# Any watch collectors out there? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182 "2006-01-03T04:29:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/1 "2006-01-03T04:29:26Z")
I’ve started frequenting a watch collector’s message board: [Timezone](http://www.timezone.com). I was wondering if any dopers lurk there or are otherwise into watch collecting. And, if so, what timepieces do you presently have? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/2 "2006-01-03T12:49:40Z")
My collection only made it to two (nice ones, that is) – then the money ran out. I currently am wearing a [Omega Seamaster Pro Chrono](http://www.omegawatches.com/fileadmin/templates/omega-watches/img-watchesbig/25998000.jpg) that I bought when I graduated from college in the 90s. I have at home a [Omega Speedmaster Pro](http://www.omegawatches.com/fileadmin/templates/omega-watches/img-watchesbig/35705000.jpg) (“The First Watch On The Moon”, IMO the best looking timepiece out there 🆒 ). I wish I had the $$$ to support such a hobby, but I really don’t. I would feel terribly guilty dropping 1-2K on a new watch when I have more important stuff to be fixing around the house (today’s $1100 repair bill at the VW dealer springs to mind). I also found that there is a cost of ownership as well: my Seamaster Pro cost \>$400 when I sent it off to Omega for standard servicing last year. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/3 "2006-01-03T16:01:57Z")
I wear a [Breitling Bentley](http://www.watchsavings.com/pi/BENTLEY-A2536212-B686.JPG) that is considered a collectors to some. It was a gift to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/4 "2006-01-03T16:07:15Z")
Damn. I wish I would have known about your site when Uncle Joey was alive. He was a collector of museum-quality pieces. Beautiful stuff with all sorts of lovely embellishment. They were all pocket watches. When he died, I think the family dumped the collection hither and thither for cash. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/5 "2006-01-03T16:13:27Z")
My everyday watch is a Rolex GMT Master II with a Jubilee bracelet. Here’s a [mock-up](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/gmt-jubilee-oyster.jpg) I made before I got the Jubilee bracelet. Other watches in the collection are: [ul][li]Rolex Submariner (late-1970s)[/li][li][My dad’s Seiko Bell-Matic](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/watches/dadsseiko.jpg) (April, 1974)[/li][li]Two more Seiko Bell-Matics like dad’s (one with a similar band, but with more rounded edges on the links)[/li][li]Hamilton Ventura (like Elvis wore in _Blue Hawaii_ and the Men In Black wore in that film)[/li][li]Timex automatic, with date (my first watch)[/li][li]A Russian pocketwatch[/li][li]Dad’s stainless steel Vulcain Cricket (c. early-1960s, on Twist-O-Flex bracelet)[/li][li]Dad’s gold Zodiac (c. 1953 – mom gave it to him when my sister was born – on Twist-O-Flex bracelet)[/ul][/li]I used to hang out a little at Timezone. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/6 "2006-01-03T16:18:02Z")
Oh. Here is the [Zodiac](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/watches/dadszodiac.jpg). And here is the [Vulcain](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/watches/dadsvulcain.jpg). Sorry about the image quality. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/7 "2006-01-03T18:31:40Z")
Nice collection **Johnny** , I’ve been eyeing a Hamilton for a while now; the handwound Khaki. Right now I have three watches. A stainless steel [Tag](http://www.bonairelittmanstores.com/Resources/sel%20logo%20watch.jpg) SEL quartz I got for my bar mitzvah. A gold [Longines](http://www.worldlux.com/products/longines/_watch/prestigegold/fullsize1.jpg) Prestige on a leather band I inherited from my grandfather who bought it when he was overseas during WWII. And I just bought a used [IWC](http://www.dotcom-life.com/joyful-watch/mall/upload/img/prod/3706-007-001.jpg) Filegerchronograph, which I couldn’t really afford, but couldn’t resist either. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/8 "2006-01-03T19:17:57Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > I’ve been eyeing a Hamilton for a while now; the handwound Khaki. Oh, yeah. I have a Stocker & Yale stem-wound G.I.-issue watch [like this one](http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_watch_modern.php) (large pic, no bezel), only mine is olive drab and doesn’t have the civilian nomenclature on the dial. Note the nuclear trefoil. 😉 I used to wear it JetSkiing, because it’s expendable. Now it’s back in its original box and packed away somewhere. I’ve been using the Sub for watersports. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/9 "2006-01-05T00:33:50Z")
When I was ten my dad asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I said, ‘I wanta watch!’ So he let me. _rimshot_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-watch-collectors-out-there/338182/10 "2006-01-05T00:40:43Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > I have at home a [Omega Speedmaster Pro](http://www.omegawatches.com/fileadmin/templates/omega-watches/img-watchesbig/35705000.jpg) (“The First Watch On The Moon”, IMO the best looking timepiece out there 🆒 ). That’s the next watch on my list. I agree that it’s one of the best looking timepieces out there. It also has a lot of history behind it. I wanted a Submariner becaus James Bond and Chuck Yeager wore them. I wanted the GMT Master II because I wanted zulu time at a glance. (And Rolexes are so un-hip they’re anti-hip.) Having been born during the Space Age, I must get the Speedy for its connection to the Space programme. That, and because it looks so nice. Before I started collecting watches, I bought a Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph in 1986. (Still have it somewhere. Forgot to put it on the list.) Unbeknownst to me, it looks very like the Speedy Pro.