I think you're gonna have to create a spreadsheet for all those conditions!
Inspired by a recent thread I wonder what options people would come up with for an ideal three watch collection. But not just any old collection, there are some rules...
The Rules.
Movement. At least one manual and at least one automatic. Free choice for third.
Style. At least one tool watch. At least one dress watch (to be clear, a Rolex Oyster would be OK, an Explorer wouldn't) Free choice for third.
Dial. At least one with black dial. At least one with non-black dial. Free choice for third.
Strap. At least one on a bracelet. At least one on leather. Free choice for third.
Origin. At least one Swiss made. At least one non-Swiss made. Free choice for third.
Provenance. At least one bought new. At least one with sentimental value, either inherited, gifted, purchased for a special occasion, or with a special person. Free choice for third.
You can include watches you currently have but you can only have three. Choose wisely...
I think you're gonna have to create a spreadsheet for all those conditions!
Go on then.
1) Sub 16610 LV
2) Speedmaster Pro
3) This Alexander Shorokhoff
3 of my favourites match those criteria - Marathon are Canadian right?
If pushed I could probably manage with these 3 from the current collection.
Edit just realised I overlooked some criteria so this Avia would have to replace the Damasko.
Last edited by magpie215; 23rd May 2022 at 20:03.
So I think I'd go for
Speedmaster Apollo 13 silver snoopy
Ticks off manual and non black face
Rolex Explorer 39mm
For auto, Tool, Swiss and sentimental.
Alange & Soehne Saxonia pink gold with grey dial.
For new dress watch, non Swiss and leather.
Think that's all the boxes ticked and a collection I'd be very happy with.
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Last edited by Rob s; 23rd May 2022 at 20:31.
I am struggling here, maybe I was a bit strict on the rules! I would have to amend my current collection as I don't have any non-swiss, but I am struggling to think of what I would buy on a leather strap...
Late '50's Rolex Oyster Royal - black face, sentimental value as it was my Dad's, Manual wind, kind of dressy as it has Dauphine hands.
Oris Big Crown Roberto Clemente. White dial, automatic, leather strap, didn't buy it new which limits my third option a bit. Nice summer watch to balance the collection a bit...
3rd one - hmmmm - I would have to buy something new. Probably a blue Seiko Willard would fill the gap, new, tool watch. My other two Oris watches would have to go of course, which is a pity.
Frustrating this...
Last edited by ant8519; 23rd May 2022 at 20:42.
Question for the OP - does a datejust count as dress?
Can you have many?
Seriously... I don't know. I'm not really into "high horology" watches so I'd just stick with the standard stuff.
Sub 16610
GMT 16710
Some larger Breitling chrono (actually I prefer my Ebel BTR over any other chrono but that's just me). I think chrono should be at least 42mm or larger.
If I followed the rules it wouldn’t be my ideal collection!
Rolex Sub 124060
PP 5712 - Nautilus
AP 26574TI - Titanium perpetual calendar
It’ll probably change if we did this again in six months.
Sorry OP - but my ideal 3 that I own do not fit your criteria as they are all Swiss.
From my current collection:
Dress - PP 5146J
Tool - Rolex 124060
Other - VC 4500V Blue or Omega X-33 Mk2 as an outsider (HEQ)
“ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG
Speedy Pro
U50 SDR Tegimented.
Reverso Duoface
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Last edited by lughugger; 23rd May 2022 at 22:11.
I'd be content with these three. I know they don't fit the criteria of the post, but yeh.
I think I can fit that outline.
Grandad’s Seamaster = vintage / dress / leather / non-black dial / sentimental / automatic
Zenith Rainbow = Swiss Tool watch / bracelet/ bought new / automatic / sentimental (engagement gift from my wife. Worn daily for 18 years) / complication
Smiths Navigator = Not Swiss / manual / leather / black dial
Omega Seamaster – 1965 – Grandad’s Watch
Zenith Rainbow Elite 670 – 1998 – Engagement gift
39mm; 9mm thick. Model 02.0473.670
Smiths Navigator PRS-48
Last edited by Montello; 23rd May 2022 at 22:30.
Hmm one major category missing. One watch must have a complication!
For me at the moment
Tool - panerai 111 (first expensive watch)
Dress - Ming 1901 (on bracelet or strap)
3rd - Ming chrono (incoming)
Edit - despite being Swiss made, i classify the Mings as non Swiss.
Edit 2 - I wanna add a wildcard beater. Seiko Landmaster
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Last edited by crazyp; 23rd May 2022 at 22:28.
Tool
Sub 114060. Personal to me, Swiss, bracelet, black dial, automatic
Dress
GS SGBW231. Opposite of the above
Wildcard
Black dial ceramic Daytona or Chronomaster Original 38
Game over
Whilst I could come up with three that I own, that tick all the criteria in the OP, they would be far from my ideal three.
This type of thread also confirms to me that if restricted to only three watches:
- I wouldn’t include a “dress” watch (or beater, whatever that is considered to be)
- I wouldn’t include a watch that had to spend all of the time on a strap
And more importantly I can’t envisage selecting less than six to ten watches in an ideal collection.
Sticking to the rules (other than the non Swiss bit):
Reverso GR - dress, strap, manual, personal
16570 Polar - tool, non black dial
114270 - other
If sticking to the non Swiss bit:
GS SBGA01 - non Swiss, non black dial, pretend that it’s a dress watch
Standard Speedmaster Moonwatch - personal, manual, happy to wear on a strap, as the bracelet is poor
114270 - tool
"Your ideal 300 watch collection" might suit my collection trends a little bit better. ;-)
I cant match all the rules because my ideal 3 within as many parameters as possible would be all Swiss, and more than likely bracelet mounted but useable on a strap.
Not black, bought new, "dressy"
Manual, on leather.
Sentimental - the only one that will never be sold, black dial, tool watch.
* If I could get away with it I would switch out the Apollo 8 for my older speedy and stick it on leather just to bend the rules, but I dont have a photo of it without bracelet.
So, manual that COULD go on leather.
So this one is for definite.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/attachment.p...1&d=1653397796
Manual, sentimental value, black dial, bracelet. Could you call it a dress watch? Well I am...
And maybe I will keep this.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/attachment.p...1&d=1653398081
Automatic, leather strap, tool watch.
So I would just need a new non-swiss, non-black face watch with any movement at all. Surely that is possible...
Last edited by ant8519; 24th May 2022 at 14:21.
Interesting and pleasingly-specific challenge.
I really only have one contender for the 'sentimental value' condition - the Christopher Ward Bluebird SE chrono my wife bought for me on my 50th birthday, it will also have to do service as the 'dress watch' contender.
Although it's as devoid of snob-appeal as humanly possible, it's a beautifully made and finished thing, with the nicest enamel inset in the crown (a tiny Bluebird motif) I've ever seen on any watch at any price, plus it resonates with my childhood love of all things Malcolm and Donald Campbell perfectly. (Please excuse the godawful pic!)
____________________________________________
Covering the automatic category has to be the finest all-rounder in my collection - Damasko DC57: it covers all the bases for me - great legibility, great robustness, chronograph functionality, and day-date complication; total strapwhore, too, FWIW.
Gets more wear than anything else I own...
____________________________________________
For this last one, I'm simply going to have to cheat grotesquely - I almost never wear watches on Bracelets, and I have not the slightest desire to own a hand-wound watch of any kind. Further, my perfect 3-watch collection includes something with a Tritium tube dial for night-time dog-walks - a tool watch that is tough enough to deal with bad weather and knocks - light, comfortable and ever-ready even if I forget to wind it.
Oh well, at least the movement is Swiss...
My choice for sentimental also ticks the non black dial, non Swiss and dressy boxes, Cartier tank francaise chronoreflex, bi metal. Tool watch would have to be my SD 43. Wild card is more tricky, would be one of my panerais, but choosing one is difficult. My most worn by far are the two submersibles, 614 and 243, but as I already have the SD 43 in the frame, I would have to choose the 213. Like most PAMs it is a strap monster, so leather, canvas and even rubber or NATO, all work.
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I am not sure how to attach pictures, but here goes again...
https://forum.tz-uk.com/attachment.p...7&d=1653464471
and again...
https://forum.tz-uk.com/attachment.p...6&d=1653464463
I’ve been thinking about this recently as have debated whether to simplify the collection somewhat. If so, these are the 3 that would remain that meet the requirements except for manual wind…
Casio G-Shock all-metal Vintage DLC - black dial, bracelet, non-Swiss, tool watch.
Patek 5212A weekly calendar - leather strap, dress, Swiss, bought new, non-black dial.
Rolex 116619LB Smurf - non-black dial, bracelet, bought new, City-retirement present.
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Last edited by spareparts; 27th May 2022 at 12:25.
Sorry, no non-Swiss, and no dress watch. Either that, or "ideal" :D
I am not sure that my current 3 fit entirely the OP’s criteria but I can’t be too far off..
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Maybe these...
But, there are others.
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