Comments:
.. already the shining looks are pure pleasure, such a quality, such much substance !
And not forgetting, the time and energy to master your new Leica 6 !
- More than worthwhile !
Considering just the sum of your trips with horological "agenda" or "side-program" .. substantial !
Last but not least, time and effort to aid your friends in making some horological
wishes come true - also a fine and commendable task ;
- Thank you for that !
Each and every single watch in your pictorial "yearbook" is a treasure.
I am sure - pleasure to look at and wear !..
For me, just knowing you a bit, although it may sound like no new(s), but in fact
lots of depth and quality increase in your collection,
You said it ... also responsibility somehow, as well - how true !!
- Thank you again, for reminding us & for sharing so much !
Wishing you & your lovely family the Best, and a Very Merry Christmas,
hs
My 2014 horological year.
No new additions, for me, this year, for the first time in... 18 years!
But that doesn't mean it has been a bad year.
First of all, we had some stunning gatherings and trips, like the one I had in Singakong. 
Or the meetings I had with some of you, in Paris.
We really lived some extraordinary moments.
Then, I spent most of this year servicing some of my watches, and finding parts for them. This is a task which takes a lot of time, patience and funds.
So, the Rolex GMT Master 6542 received a new insert, bezel, and was totally serviced.
The Tudor 7924 needed a good service, which is now done.
A new and finally correct insert for my Rolex 5508.
I found a crosshairs dial for my JLC Geophysic.
New hands and a big service on my Girard Perregaux Gyromatic.
A service on my Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Early Milspec.
My Lecoultre Polaris 65 was probably NEVER serviced, as the movement seemed to be untouched. It is now done, but it was mandatory as it didn't work well.
Last but not least, a huge work on my Omega Seamaster 300 CK 2913.
I still have some watches to be serviced, like my 2 Deep Sea Alarm, and the Breitling Superocean, watches which I expect to be back home within the next 6 months.
Then, I will have to service the rest of my Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watches.
And I will make a pause, because I would really like to add a few watches, next year.
We tend to forget that we have to service our watches, to maintain them in good shape.
If we keep that necessity in mind, this is another argument in favor of the " drastical reduction of the collection " theory, as the cost is just phenomenal.
Food for thought...
Best,
Nicolas
This is all but a "blank" year !
WOW ! Impressive service year !
I could not agree more with you as for the imperative necessity of regular service of our beauties in spite of the high cost. And thus also on the wise advice for a drastic concentration of the collection on few but very cherrished pieces.
Best,
Mike
Food for thought, indeed, my dear Mike. Thanks and happy Xmas to you too! [nt]
No message body
Nicolas, the geophysic is a new watch!
IMO that was the best of the year. Very jealous. Just fab.
Happy new year!
Best
Joe
Totally agree, we tend to service cars on time ...
because we need to use it, with the exception of those who had many in their huge garage.
Watches seem to be neglected but on a microscopic level, these little gears and oils need more attention.
I think you did the right thing to take good care of your watches.
One concern I have is the service department capacity and capability, are they ready for the new wave of watches being produced?
Does the watch industry produce/train enough service technicians or just focusing on selling?
Thanks for sharing, Nico, very nice collection of pillar timepieces of the respective brands.
Rgds
Raymond
We too rarely discuss services, which is strange.
It is useless to add watches if we are not able to maintain then, thus to enjoy them!
Servicing watces is crucial. Brands should keep that in mind.
Best,
Nicolas
What a year !.. What superb pieces !..To see them in new splendor and top running- a joy !
.. already the shining looks are pure pleasure, such a quality, such much substance !
And not forgetting, the time and energy to master your new Leica 6 !
- More than worthwhile !
Considering just the sum of your trips with horological "agenda" or "side-program" .. substantial !
Last but not least, time and effort to aid your friends in making some horological
wishes come true - also a fine and commendable task ;
- Thank you for that !
Each and every single watch in your pictorial "yearbook" is a treasure.
I am sure - pleasure to look at and wear !..
For me, just knowing you a bit, although it may sound like no new(s), but in fact
lots of depth and quality increase in your collection,
You said it ... also responsibility somehow, as well - how true !!
- Thank you again, for reminding us & for sharing so much !
Wishing you & your lovely family the Best, and a Very Merry Christmas,
A very Merry Christmas to you & yours !
Let lights be there for each of us !
hs
Thanks for your kind words, my dear HS.
I wish you all the best for the year to come, and I wish us many other passionate and exciting discussions.
All the best,
Nicolas
that is a lot done in one year instead of a new acquisition
which is more correct i think. Merry Christmas to you and family and everyone here and looking forward to a fruitful 2015!!
I think we have to keep that pint in mind. More often. Thanks and all the best to you! [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-12-24 05:34:30
That's about 8 watches made new
So it really cannot be counted as a zero sum year. Great watches, and I especially like the Polaris...
Very right too on the phenomenal cost of servicing...the consideration to keep our collection in sane numbers ties directly to this.
Have a great 2015 ahead.
Sound like horological bliss
Enjoying the pleasures of your fruit.
It is a joy to enjoy what you have.
Merry Christmas
Bill
It is a joy to enjoy what you have.
Merry Christmas
Bill
It is our responsibility to maintain our watches!
They are all a piece of the history and we should keep them in as good condition as possible!
Last year and this year I made a similar heavy overhaul in my collection.
But I would not stand not grabbing any new watches in 18 month!
My approach is that I try to go both for new pieces and send existing pieces for service in parallel.
Problem is that your burn rate goes very high with this tactic and when opportunities like the recent Geophysic De Luxe comes along, you are not able to act...
I will not post a "My 2014 horological year".....
But maybe I should post a back from the SPA post...?!
Best
Blomman
Hello Nicolas! I feel you had a great year in spite of...
... not adding a new piece during 2014, as you say, first time in 18 years!
You are showing us the escence of what a true collector is: though we usually find great pleasure and excitement in every new addttion to our collection, we should discover that there are many other pleasures in the activity of collecting which sometimes we forget: mainly to truly enjoy, care and appreciate the pieces we already own!
You go beyond this crucial statement by telling about the joy of meeting friends and colleagues in the same passion, the possibility of traveling to far places in connection with our beloved watches, and the often neglected attention to a much needed service or improvement of the pieces we already have in our stables.
You also show in this and in every post of you, the additional enjoyment of "playing" with our timepieces when taking photographs of them: handling and fondling them while finding new angles, searching for the appropiate background props and accesories, etc., and of course the learning to master the photographic technique, camera handling and light management.
Your post show us something I have been considering for some time now. Something my usual greediness has not allowed me... yet. But something a true collector who has "arrived" to a certain level must consider: to stop adding, to view his collection as a whole, to decide what has to remain and what has to go, to truly enjoy the collection regardless of the excitement of the hunt and catch.
Purchase abstinence can have different meanings or motives. In a high level of collector it may be occur because it is more diffcult to find a piece which truly satisfies him, o because the collector is focusing his sights in a single piece in particular, and nothing will deviate his attention to this goal.
Purchase abstinence is not bad. Is just part of the long journey that "to collect" implies. And this abstinence is the true sign meaning that the collector has arrived to maturation.
I read your post with great interest and it provoked me to deep thought. I feel it is time to try to follow this path if I wish to call my gathering of watches a true collection, and to call myself a true Collector.
Thank you my friend for sharing your experience!
Un abrazo muy fuerte y afectuoso, Abel.
You are showing us the escence of what a true collector is: though we usually find great pleasure and excitement in every new addttion to our collection, we should discover that there are many other pleasures in the activity of collecting which sometimes we forget: mainly to truly enjoy, care and appreciate the pieces we already own!
You go beyond this crucial statement by telling about the joy of meeting friends and colleagues in the same passion, the possibility of traveling to far places in connection with our beloved watches, and the often neglected attention to a much needed service or improvement of the pieces we already have in our stables.
You also show in this and in every post of you, the additional enjoyment of "playing" with our timepieces when taking photographs of them: handling and fondling them while finding new angles, searching for the appropiate background props and accesories, etc., and of course the learning to master the photographic technique, camera handling and light management.
Your post show us something I have been considering for some time now. Something my usual greediness has not allowed me... yet. But something a true collector who has "arrived" to a certain level must consider: to stop adding, to view his collection as a whole, to decide what has to remain and what has to go, to truly enjoy the collection regardless of the excitement of the hunt and catch.
Purchase abstinence can have different meanings or motives. In a high level of collector it may be occur because it is more diffcult to find a piece which truly satisfies him, o because the collector is focusing his sights in a single piece in particular, and nothing will deviate his attention to this goal.
Purchase abstinence is not bad. Is just part of the long journey that "to collect" implies. And this abstinence is the true sign meaning that the collector has arrived to maturation.
I read your post with great interest and it provoked me to deep thought. I feel it is time to try to follow this path if I wish to call my gathering of watches a true collection, and to call myself a true Collector.
Thank you my friend for sharing your experience!
Un abrazo muy fuerte y afectuoso, Abel.
I needed to make a pause. To think about my collection.
To reinforce the weak points, to hunt parts, to maintain my watches. Then, no time nor means for new additions.
Now I have a clear idea of what I have to do, the way to go.
That is why I say that it is not a bad year at all.
Moreover, I didn't find anything interesting on the different markets.
So... Not that Wise.
Un fuerte abrazo, Amigo moi, y feliz Navidad.
Nicolas
Merry Xmas Nico!
I'm in the middle of the process of reducing the number of my watches. It's not easy but I have also two reason for that:
- I want to wear them all
- All the watches must be kept perfectly serviced.
Best, Kari