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Thread: What should a three watch collection consist of

  1. #1
    Master
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    What should a three watch collection consist of

    I was mulling this over this morning. I assume there is a standard definition but is it.

    A dress watch
    A tool watch
    A weekend beater.

    or

    A simple three hand
    A diver
    A chronograph.

    Or some other combination.

    And what would be your three watch assuming you only could have three. Mine may well end up being.

    An old Seiko Kinetic dress watch my wife gave me many years, mainly for sentimental reasons.
    An Explorer or Explorer like tool watch when I get one.
    A Casio beater

  2. #2
    Grand Master Dave+63's Avatar
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    There’s certainly no standard definition, it’s very much an individual thing.

    Mine would be something like yours ie.

    G shock beater
    16710 tool watch
    Simple no date dress watch.

    I’ve already got the first two but the final one would be difficult as I wouldn’t want to be particularly expensive and I’d also have to get rid of a few watches that I’d really rather keep!

  3. #3
    Diver
    Chronograph
    GMT


  4. #4
    Master
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    What should a three watch collection consist of

    I have a three-watch collection.
    Dress watch: DayDate 40.
    Diver: sd43
    Chrono: Speedy Pro.

    One will soon be going. A two-watch collection (plus a Cheopo quartz) is enough for me.

    It won’t be the Speedy.....
    Last edited by paskinner; 25th July 2019 at 12:08.

  5. #5
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    This would do me: something smallish, pretty and manual wind for occasional wear, something good looking and accurate for daily wear, something cheap for when life isn't so gentle. But I can imagine for a lot of people, the dressy manual would be a poor use of a slot in a three watch collection.

  6. #6
    I don't count a true beater as part of a collection - in reality it should be interchangeable and wearable when you might otherwise destroy a perfectly good watch. That said there are very few situations where you couldn't wear a good watch.

    For me:

    A gentleman's sports watch - could be Patek/AP/VC etc.;

    A diver - Rolex Sub/SD or Omega SMP300/Planet Ocean;

    Something interesting - this leaves lots of options, and as I could never get down to the watches it could include any of the above, more complications, more colour, or a different design. So possibly something like my GO PanoInverse fits best for me.
    It's just a matter of time...

  7. #7
    Master Geralt's Avatar
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    A quartz, an automatic and a manual in whatever flavour appeals.

  8. #8
    I find it is best to have several sets of three.

  9. #9
    Grand Master learningtofly's Avatar
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    Sports, chrono, dress.

    [/thread]

  10. #10
    Master jukeboxs's Avatar
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    I got as far as the below trio, but I know I'd get bored, so don't think I could live with only 3 (+ beaters).
    - Patek 5126/1A
    - Rolex BLRO
    - Rolex 16600
    + Seiko Solar Padi, 5610 G-shock and Traser as beaters

    Who knows, maybe I'll get less fussy and more accepting with age ...

  11. #11
    As smart watches advance I think I'm nearing a two watch collection.

    Probably the next iteration of Apple Watch and then a classic automatic, maybe an Oyster Perpetual 39. I can't think of a situation where I'd need anything else.

    And for me it's getting harder to think of an 5k+ automatic steel watch as a sports, dive, or tool watch, when so many other manufacturers are building cheaper more durable feature packed watches which are genuinely useful in a sporting environment.

  12. #12
    Master
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    Fourth watch.

  13. #13
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Geralt View Post
    A quartz, an automatic and a manual in whatever flavour appeals.
    I came to exactly the same conclusion. Sort of. See edit below. Also ticking the sports/chrono/dress boxes.

    Quartz - GS SBGX319
    Auto - Tudor BB58
    Manual - Omega Speedy Pro

    Plus my TAG Divers 2000 Professional which was my 18th birthday present and G Shock GW-M5610
    Last edited by lughugger; 25th July 2019 at 13:38.

  14. #14
    Master
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    Diver, dress and Chrono.

    Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by EJL25 View Post
    Fourth watch.
    Good answer.
    Whatever floats your boats and whatever your needs are.
    Can be all chronos or divers or all quartz.
    Can be all Rolexes or BP or Seikos.
    There is no ‘should’ in this hobby.
    There are too many different types,brands and models to really give a meaningful answer.

  16. #16
    Master
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    Similar to many choices so far but for me:

    • Diver - Sinn, maybe a Sub
    • Dress/sports - GS or DJ
    • GMT - Rolex Pepsi

    I think I could happily live with those, for now at least

  17. #17
    Craftsman Ascalon's Avatar
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    I'd have to say:
    • Dress - Quartz: grab and go
    • Diver - Auto, bullet proof, beater: SKX009
    • Pilot (chrono) - 7750 or similar

  18. #18
    Master
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    It's like cricket, you are either a batsman, bowler or all rounder (keepers don't count ;) )

    For me it's a dress, sports, both.

    All must have a pull and an attachment in my view.

    Right now if I were picking a 3 piece collection, it would be:

    Dress - rose gold, slim case, 40mm or less like a JLC or Zenith ultrathin.
    Sports - steel, 40mm, like a no date sub or Daytona or moonwatch.
    All rounder - no rules just what you think you'll wear. 40mm Royal Oak on bracelet, 1969 el primero 38mm, explorer 1.

  19. #19
    Grand Master
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    for me sports diver, sports gmt, sports vintage.

    there has genuinely never been a time in my life when ive required a dress watch, and I prefer watches without sub dials which rules out chronos.

  20. #20
    Grand Master number2's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by verv View Post
    for me sports diver, sports gmt, sports vintage.

    there has genuinely never been a time in my life when ive required a dress watch, and I prefer watches without sub dials which rules out chronos.
    In the last couple of months I've arrived at the conclusion that I'm not at all bothered by chronographs, in future my watches are simply going to be variations of divers.
    "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."

    'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.

  21. #21
    Master
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    Diver / chrono / dress as some have suggested constitutes a natural trio, though I would drop a dress watch since I am never smart and since I find them boring pretty quickly. (Something like a JLC Master Control is lovely but I'd wear it once a year.) So I'd drop the dress watch and have a GMT.

    So SD43 / a Zenith EP / Aquanaut Travel Time, please santa.

  22. #22
    Master
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    Smart (if that's your thing) for the office
    Sporty / casual (if that's your thing) for the weekend / hols
    G-Shock for when you really need a watch

  23. #23
    Master sweets's Avatar
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    I have several 3 watch collections, purely because one doesn't seem to cover all the bases.
    So I have 3 Tudors
    3 Lemania chronos
    3 other brand Lemania-powered chronos
    3 other divers

    and a few others besides.

    if it were to be one, it would be diver, chrono and GMT, but my problem is that I cannot rationalise to one chronograph.

    Dave

  24. #24
    Grand Master Velorum's Avatar
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    How about another way?

    Three pieces that are very similar and are slight variations on what is closest to your 'ideal' watch.

    The differences will ideally only be noticeable to you and other watch obsessives. Everyone else will think that you have three nearly identical watches.

    Doesn't matter what sort - could be 3 divers, dress, quartz, military, 36mm tool, whatever you like.

  25. #25
    Grand Master Der Amf's Avatar
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    I think the important thing is that all three are within your core tastes in watches, and how far those boundaries are set is going to vary from person to person. But variety for the sake of it would just get on your tits.

  26. #26
    Grand Master gray's Avatar
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    Three Tunas.
    Gray

  27. #27
    Master WatchIng's Avatar
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    One is unlikely to find a definitive answer to this!

    My view would be three watches that YOU love (and can afford) and which allow you to carry out whatever your daily (and holiday) life is like. I have ten 'serious' watches (+ 5 quartz, covering beaters and a general-purpose reference watch - i.e. solar, radio-controlled ProTrek) and now feel that I have all that I 'need' - all others that appeal are way out of my price-range.

  28. #28
    Grand Master Velorum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Amf View Post
    I think the important thing is that all three are within your core tastes in watches, and how far those boundaries are set is going to vary from person to person. But variety for the sake of it would just get on your tits.
    I agree with this.

    My past attempts to gather a group of watches together to include 'a diver', 'a chrono', ' a dress' etc have always ended up in a sense of dissatisfaction following by furious flipping.

    My ideal watch is simple, small and has no date - I think it best to remain close to these parameters.

  29. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Amf View Post
    I think the important thing is that all three are within your core tastes in watches, and how far those boundaries are set is going to vary from person to person. But variety for the sake of it would just get on your tits.
    Spot on.

  30. #30
    Craftsman hoopsontoast's Avatar
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    My Trio, consisting of the following:

    Sports - IWC 3521
    Dress - Rolex 15200
    Beater - Omega 120m


    Trio by Robert Seymour, on Flickr

    I've thought of replacing the 120m with a Omega 2262.50 but never really got round it it and lost interest.

  31. #31
    Grand Master Velorum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hoopsontoast View Post
    My Trio, consisting of the following:

    Sports - IWC 3521
    Dress - Rolex 15200
    Beater - Omega 120m


    Trio by Robert Seymour, on Flickr

    I've thought of replacing the 120m with a Omega 2262.50 but never really got round it it and lost interest.
    Excellent - and proves the point made above

    Very similar, and all the better for it

  32. #32
    As a few posters have said above, 3 watches you like and will enjoy wearing, even if somewhat similar in style.

    Not everyone is a wannabe diver or time traveller and needs a submariner's watch or GMT as many will suggest.

  33. #33
    Master Jardine32's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Velorum View Post
    I agree with this.

    My past attempts to gather a group of watches together to include 'a diver', 'a chrono', ' a dress' etc have always ended up in a sense of dissatisfaction following by furious flipping.

    My ideal watch is simple, small and has no date - I think it best to remain close to these parameters.
    Well that's got 36mm Explorer written all over it.
    J

  34. #34
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    Choose what you like, and stick with it. My “three” (oh, and a vagrant gatecrasher).



    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  35. #35
    Grand Master Velorum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jardine32 View Post
    Well that's got 36mm Explorer written all over it.
    J
    Indeed. My current focus is on variants of the PRS-25 dark and white dials (when they are available) and the PRS-29a. I did try the AM, which is a lovely thing but I couldn't get on with the enclosed minute track around the dial.
    Last edited by Velorum; 25th July 2019 at 19:36.

  36. #36
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
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    A three watch collection obviously needs a watch for those expeditions to the colonies, a watch for those dress occasions at the club and a watch for those seafaring adventures.

    Any more would seem rather excessive...............

    No dear, only three...............

    Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.

  37. #37
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    1. One you like
    2. One you like
    3. Another you like.

    It's all down to personal taste. If you don't like the busier dials of chronos then owning a chrono is irrelevant. If you never wear a dress watch (as I don't even when in a DJ) then a dress watch is a waste of time unless it appeals on its own merits.

  38. #38
    Work - G Shock Digital
    Rest - HAQ, 3 Hander, elegant classic and refined ideally with lumed hands
    Play - Manual wind 3 Hander, elegant classic and refined.

  39. #39
    Craftsman
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    One of these will be getting the chop soon, just can’t decide which...




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  40. #40
    Craftsman namzo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ManCityDG View Post
    One of these will be getting the chop soon, just can’t decide which...




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    What a lovely trio you have there.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  41. #41
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Velorum View Post
    Excellent - and proves the point made above

    Very similar, and all the better for it

    With that in mind then mine would end up being

    My old KInetic (basically a field watch dial)
    A cheap Explorer inspired watch
    An Explorer.

  42. #42
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by ColDaspin View Post
    G-Shock for when you really need a watch
    Are you in the advertising industry 'cause you just created a great G-shock commercial?

  43. #43
    Craftsman
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    Here's a great value sub-40mm micro brand trio comprising of a field watch, day/date and a diver/GMT.

    • Smiths Everest 36mm
    • Hamtun Nanok 39mm
    • Steinhart Ocean GMT 39mm



  44. #44
    Apprentice
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    Quote Originally Posted by ManCityDG View Post
    One of these will be getting the chop soon, just can’t decide which...




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    That’s a cracking trio right there!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  45. #45
    Master
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    The short answer, a sports watch, a Chrono and a beater.
    More in depth (and something that it underway)

    My perfect three:

    A BBQ watch - a casual wearer. One for holidays / casual wear.
    Mine will be a Seiko Spork, modified with a GS GMT movement on a Turtle rubber with a deployant.

    Next personal watch - a hand made Chrono in my case. It'll use a 7740 hand wind. Custom leather strap and one off dial.

    Next Grail watch - not a term I like but this fits the bill, a 2004 16600 Comex. Only four made as far as I know. All the versatility of the SD in a more 'special' package. Not evenyones cup of tea but certainly mine.

    One has been secured, one is in the final stages, one is still in the early planning.








    Last edited by Dave O'Sullivan; 26th July 2019 at 11:28.

  46. #46
    Master subseastu's Avatar
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    I'd go vintage, tool and special for the 3 main criteria. Try to chuck in a chronograph in that 3 because, well why not.

    Later maybe a bit of two tone.

    Sent from my H8314 using Tapatalk

  47. #47
    Master
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    Ooh, ooh, I know this one.

    Three watches you like.

  48. #48
    Craftsman hoopsontoast's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Velorum View Post
    Excellent - and proves the point made above

    Very similar, and all the better for it
    Yeah, I've tried a GMT in the lovely Heuer GMT reissue which was nice but I never used the GMT function, even on holiday.



    And I've tried a diver, the Tag Heuer 2000 but again, did not use the bezel so I did not see the point.



    The main features I use is the Date, which is why all my watches have that function.

  49. #49
    Master woodacre1983's Avatar
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    There is no perfect generic 3 watch collection only YOUR OWN perfect 3 watch collection.

    For me I’ve thought about this for a bit and have narrowed it to the following:-

    Now- as I’m happy with my collection atm if I HAD too I could be happy with these three in my collection as my only ones

    Day to day. Needs to be smallish 36-38mm and not too loud. For me it’s my OP36 in steel dial.

    Evening/weekend. Diver or tool watch. For me I’d choose either or of my sub 14060m or my 2254 would be happy to keep either.

    Holiday and fun. Easy choice for me needs be WR larger and fun to wear plenty of strap choices. So for me my Panerai Titanium

    Then my ideal picks for when I am where I want to be and have more money and retirement sorted!

    Day to day. Still 36mm but would be a Day Date

    Evening/weekend PP nautilus

    Holiday fun. White gold Pepsi.

    I’ve got my current and I’m enjoying working to my dream. All good!


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  50. #50

    What should a three watch collection consist of

    I’d go for a slight variation on the second combo:
    Pilot
    Diver
    Chrono

    My current collection stretches beyond three but does have the following:
    Stowa Verus
    Seiko MM300
    Zenith EP fly-back
    Last edited by Derivative; 26th July 2019 at 16:33.

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