June 2020 towards the end of Lockdown. (Now know as Lockdown 1)
Collecting or should I say obsessing over watches is quite a hobby, for which unlimited information is at your fingertips via the internet and no real need to spend a fortune, I have realised that collecting watches is not about the value of a watch or about competing with someone elses collection, it should be personal, it should be about what you like and want to see in your collection for your satisfaction, other peoples opinions are of no value or relevance to your hobby, do what you want to satisfy your passion in the way that suits you. Time is what you need, time to sit, study and enjoy, last night I sat down for 30 minutes unboxed a couple of my watches and just took that time to study and appreciate them, then repacked them… Job done!
Watch Addiction – the beauty is your ‘fix’ need not cost you a fortune so ‘the itch’ can be scratched!
I’ll wager most of those who would criticism this method of collecting won’t actually own or have physically seen the pieces they comment on…. Maybe continue or delete this
I’ve realised that my styles have changed over the years but my passion for the aesthetics of a classic chronograph has never left me, I get a rush every time I see one which I visually find appealing, I zoom in, I study, I absorb. I’ve also come to realise that although the movements are important this should never distract you from buying the watch the you want, the one that catches your eye, ignites your passion, it’s not price, it’s far more primeval, it’s almost instinctive.
Without realising, I have been collecting watches for years, I just never realised before now that it was a collection!
I remember as a small child my grandmother would keep a broken part-dismantled clock in a kitchen draw for me to play with, I was fascinated by it, I never did anything with it, I just looked and played, I’ve also always had a fascination with pocket and stopwatches something just draws me towards any timepiece, actually anything mechanical!
I will try and document my timepieces and construct a rough timeline, including my hookie watches, in-fact this is what bought me to buy my Rolex Daytona.
The more I think about it my timepieces are quite a framework of my life.
Favourites, probably GMT master
I have now bought a couple of watches, both Seiko, really bought just by their looks and to see what value you get for your money, The first was a Seiko 5, I suppose the only real let down is the quality of the strap, being used to Rolex the straps feel and sound really tinny. I have also bought a Seiko Solar Powered SNE095P2-kp23, really just because I liked to look of it, although its far too small for my wrist! as my next purchase I have decided to try a Steinhart, these watches are homage to Rolex submariner, they are Swiss made and have a good reputation with an ETA 2824-2 movement, it will be nice to make a comparison.
Strange how personal this really is, I don’t think that even my family know how I feel about my timepieces, maybe I’m wrong but it’s just not something I’ve ever discussed.
So building my collection; I realise that I will be making mistakes and buying timepieces that just don’t work for me or just don’t like, but you have to go with your instincts and if you dont like something… Sell it.
I already have my Rolex GMT 2 which I have owned since 2001, and my Tag Kirium since 2007 and Stainless Steel Rolex Daytona which I bought in 2016, plus a bunch of other random watches of no real financial value which I will document over time.
7th July 2020
But… where to start, following many hours of research and watching YouTube videos I decided to start with a Seiko Snkl23 a stunning Automatic watch got £100 just let down by the strap, but what can you expect at that price point, and a Cadisen the reason being its simplicity, value, due to it Miyota 9015 movement. I also decided to order a Chinese Studland (just to for interest in value, a watch case, face, jubilee strap, hands and a movement so I could assemble my own watch. I also ordered a Pagani Design Divers, again to asses the quality.
Also on the list was the Steinhart, I opted for the Ocean Militarily Vintage which I purchased second hand on eBay, whilst buying that I noticed that the seller also had a Pagani Divers from the same seller going cheap so I bought that too
Remember this collection is about me buying timepieces for me to enjoy, to admire, to take apart, each piece must have a draw and some emotive experience when handling, not about me purchasing watches more expensive than someone else’s, don’t get me wrong, I’d love to add a Zenith Primo, Panera Luminor and a ceramic Daytona but not yet and even then I’m not sure they would give me any more pleasure than I’m getting from my current purchases.
Oh, I forgot to mention a few months in, I was waiting for my Cadisen and discovered it was still in my AliExpress cart, I had forgotten to actually ordered it!
The next is a Bulova Lunar Pilot, I’ve currently got my eye on one!
I’m in need of a watch display box, I sourced a well reviewed one at a price point that suited, it’s by Glenor Co, unfortunately not available in the UK so I have sourced from USA as I have very large wrists at 8 1/4″ I am finding that my watches don’t fit snugly around the watch cushions in cases and watch winders, something I am going to need to look into…
In addition, I have ordered up a full set of components to assemble my own unique timepiece, everything has now arrived, I’m just waiting for some tools before making a start, not a major project but one I will enjoy undertaking.
My first attempt was hampered by my inabilty to fit the second hand, in the end I gave up for a couple of days, when I returned it just popped on! Not a bad finished product I’m pleased with it, but the parts were all from china so it lacks quality.
Now straps, this hobby is drawing me in by the day!! I have realised that the whole look/enjoyment of a watch can be enhanced purely by changing the strap, believe it or not, it’s not something I had considered before, so I will be ordering up some straps today.
Sept 2020
This hobby has me obsessed, I spend a proportion of my evening fixated by you tube videos on watch reviews, whilst I love the top end Rolex’s and have a few, my passion is in the microbrands, generally these have the Seiko NH 36/36 movements, which are excellent value and accurate to about 15 seconds/day they are also normally under £1500, I’m currently trying to buy a Helm watch, I’ve been on the waiting list for a few months, they sent a notification that the next batch of Khuraburi were being released, giving the exact hour they were going on sae, I was at the ready, with my watch in the basket, the allotted time came and I progressed, first click I got through but couldn’t get my PayPal payment through in time, I started again, and again, eventually a couple of minutes later I succeeded and duly reverted my confirmation. About 4 hours later I received an email from the owner explaining that the released batch of watches had sold out in 30 seconds, it was all so fast that the system couldn’t cope and oversold by 50 watches mine was one! The owner emailed me with a few options, money back, wait until the next batch (early 2021) or opt for a Guaranteed of another model (Vanuatu) released later this year, I have gone for the Vanuatu.
November 2020
The helm Vanuatu arrived and was everything I’d hoped it would be, it comes with a stainless bracelet which is very pronounced which looks really dramatic, I also chose an orange fabrics straps which helps to pop the orange markers in the dial
I’m hankering after a green submariner, at the minute I have the new 40mm Pagani green homage on order, just to see if I like the styling.
I’ve also added a few other pieces to the collection list, a Dan Henry, not sure which model yet, I’d like a Yema superman, an NTH and I’ve added a Tisell all of these have been chosen due to their styling and the manufactures varying approaches to detail.
In addition as I may have previously mentioned in experimenting with strap changes, as I’m fascinated how it can totally change the aesthetics of each watch, I’m going to try an aged leather in my GMT Master II I’ve also bought a Batman (Black and Blue) bezel insert which I’m going to try, it’s currently on the Coke (black and red)
I’m really enjoying this obsession for watches, it’s curious to me that it’s laid dormant for so long, don’t get me wrong I’ve always had a few watches and alternated but I’d not explored it all in more depth, and that I’m really enjoying, particularly the Microbrand watch companies, I have been considering setting up my own, although currently finding it just too daunting, more so, the where to start!
One area I will try and detail is my watches through time, I still have one of my first watches from when I was about 7, in fact I have most of my watches, one was stolen whilst on holiday in the late 80 (with Lee) and one I have to that same friend, Lee. we had both bought identical watches and done years later his had broken, as I had bought and was wearing another I gave him mine. I think it was a Seiko, it had some sort of kinetic power meter, I’ll try and look it up another time.
A couple of purchases SKX009 used! (Strap was too small, child sized) so I ordered up a Strapcode Angus J, which I’m delighted with, I’d like a new original SKX007 for my collection but the pricing is all over the place.
Jan 2021
The 40mm green Pagani Design arrived, love it, I’ve worn it every day for a few weeks, although I’d like to mod it swapping out the dial for a non branded one.. Badge Snob factor alert!
Feb 2021
Still in lockdown
I’ve now moved into the world of Modding, this as the name implies is purely modification to existing watches essentially pimping them up, the main contender for this is Seiko so I am focusing on this, primarily the SKX, although now discontinued. Now the modding isn’t just changing and existing watch it’s also buying all of the components and assembling them. I have just completed my first full build (Ali Express parts) the hardest part was fitting the second hand, with a 0.2mm hole to position over and press onto the same sized pin makes for a tricky operation, it took my quite a while, the biggest problem is confidence, in essence I wasn’t pushing hard enough, so I recommend practicing this on some old movements, but I found the easiest way was to hold the hand with rodico then press with a hand held pusher the other Mod is a stealth mod of a SPRD. I’m also waiting for a few parts to build a Seiko Red Special.
So I built the SRPD stealth, it looks amazing, I built the Rec Special, I used a Helimdar case which TBH I’m not delighted with!
I’m also building a yellow faced SKX007, scratch build, parts from DLW, Namoki’s and a dial from HK, it was going well until i bent the second hand trying to fit it! I’m now waiting for a replacement set of hands!
