Single Brand

[TheHobbit]

As you guys amy or may not know, I am currently streamlining my collection. On of the things that have been playing in my mind is to go single brands. That does not mean that I will not keep some of the other watches, but the focus would be biased towards a single brand. I was thinking of going all Panerai and keeping the Rolex (GMT Master and SeaDweller), Tudor (Heritage Chrono, Snowflake, Date Day and Date), Breguet Type XX, Sinn U1 Lemon, Omega X-33, Breitling Aerospace and the IWC Mk XV and Mk XV Spitfire Limited Edition. That would mean giving up all the military watches, the Omega SM300, Omega 2254 and the Seamaster Chrono, Longines WWW and Legend Diver and others.

Would you do it?

[G.MAC]

I would do it and I did it. I streamlined my collection to Rolex and Panerai only. I am letting go and have let go my Bell & Ross, Longines, Ball, U-Boat, Tudor, Tissot, Seiko, Orient, Casio G-Shock, Ennebi Fondale, IWC and other minor brands to make way and to afford the two. Personal advice: to ease the pain of letting them go, look at it as upgrading your collection. Most of the time i put in 2-3 pieces for a single Rollie or Pam. At the end of the day, am very happy about it. Just dont go looking at old pictures of your watches  . I still miss them but if not for them that have gone, i wont have the current crop today.

[TheHobbit]

I would do it and I did it. I streamlined my collection to Rolex and Panerai only. I am letting go and have let go my Bell & Ross, Longines, Ball, U-Boat, Tudor, Tissot, Seiko, Orient, Casio G-Shock, Ennebi Fondale, IWC and other minor brands to make way and to afford the two. Personal advice: to ease the pain of letting them go, look at it as upgrading your collection. Most of the time i put in 2-3 pieces for a single Rollie or Pam. At the end of the day, am very happy about it. Just dont go looking at old pictures of your watches  . I still miss them but if not for them that have gone, i wont have the current crop today.

G.Mac,

No pain no gain. No worries, I have so far sold and part exchange the Bell & Ross, Stowa, Laco, G-Shocks, Seiko, Citizen and some others. I am not one to be sentimental. It is just, wondering if it 'good' to be just one brand. I currently have a number of Panerai (5) and would it make sense to have more.

[G.MAC]

Whether it is good or not is a little hard to say. If it were to me, I would not put all my eggs into one basket hence i chose 2 brands. At least another name looks back at you everytime you look at the time instead of purely Rolex or Panerai. But since you are maintaining your other brands then it is no problem and you should proceed with your Panerais. Whether it makes sense to have more is purely up to you. Do you want more?

[TheHobbit]

Don't really know if I want more Panerai. I do want to get the Destro and a base, so the PAM00219 will answer both the needs. So perhaps one more. Anyway, prices does not seem to be holding out well for Panerai. I guess it is bottoming out. Even LE/ SE are staying on the shelves longer. The 'slowdown' and uncertainty in the market is not helping. Like I said in another post, here locally in Taiwan, we are seeing more and more interesting models coming out into the secondary market. Already seen Snoopy Speedmaster, AP diver (6 units already), SE Blancpain FF (new in boutique, still on the shelves) not moving. Even PAM00249 and PAM00232 is not moving.

well, we will see how things goes in the next few weeks. 

[mnazri.tan]

why would u do that...aint better to keep your option open...for the fun of it??
just my 2 cent

[TheHobbit]

why would u do that...aint better to keep your option open...for the fun of it??
just my 2 cent

mnazri.tan,

The fun still there, just more focused I think.

[Watchnewby]

If I have such a huge collection like Mr Hobbit has, I would do it.
I would streamline my collection into , not 1 brand, but 2 or 3 brands. This will last me a couple of years until my itchy hand wrist yearns for something else. (Note: I didn't mention better or new)

[TheHobbit]

Time to streamline. No opportunity (retiree) to rotate all the watches, so logical choice is to reduce and perhaps 'improve' the collection. Already decided that the military pieces will be going, as will most of the G-Shocks (keeping the vintage DW-5600 series). Also going some of the random pieces and also the Seiko.

[G.MAC]

The reason and rationale for me to streamline is because watch collecting is an expensive and non-profit/loss-making hobby. To reduce losses, i decided to release some of my lesser pieces and combine a few watches' value for a single higher value watch with the hope that i dont make a heavy loss but an acceptable one or a small profit(if possible).

[TheHobbit]

The reason and rationale for me to streamline is because watch collecting is an expensive and non-profit/loss-making hobby. To reduce losses, i decided to release some of my lesser pieces and combine a few watches' value for a single higher value watch with the hope that i dont make a heavy loss but an acceptable one or a small profit(if possible).

Very good reasoning. Very same thing I am doing. But I suspect I will still end up with a handful of watches (not complaining). So far losses has not been that bad, not as bad as I thought. It helps that some of the models I am trading with seems to come a pretty good prices.

[dsiewmy]

Don't really know if I want more Panerai. I do want to get the Destro and a base, so the PAM00219 will answer both the needs. So perhaps one more. Anyway, prices does not seem to be holding out well for Panerai. I guess it is bottoming out. Even LE/ SE are staying on the shelves longer. The 'slowdown' and uncertainty in the market is not helping. Like I said in another post, here locally in Taiwan, we are seeing more and more interesting models coming out into the secondary market. Already seen Snoopy Speedmaster, AP diver (6 units already), SE Blancpain FF (new in boutique, still on the shelves) not moving. Even PAM00249 and PAM00232 is not moving.

well, we will see how things goes in the next few weeks.

i can't speak for the rest, but the PAM 249 and PAM 232 asking prices are really high now compared to what they used to retail at. now forgetting all new SE/LE which are launching this past few months.
Panerai is really making a lot of new watches and especially new SE/LE.
So i guess it's reasonable that consumers hold out on the "older" SEs and wait for new ones (the usual wait and see effect).

BTW, i don't think a 219 would answer your question. I've had it for awhile, not vintage enough.

[TheHobbit]

i can't speak for the rest, but the PAM 249 and PAM 232 asking prices are really high now compared to what they used to retail at. now forgetting all new SE/LE which are launching this past few months.
Panerai is really making a lot of new watches and especially new SE/LE.
So i guess it's reasonable that consumers hold out on the "older" SEs and wait for new ones (the usual wait and see effect).

BTW, i don't think a 219 would answer your question. I've had it for awhile, not vintage enough.

dsiewmy,

You will be surprised what are the going prices for the PAM00249 and PAM00232 here. I got the PAM00243I are a price that friends and fellow collectors are going 'Really? but it is 243I?' Anyway, perhaps this only applies to Taiwan.

As for the PAM00219, I am not really to concern about it being vintage or not. Just want to get a Destro and am not willing to pay the asking price for the PAM00115 or dare I even consider the PAM00022 and get a base model (was told that it is not complete if don't have base and logo). So the PAM00219 checks all the boxes, Destro - check, base - check, logo - don't really like the logo (but who knows).....

[dsiewmy]

i can't speak for the rest, but the PAM 249 and PAM 232 asking prices are really high now compared to what they used to retail at. now forgetting all new SE/LE which are launching this past few months.
Panerai is really making a lot of new watches and especially new SE/LE.
So i guess it's reasonable that consumers hold out on the "older" SEs and wait for new ones (the usual wait and see effect).

BTW, i don't think a 219 would answer your question. I've had it for awhile, not vintage enough.

dsiewmy,

You will be surprised what are the going prices for the PAM00249 and PAM00232 here. I got the PAM00243I are a price that friends and fellow collectors are going 'Really? but it is 243I?' Anyway, perhaps this only applies to Taiwan.

As for the PAM00219, I am not really to concern about it being vintage or not. Just want to get a Destro and am not willing to pay the asking price for the PAM00115 or dare I even consider the PAM00022 and get a base model (was told that it is not complete if don't have base and logo). So the PAM00219 checks all the boxes, Destro - check, base - check, logo - don't really like the logo (but who knows).....

may i know what are the 249 and 232 going for now? pm me.

as for the 219, although a base but it's lacking something, which i cannot explain what.
what about considering the 26K? its destro and also a pvd, do you have a pvd in your collection?

logo is really not for everybody, only the real purist risti i believe.
but have u seen a 360 in person? the logo really completes the balance of the dial.

[hanz079]

Hobbs... It is logical to streamline your collection as I doubt that you have time to rotate thru all of them.
There are bound to be some redundant ones sitting around not getting any love... why not pass it on to someone who will enjoy it and give it the time she deserves?
And while streamlining, you actually get funds to upgrade you collection.
I would do it... if you are concentrating on 2-4 brands, I think it would be great.

[G.MAC]

Mind to pm me me going price for PAM249, PAM232 and your PAM243 as well? Thanks. As an owner of a PAM219, i'd agree it'd would check all your requirements for a destro and a base model. They are going for a good price nowadays also. Look out for the older series like the J series.

[TheHobbit]

may i know what are the 249 and 232 going for now? pm me.

as for the 219, although a base but it's lacking something, which i cannot explain what.
what about considering the 26K? its destro and also a pvd, do you have a pvd in your collection?

logo is really not for everybody, only the real purist risti i believe.
but have u seen a 360 in person? the logo really completes the balance of the dial.

G.MAC, dsiewmy,

PM sent.

dsiewmy,

I have considered a PVD for my collection. At the present moment I cannot justify the cost of a PVD, hence I don't think I will get one. I have seen the PAM00360 and yes it is nice. Congrats to those who got it. That is the reason why, although I am on the list for the PAM00390 (like I am going to be lucky enough to get one), I am still out on it as the dial does not look 'balanced' with the 'Luminor and Panerai' on the upper half of the dial and nothing on the lower half. Same goes for the PAM00372 (being a sour puss because it is so expensive). So the PAM00219 will do. It does look balance.

I would prefer the PAM00115 or PAM00022 or PAM00026 or PAM00056 or PAM00117 or for that matter PAM00217, but I have to be realistic and work within my budget.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to afford and dabble in collecting watches and have my current collection. The question I ask myself is do I still want to focus on just Panerai and perhaps 'lose' out on the joys of owning other brands? Isn't what I have at the moment enough? Anyway, I know that there will be another round of 'culling' once the kids grow up and there is a need to finance their education. But we will cross that bridge if and when it appears.

[siodee]

Wow, even the Master Sifu is thinking of down to Single brand, the PAM. I am just curious why PAM? find it fascinating that most of the WIS like to get at least 1 PAM in their collection? Just wonder.....hmm...


P/S : I never understood PAM 

[Peiseh]

Its difficult to cut down to single brands because the designs of the one that you like is also similarly transferred to the next latest model from the same brand. So, the vicious circles continue until one day you realized that you actually have more than a couple of watches from the same marquee.

I for one will try to go for variety regardless of marque. For example, purpose built watches eg..divers, sports, adventures, dress etc..which then branch out to mechanicals, automatics, quartz, anti-magnetic, kinetic, and hopefully a tourbillion ...

Would I give them up ....? depends on my needs of the moment...

[G.MAC]

I wish more people do not understand PAM. That way, I can obtain an SE without contending with a premium price. Sadly this is not the case. Am still waiting to own a SE PAM.

[TheHobbit]

G.MAC,

Sadly there are a lot of people who do not understand PAM but get one just because (at the moment) it is the watch to have. I appreciate those who do not understand the attraction of a large watch with basic simple dial and 3 hands. What I don't appreciate are people in the first line. Like I said, I have a friend who bought a Destro (left hander) for over RM26,000 and ask why the crown is on the wrong side. And ask if it can be corrected.

My wife never understood the watch as well until she got one over the weekend. It is just simple, plain, easy to read, yet has an air of quality (build quality).

I too am waiting for a proper SE. Yes I know I have the PAM00367 but it does not have the big box and cert.

siodee,

I like Panerai because of its history. I like the watch because it is simple and functional (hence I only collect watches in the Historic collection save one, the PAM00243). It is (was) a bold watch with its crown guard. I just like the watches. I like the fact that they produced watches in small quantities (not anymore) and was a secret until 1997/ 1998. It use to be exclusive because not many knew about the brand. Sadly it is now exclusive due to the price.

[G.MAC]

G.MAC,

Sadly there are a lot of people who do not understand PAM but get one just because (at the moment) it is the watch to have. I appreciate those who do not understand the attraction of a large watch with basic simple dial and 3 hands. What I don't appreciate are people in the first line. Like I said, I have a friend who bought a Destro (left hander) for over RM26,000 and ask why the crown is on the wrong side. And ask if it can be corrected.

Funny enough i have a friend like that too. He even asked why the price is so expensive for a watch that is wrongly assembled and black in colour. When i asked why he bought it, he said his peers were talking about Panerai so he went to the boutique and hentam the only PAM there which happens to be PAM0026. And he sold it off already to bring in funds soon after.

[hanz079]

P/S : I never understood PAM 

Siodee.... same here... maybe one of these days I will get a sterile homage to see if I can feel the allure of PAMs...

[TheHobbit]

Siodee.... same here... maybe one of these days I will get a sterile homage to see if I can feel the allure of PAMs...

hanz079,

Firstly, hope the damage to the house was not too bad. Happy to know that there were no injuries.

Secondly, why Panerai? Well, it is because of the clean lines, simple design and stunning detail. It is a 'Rolex' on leather straps (flame suit on). Rolex on bracelet is what Panerai is on leather strap. Just change the strap and you have a new watch. Ease of strap change, just screw out the pins and change (not into the new quick release mechanism). You need to wear one and you will know.

Peiseh,

I am not going totally one brand but it will form the core of the collection. I still love Rolex (still trying to pull the trigger on a 14060 or 14060M or 5513), Tudor and Omega. I do like specific models from certain brands like the Aerospace from Breitling, the Type XX from Breguet, the U1 from Sinn, Stingray 50 from MKII, the SAR and JSAR from Marathon, the LLD from Longines, the Mk XV from IWC (vintage Aquatimer is also calling) and even the 'lowly' G-Shock (vintage DW-5200 and DW-5600C). So these will fill my purpose built watches need.

[siodee]

Will PAM become a trend or fashion just for a period of time? cause it seems like PAM is being "Goreng" in the market and the price is like crazy?