What it means to me to be a watch collector

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Watches in all price ranges: Ming, Kurono, MAD1, Silberstein/Erard and even the Timex reissue of my first children’s watch, the Marlin; While the super watches tend to get the most attention in my writing and photography, rest assured that on any given day I’m just as likely to be wearing a practical everyday watch that has a bit of pizzazz.

Friendship: The best thing about watch collecting is that it is a social hobby. I love sharing my search for new pieces with friends and hearing and learning from their perspectives.

And if you look at the members of our NorCal gang, you’ll see that there are many references that are common across the group, most notably our Voutilainen chronograph “buddy watches.”

Friendship piece: the author’s Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II

Back to the more difficult question: What is a collector?

If a collection is a set of objects with an underlying logic, then is someone who owns a connected group of things automatically a collector?

I could say “yes” and be done, but for me it’s more complex.

In a recent interview that I really enjoyed, auctioneer Aurel Bacs was asked, “If I own 30 interesting watches, am I a collector?” He replied that those without “collector genes” may be buying for practical reasons or vanity would, but a collector buys “with his heart”.

For Bacs is the time needed to “nurture”. . . “Brain and Heart” is how “you define a collector versus a vacuum cleaner.”

I find it very difficult to disagree with this assessment! For me, this brings us full circle to the idea of ​​enthusiasm: without it and the emotional and intellectual investment that comes with it, I think it’s hard to claim that you are a true collector.

Emotional connection: A. Lange & Söhne Pour le Mérite Tourbillon in yellow gold, the reference that Walter Lange wore

This makes it a little difficult for me to fully accept the self-proclaimed watch investors and all-too-visible flex kings as core members of the watch community.

If you spend 90 percent of your watch time bragging about how much you’ve earned, at least on paper, or taking photos of your forearm with six or seven expensive watches draped over it, I’m not going to hate you.

But given the choice, I’ll instead spend time with my buddy Chuck, who might wear the FP Journe TS prototype on his right wrist and have the Derek Pratt oval tourbillon pocket watch in a zippered pocket in his vest and wouldn’t tell you unless you specifically asked for it.

I also argue that collecting is dynamic, not static. If you really delve into a subject, it’s obvious that you will learn and your taste will evolve – and your collection will change as a result, including the need to sell some valuable pieces in order to afford others.

I assume it’s possible to reach a real personal endpoint with a collection, but I’m not there yet. And as much as friends joke about “exit guards,” they don’t seem to have reached the end of their journey yet.

Probably should have kept these: the watches were sold to finance other purchases

Something special for collecting watches and other everyday items: If you are a real collector, use them! My very first article on this site was titled “Why You Can’t Afford to Buy Your Watch If You Can’t Afford to Break It,” and I remain a firm believer in this rule.

Ed Gilbertson, chief judge emeritus of the Pebble Beach Concours and loyal Ferrari collector, always ends any address to the Ferrari faithful by bellowing, “Ferraris are meant to be driven!”

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