No, never.
Why?
I see several Apps in the App Store to catalogue a collection and record details such as servicing.
Anyone use an app that they’d recommend?
No, never.
Why?
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Compartments for Mac is an inventory system that is easy to use
It’s a sign you are in too deep if you need to invest in order to catalogue a watch collection.
I use a notebook and pen, why the hell do you need a bloody app for this?
A spreadsheet on a computer might be useful, but you don't need it on your telephone!
I'd store that sort of stuff in Evernote but I store a lot of stuff in there...
Why?
I have a watch box , when I open it I see all my watches
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The easiest app is built into the C24 iOS app allowing you to list your watches and get a market average too, its a bit pissed but roughly manages values
RIAC
The following is probably only for people that have a wish to control and order every aspect of their life (like me) and build system for tasks that seems insignificant to others.
I haven’t found an app that can do what I’m looking for so I’ve written some code myself in “Shorcuts”. This code tracks my watches with regards to “location” “last wear date” “wear rate” and a “random watch” function, so I’m not troubled with picking today’s watch myself
Does this make sense? Absolutely not, but coding in Shortcuts keeps me a bit in the loop about all this home automation hype, and as I’m not working with code in my daily job I learn something new.
Most importantly (my wife says) the coding keeps me away from various sales corners and Ebay ;)
The full routine/script isn’t finished so isn’t release as a public “Shortcuts” yet. If interested in the code, send me a PM and I’ll share what I currently have.
Geek greetings - Longbear
I've got a watch man to do it for me.
Notebook and pen.
It's worked since the '80's so I see no reason to change.
Cheers,
Neil.
Another shout for Excel.
There's a free version for Android devices, (don't know about for Apple devices), so you can have it on your tablet and/or phone as well as your PC.
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
Thank you for the helpful replies.
I have an app for my motorbikes that tracks MoT, service, insurance, etc its useful and helps when keeping everything legal.
I have a ‘few’ watches and I’m advised that for insurance I need to provide model, serial numbers and preferably proof of purchase. Therefore in addition to tracking serial number and provenance I could use it for service scheduling.
Yes, I could use a notebook but I find Apps that sync with my other devices convenient. I recently had batteries changed in some watches and if I’d noticed another watch last had a change 3 years ago I would have had that changed too. A simple app would have been very convenient.
Think I will finish the Excel spreadsheet I started..
Again, thank you for the helpful answers.
as I said "Compartments for Mac is an inventory system that is easy to use" - works for me as a basic summary level
it's important to record serial numbers etc., etc., - service details, condition and costs, plus any unusual factors, good images should also be taken- I have about 40 watches
You can also use it for all your other stuff - I have quite a lot of (new and old), photographic equipment
also a good record for insurance purposes, if that is needed
(also I did use it for Motor Bikes - I had 12 BMW's at one time with lots and lots of spares - I supplemented the inventory with word documents with links to images in LR)
Last edited by BillN; 22nd February 2020 at 17:27.
Another feature that would be useful would be tracking if I bought the watch via this forum as if I decide to sell or trade I suspect the practice is to offer it here first.
If you’re using Iphone, you might want to check out Watchee.
https://apps.apple.com/fi/app/watchee/id1438199765
I used to use Bento but sadly that’s old history now so I use the Chrono24 app as previously mentioned.
The silly values it attributes also helps me feel better about how much money this absurd hobby costs.
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An App..?
Nope, just look in the drawers, or safe and get them out to play!!!
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Excel for me.
Headers:
Bought Date Watch No Watch Name Bought Amount Sold Date Sold Amount Own NEW FOR OLD
Filter on "Own" = Y / N to show current watches.
Data could be used to calculate buy / sell / turnover rates per month / year - but it's too frightening.
Can also add images of serial numbers and pictures of the watches for insurance. All stored local and remote in case my computer malfunctions or is itself nicked. Protected by 2-factor authentication. blah blah.
Alarming "watch number" is now 33 and the number owned is currently 9 - go figure!
Martyn
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 22nd February 2020 at 19:34.
I tend to use watchbox which is borderline OK. But more useful for news and updates more generally.
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I do of course also have an Excel sheet, but that isn’t really handy for day to day changes.
I thought Watchee would be the solution, but the “Status” setting makes not much sense as the “watch of the day” can be a watch that is broken or out for service. I contacted the developer but never got any feedback
Further it wasn’t clear to me if the collection is shared in some way to the developer or commercial partners. The developers web page has a section about GPDR, which (in my view) shouldn’t be needed if the data was stored locally and solely owned by the user.
'Managing'? Have some of you got unruly collections then? My lot are pretty well behaved although the Panarais can be a bit feisty when they get in a huddle, and the Offshore Professional is a real thug if upset...
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Excel, plus word documents including all the detailed stuff, with imbedded photos and scans of 3rd party documents.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I've used Cardbox on my PC to create a database for my collection.
Sample screen:
Wow.
I now feel borderline inadequate, since I don’t have any way to manage my collection at all.
Indeed, now I think about it I don’t have any record of the watches I own. They’re not even stored in the same place: the important ones are in a pelicase in the safe, but there are sundry seikos and G-shocks scattered all over the house. It makes opening drawers an exciting journey of discovery, though: “aaah, that’s where I left my Newmark 6BB/5610/Samurai! I’ve not worn that in ages”, etc.
I truly admire the dedication in evidence above - but I do not share it!
I honestly didn’t think such an innocuous question would generate such a diverse range of responses- gentlemen and ladies (?), thank you !
This has got me thinking. Like several others I have an Excel workbook which catalogues what I have, what I bought it for, what I sold it for, when it was serviced etc, but I haven't yet linked photos to the entries. I was required to send photos for insurance purposes, and it would have been good to have a repository for that stuff as well.
There is an app on the MacOS App Store called Home Inventory which looks like it should do all that that and more, but £39 for an app which hasn't been updated in a year seems a little steep...
I use excel to keep track of timegrapher outputs and serial numbers.
Also have a massive sheet with all of my watches on it, since I started this ridiculous business 7 years ago. Up to 178 so far...
Excel to track what I have & what I've sold + record service history etc. + photo's
I don't track what I've worn & when - life's too short.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
'OnMyWrist' App, free for iPhone.
Allows entry of basic details - purchase & sale dates, bought & sold prices, servicing, photo etc.
I like it for tracking my wearing statistics - over 30 days, 90 days & 'all time'.
Interesting to see how little some quite expensive watches are worn - kept more for sentiment than use - and how some watches just seem to become a default option, despite not being amongst my 'best' watches.
Essential? Not at all. Geeky? Yep. But I find it interesting, and helpful when focusing upon which watches maybe should be nearing the exit door.
It's not a chore to update - literally takes four taps of the screen to open the App & record the watch worn that day. Given the hours I spend daily on my phone (too much...) it's a minute effort.