The collection I own today shares little with what I assembled in my first decade of buying. Not just different watches — different principles governing what I acquire, keep, and sell. The Accumulation Phase Early on, I bought broadly. Every interesting watch seemed worth owning. Sales, estate finds, impulse purchases at shows. The collection grew […]
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Sep
Sep
Collecting Swiss watches for twenty years taught me to appreciate Seiko. This might seem paradoxical — why would exposure to the best of Geneva and Biel lead toward Japan? The answer involves understanding what different watchmaking traditions offer. Value Beyond Price Seikos Grand Seiko division produces finishing that rivals Swiss pieces costing multiples more. The […]
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Sep
Sep
Every collector has one. The piece you hesitated on, the negotiation you walked away from, the auction you missed by minutes. Years later, you still think about it. My Story In 2008, a dealer offered me a Paul Newman Daytona for forty thousand dollars. This was before the current mania, but even then I knew […]
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Sep
Sep
After one too many anxious trips — constantly checking my wrist, uncomfortable leaving watches in hotel safes, distracted by worry rather than present in the moment — I developed a travel philosophy that prioritizes peace of mind. The One Watch Solution For most trips, I bring exactly one watch. Not the most valuable piece I […]
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Sep
Sep
My first auction purchase went poorly. I bid emotionally, exceeded my predetermined limit, and won a watch that needed more work than the catalog suggested. The experience cost me money and, more importantly, taught me how not to approach auction buying. The Preparation Phase Serious auction buying starts weeks before the hammer falls. Request condition […]
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Sep
Sep
Five years ago, I made a decision that simplified my collection and my life: I sold every watch bracelet I owned. Every Jubilee, every Oyster, every President. Replaced them all with leather or fabric straps. The Comfort Question Metal bracelets look impressive. They signal serious watches and serious buyers. But they rarely feel as good […]
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Sep
Sep
When collectors discuss mid-century Swiss watchmaking, names like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Omega dominate. Universal Geneve rarely enters the conversation despite producing some of the periods most innovative and beautiful timepieces. The Golden Era From the 1930s through the 1960s, Universal Geneve competed at the highest levels. Their Compax and Tri-Compax chronographs rivaled anything from […]
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Sep
Sep
Every collector eventually faces the service question. Your vintage watch runs well — perhaps a few seconds fast — but hasnt been opened in decades. Should you have it serviced? The conventional wisdom says yes. Lubricants dry out, causing wear. Metal-on-metal contact accelerates damage. Preventive service costs less than repairs. All true, in general terms. […]
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Sep
Sep
My collection has evolved toward simplicity. Early on, I chased complications — chronographs, perpetual calendars, moon phases. Every function seemed to justify the expense. More features meant more value, or so I reasoned. Two decades later, the watches I reach for most often display only hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds. No date, no complications, no […]
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Sep
Sep
The watch community remains divided on patina. Some collectors send vintage pieces immediately for restoration — relumed hands, refinished dials, polished cases. Others refuse to touch anything, preferring watches that show every year of their age. I fall firmly in the second camp. A watch that has lived tells stories. The faded gilt printing on […]
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