The Watches We Keep for Reasons We Can’t Explain
Collecting watches is filled with easy choices. The movement makes sense. The design has historical importance. The reference fills a gap or represents an impor...
Editorial
Writing on collecting.
Essays, notes, and observations from members of The Collectors Club. Written by collectors, for collectors.
When a Watch’s Condition Becomes Part of Its Story
There is a point in collecting when the condition of a watch stops being a simple question of good or bad.A watch can be worn, scratched, faded and slightly imp...
The Watch You Stop Noticing, and Why That Might Be a Good Thing
There comes a point with many watches where you stop noticing them.. Not because you have grown tired of it. Quite the opposite, sometimes. The watch has simply...
Passing a Collection Down: What Collectors Wish They’d Documented Before It Was Too Late
A watch collection can take a lifetime to assemble. But the information behind that collection can be lost in a matter of hours. Now you’ve got me worried....
The Piece Every Serious Collection Eventually Makes Room For
Every watch collection starts with some kind of idea. It might be loosely defined or fully thought out, but it starts somewhere. Maybe it’s a particular brand....
The Collectors Who Buy to Complete a Historical Narrative, Not a Personal Wishlist
Collectors whose ultimate goal is building a historical timeline can often find themselves admiring watches that don’t necessarily appear on everyone else’s wis...
What “Full Set” Actually Means, and Where the Term Gets Misused
When was the last time you came across a watch that wasn’t being advertised as part of a “full set”? Or at least sold with as many accessories as possible? ...
Why the Most Serious Collectors Buy Fewer Watches, Not More
There comes a point with most collections where acquiring another watch feels like forward momentum. The box fills up, new references get added and every new wa...
The Ethics of Restoring a Piece with Documented History
It’s easy to talk about restoration until you have a watch with history that you want to preserve. Replace a broken crystal. Refinish a scratched case. Clean up...
The Watch You Buy When You Stop Trying to Impress People
Collectors often start at a point where they already know other watch enthusiasts. They know what brands people wear. They know the references other collectors...
What Happens to a Watch’s Value When It Appears at Auction Twice?
Let’s face it: there’s something a little telling about a watch that hits auction for the second time. The first auction starts the story. It arrives with its d...
When a Watch Becomes Too Historically Significant to Wear
Some watches become so interesting to learn about that wearing them begins to feel a little bit wrong. Not because they no longer work. Not because they’re unco...
"We say we are building a collection. But what we are really doing, at least in part, is learning what we cannot live without."
The rational account of a collection goes something like this: a collector acquires pieces that meet certain criteria — condition, provenance, rarity, maker — a...
The Art of Patience in Watch Collecting
In a world driven by instant gratification, luxury watch collecting remains one of the few pursuits that rewards patience above all else.The most memorable piec...
