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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 watches) I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of watches I got to choose from every morning.
My thought is that if I sell a few (6-8) pieces I will be able to gain some free change to bring a Rolex 1016 in good condition within reach (otherwise impossible with a newly built house, small child and wife working part-time) and in the process, freeing up a bit of space in my watch boxes would give me a bit more possibilities to enjoy the pieces that are still left in the collection.
The 1016 has always been my ultimate grail and I think the next 1-2 years might be a good time to buy one.
On one hand, I still feel a bit reluctant because some of the waches I am planning to sell would be quite hard to replace because they are kind of rare but on the other hand - good 1016 Explorers are by no means "a dime in a dozen" so I am pretty sure that it will be worth to let some pieces go to purchase my forever grail watch.
I am not going to rush anything - selling the pieces I am willing to let go will be a process of moths, not weeks but I really think I am ready to let go of some watches that get too little wrist time now.
How do you feel about this topic? Did any of you do a similar thing and later regret it or was is ultimately worth it?
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 too many watches still - I used to have 11 and now I am down to 7. But this may go down to 5 to help finance a grail.
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 enjoys them. I’ve not necessarily a grail watch as I would just buy it if it would exist. I’m just happy with the watches I have. Perhaps just one extra Im hunting 😀….
Good luck in securing your Rolex grail,
Dirk
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 getting her into the hobby. 
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 getting her into the hobby.
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, and enjoy! ✌️
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 set aside some money
when I can and just buy what I want, see, problem solved.
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 lesser worn pieces.
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.
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 want to sell because I love the model so much. But other watches were more or less impulse buys (at a very, very good price well below market value) and so the pain in parting with them is not too big. So I am pretty sure it will work out well for me in the long run as soon as I have finished the sales and can get my hands on a nice 1016.