How do you guys manage larger Rolex collections?

[RolexRog]

If a guy has just one Rolex, and it's his primary watch, life is pretty simple: you just wear it every day.

But what of the person who has 4 or 5 - or more watches? Some questions:

Do you have trouble appreciating them all, since you have to divide your time and attention between them?

How do you decide which watch to wear, and how long do you wear it before moving on to another watch?

Do you keep your watches on winders, or do you re-wind and re-set them when you want to wear them? (If you have an Oysterquartz collection, this would be N/A)

Do you have difficulty "bonding" with any one watch when you have so many?

Anything I forgot to ask that you want to add, please feel free.

[interestedwatcher]

I don't know how others feel, and I don't have a large collection by any means, but sometimes a watch will come along and just blow the other watches away, and results in most other watches sitting in the safe.

My poor explorer 2 jealously stares at my Tudor Snowflake from the dark of the safe haha

[JWD531]

Polar is my COVID19 daily as I’m usually in t shirt and shorts. If I put on jeans or some khaki shorts, the sub may get a call. If I go into the office, my YM gets more time, and a nice dinner, the Daytona comes out. Or I may sometimes color coordinate. Eg, on the off chance I wear an orange shirt, I’ll wear the Polar 42. If I’m gonna do chores, I’ll throw on the SKX.

I want to add a Hulk (eventually - green is my favorite color so it’s just eventually inevitable), a Batman (on a list for that one), and YM blue. Not in a rush for any of those. And will also like to add a black dial Calatrava one day. After that, I probably don’t want/need any more.

I MAY add a Seamaster 300M some day (I like the gray dial the best, but also like the white dial).


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[JPMickB83]

I have about 25 watches in the collection, 10 of them being Rolex. I have several Wolf winders (one 3-watch, and two 2-watch). I used to keep seven watches on the winders at all times, but that feels risky if there’s a break-in, so now only three stay on the winders and the others are in a safe. With 10 Rolexes, not all of them are appropriate for every situation, so the more expensive and/or dressier ones tend to live in the safe (which reduces their wear even further, since it’s a pain to pull one out).

My daily drivers are a No Date Sub on an Everest strap, an Explorer 1, and an OP39 with white dial. I have a DJ36 126200 with blue dial that also frequently comes out to play.

Some of the Rolexes are discontinued, so while they don’t get much wrist time, I can’t bear to part with them. If I truly don’t bond with something though, I typically trade it towards something I think will be more of a long-term keeper.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by RolexRog

If a guy has just one Rolex, and it's his primary watch, life is pretty simple: you just wear it every day.

But what of the person who has 4 or 5 - or more watches? Some questions:

Do you have trouble appreciating them all, since you have to divide your time and attention between them?

How do you decide which watch to wear, and how long do you wear it before moving on to another watch?

Do you keep your watches on winders, or do you re-wind and re-set them when you want to wear them? (If you have an Oysterquartz collection, this would be N/A)

Do you have difficulty "bonding" with any one watch when you have so many?

Anything I forgot to ask that you want to add, please feel free.

At one time I had around 50 watches in my collection but not all Rolex never felt the need for any sort of machine winder and never will.

[JohnnyBer]

That's a great question. I think there are challenges in appreciating the watches as they receive less and less wrist time. I currently find myself with a three watch collection - two Rolexes and one Panerai. Maybe it's a love loss for the Panerai, but I've gravitated to rotating between the Rolexes pretty standard; mainly because they are different enough to support different functional activities - mostly work versus play. I still enjoy the looks of the Panerai, but I think the bond is being broken with limited wear.

[Calatrava r]

I have had close 30 at times. I just rotated around, but it is true some did not see much wrist time. I think a good number is around 6 to 8. That way they all get wear and attention and I am never bored.

[Brew]

I just wear the one shouting loudest.

[Tools]

It isn't difficult.

They are pretty docile and compliant. All of them do what I want without complaint.

[2x4]

Primarily a 4 watch collection, I guess a lot depends on your lifestyle. I’m not a suit a tie guy. May daily attire for work is steel toe leather boots, jeans, and a button down shirt. So,
Daily = DJ41 SS
Weekend = GMT2 (black bezel, sorry I don’t know codes)
Weekend w/serious work = G Shock Rangeman
Dress = TT Black dial SkyDweller

[msdtra]

Dress Watch Blancpain LeMans Flyback
Weekend and Other Omega Dark Side Moon black out
Weekday and Casual work days Rolex Sub C or Rolex Batgirl

I am looking to add 5th watch by CY21. 16710 Pepsi 2005.

I did same thing bought 2 single Wolf watch winders but now everything accept what I am wearing in the safe.

[RolexRog]

Originally Posted by JWD531

Polar is my COVID19 daily as I’m usually in t shirt and shorts. If I put on jeans or some khaki shorts, the sub may get a call. If I go into the office, my YM gets more time, and a nice dinner, the Daytona comes out. Or I may sometimes color coordinate. Eg, on the off chance I wear an orange shirt, I’ll wear the Polar 42. If I’m gonna do chores, I’ll throw on the SKX.

I want to add a Hulk (eventually - green is my favorite color so it’s just eventually inevitable), a Batman (on a list for that one), and YM blue. Not in a rush for any of those. And will also like to add a black dial Calatrava one day. After that, I probably don’t want/need any more.

I MAY add a Seamaster 300M some day (I like the gray dial the best, but also like the white dial).


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Very interesting. Thank you.

[Johnpierpontmorgan]

Polar explorer = travel
SD4000 = daily
Gmt master ceramic = smart casual / semi formal
DateJust 36 Roman numerals = very formal


Less worn pieces in watch box. SD4000 on watch stand
Aside that, some seikos that are real beaters for extreme activity

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by Tools

It isn't difficult.

They are pretty docile and compliant. All of them do what I want without complaint.

Ha, this is a good one.

Although I suppose if you had lots of perpetual calendars that might be a problem.

I do feel for you OP. At 5 I start the feel it, at 7 I really feel it. (meaning some don't make it onto the wrist for months at a time).

[TswaneNguni]

Its like the share market ,what to wear is driven by .... sentiment .

[schuverde]

I have 6, gave a Pepsi GMT II to a son to wear. I keep a couple out of the safe and rotate during the week depending on what just feels right that day during the Covid. I do feel like it's nuts to have this many sitting in a safe at home. All sport models. They've all appreciated, except for the 2 my wife has so I'm not anxious to flip them. I used to wear a particular watch for 6 months to a year and then switch off (before Covid). Lately I keep going to back to the black 216570 Explorer II. I did add a Rubber B strap recently so that changed it up a bit for me.

[Heff]

Originally Posted by schuverde

I have 6, gave a Pepsi GMT II to a son to wear. I keep a couple out of the safe and rotate during the week depending on what just feels right that day during the Covid. I do feel like it's nuts to have this many sitting in a safe at home. All sport models. They've all appreciated, except for the 2 my wife has so I'm not anxious to flip them. I used to wear a particular watch for 6 months to a year and then switch off (before Covid). Lately I keep going to back to the black 216570 Explorer II. I did add a Rubber B strap recently so that changed it up a bit for me.

I’ve been thinking of adding a Rubber B to my Explorer II as well. Have any pictures?


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[RolexRog]

Just for the record:

I have a Datejust 36mm from 1990, An Oyster perpetual 34mm from 1966, and an Oysterquartz from 1982 which is very dressy.

I wear the datejust for a predetermined amount of time, maybe a week. The same for the Oyster Perpetual. I should just keep them both wound and alternate, but I haven't done that yet.

The dressy Oysterquartz adds a whole new dimension to the collection: I wear it often, and switch it out for the others often for short periods of time. I love it.

[schuverde]

I've since found an orange striped strap on Ebay and added that. I think I like the white stripe better. I'm looking for a polar 216570 so the straps will go to good use regardless.

[kieselguhr]

Dice

[samuel019]

Great question. I don’t have a large lineup by any means but I do find at times that I even my collection is too many, see signature line, and I have watches I haven’t worn in months.

My SDK gets the majority of my wrist time then my 216570. My 116613 reminds me of my father and barring any financial crisis isn’t ever going anywhere.

As far as the rest when I look at them I love each and every singe one of them and keep them because as soon as I get rid of them I’ll want them back. So rather then sell them even though they may not get much wrist time I keep all because I know eventually they will get worn

[bogdoc]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Its like the share market ,what to wear is driven by .... sentiment .

+1

[fsprow]

I generally choose a watch for a week depending on the season and likely activity.

Most important, I put a little slip of paper under a watch as to when it was last worn (time out for COVID right now). If a watch isn’t worn for a year, unless it’s a vintage one I want to keep, it gets sold.

[chinaski]

I currently have 4 watches:

Tudor BB
Omega Speedmaster Pro
Glycine Airman
G-Shock

The Glycine and G-Shock get the majority of wrist time lately, but I do rotate the Tudor and Omega from time to time. I plan on purchasing a Rolex within the next few months, and I'll likely still wear the Glycine and G-Shock most of the time. But the Rolex WILL get wrist time.

The Glycine works well for me as I work in Aviation and the GMT feature is extremely handy. Yeah, I could get a GMT-Master, but I don't feel the need to wear higher dollar pieces all the time.

[zjd168]

[QUOTE=RolexRog;10677600]

Do you have trouble appreciating them all, since you have to divide your time and attention between them?

I selected and brought each watch for a reason, appreciation is not an issue at all.



How do you decide which watch to wear, and how long do you wear it before moving on to another watch?


Most of the times it depends on the mood of the morning, or the clothes, or just randomly pick. Nowadays working from home I usually make changes in the middle of the day, wearing 3 or 4 different watches on a single day :-)



Do you keep your watches on winders, or do you re-wind and re-set them when you want to wear them? (If you have an Oysterquartz collection, this would be N/A)


No, just let it stop if not wearing. Rewind and reset next time.



Do you have difficulty "bonding" with any one watch when you have so many?


Not at all, just wearing them, sooner or later each one will experience some events or part of some memories with you that you would cherish forever.

[MattyL147]

I have 4 Rolex: DJII, Hulk, sub (no date), WG Daytona on Oysterflex. I also have a Tudor BB58 and a PAM1392 (most recent pickup).

I don’t have any rhyme or reason to which one I wear. Sometimes I rotate them throughout the week but sometimes I stick with one for weeks at a time (possibly due to laziness).

I feel as though with my lifestyle they’re all pretty interchangeable. No winders here.

Sometimes I think I have to wear one since it hasn’t gotten much wrist time lately and the guilt sets in. I truly believe I have a very solid little grouping. I don’t have any desire for another Rolex atm (although that could change). I’m longing after a PP, but that’s quite a ways off.

[iTreelex]

I manage a larger collection by getting rid of them. I think a collection of 3-5 is enough granted I poke fun of safe queens and "nos" nonsense unless you're a hard core collector of a pelican case full of comex, double reds, and whatnot. If you don't wear a watch, then you don't need it. There's a fine line between collecting and being excessive.

[jcoltrane]

If it feels like a chore or you start feeling bad some aren't being worn, cull the herd, otherwise just enjoy them however and whenever you'd like.

[DCheeta]

Until recently I had a large collection of mostly Rolex, with some Omega, IWC, and JLC sprinkled in.

I’m not really a “collector” by nature, more of a minimalist, I prefer to have less possessions. So I sold all but one Rolex, and kept one Omega and one Breitling for sentimental reasons. I mostly just wear the Rolex (Sub) every day now and I love that simplicity.

[JSolution]

I have about 15 atm. I usually have one that I’m favoring over others then I move to another. Been and still enjoying the white ss sky dweller for a while now.