At what number would you start thinning out the collection

[Rexplorer214270]

I read an interesting blog post from Ariel Adams on ablogtowatch (https://www.ablogtowatch.com/some-pr...atch-industry/), one part was about watch collection threshold, Ariel writes,
"One of the most interesting areas of watch consumer psychology I began to study in 2019 is what I call watch-collection threshold levels. The idea is that, at some point, watch collections get so large in number that the collector feels it necessary to downsize before adding more watches to their collection. What doesn’t happen as much these days is a consumer simply buying more and more watches with unworn watches sitting in drawers. I suspect that consumers get a sense of cognitive dissonance when their collections get to a certain size threshold, at which point the consumer is more interested in “refining” their collection as opposed to adding to it. My estimate is that the collection size threshold for most consumers is between eight and 30 watches. Once that threshold is exceeded, the consumer will want to remove watches from their collection before adding new ones."


Do people agree that there is a watch collection threshold? Does the threshold correspond to the brand (i.e. 3 Rolex watches are enough and I won't get another till I sell one that I already have)? What would the threshold number be?


I would say, I tend to agree with Ariel's assessment that there is a watch collection threshold, for me, I would say having 5 or so watches (from all brands) would be the point where I would want to sell before buying another.

[t65tampa]

7 is my comfortable maximum. When I get past 7, some watches end up living packed away in the safe more often then ever being worn. I like to wear my watches, not provide boarding for safe queens, so those that don't get worn, end up getting sold off or traded away.

[beshannon]

When I no longer can wear what I own and realize that owning is not the point.

I have been there many times and I am there again.

[Rolex_AG]

5 is the number for me and I think I will keep it there

[tbk]

I've got 10 watches right now, down from 15 last year. I don't know if it's so much of the number of watches as whether they all get worn. Currently I wear all my watches. I have different sets of watches for different circumstances and moods. Steel watches for work, TT and full PM watches for weekends, ceramic diver for beach/boat/pool, etc.

As long as I wear them all I'm not too worried about the amount, but what's always happened in the past is that I ended up never wearing some watches.

[jimcameron]

3 but I'm not a collector, I just wear them to tell the time.

[Mystro]

5

[Cabaiguan]

4-6 is just about right for me. I’m currently over that amount right now and there are some watches that are definitely not getting worn. That’s not where I want to be. Need to cull the herd myself.

[glamorama]

8 seems to be my threshold, every time I wanted a new watch and were at 8 I consolidated. Now I am in a new consolidation phase where I will end up with 5 or maybe even 4 for a while.

Since I got my 'grail' GMT meteorite there is only one other Rolex I really want, but I can't have, black SS Daytona.

[Token74]

Tricky question this.

A few years ago, I would buy watches that I liked but maybe not the ones I really wanted because of affordability. When I reached a certain number, it made sense to consolidate and upgrade. If you amass six watches at £3k, maybe worth trading to three watches of £6k.

This seems to be the way it works for a lot of folk, and it seems to be in sync with natural life and financial progression.

However, I’m now at a strange stage. I have ten watches. Seven are watches that I really really like. And then three aren’t at a value worth selling really.

There are other watches I’d like, but I already have too many. And I don’t want to sell any of the ones I’ve got. It’s all too hard!!




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[XXXXX]

Two watch’s , tt or ss for workings, pm for going out :)

[Fat_ninja]

10. Really only need 1 but 5 makes it fun

[The Libertine]

When you keep wearing the same “x number” of watches over, and over again. Any watches outside that number would be worthy of thing out the collection.

[2nastie]

3 is a good balance for me but I can stretch out to 5 max.

[Houston77]

I'm at 5. I'm thinking about adding one (Speedy) and then I'll be done. I had 8 at one point and that was too many.

[Toony]

For me 4 seems like plenty but almost too much. I’m thinking of going down to 3. I like to wear my watches so when I don’t wear one for awhile I feel like I’m neglecting it.

[enjoythemusic]

50 to 100. Haven't decided which just yet.

[TurboTim14]

I'm planning to go to 6, have 4 at the moment. 2 of my current ones are just vintage safe queens. I really only wear the other 2 regularly. Once I hit 6 I will take a look at my collection and most likely downsize.

[Dr. Robert]

At 43.....which was in 2010, now I am down to 16.....9 Wilsdorf, 7 others.

[doramas]

The most sensible and recommendable thing is to have only one.

PS. The rest is vice.

[Rags]

I have 4 Rolex & 1 Tudor plus 15 other watches. I try to wear most of them but sometimes some will get neglected. I don't see anymore watches in my future I'm pretty happy with what I have.

[Pantheon]

probably 10 I would say. Keep a variety of different brands and styles for different moods. I would say if only counting Rolex I can't see more than 3 out of the 10 being rolexes.

[AK797]

I've had 14 and that was too many, I'm happy with 6/7 at the moment, and a one in one out.

[tbk]

Originally Posted by Pantheon

probably 10 I would say. Keep a variety of different brands and styles for different moods. I would say if only counting Rolex I can't see more than 3 out of the 10 being rolexes.

8/10 of mine are Rolexes, and I'm quite happy with that! I've never had as many Rolexes as I have now, mostly just 2 or 3 at a time, but they just have so many nice watches right now. Especially now that I got into PM watches.

[vesnyder]

When I no longer can wear what I own and realize that owning is not the point.

[Pantheon]

Originally Posted by tbk

8/10 of mine are Rolexes, and I'm quite happy with that! I've never had as many Rolexes as I have now, mostly just 2 or 3 at a time, but they just have so many nice watches right now. Especially now that I got into PM watches.

While Rolex is definitely no slouch in the design department I feel like the a lot of the models are starting to look the same due to the dial such as Sub, GMT, YM1, YM42, DSSD, and SD. I just feel like im seeing the same watch in different colors and different size cases.

I would say if I had to decide on 3 I would do YG DD, WG GMT Meteorite Dial, and a SS Daytona in white. If not the WG GMT then a Hulk.

I have some ROs and a couple Overseas models. I would buy the Grand Lange 1 as the only main dress watch out of the collection

[RTG]

Just one more. Until next time.

[Rado63]

I could probably have 100 watches. If I had 100 watches, the pieces would be rather expensive vintage, and PM pieces that I like, so that cost to me is prohibitive. Today the collection is an evolution from when I began in the hobby. Pieces that don't fit my criteria have to go, and realistically I feel I can handle 3 watches, a diver, a dress watch, and then what I would call the daily beater.

[vgs]

I think my answer is 3+1, and I'm not even there yet.

3 are:
-daily watch (this will be my SUB no date)
-daily alternative (I think my speedy reduced will keep this role, but this could be a rotatable place I guess)
-PM for special occasions- grail watch I might or might not get

+1 you ask? Super beater, for motorcycle, extreme sports, something like SKX maybe, or of that kind for sure

With more than that, I might get uncomfy since as a creature of habit, I do not see myself flipping watches on my wrist all the time.

[Toony]

Originally Posted by doramas

The most sensible and recommendable thing is to have only one.

PS. The rest is vice.

The left side of my brain totally agrees with you.