ก่อนหน้าที่ผมจะเขียนบทความนี้ ผมบอกกับตัวเองมาตลอดว่า เราจะต้องสกัดความชอบ และอารมณ์ อย่าให้มาอยู่เหนือเหตุผลในการตัดสินใจเลือกซื้อนาฬิกาซักเรือน จนผมได้เข้าไปดูยูทูปคลิป Watchbox’s collector conversation with Mark Cho ที่คุณ Mark Cho (IG: @markchodotcom หนึ่งในผู้ก่อตั้งร้าน The Armoury และ Drake’s ซึ่งคุณ Mark ก็เป็นนักสะสมนาฬิกา ที่มีนาฬิกาในคอลเล็คชั่นที่น่าสนใจมากๆ ด้วย) ให้สัมภาษณ์กับ คุณ Tim Mosso (IG: @tim_mosso Director of Media & Watch Specialist ของเว็บไซต์นาฬิกาชื่อดัง Watchbox) ได้อย่างน่าสนใจมากๆ
Have you ever ask yourself about how are you collecting your watches? Does it base on your collecting philosophy or it’s just emotional impulsive?
If the answer is “Yes”, you are not alone and probably in the right place because I’m about to tell you how I am living together with these two schools of thought.
Collecting Philosophy
This is like a logical side of our brain. I think it’s quite a normal function of our brain to try to rationalize the way we think when we are trying to acquire any new watch or build up our collection. Our brain can start to set up some ground rules such as how many type, some might looking ‘only iconic watches’, some are hunting for only ‘watches with complication functions’, in opposite, some are searching for ‘time only’ watches, and the list goes on.
I also found some benefits of having this rational thinking as follow:
(Source: www.marketing91.com)
Strategic Thinking
I think it’s good to have a frame work otherwise our brain will go all over places. And once we have a set of rules that means we have some kind of goal that we are looking for.
Courtesy of Christie’s
Meaningful Watch Journey
As we all know, collecting watches takes time which is part of the fun. Establishing a set of rules for ourselves along the way will help to create stories of how hard or how challenging before you can own watches that you really want. The harder/longer, the more meaningful of that watch journey.
Developing your taste
As I mentioned so many times already, watch collecting is very personal. It depends on the taste of individual and it can change overtime. Therefore, it’s okay that your rules might change in the future. It might be from ourselves that we get older or it might come from other factors such as getting new careers, having a new born child, etc. When your rules changed overtime that means your taste has been developed too.
Emotional Impulse
This is more like a emotional side of our brain. For me, sometime I need a little push to have a courage before I can actually jump. My emotional impulse is that ‘push’. I also totally agree with Mark Cho (IG: @markchodotcom); co-Founder of The Armoury and Drake’s, he’s also a watch collector and his collection is very amazing, when he gave an interview with Tim Mosso (IG: @tim_mosso); Director of Media & Watch Specialist for Watchbox in Watchbox’s collector conversation with Mark Cho.
He was saying that “You have to ‘own something’ for a little bit. It’s okay to spend the money. Buy and do it and get sense for it. Because just reading a review or just seeing it in a shop is not enough. You have to handle it and live with it and see how it fits into you life. Because watches are personal things and it needs to fit into your life.”
I couldn’t agree with him more. After I listened to him a couple of times, I noted it down and then tried to understand it, I changed my way of thinking.
(Source: equestasia.com.au)
From only follow my ground rules and prevent my emotional to interfere, I rather to embrace it and allow some flexibilities and mistakes to happen which is a part of developing my taste as well.
My Final Thought
At the end of the day, collecting watch should be a fun journey. We don’t have to put ourselves too seriously. We should make it meaningful and develop our taste along the way as part of my “Personal Style Journey”.
What do you think? Please feel free to drop your comments below. Any opinion and suggestion are very welcome. It’d be much appreciated if you consider to visit & follow my IG account @mickyjicky and @my.six.point.five.inch.wrist
ผมเชื่อว่า พวกเราในช่วงแรกๆ ที่เริ่มสนใจนาฬิกา เกือบจะทุกคนจะมุ่งความสนใจไปที่ นาฬิกายอดฮิตทั้งหลาย เช่น Rolex Submariner, GMT-Master II, Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Seamaster, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
In my previous post, I already told my stories related to all my the watches in my current collection. I also left a note that I will talk about my ‘Wish List’ watches in the next post.
BUT before I jump into my future watch acquisition plan, I would like to share one of key ideas that, for me, it makes ‘Collecting Watches’ more enjoyable and perhaps more meaningful.
You have to find your “Niche”
I believe, at the beginning stage when we just got bitten by a ‘watch bug’ and entered into the ‘watch world’, most of us are aiming our eyes on those steel sport watcheslike the Submariner, GMT-Master II, Daytona, Speedmaster, Seamaster, Nautilus, Royal Oak, etc.That’s quite normal because they are beautiful watches that make us interested in watches at the first place and they are everywhere on the Social Media Feeds.
I was in that position before and I felt quite frustrated and intimidated from the price tag and how hard to get one of those watches. I even stopped thinking about the watches for quite sometime because I think it is not an enjoyable hobby anymore. How can I enjoy my dream watches when I cannot get even one of them?
Patek Philippe’s Nautilus 5711/1A-010 & Audemars Piguet steel on steel Royal Oak Jumbo – photo source USA.watch pro.com
Until one day when I started to open my mind to look at the watches again BUT this time I went even deeper into this rabbit hole. Then I found out that there are many more types of watch beside the Big name Steel Sport watches.
Vintage Watches – photo source www.HODINKEE.comJapanese Independent Watch Maker – Naoya Hida – photo source monochrome-watches.comThere are so much history & mystery charm of Vintage Watches. Also the unique design introduced from Independent Watch Makers.
There are Vintage Watches, Independent Watch Makers, Micro Brands, etc.They took me to another side of the ‘Watch World’ where I feel so excited and I feel fascinating when I look at them. They make me want to search more and dig deeper and most importantly, it’s much more fun!!
This is a bit tricky. There is no ultimate formula for everyone to use. It relates to individual factors i.e. age, occupation, lifestyle, personal background, etc. As you can see, it’s very personal and it’s very dynamic (that means your niche will change overtime).
Therefore I would like to use my case as an example and I hope that you guys can adapt to yours.
As I mentioned before, I have a passion on ‘Classic Menswear’. I am wearing shirt, trouser, tie, jacket, suit, and leather loafer more than T-shirt, Jean, and sneaker. I prefer ‘Medium Size Watch Case’ approx 36-40mm in diameter. I consider watch size from 42mm and above is too big for my wrist and uncomfortable to wear in a long term (my wrist size is 6.5 inch or 16.51cm in circumference). My educational background is in architecture, art, and design. Ultimately I always gravitate towards watches that not in the main stream.
My Vintage Rolex Submariner Ref.1680My Reverso Classic MediumThese 2 watches are part of my Current Watch Collection
All the above combined, no wonder why I have “Vintage Rolex Sub” and “Reverso Classic” in my collection. Yes, my Niche is a “Vintage Watch” BUT I am NOT expert enough to be able to authenticate them from the vintage watch sellers and I do NOT want to get hassled on the maintenance issues as well. So my Niche becomes “Vintage (Re-issue) Watch”; when the brands use the classic watch models in their archive and apply new technologies and materials in the modern day to release on their special occasions. Or we can find in “Heritage Collection” in many brands like Longines, Brietling, Grand Seiko, etc.
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection – photo source www.HODINKEE.comLongines Heritage Collection – photo source www.HODINKEE.comVintage (Re-issue) Watches from many manufacturers hold its vintage design with modern materials & technologies
So…What is your niche?
I hope my case study can give you guys some ideas. And to you some ideas, your niche can be;
Specific Category of watch such as:
Diver watch
Chronograph watch
Military/Field watch, etc. It can be current model or vintage model. It depends on your preference.
In each category, we can go into specific Sub-category. For example, Chronograph watch, there are:
Pilot Chronograph: watches designed for military pilots
Racing Chronograph: watches designed for motor sports
Grand Complication Chronograph: high horology watches with many complications like perpetual calendar, moon phase, and chronograph functions
Pilot ChronographRacing ChronographGrand ComplicationPhoto source www.HODINKEE.com
Specific Period of watch: There are specific design language from 60’s & 70’s period which make watches from that period very unique. For example:
1970’s Patek Phillipe
1960’s & 1970’s Seiko Chronograph
Patek Philippe 3582 – photo source businessinsider.comSeiko 6138 vintage chronograph – photo source 60clicks.comSeiko 6138 vintage chronograph – photo source vintagewatchinc.comA Patek Beta 21 – photo source www.HODINKEE.comVintage Patek from 1970s & Vintage Seiko Chronograph from 1960s – 1970s have very unique characters.
My Final Thought
There is a phase that I read from somewhere (I cannot recall) which very move me. It says “You cannot have all the watches that you love BUT you should love all the watches that you have”. It really sticks into my head and it got me thinking for quite sometime until I’ve found my niche.
Lastly, what do you guys think? Do you have your niche yet? Please feel free to share your thought below. Any opinion and suggestion are very welcome here. Please also consider to support my works by visiting & following my IG accounts @mickyjicky & @my.six.point.five.inch.wrist
The end of year 2022 is just around the corner, I would like to update all of the watches in my collection and what I plan to purchase in the future including the reasons behind it.
For me, I quite enjoy checking out others watch collection because I found that the stories behind each acquisition are very amusing and yet very knowledgeable and inspiring.
I hope that my post would be the same to any watch enthusiasts out there as well.
How I categorized my watch collection?
Start with my ‘Current Collection’ – all the watches that I currently own with the year that I acquired them and some hard facts with my story for each of them.
There is also the ‘Wish List’ – watches that I plan to purchase in the future and the reasons behind them. Normally, I try to set criteria as ‘My Rules’ to help me to frame my thought on how should I build up my watch collection.
What are ‘My Rules’?
Rule#1 I cannot own more than 1 watch of each brand.
Rule#2 I cannot own more than 1 watch of each category.
Rule#3 Build up watch collection with watch type/category whichever that I prefer BUT can ONLY purchase for celebration of achievement(s) or important milestone(s) in life.
Rule#4 Must NOT put myself into financial problem.
My Current Collection
Rolex Submariner Reference 1680
My vintage Rolex Submariner Ref.1680 with other watches in my collection
Fun facts:Ref.1680 is the first reference that Rolex introduce a date function in Submariner product line. I swapped the bracelet to suede leather strap to fit in the ‘weekend watch’ & ‘vintage vibe’
My story:
I received this watch as a present from my uncle when I got into School of Architecture 18 years ago (when the watch price wasn’t as crazy as today). When I saw my uncle wore this Rolex Sub for the first first time, I absolutely loved it. I asked him so many questions about this watch until he told me that “If you can get in to Architectural School, I will buy you one”.
I’ve worn this watch almost everyday thru my bachelor degree and my master degree in the USA. It went everywhere around the world with me during the beginning of my career (you can see what this watch has been thru from the photo) . I still wear it these days but only on the weekend and it’s still running great!! It really hard to argue that Rolex has create tough watches but yet so beautiful and really iconic.
Swatch Quartz Chronograph
The Swatch Quartz Chronograph that’s not the ‘MoonSwatch’
Category: Fun Watch / Family Heirloom
Year of Acquisition: Unknown
Details:
Case & Bracelet: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 43mm case width / 12.67mm thickness / 49mm lug-to-lug
Movement: Quartz
Functions: Chronometer with Date window at 4.30
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Fun fact: Do you know that you can go to Swatch shop to replace battery free of charge as long as you own the (s)watch?
My story:
When I first saw this watch it was on my father’s wrist long time ago. It was a cool watch. I cannot recall that I asked my dad to have this watch or not? But it turned out that I found it in my drawer when I was clearing out my room at my parents’ house at the time that they sold that house and to move to their new house.
When I saw this watch again in my drawer it reminded me of the ‘Speedy’ ; Omega Speedmaster (at that time the MoonSwatch wasn’t exist). So I decided to keep it because I know that I can do something fun with this watch. Just early this year, I went to Swatch shop to replace the battery. Luckily, the watch still running but the chronograph function isn’t. Also I replaced a broken bracelet with Swatch’s brown leather strap (too bad – we cannot use after market strap with Swatch).
I wear this watch occasionally. For me, this watch is not about wearing it BUT every time that I see it, I see my childhood & my relationship with me and my dad.
Apple Watch Series 7 45mm Stainless Steel in Silver
Apple Watch Series 7 in Stainless Steel with Milanese Bracelet (Loop)
Category: Smart Watch
Year of Acquisition: Early 2022
Details:
Case & Bracelet: Stainless Steel & Milanese Style Bracelet
Dimensions: H 45mm W38mm D10.7mm
Chip: S7 with 64-bit dual core processor / W3 Apple wireless chip / U1 chip (Ultra Wideband)
Functions: (Key Features)
GPS + Cellular with Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity
Always-on display
Blood Oxygen Sensor
Electrical Heart Sensor
Fall Detection
and the list goes on…
Water Resistance: 50 meters (Water Sport Proof)
Fun fact: Do you know that the 1st Apple Watch model called “Series 0 (zero)”?
My Story:
My family and my friends know that I’m an Apple Fanboy. My first Apple product was iMac G3 (the one that came out with Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, and Purple color options).I owned Apple Watch since Series 0 (zero) and I keep updating my Apple Watch along the way.
For this update, I chose the ‘Stainless Steel’ model, even though it’s more expensive than the Aluminum model with almost the same functions. The reason was purely my Watch Enthusiastic. I want to wear a Smart Watch that has a finishing quality closes to Analog Watch as much as possible.
Normally, I wear Apple Watch when I do some exercises i.e. running, tennis, swimming, and tracking my sleep. I admit that I cannot stay away from Tech products. I wanna try new features (especially Apple’s product). That’s why Apple Watch is in my collection and it definitely will be in the future.
Seiko 5 Reference SNXS73K1 (A Budget Friendly ‘Date Just’)
Some say this is a budget friendly ‘Date Just’ and some say ‘Oyster Perpetual’
Category: Weekend Sport Watch
Year of Acquisition: 2021
Details:
Case & Crystal: Stainless Steel & Hardlex Crystal
Dial: Silver Sun Burst with applied Markers with Lume
Functions: Time with Running Seconds; Day-Date Display
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Fun fact: The “5” is a reference to the attributes that any Seiko 5 watch would offer;
Automatic Winding
Day & Date Display
Water Resistance
Recessed crown at 4 o’clock
Durable Case
My story:
I remember clearly that I knew this watch from ‘Pond Review’ (Thai with English Subtitle) and ‘Wimol Tapae’(Thai Language) Channel. They were both provided a great review on this watch. There are also many ‘Watch YouTubers’ around the world give praise to this watch as ‘Entry Level Mechanical Watch’, ‘Best Watch for $100’, etc.
So last year, I decided to buy one to give it a try. I can tell all of you that this watch is worth every penny. I got many many compliments when I wore this watch. People always have an impression that this watch cost more than $100.
It’s very comfortable to wear and the legibility is very good (plenty of Lume as well). I don’t mind much about its accuracy (-20/+40 second per day) because I wear this watch occasionally during a weekend or a short travel trip.
Another downside of this watch beside the accuracy is its bracelet. The first thing I did when I got this watch was changing to vintage style leather strap (19mm lug width) which turned out very nice (for me). This watch definitely stays in my collection.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Thin Reference JLQ2548440
My Reverso with Ostrich Leather Strap
Category: Everyday Dress Watch
Year of Acquisition: 2022
Details:
Case & Crystal: Stainless Steel with Sapphire Crystal
Dial: Sivered grey, Vertical satin-brushed and guilloche, Black transferred numerals
Hands: Baton with heated blue steel
Dimensions: (L x W): 40.1 x 24.4mm
Movement: Manual winding Caliber 822A/2, Components; 108, Vibrations per hour: 21600, Jewels: 19, Power Reserve: 42 hours
Function: Hour – Minute
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Fun fact: First released in 1930 for Polo sport players, Reverso originally was released as ‘Sport Watch’ with the ‘Art Deco Style’ influences, it is the most elegant sport watch of all time.
My story:
This is my latest acquisition. I just got this watch in October 2022. It is a very special watch to me as I made My Dream (Comes True) Watch postseparately.
I ordered this Reverso at Jaeger-Lecoultre Boutique Siam Paragon (Bangkok, Thailand) in August 2022. Even though I have to wait for 2 months; one month for order a new watch from Switzerland and another month for personal engraving on the case back, it was a great experience with all the services from SAs in the boutique.
I originally placed an order of my Reverso with a Dark Brown Alligator Strap (will add photo more in future) BUT since I planned to wear this watch daily (perfect with my Classic Menswear style), I also order another strap in Light Brown Ostrich (as shown in photos) which would fit more with my daily wear. And I keep the alligator strap for some special Night Events (thanks to quick release system that comes with the watch & strap).
My journey with my Reverso has just begun and this watch will stay in my collection forever until I pass it on to my daughter.
My ‘Wish List’ Watches
In order to keep this post not too long to read. Let’s continue my ‘Wish List’ watches in the next post.
My Final Thought
As usual, what do you guys think? Please feel free to drop your comments. Any opinion and suggestion are very welcome here.
Please help to support my works by visiting & following my IG account @my.six.point.five.inch.wrist
