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
- Category: Vintage Watch / Family Heirloom
- Year of Acquisition: 1994
- Details: (Source: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-review/appeal-reference-submariner-1680.html)
- Production Years: 1967-1980 (approx)
- Case & Crystal: Stainless Steel Black Dial / Acrylic with Cyclops and Oyster Bracelet
- Bezel: Bidirectional Black Aluminum Insert with 60-minute timing scale
- Dimensions: 40mm Diameter / 20mm Lug width
- Movement: Caliber 1575 (Cal.1570 base) Automatic winding
- Water Resistance: 200 meters / 660 feet
- 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
- 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
- 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’)
- Category: Weekend Sport Watch
- Year of Acquisition: 2021
- Details:
- Case & Crystal: Stainless Steel & Hardlex Crystal
- Dial: Silver Sun Burst with applied Markers with Lume
- Dimensions: 37mm Diameter / 12mm Thickness / 19mm Lug width
- Movement: Seiko Caliber 7S26 Automatic winding
- 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
- 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 post separately.
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.
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Thank you & See you on the next one!!
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