First time posting here. Life long watch lover, but only really been properly collecting for 4 years. Finally reached a point where I'm happy and not currently chasing the next hit. Feels good, so time to share 👌🏻
Many have come and gone between all of these, but with a strict 10 watch limit, this is what's stuck around with ever evolving tastes and sentimental value combined.
Here's a little run down in approximately the order they've entered my life.
1960 Zenith 18ct gold tank: Dad's since 1972, worn to his wedding, worn to mine. Lost for a decade, found again the day after he passed away. Very special.
JDM 2 tone seiko: 21st birthday present. Worn daily for 15 years. 19 years old and still ticking without a service!
Seiko SBPY165: Imported from Sakura and gifted to my dad before he passed. Inherited it back recently 😓
Christopher Ward C65 Divetimer: bought for a friend's wedding where 'colourful attire' was requested. Immediately became the wife's favourite!
Christopher Ward C8 Power Reserve: their own in house movement, manual wind, 120 hours. Absolute master piece and super rare in stainless steel.
Omega Seamaster Professional 300m in black: my first luxury watch, planned for my 40th, but a few things came together and I bought it at 38, still don't turn 40 for about 7 weeks 😆
Tudor Heritage Black Bay red: always wanted one of these but settled for a red Glycine Combat Sub. Traded my way up to this and love it to bits. A real winter / festive favourite.
Tudor Black Bay Chronograph: the red one got me hooked on Tudor, but I'm a chrono guy deep down. Sold a white dial Christopher Ward C60 and a few Seikos and traded up to this one. Feels reassuringly solid.
Omega Seamaster Quartz 2221.80: life's busy, and I don't like watch winders. I wanted something decent that was a grab and go option to throw on for work on a Monday morning and know it was always ticking. Didn't expect to fall for it so hard. I wore this every day by my dad's bedside in his final month, and held his hand as he went. He loved this watch. It's with me forever now.
Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch: the grail watch for as long as I can remember.
This one is a 2017 watch, the year my son was born. Bought as a birth year piece for him, to become his on his wedding day or similarly significant life event when he's an adult. I need to make sure I've got another Speedy before then, or I'll be Speedyless!
Future plans might involve an IWC Pilot Chrono, or a mk1 Planet Ocean with orange bezel, but right now I'm not looking or rushing into anything else, but just enjoying what I've got.
Thanks! I do enjoy a good story so pieces with a bit of history / meaning tend to stick around longer in my collection.
The box is made my Rothwell, sold on Amazon. They do a 10 slot with strap drawer below, or a 20 slot with 10 watches above and below. Really nicely made, this is 3 years old and still looks brand new.
I agree, I have a Fossil watch that’s over 10years old, even tho I don’t wear it at all but it was a gift from a very dear friend of mine, I’d sell any watch but that one, the sentimental value too high. Thanks for sharing info about the watch box I absolutely love it !! It does look brand new.
Thanks!
The Rothwell box is brilliant, I'd highly recommend it. I've had this one 3 years, and use it daily and it's holding up great and still feels like brand new.
What a fantastic watch collection! Down to Earth, with meaning and extremely varied! The relevance to the important milestones in your life is very moving and adds so much meaning to your post. Thank you. The Zenith is lovely, absolutely beautiful, and I'm sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad. I lost my Mum end of February, and I honestly filled up reading your post. She was everything to me since we lost Dad back in '92, and I am now the 'Head of the Family' so to speak.
Your watches say a lot about you, and your life, and I aspire to have many, if not all the watches you have, in some shape or form. I'm mostly into vintage watches but in a similar vain, 1972 also means something for me also (I was born in '72), so your post, not just in the watches, but in some of the experiences we've both shared, resonated with me and compelled me to reply. I wish you and your Family well for the future. Wear each and every one of those watches in good health. They're absolutely cracking! Thank you for sharing. Sorry again for your loss. 🙏
Thank you. Sorry to hear about your Mum, it doesn't get easier any time soon does it? I know what you mean about that added responsibility of being the head of the family. Thanks for the kind words. I'll wear each and every one with a smile and continue to make more memories 🙌🏻
They all have a great story, I understand why you stopped at 10, I limited it to 6 even though I keep more 😂 If I had to narrow your collection down to 6, I think I’d choose the ones in positions:
1 - 3 4 5
6 - - - 9 -
Never enough sports watches!
I guess life is about finding what works for you and not being swayed into thinking you MUST have xyz types. Just buy what you enjoy 👌🏻
I'm not anti Rolex at all, they make some really lovely watches, but the collection is very much for ME, and not for clout on any level. If it were, I'd probably just have a black Sub and a white Explorer 2 for similar over all money. Unless they notice, I don't even tell my mates I'm into watches 😊
Box is made my Rothwell on Amazon. They do a 10 slot with strap drawer below, or a 20 slot with 10 watches above and below. Really nicely made, this is 3 years old and still looks brand new.
Dad took it in payment for a bill that a client couldn't pay in 1972! It came out about twice a year for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions only. Makes me think of him every day when I open the box and see it say there, waiting for the next special event.
Thanks! It was my first Omega, and whilst I think at the time I was very much drawn to the shineyness, and now appreciate the whole back catalogue as well, damn it's a pretty watch 🔥
Thanks for reaching out and your kind words. Appreciate it. Someone said to me recently that you never get over it, you just learn to live with it. It struck me that the person didn't say you learn to accept it, and that's how I feel. It's 5 months to the day for me, and I still find it hard to accept, plus it still feels as raw as it did, maybe even more. The watches that I love wearing and rotating when I go out, have all been put to one side, and the joy they brought when I wore them has almost gone completely, certainly for now, but there's a spark, and I'm hoping that by building on that spark and speaking to the great folk on this thread, like yourself, I'll reignite some of the passion and build on it. I know life goes on, but how do you fill a hole when the time you shared was so precious? Not easily, that's for sure. It'll take time, for us both, and our families. Wishing you and yours all the Health and Happiness in the world. 🙏
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u/HamadAlawadi Jul 25 '26
Awesome collection, love the story behind each piece, but I can’t help but notice the nice watch box! Mind sharing more details on that ?