missF wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 11:04 pm I loved reading this - thanks for taking the time to post it. You took me on a journey through things that I’m sure many of us recognise in our own ways. The beginnings, the slide down the rabbit hole, the discovering communities of people equally as afflicted as me ( ), the ways a collection builds.

But what I love most is your decision to find the happiness in the collecting so that it’s not just an endless meaningless process of acquiring things. You have your eyes on the prize - that watch like your grandfather’s that would get worn for 50 years (though I love the fact that you’re realistic enough to know that one watch could never be enough for anyone ).

I’ve got no advice- I think you’ve got the journey sussed. Let us know how you go

exHowfener wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 7:34 pm Well, if you're a Magnum P.I. fan, this should be your next stop ...

https://hawaiian-shirt-shop.co.uk/paradise-found/

--- and then, off to the auctions for a Ferrari. Which will make the Rolex seem inexpensive.

ssholloway21 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:44 pm Hello Everyone,

I do not view this post as a true SOTC but more of how I got here and where I am going in watch collecting. I am posting this more for me than the forum to help understand how I got to this point and where I want to go. I do welcome any thoughts though.

The Journey So Far:

My watch collecting journey officially started in 2020 while watching the entire 1980's series Magnum Pi. I grew up watching this as a kid but could not remember the show so I started watching again. Up until this point I owned 2 watches and some wrist tech. I remember wearing some cheap watches as a kid but honestly can not remember what they were. So excluding those, I purchased my first watch in 2005 at the age of 26. The Casio AMW-320 black dial. I wore this watch everyday doing everything. I wore it until 2009 when my wife bought me a Citizen solar quartz on our 5 year anniversary cruise. At the time we new nothing about watches. We were browsing in the on-ship jewelry store and I saw it there shining with the bracelet and blue dial. She surprised me with it at dinner that night and I remember is was $343USD. I remember the price because at that time it was a lot of money for us (and realistically still is even though times have changed). Looking back, she way overpaid but I am really glad I have it. For some reason I stopped wearing and put it in a drawer with the Casio. I went several years without wearing a watch and in 2018 when I got an apple watch.

IMG-8859-2.jpg

Here they are now! Both have been cleaned up. The Casio got a new battery, new gaskets, cleaning, new band, and new crystal. I do love this watch and is the reason I started collecting the AMW series, more on that below. The Citizen also got a new crystal installed, cleaned up, and paired with a CW leather strap. The bracelet was completely worn out and I plan to have a custom leather strap made soon. I am actually wearing the Citizen as I write this post. Now, getting back to Magnum Pi. There I was sitting on the couch wearing my wrist tech thinking about that Rolex Pepsi. I had no idea what model it was or anything about it. I just thought, wow that is an awesome watch and started thinking about the watch my Grandfather had. I grew up with my Grandparents and my Grandfather owned a Rolex. It was a gift from someone he helped out in business (I think it was a 36mm Oyster perpetual with a Jubilee). He got it in the 70's so it was stainless steal and gold with a gold dial. He wore it all the time. I mean all the time, sleeping, in the shower, mowing the grass, changing the oil, and everywhere else. He never took it off. When he passed in 2010 my Uncle inherited the watch and it was worn out but still working. He sent it back to Rolex for a complete service including a new jubilee bracelet. Now he wears it. I got to thinking I want a watch I can wear everyday for the next 50 years. I thought I am successful, I want a nice watch to wear everyday. So thinking about it for a few weeks I called a Rolex AD (summer of 2020). Told them I wanted a Rolex Pepsi and what kind of deal would they give me. The gentleman was nice but did laugh at me (honestly, writing this I am laughing at myself). He started to tell me about the Rolex market and they are impossible to get. He told me everything Rolex is hard to get. So, I was bummed and kinda mad. I mean, how is it impossible to buy a Rolex. Keep in mind at this time I had know idea about the Gray Market or the watch market in general. What I was told on the phone by the AD just sounded crazy to me. So I did what any normal person would do, I Googled it. I started reading online about the watch market and started reading about other brands. At this point, I know several of the brands from normal life. I knew about James Bond and Omega and I remembered some other luxury brands as well. Then I stumbled across the Christopher Ward website and thought wow, these look awesome. I became obsessed with reading about micro-brands, reading forums, and then watching Youtube. All the while going back to CW which ultimately lead me to this forum. During this time my mother-in-law heard me talking about watches and remembered she still had my late father-in-law watch. She did not know what it was but said I could have it. It was a quartz Seiko. I remembered he wore this ever since I met him. Like my Grandfather, he wore it all the time. I went to the house and got it. The watch had seen better days but I took it to a jeweler and the watch got a complete makeover. It received a good cleaning, new battery, new crystal, and I had a custom leather strap made (which is awesome).

IMG-8860-2.jpg

I love this watch! The vintage look and the worn bezel just give this watch so much character. I must admit, I do not wear this watch as it stays safely tucked away in the watch roll. So, I continued to obsess over watches finally deciding to buy a Christoper Ward C60 Blue Sapphire. I remember the night it came, I was so excited. It was beautiful and just felt like quality. I loved wearing the watch and felt satisfied with my purchase. I said thats it, I am done. I even emailed Mike France and told him how happy I was and how great the watch was. He even replied back to me! I mean how awesome is that, the brand owner replies to your email. This feeling of being content with my 4 watches was short lived. I kept reading and watching watch content constantly. I was on this forum and Youtube watching Relative Time, Just One More Watch, Random Rob, and Bark & Jack. Then, the buying started. I really focused on micro-brands, I guess primarily because of the price point. My second watch was a Phoibos Eagle Ray bronze (the one with the Sellita movement) followed by the Traska Feediver mint green dial. I just bought what I thought looked cool. I also started collecting the Casio AMW series. I was deep into Ebay ordering the different versions from all over the world. My AMW collection is large now and I am still looking for a few more pieces to have the entire set.

IMG-8861.jpg

The other buying continued with more semi-affordable autos, different model Casio's, Vostiks (did some modding), 2 Seaholm Automatics (which are awesome), 1 Tribus (from their great sale) and more CW's. I currently own four CW's: C60 Sapphire, Super Compressor (Ocean Blue), C60 Elite (black dial), and a C65 Chrono Protype.

IMG-8851-3.jpg

I currently have:

28 - Casio AMW series
6 - Casio Duro (the complete set to date)
8 - Misc Casio's
15 - Includes 4 CW's, my Citizen, Father-in Law's Seiko, 2 Seaholms (Rover and Offshore), 1 Contar Quartz Field watch (best $150 watch ever), Tribus Chronometer, Boldr Expeidtion 1 (re-release), Traska Feediver, Orient Star Diver (Pespi dial), Phoibos Eagle Ray, Beaufort Aerotimer
5 Vostoks
1 Casio Oceanus Cacholot

Where I Go From Here:

At the start of 2023 I felt overwhelmed. Some watches I would wear while several just sat in the box or in the watch roll. I would continue to absorb watch contact and want more. I started to lean towards the possibility of buying more expensive watches. With all of this, I wandered what the end game was? How could I be content? How could I enjoy this hobby without constantly buying? I must admit there is something about knowing you have a watch on the way. Even when I would pre-order something and I had to wait several months to get it, just knowing it was on the way was satisfying. I watch a lot of Jeff McMahon on Youtube. He speaks a lot about the "watch addiction" and he is very right. I started to think how I could be happy in this hobby. So, lets go back to Magnum Pi. I recently started watching the show again because frankly there is nothing ever good on TV anymore. So, a couple of weeks while the wife was out of town I cooked a steak, had a few beers, and sat down and flipped on an episode. While watching what could be the greatest TV series ever (there are several others I could consider too like Friends, The Office, and not to mention NCIS (the original) but that is for another post), I started thinking about my collection. Then it hit me why all of this started to begin with. I wanted one nice watch. That Rolex Pepsi, a watch that I would wear always until I die. It would become one with me just like my Grandfather's Rolex did with him. I thought about this for a while. Then, a few weeks ago I decided it was time to make some drastic changes. I must have some focus, a plan, BALANCE, a smaller collection, and a clear direction on what I want from this hobby. So, I sat down and came up with a plan. It was clear to me that I am too far down the rabbit hole to go to just one watch. Lets be honest, none of us would ever be satisfied with one watch. Truly, be honest with yourself and keep in mind that Casio's count too.

So started the great purge. As of now, the Casio Oceanus is gone as are the Vostoks. I have posted on ebay several of my miscellaneous Casio's as well as several autos (Boldr Expedition, Traska Freediver, Orient Star Diver (Pepsi), Beaufort Aerotimer, and the Phoibos Eagle Ray. This morning I decided to sell the C60 Blue Sapphire and the C60 Elite. I am considering selling the C65 Prototype (the Super Compressor is staying for sure, it is awesome). I must admit in that making this decision I now feel free. I feel like a great weight has been lifted. I am still working on what my plan is but what I know for sure is I will:
1. Limit My Youtube Watch Content - I will be more focused in this. I already unsubscribed to a lot of my channels. I am keeping the ones I really enjoy.
2. Discords and Forums - I am only sticking to this forum. I got out of the other forums
3. Casio Collection - I am still looking of for a few more pieces to complete but thats it. I will enjoy the collection.
4. My Main Watch Collection - I do not know what the number is but it will more focused now. I have some ideas on what I want it to look like and at some point I will be done. No more buying. Thats it! I know some of you are saying right now "yeah right, whatever".

I came to the realization that this hobby (for me) has be enjoyable. I have been just buying. The watch hobby has to be more than that. For me, I need to get to a place where I can participate without the need to buy something new. I think being focused and remember why I started all this to begin with is key. I do not want the stress of knowing a watch is sitting in the box and not being worn. Sure, there will watches that I have that do not get worn but I have to enjoy my collection.

Finally, as for that Magnum Pi watch. I am seriously debating on getting a Rolex Pepsi. I did talk with a few AD's and may have to go gray market. The prices are falling now so lets see. I am also considering the Rolex Explorer II Polar instead. This would be easier to get and I really love that white dial. The Polar may be the ultimate sports watch. I do not know and will keep you posted!

rkovars wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 3:59 pm

ssholloway21 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 25, 2023 6:44 pm Hello Everyone,

I do not view this post as a true SOTC but more of how I got here and where I am going in watch collecting. I am posting this more for me than the forum to help understand how I got to this point and where I want to go. I do welcome any thoughts though.

The Journey So Far:

My watch collecting journey officially started in 2020 while watching the entire 1980's series Magnum Pi. I grew up watching this as a kid but could not remember the show so I started watching again. Up until this point I owned 2 watches and some wrist tech. I remember wearing some cheap watches as a kid but honestly can not remember what they were. So excluding those, I purchased my first watch in 2005 at the age of 26. The Casio AMW-320 black dial. I wore this watch everyday doing everything. I wore it until 2009 when my wife bought me a Citizen solar quartz on our 5 year anniversary cruise. At the time we new nothing about watches. We were browsing in the on-ship jewelry store and I saw it there shining with the bracelet and blue dial. She surprised me with it at dinner that night and I remember is was $343USD. I remember the price because at that time it was a lot of money for us (and realistically still is even though times have changed). Looking back, she way overpaid but I am really glad I have it. For some reason I stopped wearing and put it in a drawer with the Casio. I went several years without wearing a watch and in 2018 when I got an apple watch.

IMG-8859-2.jpg

Here they are now! Both have been cleaned up. The Casio got a new battery, new gaskets, cleaning, new band, and new crystal. I do love this watch and is the reason I started collecting the AMW series, more on that below. The Citizen also got a new crystal installed, cleaned up, and paired with a CW leather strap. The bracelet was completely worn out and I plan to have a custom leather strap made soon. I am actually wearing the Citizen as I write this post. Now, getting back to Magnum Pi. There I was sitting on the couch wearing my wrist tech thinking about that Rolex Pepsi. I had no idea what model it was or anything about it. I just thought, wow that is an awesome watch and started thinking about the watch my Grandfather had. I grew up with my Grandparents and my Grandfather owned a Rolex. It was a gift from someone he helped out in business (I think it was a 36mm Oyster perpetual with a Jubilee). He got it in the 70's so it was stainless steal and gold with a gold dial. He wore it all the time. I mean all the time, sleeping, in the shower, mowing the grass, changing the oil, and everywhere else. He never took it off. When he passed in 2010 my Uncle inherited the watch and it was worn out but still working. He sent it back to Rolex for a complete service including a new jubilee bracelet. Now he wears it. I got to thinking I want a watch I can wear everyday for the next 50 years. I thought I am successful, I want a nice watch to wear everyday. So thinking about it for a few weeks I called a Rolex AD (summer of 2020). Told them I wanted a Rolex Pepsi and what kind of deal would they give me. The gentleman was nice but did laugh at me (honestly, writing this I am laughing at myself). He started to tell me about the Rolex market and they are impossible to get. He told me everything Rolex is hard to get. So, I was bummed and kinda mad. I mean, how is it impossible to buy a Rolex. Keep in mind at this time I had know idea about the Gray Market or the watch market in general. What I was told on the phone by the AD just sounded crazy to me. So I did what any normal person would do, I Googled it. I started reading online about the watch market and started reading about other brands. At this point, I know several of the brands from normal life. I knew about James Bond and Omega and I remembered some other luxury brands as well. Then I stumbled across the Christopher Ward website and thought wow, these look awesome. I became obsessed with reading about micro-brands, reading forums, and then watching Youtube. All the while going back to CW which ultimately lead me to this forum. During this time my mother-in-law heard me talking about watches and remembered she still had my late father-in-law watch. She did not know what it was but said I could have it. It was a quartz Seiko. I remembered he wore this ever since I met him. Like my Grandfather, he wore it all the time. I went to the house and got it. The watch had seen better days but I took it to a jeweler and the watch got a complete makeover. It received a good cleaning, new battery, new crystal, and I had a custom leather strap made (which is awesome).

IMG-8860-2.jpg

I love this watch! The vintage look and the worn bezel just give this watch so much character. I must admit, I do not wear this watch as it stays safely tucked away in the watch roll. So, I continued to obsess over watches finally deciding to buy a Christoper Ward C60 Blue Sapphire. I remember the night it came, I was so excited. It was beautiful and just felt like quality. I loved wearing the watch and felt satisfied with my purchase. I said thats it, I am done. I even emailed Mike France and told him how happy I was and how great the watch was. He even replied back to me! I mean how awesome is that, the brand owner replies to your email. This feeling of being content with my 4 watches was short lived. I kept reading and watching watch content constantly. I was on this forum and Youtube watching Relative Time, Just One More Watch, Random Rob, and Bark & Jack. Then, the buying started. I really focused on micro-brands, I guess primarily because of the price point. My second watch was a Phoibos Eagle Ray bronze (the one with the Sellita movement) followed by the Traska Feediver mint green dial. I just bought what I thought looked cool. I also started collecting the Casio AMW series. I was deep into Ebay ordering the different versions from all over the world. My AMW collection is large now and I am still looking for a few more pieces to have the entire set.

IMG-8861.jpg

The other buying continued with more semi-affordable autos, different model Casio's, Vostiks (did some modding), 2 Seaholm Automatics (which are awesome), 1 Tribus (from their great sale) and more CW's. I currently own four CW's: C60 Sapphire, Super Compressor (Ocean Blue), C60 Elite (black dial), and a C65 Chrono Protype.

IMG-8851-3.jpg

I currently have:

28 - Casio AMW series
6 - Casio Duro (the complete set to date)
8 - Misc Casio's
15 - Includes 4 CW's, my Citizen, Father-in Law's Seiko, 2 Seaholms (Rover and Offshore), 1 Contar Quartz Field watch (best $150 watch ever), Tribus Chronometer, Boldr Expeidtion 1 (re-release), Traska Feediver, Orient Star Diver (Pespi dial), Phoibos Eagle Ray, Beaufort Aerotimer
5 Vostoks
1 Casio Oceanus Cacholot

Where I Go From Here:

At the start of 2023 I felt overwhelmed. Some watches I would wear while several just sat in the box or in the watch roll. I would continue to absorb watch contact and want more. I started to lean towards the possibility of buying more expensive watches. With all of this, I wandered what the end game was? How could I be content? How could I enjoy this hobby without constantly buying? I must admit there is something about knowing you have a watch on the way. Even when I would pre-order something and I had to wait several months to get it, just knowing it was on the way was satisfying. I watch a lot of Jeff McMahon on Youtube. He speaks a lot about the "watch addiction" and he is very right. I started to think how I could be happy in this hobby. So, lets go back to Magnum Pi. I recently started watching the show again because frankly there is nothing ever good on TV anymore. So, a couple of weeks while the wife was out of town I cooked a steak, had a few beers, and sat down and flipped on an episode. While watching what could be the greatest TV series ever (there are several others I could consider too like Friends, The Office, and not to mention NCIS (the original) but that is for another post), I started thinking about my collection. Then it hit me why all of this started to begin with. I wanted one nice watch. That Rolex Pepsi, a watch that I would wear always until I die. It would become one with me just like my Grandfather's Rolex did with him. I thought about this for a while. Then, a few weeks ago I decided it was time to make some drastic changes. I must have some focus, a plan, BALANCE, a smaller collection, and a clear direction on what I want from this hobby. So, I sat down and came up with a plan. It was clear to me that I am too far down the rabbit hole to go to just one watch. Lets be honest, none of us would ever be satisfied with one watch. Truly, be honest with yourself and keep in mind that Casio's count too.

So started the great purge. As of now, the Casio Oceanus is gone as are the Vostoks. I have posted on ebay several of my miscellaneous Casio's as well as several autos (Boldr Expedition, Traska Freediver, Orient Star Diver (Pepsi), Beaufort Aerotimer, and the Phoibos Eagle Ray. This morning I decided to sell the C60 Blue Sapphire and the C60 Elite. I am considering selling the C65 Prototype (the Super Compressor is staying for sure, it is awesome). I must admit in that making this decision I now feel free. I feel like a great weight has been lifted. I am still working on what my plan is but what I know for sure is I will:
1. Limit My Youtube Watch Content - I will be more focused in this. I already unsubscribed to a lot of my channels. I am keeping the ones I really enjoy.
2. Discords and Forums - I am only sticking to this forum. I got out of the other forums
3. Casio Collection - I am still looking of for a few more pieces to complete but thats it. I will enjoy the collection.
4. My Main Watch Collection - I do not know what the number is but it will more focused now. I have some ideas on what I want it to look like and at some point I will be done. No more buying. Thats it! I know some of you are saying right now "yeah right, whatever".

I came to the realization that this hobby (for me) has be enjoyable. I have been just buying. The watch hobby has to be more than that. For me, I need to get to a place where I can participate without the need to buy something new. I think being focused and remember why I started all this to begin with is key. I do not want the stress of knowing a watch is sitting in the box and not being worn. Sure, there will watches that I have that do not get worn but I have to enjoy my collection.

Finally, as for that Magnum Pi watch. I am seriously debating on getting a Rolex Pepsi. I did talk with a few AD's and may have to go gray market. The prices are falling now so lets see. I am also considering the Rolex Explorer II Polar instead. This would be easier to get and I really love that white dial. The Polar may be the ultimate sports watch. I do not know and will keep you posted!

A kindred spirit

That has got to be one of the most definitive Casio AMW collections I have ever seen! I had a very early one. I owned it back in the late 80s. Everything online says they debuted in the 90s but I know I had mine before high school. Sadly mine didn't make it but I did replace it with a vintage like model. It needs a little work but does run. Oddly, I don't remember the LCD panel being so small! I still love those watches. Big and bold!

I wrote about an early experience I had in watches here.. I think you would see the parallels! I was lucky enough to watch the original series on TV when it aired in the 80s. Shoot me a PM if you want to discuss further routes other than a new one from an AD. The new ones don't feel or look anything like the originals IMO. Tom Selleck wore his personal 16750 in the series. He wore it again in a series of TV movies from the Jesse Stone novels (which are pretty good too - worth checking out). They have a Magnum feel to them but in a more serious way.

I know that you are re-considering buying but I got in on the preorder for one of these - [url=https://momentumwatch.com/collections/w ... 42mm-black]Momentum[url]. Magnum wore a Chronosport Sea Quartz in seasons 1-3. Momentum's owner has ties back to Chronosport (his family owned and operated the brand). The new one is a 1 for 1 remake. I got in on the original 1980 pricing of $195 but full pricing is only going to be $250. I would pick one up! I think that it was also Selleck's personal watch that he picked up in a dive shop in Hawaii. Chronosport were a dive shop staple back in the 80s and 90s! It is fun to see Momentums in the case now.

I am also a big fan of the Super Compressor! That should be a keeper in my super biased opinion!

T certainly is a disconcerting feeling looking at a collection and seeing the pile of money invested. I think you are on the right track by taking a step back and making a plan! Becoming a Moe discerning buyer! Selling some of the collection to hopefully finance something else.