Agree completely with these sentiments. Now I mostly wear a Tudor Submariner or Omega Planet Ocean. I enjoy looking at my birth year watch, a Smiths A454 Antarctic. I gave my sons my Rolex and 2 other Omegas. That gave me more pleasure than keeping them.
Loved this article Jason, as I’ve also been dreaming of simplifying my life, which includes shedding much of the bloat that comes along with being a lifelong collector of many things, and staring 60 in the face. Most of the watches that I’ve accumulated over the past 30 years only see the light of day when I open a case to select one of the 5 to 10 go-to pieces. But as much as I’d love to find new homes for many of my watches, I absolutely despise the process of selling things. It’s not that I hate parting with them, I just don’t like the pricing and posting and fielding questions from tire kickers, etc. And given my severe ADHD, if there is no urgency or pain or need for cash, the getting started on listing a watch for sale, which means I need to find the box and papers, original strap, extra bracelet links, etc. is just too daunting a task. So there they sit, shoulder to shoulder with their neglected neighbors, strapped to comfy cushions in pelican cases, waiting with hope to be chosen the next time the case is opened.
In the last couple of years, I’ve fallen into this category as well. From about 25, I’m down to 5 plus one vintage Seiko from the 60s and my dad’s watch. I’ve become a one-watch guy for 2-3 months at a time, then rotate to a “new” one.
I couldn’t help but wonder whether this is your Jerry Maguire moment.
Not because you’re leaving watches behind, but because you’re stripping away everything that isn’t essential and focusing on what genuinely matters to you as a collector.
I’ve been having similar thoughts myself. The older I get, the less interested I am in owning lots of watches and the more interested I am in owning the right watches. The ones with stories, memories and meaning.
Perhaps the real evolution isn’t from collector to non-collector, but from accumulating watches to curating a collection with purpose.
Looking forward to seeing where the journey takes you.
Feel this. I am a 3 watch guy now. Garmin for exercise, Tudor BB58 95% of the time, and a SBGW231 GS for dressing up. I don’t see a need for another watch.
I may have to delete my comment. I was unaware of this deep support for knitting circles. I can understand cat and crochet supporters, but this is new to me. 🫣
I get it. I have too many, and this week sold one that I actually really like, just not as much as some others.
And.. there's always something else that might catch my eye, so rather than letting the 40 become 50, last year I set to reducing . I think I've have 10 out and 2 in! Getting there.
SOTC posts? I've never found them showy, just informative and fun but I guess it's how the info is delivered sometimes
Jason, it was very nice to meet you in Saturday. I have also been slowly selling watches and have it down to 6 core watches that I rotate through. It does feel lighter and it’s just one less thing to think about.
Also, thank you for the orange Citizen hat! It will get some good use this summer.
I'm sorry that I too am trying to avoid having more "stuff" and so I had to decline your request to relieve you of some of those books and things. lol.
I think I understand your point. I play bass guitar. I have four guitars. I used to feel it was important to have many guitars, the only restraint I used was my wife's comments on why one good guitar is not enough.
Now, I look at my guitars quite differently. I really only play two of them. I only want to play those guitars that I've had for a while and bring back memories of interesting times. As we age, we become more of those small things that matter personally.
I like to think that this aging means we are becoming more of a realist and react with wisdom versus ego.
I’m doing the opposite .. aiming more high horology to reward myself with some joy as I near retirement. but still with the aim to keep myself level at 10 to 12 and firmly move out what’s not worn. Will be in Tokyo in a couple weeks so planning to grab a Pelagos to test drive in Ishigaki .. see if it can displace my SNR043 . watch in = watch out
Agree completely with these sentiments. Now I mostly wear a Tudor Submariner or Omega Planet Ocean. I enjoy looking at my birth year watch, a Smiths A454 Antarctic. I gave my sons my Rolex and 2 other Omegas. That gave me more pleasure than keeping them.
Loved this article Jason, as I’ve also been dreaming of simplifying my life, which includes shedding much of the bloat that comes along with being a lifelong collector of many things, and staring 60 in the face. Most of the watches that I’ve accumulated over the past 30 years only see the light of day when I open a case to select one of the 5 to 10 go-to pieces. But as much as I’d love to find new homes for many of my watches, I absolutely despise the process of selling things. It’s not that I hate parting with them, I just don’t like the pricing and posting and fielding questions from tire kickers, etc. And given my severe ADHD, if there is no urgency or pain or need for cash, the getting started on listing a watch for sale, which means I need to find the box and papers, original strap, extra bracelet links, etc. is just too daunting a task. So there they sit, shoulder to shoulder with their neglected neighbors, strapped to comfy cushions in pelican cases, waiting with hope to be chosen the next time the case is opened.
In the last couple of years, I’ve fallen into this category as well. From about 25, I’m down to 5 plus one vintage Seiko from the 60s and my dad’s watch. I’ve become a one-watch guy for 2-3 months at a time, then rotate to a “new” one.
I couldn’t help but wonder whether this is your Jerry Maguire moment.
Not because you’re leaving watches behind, but because you’re stripping away everything that isn’t essential and focusing on what genuinely matters to you as a collector.
I’ve been having similar thoughts myself. The older I get, the less interested I am in owning lots of watches and the more interested I am in owning the right watches. The ones with stories, memories and meaning.
Perhaps the real evolution isn’t from collector to non-collector, but from accumulating watches to curating a collection with purpose.
Looking forward to seeing where the journey takes you.
Feel this. I am a 3 watch guy now. Garmin for exercise, Tudor BB58 95% of the time, and a SBGW231 GS for dressing up. I don’t see a need for another watch.
Knitting circle?!?! Ouch! How about book club? At least make them sound cerebral.
Careful! I know several highly intellectual knitters!
Knitting and the fabric arts were a critical component of taking mankind to the moon! Hard to find something more cerebral than that.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/core-memory-weavers-navajo-apollo-raytheon-computer-nasa
I may have to delete my comment. I was unaware of this deep support for knitting circles. I can understand cat and crochet supporters, but this is new to me. 🫣
I get it. I have too many, and this week sold one that I actually really like, just not as much as some others.
And.. there's always something else that might catch my eye, so rather than letting the 40 become 50, last year I set to reducing . I think I've have 10 out and 2 in! Getting there.
SOTC posts? I've never found them showy, just informative and fun but I guess it's how the info is delivered sometimes
Jason, it was very nice to meet you in Saturday. I have also been slowly selling watches and have it down to 6 core watches that I rotate through. It does feel lighter and it’s just one less thing to think about.
Also, thank you for the orange Citizen hat! It will get some good use this summer.
It was great to see you on Saturday!
I'm sorry that I too am trying to avoid having more "stuff" and so I had to decline your request to relieve you of some of those books and things. lol.
I think I understand your point. I play bass guitar. I have four guitars. I used to feel it was important to have many guitars, the only restraint I used was my wife's comments on why one good guitar is not enough.
Now, I look at my guitars quite differently. I really only play two of them. I only want to play those guitars that I've had for a while and bring back memories of interesting times. As we age, we become more of those small things that matter personally.
I like to think that this aging means we are becoming more of a realist and react with wisdom versus ego.
I’m doing the opposite .. aiming more high horology to reward myself with some joy as I near retirement. but still with the aim to keep myself level at 10 to 12 and firmly move out what’s not worn. Will be in Tokyo in a couple weeks so planning to grab a Pelagos to test drive in Ishigaki .. see if it can displace my SNR043 . watch in = watch out