Watches are like human faces. They all share the same basic features and yet come in an infinity of variations. From the enthusiast’s perspective, that makes them both wonderful and equally frustrating. You can love them all but not own them all. And even if you do, you can only wear one – two if you’re bold – at a time.
The reason so many of us fantasize about being a one-watch-guy or a one-watch-gal is not for the pleasure of always looking at the same thing on the wrist. Our passion for watches drives us to mix it up, to surprise our brain with new sensations when it steers the eyes to the bottom left (or right). The reason one-watchness gives so much aura – as my kids would say, although I’m not sure I’m using it correctly – is because the watch itself has earned value that no money can buy. As the daily companion, the trusted witness of the worst and best moments of life. Not just worn by its owner over decades – like a wedding ring – but interacted with, dozens of times a day, indicating what to do next, hour after hour. It’s not about what the watch was in the first place. It’s about what it became.
So what does this mean for us watch junkies? If you’re the type whose brain switches to watches as soon as it’s idle, sticking to a single piece Forever Eva is simply not an option. And as someone who’s wanted to go solo-watch and failed miserably on numerous occasions, who am I to lecture ? Well, for what it’s worth, let me tell you where I landed. I’m not saying it’s the right thing for you, but as it worked pretty well for me, it might help in finding your own sweet spot, if you’re still looking for it.
This was not deliberate, but as I entered my now 12th year into the hobby, I noticed I somewhat organically landed on a five year cycle. Not with a single watch – I’m incapable of that – but with a main watch. The watch I’d wear most of the time, even if not every day. The watch I’d bring on special occasions because the watch meant something special to me. The watch I built memories with, the watch I was associated with by the minority among my friends and family who remotely care about watches. In other words, my “official” watch.
Although it first started naturally, once I got a sense of what was going on, I would continue to make it happen, intentionally. Feeling like wearing my brand new impulse buy for the kid’s birthday? Nope, take the official watch, for the photo holding the cake. Making myself wear it a few times a week, no matter how strong the urge to leave that new vintage find another day on the wrist. Taking it with me on family trips despite all my attention being focused on the new “vacation watch” I’d just scored.
Five years is nothing compared to the one-watch-guy stories we read about – “I bought this GMT in Vietnam and have worn it ever since”. But for a watch collector, it’s a pretty long time. In my case at least, after those five years, I’m in a different phase in life, and I want the watch that goes with it to be different too. But five years certainly brought enough moments and memories associated with the watch to give it that intangible value I’m after, earning its spot in the mini-museum of my micro-life.
Next Day Update: I got some feedback from a few readers and friends, asking for specifics about my “official” watches. Which brands? What models? I’d deliberately refrained from going into that. First, as I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from boring you with lengthy explanations about why I chose each particular watch and how great it is. Also, more importantly, because the notion I’m trying to put forward here should really apply to any kind of watch that matters to someone – from a simple Casio to a complicated Journe. I didn’t want to taint it with any reference – even the header photo shows a watch that is deliberately blurred, and not one of my “official” ones.
What I will say though is that I’m now, since last year, into my third official watch. The three all have in common that they’re stainless steel and versatile. In the words of my friend Luigi – among those who gave me the feedback – “they’re all decently balanced between a sporty and a dressy soul.” They all have strong Bienne roots, and with a significant (to me) personal story around their choice and acquisition. Also, despite being an avid vintage and pre-owned shopper, I got those brand new. I wanted all the dings and scratches before I eventually pass them on to be mine. That leads to my final point: each watch was chosen deliberately, as a future keeper. There’s some chicken and egg here, as I then made sure each “official” watch got the “official” treatment. But that was made easier by being a lot more careful and intentional than my usual headless-chicken-impulse-buyer-self when I picked them.
What about you? Would love to read crispy anecdotes about your own watch struggles in the comments 🙂
That “official watch over 5 years” thing is an interesting balance between having (a bit of) discipline and yet acknowledging you won’t manage to stick to just one.
I like the idea but have too many watches I care about at a time… I’m a one-watch-a-day guy 😂