Category Archives: Collecting

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

A decade of collecting watches teaches lessons that no book or forum can convey. Here is what I have learned through purchases both wise and foolish. Buy What You Will Wear The watches that bring me the most satisfaction are the ones I actually wear. That limited edition in the safe? It sparks less joy […]