Who has consolidated their collection for their grail? Was it worth it?

[ewdi]

I did that, no regret but after a year or two I end up buying back all the pieces I had sold :(


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[Juantxo]

There is no grail like there is no last perfect drink for an alcoholic. Of course, there is one watch man..., but that’s a different story.

[Uppersouth]

Originally Posted by Brian Page

That's a tough one. I've had what I thought were some of my grails and ended up flipping for other things.. I think the hunt is better than actually owning them sometimes...

I have found this to be the case in all things material. I’m content, but never satisfied.

[gaeleus]

I thought i had gotten my grail a few years ago after going for a piece which was slightly over my comfort zone priece wise. I rationalized the pirchase by saying to myself that i would never need another piece. Well, that only lasted about 8 months before I started to look again. I dont believe there is anyone grail. I really do think that we all have an incurable disease that only progresses over time.

[superstarmar]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

I've gone through just about every possible permutation with consolidating or adding to the collection.

In the end I've decided there's no grail. There's just watches I want to own.

Originally Posted by wfreed22

That's my fear that there is no real grail, just the next watch that is out of your price range...

Bingo!!!
That about sums it up...

Get what u want to wear and enjoy!!!

[Bigsoftee]

IO recently got a YG DD40 which is my first rolex PM piece, (I have a RG JLC MUT) and I must say I am seriously considering getting rid of my SS pieces to consolidate to YG Daytona Green face. Good question, really am so close to pulling the trigger.

[roosvelt]

Im a one watch guy. I very glad I am! I guess it's my grail without even knowing this until years of ownership I still love wearing it and no desired to buy anything else.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by roosvelt

Im a one watch guy. I very glad I am! I guess it's my grail without even knowing this until years of ownership I still love wearing it and no desired to buy anything else.

Good for you!

[Analysing You]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

no. I never want my grail. Unattainable is sort of the point because if i got it im 100% sure i would be disappointed eventually, and it puts an end point to a collection rather than it being an evolution.

Never thought of it like this, like it. Very philosophical Tyler

[Shakini]

As soon as you get your 'grail' you will want for another. Inhuman nature. Unless you're an enlightened soul with a higher state of consciousness by that time - then ye shall want for nothing.

At this time, my grail is a Nautilus. Not the most expensive piece in the world but it's one of my favourites. Simple and classy.

*waiting for Tyler's response on his grails*

[1William]

I have consolidated for a grail and I have sold grails to fund lesser watches. In the end it is what you want and how you move your money around inside your collection. After having been up to 17 watches, I am back down to 9 and have moved some watches around that were not getting the wrist time that justified ownership. I will probably walk the collection down to 5-6 but there will be no grails in the mix as I don't have one. Just watches I enjoy to wear.

[Rashid.bk]

Tomorrow's grail is today's "just another watch".
There is no backstop, only gateways....
Once upon a time a Rolex was like buying a Ferrari for me, now the only issue is AD availability.
If you could buy one Richard Mille.......then hmmm, that one looks nice too.
How many Tags led you to Breitling that led you to Omega that led you to Rolex and now you have an AP....you're only midway on a very high ladder.
I just enjoy what I can afford and enjoy the rest at GTGs and youtube.

[Chester01]

I consolidated to get a grail (ss Daytona) and did not regret it. The rotation was getting unruly with great pieces only being worn every other month for a few days. Not only did I pare the collection down, but the fewer pieces I had saw more wrist time.

[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by travisb

I completely relate. I've attained some of what I used to consider grails only to find it wasn't even close to an end game.

Originally Posted by 1William

I have consolidated for a grail and I have sold grails to fund lesser watches. In the end it is what you want and how you move your money around inside your collection. After having been up to 17 watches, I am back down to 9 and have moved some watches around that were not getting the wrist time that justified ownership. I will probably walk the collection down to 5-6 but there will be no grails in the mix as I don't have one. Just watches I enjoy to wear.

To answer the ops question...yes I’ve done that, and don’t/didn’t regret it. Agree with these ⬆️⬆️⬆️ gentleman! I’m convinced there’s no grail for me. I’ve tried most everything that I wanted to experience, including other brands. I have flipped, traded, sold, lost money, made money .....still no regrets, and have enjoyed every minute of it. One day I’ll settle on 4-5 pieces and call it done. Don’t know when that’ll be, or what the collection will look like, but I’ll enjoy the ride and the watches! The grail(s) will be those pieces that I end with and enjoy the most!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Largoshark

Love this!

Thanks...


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[UnicoJG]

Better to have a few timepieces that you love, wear and enjoy versus many that sit in your watch box or safe.

[Snow-Dweller]

Originally Posted by AK797

I have more of a grail collection that I aspire to own.

Hi Neil. Your collection is a grail collection!

[Snow-Dweller]

Originally Posted by DocHorton

This is me as well. I have on my radar an ideal grail collection of about 8 with 4-5 PM's and 3-4 SS. Over time I have slowly bought SS I liked and then when funds permit trade towards a PM. Then I buy another SS and do it again. It gives me the chance to try a lot of watches as I upgrade my collection to my "grail" collection. I have missed some of the SS I traded, but the PM's bring more satisfaction and enjoyment. The process has been fun.

This sounds like a sensible way of doing it.

[TXBoss302]

Originally Posted by junamuan

I used to have about 15 in my collection. It stressed me out so I sold all except for 2 Rolex and an Omega. Never been happier.

JunMuan,

Which 2 are you down to?

[c.rod]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

I've gone through just about every possible permutation with consolidating or adding to the collection.

In the end I've decided there's no grail. There's just watches I want to own.

Seriously this is it.

[clpski]

Yes

[gman5515]

I do feel its never a good idea to get your grail(s). the grail(s) should be the never-ending, ever-moving target, imo. I just prefer the hunt and the joy of everything else short of the grail.

I think the day I do indeed buy my grail, my watch collecting hunt officially ends.

[Amochosto]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Tomorrow's grail is today's "just another watch".
There is no backstop, only gateways....
Once upon a time a Rolex was like buying a Ferrari for me, now the only issue is AD availability.
If you could buy one Richard Mille.......then hmmm, that one looks nice too.
How many Tags led you to Breitling that led you to Omega that led you to Rolex and now you have an AP....you're only midway on a very high ladder.
I just enjoy what I can afford and enjoy the rest at GTGs and youtube.

Damn it’s like you know me better than I know myself; 2 Tags then 1 Breitling, then 1 vintage Omega then ROLEXES (+1 more Omega)! Fortunately I don’t like any AP watches, but I’m guessing in 5 years I’ll pine for one and fulfill your prophecy.

[Normunds]

I consolidated (fancy way to say that I sold) my two Omegas to get an Explorer II.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I tend to agree.

You have an amazing collection

Thanks, buddy!

[m j b]

Great thread. Always nice to know that I'm not the only one suffering from the affliction.

[shawndww]

Considering consolidating to get a car I don't need to put next to all the watches I don't wear often enough.

[Jason71]

I sold a few Rolex and Tudor watches a couple years ago to buy a Platinum Daytona and raised $50,000. Ironically, as soon as I raised the funds a business venture emerged that was too good to pass-up. I was sad because I had sold some really nice watches including a BLNR, DSSD, 16600 SD, and a few others. Investments are no fun. Fast-forward to April of this year and I finally got my Daytona. I still miss the BLNR and the 16600 (although I can’t complain.....I have a couple more 16600s). I won’t replace them, but I still loved and miss them.

Others in this thread are correct.......even though I own 20+ Rolex watches with a Platinum Daytona and a WG Sub being two of them.......the thrill is in the Chase.......I’m still ogling the next grail on my list.

P.S. I don’t think I will consolidate again to raise funds......I think I will only SAVE and be patient.

[CanPam]

There's no grail, man...

[sierra11b]

Originally Posted by junamuan

I used to have about 15 in my collection. It stressed me out so I sold all except for 2 Rolex and an Omega. Never been happier.

This.

Watch service overhead can be stressful unless you're made of money. You can always service when absolutely necessary and keep it in the safe when you're ready -- which is what I do anyway having owned a Speedy for 12 solid years before service -- but the more you have the more daunting it becomes once service intervals start to compile. This is especially true if you went heavy buying 5 nice watches in a year vs. spreading out your purchases over 5 yrs. Service cost total for a huge collection will inevitably eat into the fun of procuring new watches.


I went from about 12 to 8 and to 4.

My magic number seems to be 4 favorites +1 nice easy to maintain grab & go quartz (Vintage Golden Tuna). I do have three respectable grab and go beaters I love but don't count them as they're much easier to maintain. If I go 5 nice watches I start to stress a bit again. Not that I couldn't swing a 5th, 6th, or 7th, but 4 seems to be the amount I'm comfortable in rotation until it eats at my brain.


I think 3 nice mechanicals +1 nice grab and go beater (GS quartz, Citizen EcoDrive, Seiko diver) is the way to go if you don't want to fall into the black hole. BUT 1 of those 3 nice watches is the wildcard you flip to stay fresh and interested. I'll even flip one of those beaters to keep interested because half the fun is just getting something new and shiny in the mail, regardless of the price.