest megalithic structures. These are humankind's oldest astronomical, timekeeping devices and can be found in all of the continents. There are an unknown number submerged unde... 

I've lived in 4 continents so far, but never heard of these structures. would love to visit.

Our ancestors were connected to the heavens to a profound extent. In a number of respects their levels of knowledge and techniques of measurement were far more advanced than we credit. Several cultures appear to have known how to measure the precession, w... 

But I don't think it's JUST a verbal point. It's also conceptual. If I went down to only one watch I wouldn't be thinking, "I'm still a watch collector, but my collection just happens to have only one member," I'd be thinking, "I'm no longer a watch colle... 

... I'm a newcomer to fora like this, and find it entertaining and informative. At the same time I see a sub-tongue that some collectors use that's a little different from what I'm used to. So, for instance, I buy watches; aficionados "acquire timepieces.... 

Whenever I buy something that costs more than $100-200, then it better make me feel on top of the world. Any flattering nouns and adjectives thrown at me by the generous and kind purveyors of this forum, are beyond-welcome. We are all fortunate to have fi... 

There are too many watches in the world needing to be loved to only buy one. When it breaks (and they all do in one way or another) how will you react? I’m a Watch Polygamist. And have done my share of traveling too - I guess I have about 2 watches for ea... 

🤣🤣🤣

I „need“ at least one sports watch and one dress watch and something extraordinary.

Good water resistance. Not too much of a scratch magnet. Black dial is imho the most versatile one. The three straps with quickchange system also add a nice amount of sports to dress watch versatility.

The first thing I know is that I'm not going to stop collecting because one watch is so unbelievably great that it destroys my desire for all others. That's ridiculous! If I became a one-watch person it wouldn't be because I found the One True Best Watch,...  

… but 2 watch (excl. a G shock beater(s) which I wear daily). I would go mainstream, as the indie bug hasn’t bitten me yet: 1. An AP 15202 for everyday use 2. A PP Perpetual - 3448 (unobtainium) or more likely, a 5327G-001 for those evenings out. I know t... 

And you've chosen quite the complimentary and good-looking duo. Interesting choice of AP 15202 for daily; having never owned or handled one, I re-call other owners' comments about movement fragility and the annoyance of date correction at the end of the m... 

… when chosen by Purists

count me in as a +1

I feel Explorer 1 36mm will be a perfect one watch, with its unpretentious looks will blend well as a dress watch but also could take a swim if needed. BTW that GF is stunning ! Best, mahesh.,

And yes, that gargantuan (for my wrist) GF would be the anti-thesis of your perfect-for-the-job 36mm Explorer 1. However, dare I say that is probably more obtainable in today's market 😱🤯

Reliable, best strap imho, heft, ageless, wonderful material - and thanks to two dials I can change its face even though it is a one watch collection (and I could add some more) ...  

Killer looks with oyster case robustness and chronergy escapement chronometry. Bravo!

But if I were put into a scenario where I simply couldn't own more than one watch, I would have to pick this one: Grand Seiko's SBGX333. The 9F movement is tougher than almost any mechanical, and with a much longer service interval. The 9F also satisfies ...  

A massive 'head-nod' your way, my friend.

A head-nod to you for making this thread

I would struggle to have a watch work from beach to gym to office to dinner party. With 50m WR, this choice would scare me in the water, but the ceramic case and reliable perpetual movement would do pretty well. In reality, I long ago took the opinion tha...  

... One. I love, Love, LOVE this watch. Nothing even comes close.

. . . but a mechanical model, if only because of the romance a beating balance imbues. ;-)

. . . monomaniacal. Actually, a vintage Omega would make an awful solitary watch, as they need to be serviced rather more frequently than less, and parts availability is an ongoing issue. With current GS you get top quality at relatively modest cost and (... 

But whoever insinuated that you were monomanical [smart word]? 🤣

. . . is the moment I realized I was monomaniacal.

In your defense, if there is one brand to collect, Omega is the one. A huge catalog filled with greatness.

Would do very nicely indeed

Love the GF choice, definitely thinking the same! For The One, I needed decent wr and shock protection, non-pm but also refinishable like steel or titanium, lume, non-proprietary strap attachment, and running seconds. Since it's an everyday watch that wil...  

Indeed, WR-longevity takes a hit on manual-wind watches. That being said, that beautiful DB28 of yours is perfect for the job: movement material and tech galore + boatloads of mirror polishing + the best shock-resistance tech in the haute horologie busine... 

Another thing which I also hadn't considered is how watches are such a new social trend. I thought (stupidly?) the DB would be relatively under the radar, anonymity through obscurity, subtler and less recognizable than a Rolex, but not so anymore, thanks ... 

If I was to keep only one watch from my collection it would be the Submariner. It wears well all the time, Now, if I was to buy a new, one-only watch watch, it would likely be a PP Aquanaut (maybe 38 mm), not sure which reference. If you had asked me thre... 

LOL. If watch collectors were surveyed, the submariner would be the top poll.

culling the herd in order to finance a dream piece - Lange platinum up & down 36mm I could live with it... and a simple Rolex OP39

That Lange would be lovely. At MSRP, those Rolex OP's are a formidable option, but some of the colors aren't as utilitarian as one would want.

G-shock is the silent companion to the one-watch collection! A white metal watch finely crafted but made to be a daily wearer, such as the Charles Frodsham or an FPJ, are good choices.