Gerard’s 2024 New Year’s Watch Resolutions — And How Last Year’s Intentions Panned Out
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I missed out on our “Most Worn Watches Of 2023” article. Furthermore, at the beginning of last year, I didn’t publish my watch resolutions. But let me correct both issues now and explain my intentions for 2024 simultaneously.
Although I didn’t make it public, my idea for last year was to downsize my watch collection in numbers and consolidate it in value as much as possible. And I must say, that worked out pretty well. I sold or traded some watches of lower financial value and acquired some with, for me, greater emotional and/or historical value.
What I did last year
Besides the condition of my bank account, there’s hardly a financial influence on additions to my watch collection. I make decisions to buy or not based on personal interests and feelings. Over time, my interests and knowledge change, and thus, so do my buying habits. But I never intend to eventually make money on a purchase. I believe there are many possibilities to do so with less risk and more peace of mind. Of course, selling a watch for more money than you paid for is never wrong.
Last year, I sold some relatively modern watches (less than 10 years old), and the watches I bought were mainly vintage (about 30 years and older). Mind you, I’m not talking about huge quantities. I think I sold about nine watches, and I bought seven. Downsizing in numbers simply doesn’t go so smoothly.
What went out in 2023?
The watches that left my collection were mainly modern Seiko divers, such as an SKX009, an SRP777, an SRPD73, and an SNJ028, plus an older 7002-7000 because I had two of them. Don’t get me wrong; I do like these modern Seiko dive watches. But ever since I bought my Marinemaster 300 SBDX017 in 2016 for €1,600, I’ve had difficulty bonding with other modern Seiko divers. Unfortunately, in a way, it became my exit watch for that genre.
The other four watches, among which were an Omega and a Rolex, left my collection entirely by happenstance. I ran into people looking specifically for a watch that I happened to have in my collection without a particular reason for having it. Let’s say I don’t know how and why they got there, but I must have liked them at one point. And I probably still liked them, but now they’re gone, and that’s also fine.
And what came in?
Selling the above-mentioned watches paved the way to acquire ones that fit my current interests better than those that left. So, which ones took their places?
Olympic
My first purchase was in April when someone offered an Olympic 17 on a Dutch watch forum. It’s a 34mm piece from around 1965, housing a hand-wound A. Schild caliber in an EPSA Brevet 313813 compressor case. This watch is special to me because, visually, it’s almost identical to my first-ever wristwatch, an Olympic Junior that I received in 1966 from my parents. I still have that watch, although it is now too small for me to wear and requires a service anyway.
Casio
Then, in May, Casio finally got the A1000MA-7 back in stock. I fell in love with it when I wore it for a hands-on review that I wrote in 2022. I’ve always had a weak spot for crisp digital and solid-feeling LCD watches (see below), and even though I knew I probably wouldn’t wear this Casio very often, I simply had to add it to my collection.
Omega
The next one, which came in August, was also an LCD watch, a 1978 Omega Constellation Digital ref. ST 386.0802. It is immaculate and meaningful to me because it was my ticket to RJ and Jorg’s exclusive Omega Constellation club. ? On the other hand, it’s another watch that I don’t expect to wear regularly.
Seiko
I had an extraordinary Grand Seiko Media Experience trip to Japan in October. And while I was a Grand Seiko fan already — hence my ownership of the SBGW235 — this trip made me respect the brand, its history, and Japanese culture even more. For instance, I learned that, in fact, the Seiko Marvel from 1956 was the very beginning of Grand Seiko. It was Grand Seiko avant la lettre, you could say, because that name only appeared in 1960, as we know. Shortly after returning from Japan, my internet searches were successful, and I was able to buy an attractive example of a 1957 Seiko Marvel. This is not to be confused with the more common and later Lord Marvel.
Cartier
Although, in my opinion, Cartier cooled down a bit last year after its boost in 2022, the brand was still on my radar. I had no doubts at all when a special occasion in November allowed me to own a Tank Must SolarBeat WSTA0059 — that’s the Large model. Besides the original “apple” leather strap, it came complete with the metal bracelet, on which I love wearing it.
Grand Seiko
Still impressed by what I learned and saw in Japan, I searched for historically interesting Grand Seiko models. One of the fields of interest that gained my respect was the Grand Seiko quartz caliber. In December, my hunt for an early one resulted in purchasing a 33mm double-signed (“Seiko Grand Seiko”) ref. SBGS009 from 1995. It is one of the first models with a Grand Seiko quartz caliber (9581, which later became the 9F81), and it is the epitome of chic.
G-Shock
Not a year passes without buying a G-Shock! I promised myself only to have G-Shock “Squares” in my collection, but Daan influenced me to act otherwise during a podcast earlier this year. I loved his transparent GA-2100SKE-7A “CasiOak” and decided I needed one. I’d call it a “bonus watch” and knew that it would probably end up in the box of watches I never wear. So, December to the rescue, I didn’t buy the same watch Daan has but, rather, a G-Shock 40th Anniversary version, the GA-2140RX-7A. While I resided in Spain in December, I ordered it from Zalando.es as it was already sold out — or agotado in Spanish — at all the official Casio online shops.
My most worn watch of 2023 — Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition
I’m fully satisfied with the additions to my collection in 2023, but none of them was the watch I wore the most last year. It was probably because I didn’t own them for the whole year, but it might have also had practical reasons.
Competing with an Omega Speedmaster Professional, my Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition was the watch that got the most wrist time in 2023. I think I received mine at the very end of 2022 after it had been used for promotional purposes. Watch number 10 is mine, and you’ll recognize it in our photos from when it went on sale. By the way, one or two of these watches might still be available in our shop.
Initially, I wore the watch on a vintage brown leather strap. Later, however, I used the supplied black leather strap more often. The quick-release pins made it easy to change anyway. But it really became my grab-and-go watch after I ordered and fitted the Oris rivet bracelet. That one hasn’t been off my watch ever since.
Will we see this new white-dial Speedmaster Professional in 2024?
My 2024 New Year’s watch resolutions
So, let’s finish this article with my 2024 watch resolutions. The absence of a decent new Omega Speedmaster Professional has irritated me for the last few years. As some of you probably know, the Omega Speedmaster Professional is the backbone of my watch collection. While most of the vintage and pre-owned models that I like are present in my collection, built up over many years, I eagerly await exciting news about Omega’s catalog. The last Speedmasters that I was excited about were the Tokyo 2020 “Rising Sun” and the new Calibre 321. The latter hasn’t made it into my collection (yet) because of its price and because I already have a vintage 321-powered model. Anyway, I think there should be some exciting Speedmaster Professional news in 2024.
Grand Seiko SBGM221 — Image: Watch Clicker
Downsize in numbers, consolidate in value
For the rest, as I said, I’m satisfied with the result of last year’s resolution, so for 2024, I intend to continue in this direction. I will sell some watches that have less emotional value to me and find some that are of greater interest. I look to consolidate in value, but I wouldn’t be unhappy to see the total number of watches in my collection decrease again.
One of the watches high on my wishlist is the evergreen Grand Seiko SBGM221. Another one would be a Spring Drive model. The SBGZ003 pictured at the beginning of this article comes close, but my bank account doesn’t agree with the platinum case. Other Spring Drive models I like have a 40mm case size, which, for my current taste, is too large for this type of watch. Consequently, I can’t find my definite favorite model in the current lineup yet, but with the vast annual flow of Grand Seiko releases, I hope to do so in 2024.
Leavers in 2024
I don’t know which ones will leave my collection in 2024, but I’m sure it will unfold naturally when I get to the vault and can “feel” my watches. I can imagine that models from brands that are not specifically part of my collection or without a specific reason to be part of it could be the first victims.
For now, tell me about your resolution(s) for this year and which watch is on top of your wishlist for 2024!
