Progression of Your Addiction!

My saga is pretty well known...

Pimp Daddy Of Cheap Swiss Love...

Zodiac FREAK...

King of the good deal...

GOOD DEALED myself into over 95 watches...

Now down to 20 with number 21 in my sights!

Many years ago when I was a kid my dad and younger brother always wore watches
basically only to tell time ! I never really did too much however. Then in the
1990's my younger brother started getting into watches. We would get him a new Citizen,
or Seiko for holidays and birthdays ! People were always saying..you got another
watch ? Like it was odd or something ! I started seeing the magic of the hobby
itself after this !..It took a while but, I guess a little more than a few years ago or
so I saw shows on TV and began getting watches !..Birthdays, holidays and some
days in between ! ..I started surfing endlessly on the computer and reading various
watch magazines to learn about watches, all of the companies and movements etc.
It was an incredible hobby that I enjoyed now !..A couple years ago I then started
visiting watch forums..as a guest only..and saw a bunch of interesting and great people
who were kind of like me ! I learned a great deal from them and enjoyed what they
had to say..eventually it all lead here ! To the next stage of the hobby or The Next
Level !!! So here I am ! Trying to learn, enjoy and give back to everyone..make
some friends and have fun !!! It's been a long road..but I'm glad where it all lead to !

My story...I spend money like a drunken sailor...

My dad turned me onto timepieces...I have a Hamilton that is pretty unique. I can absolutely guarantee that nobody else has one! I'll post some pictues some day, after I get the chance to take a few shots.

1975:
When I was about 12 years old I saw a Caravelle watch at the Woodwards department store my mother worked for. Loved it, had to have it, spent a year of my savings. I still have it but I am missing 1 end link.

1979:
My brother bought a watch in Moscow for me. Wore it daily until it stopped in 1982. (restored this year)

1980s-2007:
Always liked watches but bought cheap crap.

2007:
Shopping one day and decided I deserved better than crappy watches. Bought both a Seiko chronograph and Invicta Abyss diver on a whim. Hooked, especially by the Invicta. Want to buy more. A few more follow.

2008:
My wife starts a liquidation company. A dealer I have bought from connects her with wholesale source for liquidation watches. Watches become focus of her business. I am drowning in a sea of Invicta, Tissot, Tag Heuer, D&G, Kenneth Cole, Armani, Baume & Mercier, Seiko, Citizen, Wenger, Zodiac, Oris, Omega, and more. Great deals on near new watches. I can't afford them all, but I can get some of them.

2009:
I've bought about 80 watches in 18 months. Flipped many of them but still have over 40 in my collection. Slowly learning what I really like. All on a reasonable budget and enabled by my wife's supply (I still buy some from retail dealers and ebay).

Today:
I look at this time flipping many affordable watches as a learning experience without significant dollar risk. I want to really know what I like before I invest in any big purchase for the long term. My Baume & Mercier is my perfect dress watch. That is settled. Now for something sportier; I'm leaning toward a Planet Ocean or Submariner No Date. Then I'll probably keep a bunch of the Zodiac, Invicta, a Tag Heuer, Oris for variety. I can continue to flip through those as long as my wife's business keeps a flow going, too.


This one was a trigger, still favorite keeper:


This is a keeper Dress Watch:


This is another favorite keeper:

I've always worn a watch since I was a kid. The only difference was I was a one watch guy. I never knew forums existed until around 2005. The best/worst thing I discovered were sales corners where I could get a minty USED watch for half the price of a new one. That's where the downward spiral and multiple watch owning began. I've farted around with a few less expensive boutique brands, but in the end I've always sold them. I would have to say Omega and DOXA are my favorite, but when the economy gets better I plan on selling a few and picking up another GMT Master II (old style) or Sub.

It's not that I don't LIKE the forum/boutique brands, but I have a concern about the longevity of the companies. I just serviced a 35 + year old Heuer. TAG replaced the crystal, pushers and a few parts on the cal 12 movement. 35 years from now, will I be able to get a replacement dial or hands for a Benarus, or Invicta, or Boschett? Who knows? At least with Omega, Rolex, Breitling, etc your chances are pretty good.

~ David