Watch categories in building a collection

I used to collect vintage watches. For a while it was chronographs by function. Then it was chronos by movement calibers. Then it was interesting case designs (still a sucker for bombe lugs). I got off of chronos and went to other complex functions - 1/4 hour repeaters, 5 minute repeaters, minute repeaters, the various complex calendars (perpetual, annual, etc), triple date, triple date moon phase, jump hours. Then there were a lot of oddballs like a Buhre artilleryman watch, an original Omega Ploprof, among others.

I focused on what interested me at the time and not so much brands. There is a LOT of cool stuff out there if you step outside the popular brands.

 

I never thought I’d be a “pocket watch guy” but after some of the repair/restore/service projects I’ve been doing I’ve discovered you miss out on a LOT of amazing work if you rule them out of your collection.

I guess per you buckets listed above these would fall into the “fascinator” group, maybe? Just seeing all of the decoration and detail that went into some of those hand made pieces is amazing. Every piece is essentially a one-of-a-kind!

Most important to me is that it is a watch that I see and feel like I can’t not buy it. I’m not in it for an investment which a lot of folks are. I just want pieces that speak to me.

For the time being, I am looking for watches from different countries and different eras. That’s my categories.

 

Roland Murphy, right in the middle of Pennsylvania. Great guy and great watches.

I think that the Rolex Skydweller on an Oysterflex strap is the best watch and checks all the boxes. Annual calendar, great brand and dealer support, very comfortable, easily adjustable for size, and so on.

Matt

 

I am extremely fortunate in that I have MOST of the watches that I really want to have.

All my life I kept hearing about Rolex, Rolex, Rolex. When I was 17 I bought a Rolex replica and wore it proudly for a while. I was nowhere near to buying my own. I wore any number of other brands - Swatch, Invicta, Fossil, Timex. I loved the variance I had in my watches, but I wasn't a real collector.

I still kind of buy what I can afford that I like. I have found that I like a bit of everything, but I don't break it down quite the same way.

I have dive watches.

I have Chronographs.

I have dress watches.

I have casual watches.

I have pilot watches.

I have watches that probably don't fit into any of those categories but I just buy what I like. I do have aspirational goals - I want a Rolex Pepsi for example. But at this point I have most of what I really want (I still want an Omega Speedmaster as another).

The list goes on and on, but it's fun - there is always something that piques my interest. Unfortunately, I will probably never own an AP, PP, or VC, but I am ok with that.


PDG

 

Here’s what I love:
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This picture was taken on November 12. There’s a small red square on the 11:00 baton to indicate that it’s the eleventh month. The dual time zone is simply set for 24-hour time, so I know that it was 6:33 in the evening.

The clasp is adjustable by 20mm, and the strap is extremely comfortable. It’s also reinforced with steel so I don’t worry about losing it.

It’s the right balance (for me) between bling and comfort. The bezel has four positions that make setting the watch a breeze.

Matt

 

Absolutely fascinating! I have never seen one of these in person, so I had no idea how to read it or understand all of its capabilities. Thank you!


PDG

 

I categorize them into 3 main groups, land, sea and air.

You can have workhorse, casual and fancy within each group.

Land would be all tach chronograph watches and things as a Ferrari or Porsche oriented model. And most other leisurely watches. There may be overlaps too.
In this section I have a TAG Heuer chronograph tourbillon, an incoming Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore chrono as examples.

Sea is any bona fide divers watch. Certain criteria must be met. Omega makes the Plant Ocean line that also contains chrono functions but with a divers timer bezel, not that useless "tach" bezel. I have mostly divers watches.
Examples include the Rolex Deep Sea, Sea Dweller James Cameron, Grand Seiko 600m five-day spring drive watch, an H2O Kalmar 25,000m diver and an Omega Ultra Deep.

The air category is a good one and contains pilots watches, GMTs and world timer watches.
I have an Omega WorldTimer, and an incoming Rolex Sky-Dweller.

Ali

 

I have about a dozen or so high end watches and before I would just want everything. Now every watch has a purpose. Whether its for travel, dinner out, sports watch- if it doesnt serve that purpose, I dont buy. if I already have a watch that serves the puporse- I contemplate selling and replacing with new purchase. Gone are the days of just buying everything as you just cant wear them all.