What constitutes a "Collection"

[Time Exposure]

It starts with two. Any two watches makes you a watch collector. The collection theme just gets more narrow as you go: watches>mechanical watches>Swiss mechanical watches>men's Swiss mechanical watches.....on and on...

[topjimmi]

Recommended collection routes? What fun is this? Sounds boring to me...

[jolimont]

my collection is based on 2 themes- "pillaging of the bank accounts" and "why did you come home with a new watch" written by Mrs Jolimont

[nauticajoe]

There's no hard & fast rule....It's whatever you want it to be.

[mvmbles]

I don't think there should be "rules" to collecting, but I guess I personally have been following number 4 since I like to collect in groups. I'm currently close to finishing up my Submariner collection before I move on to the other models.

[subtona]

imho 3 or more.

2 could just be an accident,
but when you get to three its the beginning of an obsession

[Bluehinder]

More than two.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by tkc324

When you have more then 2 watches constitute a collection... as far as which watches, thats entirely up to you...

I agree

[nick c]

More then 1 less then 100

[Grissom]

Clearly, collecting what one likes is a sensible approach. Creating structure, within those confines, is not necessarily a bad approach, either. For those who might "collect" with appreciation/investment potential in mind, who like the hunt and building the collection more than the "collectibles" themselves, structure, as well, would potentially be helpful.

All in all, having some sense of direction.....where one might be going, with their collection, can often be beneficial, with regards to how to most efficiently utilize collecting funds.

Just another opinion thrown into the mix, Linda....

[petesjag]

A lot of great opinions and definitions here. A truly great art collection is one based on depth both vertically and horizontally. The definition as described by the authors is one which would have great depth. If you were to visit watch museums in Geneva you would see this. Although this would be on a level unattainable for most.
Simply said, it depends on the level and goals of the collector.

[Camel]

Originally Posted by subtona

imho 3 or more.

2 could just be an accident,
but when you get to three its the beginning of an obsession

My feelings, exactly !

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by floater156

The action or process of collecting something. I don't know who Dowling and Hess are, but I think they defined Rolex watch collection a little too narrow. I'd say my collecting route is what puts a smile in my heart.

If you did you wouldn't say this.

[andyboy39]

Originally Posted by diamondjack

it's always nice to have some structure to a collection and i would agree to a certain extent that to have a "collection" in the conventional sense of the word, you should collect in a themed approach either through the ages or across watch types or both.

This approach is nevertheless taking the word collection almost literally and assuming you were for example going to display your watches somewhere, like an art exhibition.....then some theme or structure would normally be expected rather than some random jumble of watches irrespective of how nice or interesting they were.....

However, reality is that people simply tend to collect what they like and what becomes available to them. This is certainly how i've built my collection for what it is......

+1

[Kiddodoc]

Collection is having more than one watch and who cares which ones you add but yourself.
Some collect one reference in many variations, others collect a couple of references in series and most collect what they want.

I love variety but if I had to stick to just one reference, it would be the sub line because that is what I started with at age 15 with a 1680 sub.

[DrLindaPhD]

Originally Posted by alanc

I agree with your description of what a "collection" ought to be; I also think that most such collections start with someone gathering those examples of whatever object it is, that sing to him or her. After a certain point, when one has enough of what sings to him or her (and if he or she has the necessary funds), that person may start adding additional examples that fill in the blanks of whatever "theme" or "structure" defines that particular object.

Say I like Corvettes. I buy a new Corvette. Then I start studying Corvettes because I like them, and decide I must have a 1963 split - window coupe. I get one (I forgot to say I'm assuming I'm rich). Then I decide I must have a 1968, because that was the first year of the next body style and I like those too. After a few more such purchases, I have all the ones I want, but now I'm seized by the desire to have as complete a collection as possible, no matter how I feel about particular examples. So, I get one of each generation, and then start adding convertibles, different engine sized models, and fuel-injected models ( forgot to say I'm assuming I'm Jay Leno). Eventually I have thirty Corvettes, only a few of which I may love individually, but which I all love in the context of having a complete collection.

That's a great analogy. My first highschool boyfriend had a MINT 1965 Corvette Stingray ragtop. I'll never forget that car. It was black with a white top and red leather interior. I recently saw a music video with Bruce Springsteen driving the same exact car but I think the Boss was driving a 66. It was a beauty.