Hi everyone - still quite new to the forum but thought I would share my collection. Sorry for fingerprints and a lack of effort to set times and dates throughout...

"Microbrands" Top Row: Lorier Hydra SIII, Monta Oceanking, Monta Triumph green dial
Bottom Row: CW C60 Lympstone, CW C65 Super Compressor Elite, Farer Bernina Titanium, Synchron Poseidon Ice Diver, Synchron Poseidon Black Edition, Massena LAB x Revolution Uni-Racer 1949

Omega Clockwise from left:
Moonwatch Professional Steel (Hesalite)
Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 (first version)
Dark Side of the Moon Black Black
Moonwatch Professional Steel (Sapphire)
Seamaster Aqua Terra Day Date

Rolex Top row: Submariner Date (41mm), GMT-Master II ("Sprite", "Lefty"), Deepsea
Bottom row: Sea Dweller, GMT-Master II black bezel, Submariner Date ("Starbucks")

Others Clockwise from left: Breitling Endurance Pro, IWC Pilot, Bremont Jaguar MKI, Zenith Chronomaster Sport

Not pictured
MoonSwatches - all of the original 11
MoonSwatches - Mission to Moonphase Black and White ("Snoopy")
Swatch Neon to the Max
Casio F-91W
Casio CA-55

Overall fairly pleased with the collection. A few specifics:

- First "serious" watch was the Omega Seamaster. Shows with wear!
- Biggest mistake was the Massena LAB. Got carried away with the look of it and fad of "limited edition", and it was overpriced for what is a fairly cheap watch and movement
- Fairly obvious I favor watches on the larger side. Smallest is the Monta Triumph at 38.5mm, but otherwise very little under 40mm

Happy to have any comments/thoughts on the good, the bad and the ugly!

Best,
TB

That’s a great collection and I enjoyed the reveal as I scrolled down while reading it. I like how you saved the best until last, IWC, Zenith and Bremont all in the same picture.

What a surprise scrolling down the thread. Lovely especially the deepsea. Thank you for sharing. What an amazing variety of brands and styles. Thank you

Great collection, was also surprised when I kept scrolling down, the nice watches just kept coming.

Thank you everyone for the nice feedback. I certainly value variety in the collection and have *reasonably* wide taste. I think it falls somewhere between a focus on only 2/3 brands and only buying one watch from a high number of brands. Rolex and Omega are the core and I've added others round the side where I have liked particular pieces. Once the Bel Canto arrives, CW will have quickly become the third most represented!

What I'm really lacking is a very nice classic dress watch, although I tend to wear suits so little now I would struggle to justify anything on the more expensive side (e.g., Rolex 1908 or PP Calatrava), so am keeping my eyes out, and any recommendations would be welcome!

Best,
TB

timepieces_and_bags wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:20 pm I certainly value variety in the collection and have *reasonably* wide taste.

What I'm really lacking is a very nice classic dress watch…and any recommendations would be welcome!

Well, you have a fabulous collection, but you know that.

Regarding the first point I quoted, I have tried really hard to have as much variation/as little repetition in the box as possible. Apart from my 4 CWs, there is no brand repetition and none of my watches really look alike. However, yours is in a different league.

Dress watch…I wouldn’t have suggested it in order not to appear rude, but I agree. If you’re not looking to spend a fortune, have you looked at the Twelve Halo or the C1 Moonphase? I could wear a number of watches with a suit, but usually resort to my Cartier Tank. Not to everyone’s taste, but could be a good left-field choice? Or a really nice vintage watch from a brand like JLC or Ulysse Nardin?

tikkathree wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:47 pm I'll readily admit for knowing practically zero about Rolex so I keep looking at them and wondering what they represent for you.

It's very difficult to differentiate between hype/demand and genuine appeal of timepieces (everyone else wanting something often makes you want it more), but with Rolex I just appreciate the aesthetic and quality of the pieces. Not that I have sold any, but the on-paper value appreciation doesn't hurt when it comes to making a purchase decision either. And although they're all of similar style/ranges, I do tend to find different occasions to wear them; the difference between the GMT Master-II and the very chunky Deepsea is much more noticeable than pictures might suggest.

tikkathree wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:47 pm Microbrands: I found that different models and brands often "passed through" and in fact, apart from Mr Ward's products nearly all have now gone. I think I learned to differentiate between online images that look nice and those that look and feel good in the hand. Does that make sense to you?

100% agree here. Website-only purchases are very difficult and even in hand they look different than on the wrist. Of the ones in that picture, would I buy many of them again? Maybe not. I do like the Lorier and the Monta Oceanking (despite the latter possibly a bit redundant with Rolex Submariners in the collection). And I have worn the C60 Lympstone a lot. The C65 Super Compressor Elite is very new and I like it, although a little different to my expectation.

Best,
TB

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:50 pm Dress watch…I wouldn’t have suggested it in order not to appear rude, but I agree. If you’re not looking to spend a fortune, have you looked at the Twelve Halo or the C1 Moonphase? I could wear a number of watches with a suit, but usually resort to my Cartier Tank. Not to everyone’s taste, but could be a good left-field choice? Or a really nice vintage watch from a brand like JLC or Ulysse Nardin?

Not at all - love to hear people's views (good or bad) and suggestions.

For me the Twelve Halo is just going to be too small I think. Probably 39mm is the smallest I would go for in something which will inherently sit lower height-wise as well. And you may well have noticed that there are no Moonphases in the collection (other than the two Swatches) - it's totally personal taste but they're just not for me! Mrs TB has a couple of Cartier Tanks - never thought about their men's too much but might be worth a look, thanks. I was also thinking maybe something from Baltic might fit the bill...

Funny enough I have never owned a pre-owned watch(!) but maybe I need to cross that threshold as well.

P.S. Good to see a couple of fellow East Anglians on the forum.

That's a pretty amazing selection with quite a few notable heavy hitters.

Much as I've no real knowledge or interest in Rolex I've oft thought the Sea Dweller is more 'my watch' than a Submariner.

Good to also see some 'other brands' representation with Zenith, IWC and Bremont.

There is though one point I'd like to mention, more by the way of education than criticism, but is it fair to pigeon hole CW as a microbrand?

Okay, CW is not up there (yet?) with the likes of Rolex and Omega but with an Annual Turnover to March 31st, 2024 of £30.5M providing pre-tax profits of £3.9M as reported in the A good year for Christopher Ward topic I feel they are a long way ahead of the other 'microbrands' you have mentioned.

Finally, my personal pick? Your IWC Pilot Chronograph.

Guy

Thank you, Guy.

Certainly the descriptions were somewhat simplifications. “Others” doesn’t do justice to IWC, Bremont and Zenith who each have plenty of timepieces I’d have in my collection (maybe not the more recent Bremonts…)

And yes unfair to lump CW in the somewhat broad “Microbrands” description given their size (hence a conscious decision to use the quotation marks, which also should really have been inverted commas) and a somewhat arbitrary decision not to include them in the “others” picture. All will be resolved by my next SOTC post when I’ll have enough for their own photo I hope!

I love the Pilot - fascinated by the green dial. Maybe I’ll take it out for a spin tomorrow.

Best,
TB

Well that’s one Heck of a collection! Warm welcome to the forum from Canada !

An excellent collection

Nothing wrong in my view in having a few from a couple of favourite brands. Makes more sense than ending up buying something from a different brand, just because it is a different brand.

You mentioned that you have never bought a preowned watch. Therefore I am assuming you bought the LN GMT2 and SD43 as your first two Rolex. What order did you pick up the other four and do you have your eye on anything else?

As to dress watches? If you don’t want to spend 1908 or Calatrava levels of money, perhaps look at Moser, or Grand Seiko. In reality I would pick a Moser over the 1908 or Calatrava regardless of price (and that is from someone whose favourite brand is Rolex).

An alternative at a much lower price point, but still a high quality brand…

Perhaps have a look at Nomos. Particularly the Orion, which is available at 36, 38 and 41mm. All will wear larger than sports watches of the same case size, due to having a narrow bezel.

Neil

Thanks Neil @nbg

nbg wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 1:48 pm You mentioned that you have never bought a preowned watch. Therefore I am assuming you bought the LN GMT2 and SD43 as your first two Rolex. What order did you pick up the other four and do you have your eye on anything else?

You're quite correct. LN GMT2, SD43, Deepsea 44m, Starbucks, Sub Date, Lefty GMT2 was the order. To be honest there are very few left on my mental wish list. A Sub no Date would be a completion piece but I think I'd rarely wear it. And I wouldn't mind a Pepsi GMT.

nbg wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 1:48 pm As to dress watches? If you don’t want to spend 1908 or Calatrava levels of money, perhaps look at Moser, or Grand Seiko. In reality I would pick a Moser over the 1908 or Calatrava regardless of price (and that is from someone whose favourite brand is Rolex).

Perhaps have a look at Nomos. Particularly the Orion, which is available at 36, 38 and 41mm. All will wear larger than sports watches of the same case size, due to having a narrow bezel.

I tried the 1908 but didn't really like it to be honest, although I can't really explain why. Just didn't feel right.

In Moser I looked at a Streamliner Flyback Chronograph a few months ago which is obviously an entirely different watch at a huge price point, but certainly need to learn more about their range and brand. And I did see a lovely GS Elegance on this forum the other day which might be a great idea. Thanks for the recommendations!

Best,
TB

Neil @nbg ,

Interesting read on Hodinkee with the Nomos Orion recommended by TanTan Wang for a 'wedding watch'. Looks good!

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/edito ... ds-wedding