A painful realization

[Bearxj86]

What watch would you bring on vacation? Was looking at my collection on which watch bring on my 2 week vacation to Japan (lots of running around and catching trains and it will rain)

Last year it was my 5711 white and it did get some scratches. This year I looked at my watchbox and passed on the Ceramic Daytona and TT root beer because they are too recognizable. Passed on the 3970 and Bregeut Worldtime cos of said rain.

Looked at the Nautilus 5711 and 5164 and quite frankly I don’t think I could enjoy running around with young kids in a foreign land with 50k+ strapped to my wrist.

15202st I thought about it for an instant and then dismissed it since yeah it’s almost $40k now =(

WG smurf in service;

Came down to 1680 red vs Snowflake vs Sistem51- went with Snowflake

What’s with this hobby now. With watch fever around and valuation so high - I think it’s kind of taken the fun away abit

[Bearxj86]

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[Ichiran]

I'm heading to Tokyo next week with my 5711. It's rainy and the water resistance will be useful.

Cool collection by the way!

[Peter Shore]

More chance of it being stolen in LA than Tokyo!!!

[rootbeer7]

First world problems.

[ragsk]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

What watch would you bring on vacation? Was looking at my collection on which watch bring on my 2 week vacation to Japan (lots of running around and catching trains and it will rain)

Came down to 1680 red vs Snowflake vs Sistem51- went with Snowflake

Bingo! Thats exactly what I wore when I went to Japan last week.

I rotate between the Snowflake, SBGH267 or Rolex Kermit on all my work trips.

And its very appropriate given you are taking the watch back to its home anyway!

[uniqueMR]

Very nice collection :)

[Helmi]

Very cool collection. Root beer or snowflake would be my choices especially that the root beer on rubber strap which make it less scratch prone and less recognized

[timepieceluvr]

They’re not for a museum, wear em and enjoy em. Life is short, enjoy every minute.

Nice collection


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[Totoro86]

Wore my 5740 to Tokyo last trip and the trip before was the 5930. Watches are for us to wear and enjoy, no?

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[kultschar]

GMT or 5164 for travel

Despite value I would say 5164 less likely to be recognized nicked????

[brandrea]

I think you should wear the aquanaut. It’s made for travel

[ts3]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

What’s with this hobby now. With watch fever around and valuation so high - I think it’s kind of taken the fun away abit

Threads like this one make me realize that TRF is a very broad group of people, from seriously rich folks who buy and wear a 100+k watch like others buy and wear a nice pair of boots on the one end to the more average Joe for whom any Patek represents a fair chunk of money... and they all behave and comment accordingly on here...

[1William]

It is really about you and how you look at money and the watches you own. Nothing has changed in the wear of the watches. It is about values of the watches and I have found that it can reduce the joy of ownership depending. At the point you can not wear your watches based on value, it might be time to convert some of them to cash and find a few fun watches that can be worn. You have a nice collection. I would either wear them or move some of them. Have a nice vacation.

[ap1]

It’s all a mind set. You have to commit or move them on. I have several ss Rolex that are made for beating, but I don’t treat them that way. Wish I could.

I’ve been clearing some space for some incomings and I’m kinda left without a mid priced piece to bang on as well. Other than my omega which I’ve finally committed to beating on. It’s kinda liberating. What’s the saying, don’t let your possessions own you. Believe me I deal with your same issue. No way I travel with my 5164. Some would say, why do I own it then....my answer, looks awesome at Saturday night dins

[ragsk]

I don't wear any really nice watches to work. I don't want to be seen to be flashing the cash. Hence my choice of one of the two grand Seikos I have or an old Rolex that everyone is used to.

Also on holidays I tend to be more conservative and limit my choices based on value of the watch. I don't want to worry about the watch I have left behind in the hotel safe or be concerned that it will get a knock when i'm hauling luggage or that I end up getting robbed at a late night bar etc as I dont know the locality very well.........A $20k loss I can sustain without getting too stressed but say if I lost my AP Openworks or a Patek etc I would feel like an idiot.

Everywhere else I wear what I want without concern.

[srvrf]

Originally Posted by ap1

It’s all a mind set. You have to commit or move them on. I have several ss Rolex that are made for beating, but I don’t treat them that way. Wish I could.

I’ve been clearing some space for some incomings and I’m kinda left without a mid priced piece to bang on as well. Other than my omega which I’ve finally committed to beating on. It’s kinda liberating. What’s the saying, don’t let your possessions own you. Believe me I deal with your same issue. No way I travel with my 5164. Some would say, why do I own it then....my answer, looks awesome at Saturday night dins

I agree mindset has a lot to do with it, but destination and activities also play a big role in what I wear for travel. When I went to Vegas, I traveled with my RG ROC since it was only meetings, shopping, etc. When I went to the Berkshires, I traveled with my Apple Watch because we were much more active with daily hikes. The GPS function on my wrist allowed me to keep my phone safely in my backpack. Climate of the destination also plays a role. I also consider whether the watch will be exposed or under a sleeve most of the time.


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[jcoltrane]

Japan is very safe, no question I'd bring these two:

- 5164 excellent travel watch
- Snowflake because it's a cool homage to the country you're visiting

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by jcoltrane

Japan is very safe, no question I'd bring these two:

- 5164 excellent travel watch
- Snowflake because it's a cool homage to the country you're visiting

I like this advice

[Passionata]

I brought my 116520 to TYO
it was just great ,no pateks for vacation if active actions foreseeable

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

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Regardless of what u wear... I feel like u need 2 more watches

[kneedeep]

Originally Posted by jcoltrane

Japan is very safe, no question I'd bring these two:

- 5164 excellent travel watch
- Snowflake because it's a cool homage to the country you're visiting

I like this suggestion also.

[tng11]

Japan is very safe, I wouldn't hesitate to wear any watch there, unless you plan on following one of the touts in Kabukicho or intend to get completely blasted at Golden Gai.

I took my 116519LN and SS BLRO with me to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo a few weeks ago and would do it again. I actually wished I brought the 5712 - Rolexes were so common in HK and Bangkok that the 5712 would have been something a little more special to stand out!

Just be wrist aware when shuffling around airports and trains and don't bump into people or objects - that's the only threat to your watch in Japan.

[soundserious]

Great collection! Agree with your general sentiment that the rising valuations of some of these watches makes it more difficult to justify regular wear.

I’m on holiday wearing a 5960.

[AK797]

Love your collection and think you had some options, GMT on rubber or Sub would have been my picks, also the D500 as my SS Rolexes are my beater watches now, altho I'd leave that behind as it is a riskier piece to take somewhere you don't know too well.

[SL BRABUS]

It would be a shame not to take the BEST of the BEST timepieces to Japan....

Take what you love and don't over think too much.....

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

Regardless of what u wear... I feel like u need 2 more watches

My dear Ninja,

The slots are for the Smurf currently at RSC being serviced and an incoming Code 11.59- no worries; the empty slots bother me too. If I downsize my collection I would have to pull out a new watch box too :)

[benlee]

As other said, Japan is very safe. I won't hesitate to wear what you want. Watches are meant to be worn, including during vacation. Just exercise common sense.

[Bearxj86]

Thanks for the feedback all! I woke up this morning in Tokyo missing my watches lol. I wear the crap out of them to work and out.

No regrets on wearing this “original dial” snowflake. In hindsight perhaps the GMT on rubber might have been a good option or the 5164a. The 5164a is perfection except if I lost it or banged it against something my heart would hurt :)

Tokyo can be cramp and despite my best efforts and I already smacked my snowflake against a wall once and against those god forsaken metal railings twice. So far no damage that I can see but my aqua would have suffered.

As for comments on wealth- I would say that I would not consider myself rich. I proudly drive my 2009 Nissan Altima and watch collecting for me is my main vice but being able to focus on classic pieces that retain value is really fun (i’m in Finance too). I know I might sound like a woman figuring out which dress to wear - I think that’s the fun and joy of watch collecting. I’ve picked my wife’ I’ve picked my house, and i’ve also picked a career. Watches are my way of being a little fickle and letting my hair down abit (for now before male pattern baldness takes that away too)

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

My dear Ninja,

The slots are for the Smurf currently at RSC being serviced and an incoming Code 11.59- no worries; the empty slots bother me too. If I downsize my collection I would have to pull out a new watch box too :)

Carry on then Mr. bear :)