Wavering watch interests...

[Deleted]

Sure, we've all been there and done that. The strongest among us always come back and usually with renewed vigour.
I find myself in the 'low' position right now with a waning or waned interest.

This can be seen by the watch I've been wearing for a couple of weeks now. I have no interest or desire to change it out for one of the other watches in my collection. It is partly due to a loss of enthusiasm and partly because the current watch simply fills all the needs and desires I want from a watch. Ok, in case you aren't up to speed, it's this one...


A Ramon special to be sure but a real and all original Seiko at heart. It fits, it works and I forget about watches.

It is like my first Seiko(at least one I have pictures and a solid memory of)...

It's the one on the left

My wife gave me that for my 40th b'day and it replaced the one on the left. I wore that Seiko until about 2004 when I discovered the old SCWF.
The comparison is that this 6309-836A sits on my wrist and fills the same comfortable spot the old 5y23 did(that stupid watch still runs perfectly!).

Anyway, until I get the itch again, the current wrist resident will ride

Now don't go getting any ideas; all those coveted pieces in my watch boxes/drawers won't be appearing on any sales forums of Internet auction sites. I don't do knee jerk buy and sell stuff because I know ME


I would love to see Thomas do a 30 day Challenge of the Tough and wear his new Flight Master for 30 continuous and contiguous days with an accuracy chart at the end!

[trandy]

Going through a bit of that myself right now.....just going through a lull at the moment..,...it will last until something else catches my eye. 

I've been hanging out at the fountain pen forums lately....it's my other obsession.....I'm hunting for a birth year Parker 51 Aerometric. 

[Groundhog66]

It definitely happens to most of us, I think. There have been quite a few stretches, where I was not thrilled with anything when peering into my safe. Like always, it passes...and I regain my appreciation once again.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2015 16:53:25 GMT -8 trandy said:

Going through a bit of that myself right now.....just going through a lull at the moment..,...it will last until something else catches my eye. 

I've been hanging out at the fountain pen forums lately....it's my other obsession.....I'm hunting for a birth year Parker 51 Aerometric. 

Oh please; don't get me started on pens again

My script has deteriorated to the point that the family doctor could not even decipher it

A long time ago I learned to do calligraphy and got pretty good at it. I even went so far as to buy a calligraphy set of pens. I still have them but can not make them produce the beautiful scripts I once penned.

The collection side of it did not go so well since I am frugal and was unwilling to spend much more than the postage for shipping. In spite of that, I did manage to get a pretty nice new Hero fine tip fountain pen that writes like a dream...if I use it more then once a month. Otherwise I have to completely disassemble and clean it. But then what do you want for $1.80 shipped

The other one is a Parker 51 wannabe(I learned later) that isn't much better than a Staples cheapy.

I guess I should consider myself lucky that I learned early and without spending any more than the price of a couple of stamps

No doubt the fire in our bellies for watches will reignite and we will once again be in trouble with our better halves

[cd_god]

May 23, 2015 16:36:17 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

This can be seen by the watch I've been wearing for a couple of weeks now. I have no interest or desire to change it out for one of the other watches in my collection. It is partly due to a loss of enthusiasm and partly because the current watch simply fills all the needs and desires I want from a watch. Ok, in case you aren't up to speed, it's this one...

I have been there a few times when I found a watch that met all my criteria for the perfect watch.

I think I have gone without buying a new watch for at last a year 2 times in the last 15 years.

However in the interim I have blown the same amount of money I would have blown on watches on some other hobby or money pit.

So maybe it was the perfect watch that cause me to stop or the new project / hobby seemed more interesting at the time.

I need about 10 acres and a 10,000 square foot with 20 rooms (one for each hobby) house and then I could open my own museum

[Deleted]

May 23, 2015 17:54:43 GMT -8 cd_god said:

May 23, 2015 16:36:17 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

This can be seen by the watch I've been wearing for a couple of weeks now. I have no interest or desire to change it out for one of the other watches in my collection. It is partly due to a loss of enthusiasm and partly because the current watch simply fills all the needs and desires I want from a watch. Ok, in case you aren't up to speed, it's this one...

I have been there a few times when I found a watch that met all my criteria for the perfect watch.

I think I have gone without buying a new watch for at last a year 2 times in the last 15 years.

However in the interim I have blown the same amount of money I would have blown on watches on some other hobby or money pit.

So maybe it was the perfect watch that cause me to stop or the new project / hobby seemed more interesting at the time.

I need about 10 acres and a 10,000 square foot with 20 rooms (one for each hobby) house and then I could open my own museum

Josh,
With all the loose cash you have in your vault, that shouldn't be a problem.
You probably make Scrooge McDuck look like a pauper by comparison

[cd_god]

May 23, 2015 17:57:44 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

May 23, 2015 17:54:43 GMT -8 cd_god said:

Josh,
With all the loose cash you have in your vault, that shouldn't be a problem.
You probably make Scrooge McDuck look like a pauper by comparison

I need to sell off all my stuff so I can live the lavish lifestyle I deserve if I only had the willpower to pass up something just because it was a good deal

[saul]

I don't see the issue.  When for whatever reason a single watch settles in to the exclusion of all others I am tickled.  The most I ever get is about two weeks.  It's a relief from changing out every day or two or even more than once in a single day.  It's all cyclical, no reason to worry...

As to pens...well...I would love a nice restored Parker 51, specifically in Dove Grey like the one my dad had.  I would seldom use it as 30+ years at a keyboard has all but destroyed my penmanship.  When I try to write a letter with my Montblanc Quicksilver (HS grad present) it is an exercise in frustration and futility.  But boy I loved my dad's 51, it was always so much a part of him.

Kind of like this one but I think his was an aerometric.

 

[trandy]

May 23, 2015 19:08:41 GMT -8 saul said:

I don't see the issue.  When for whatever reason a single watch settles in to the exclusion of all others I am tickled.  The most I ever get is about two weeks.  It's a relief from changing out every day or two or even more than once in a single day.  It's all cyclical, no reason to worry...

As to pens...well...I would love a nice restored Parker 51, specifically in Dove Grey like the one my dad had.  I would seldom use it as 30+ years at a keyboard has all but destroyed my penmanship.  When I try to write a letter with my Montblanc Quicksilver (HS grad present) it is an exercise in frustration and futility.  But boy I loved my dad's 51, it was always so much a part of him.

Kind of like this one but I think his was an aerometric.

 

This is a 1952 Parker 51 Aerometric in Navy Gray that I picked up recently....it's in excellent shape and completely restored....fine nib....and it writes like a dream.

I also have a 1948 Parker 51 Vacumatic due to arrive this Tuesday.















For everyday/work pens I use a Conklin Duragraph (fine nib)...a very nice writer...and I really like the Lamy Safari pens...they're a great value....Made in Germany....good stuff.

Here's the Conklin Duragraphs:









Lamy Safari:

[lordflagpolecrabtree]

I too am definitely going through a low period. I love all the watches I have and (unlike some, won't mention any names ) wouldn't part with any of them. However I'm struggling to keep the enthusiasm going at the moment. I have a real job deciding which watches to wear each day as I simply have too much choice.I believe this comes under the heading of First World problems.

I am by no means wealthy (though I am rich in other ways !) but have always been able to have the odd watch or two when I've wanted them. Financial restrictions are looming in the next few months, and this may have something to do with it.

I've just bought another Eco-Drive and am also eagerly waiting the arrival of the WSWT. I think the latter is more important to me from the sense of community I get from belonging here than the watch itself. It may revive my enthusiasm. Who knows ?

[pollythecat]

If you find yourself getting fed up and unmoved by your collection that must be telling you something, I was another on the waning side but have taken stock and reappraised the collecting strategy.  Collecting long term evolves the master plan as you discover what you really like.  I am blessed with the ability to easily offload anything I get tired of with no qualms and redirect the proceeds accordingly.  Personally I am finding I prefer quality over quantity and when I get bored don't buy but tinker.

[tritto]

Those pens you have a beautiful guys. I'd love to branch out into a nice vintage pen but as a lefty a fountain pen has always proved too difficult to master (try pushing a nib instead of drawing it across the page). That and many years using a keyboard instead of handwriting and I'm hopeless. :-(

[cobrajet25]

This has happened to me a few times over the last 13 years.  But then you get the rush of a huge score, like a $50 6105 or something, or you stumble across a personal grail, and it starts all over again.

As to pens, I am not a fan of super cheap ones, but don't want to carry anything too nice or collectable.  I carry a Parker Jotter at work.  Stainless, newer one.  When I hand it to people it's like I just handed them the keys to my Rolls Royce and asked them to take it for a spin.  People are so used to cheap, disposable, plastic Chinese pens that if you even hand them a DECENT one they are amazed. 

Unfortunately, being heavier than a Chinese cheapie they often DROP it.

[Deleted]

I go through this. I must be heartless as I just sell them to friends. I always find another I like, after all they were mass produced! There are only 3 watches I would never sell that I own due to memories attached to them.

[martog]

Going through this myself right now, no interest in anything different than wearing my Casio 2500 oh well just can't be bothered, although my fountain pens are helping me out.

Mark

[Dr.Godzilla]

I have also been on this down slope for the past 3+ years. I sold most of my watches and feel like there are only a couple that completely fulfill my needs.

[C4L18R3]

I've just gone through this.  I believe all interests/hobbies have their waves and for me it was more than a year without anything new.  Mainly because nothing really piqued my interest and also because I've sort of 'given up' on vintage for 3 reasons - (1) I sold some really nice ones to get a grail, that was a truly painful exercise; (2) it's so difficult to acquire reasonably priced, like new examples and then I remember #1; and (3) I realize that waiting 11 months on queue in someone's workbench in Colorado is not my idea of "vintage watch maintenance" (RIP my 2 6309s)

So yeah, we all have our ups and downs.  But there is just so much out there that something interesting is bound to come along.  For me it's modding and retro watches.  I have just invested in tools and stuff for modding and now looking forward to doing it on my own.  I also realize vintage doesn't necessarily have to be old, there are many watches that have the old school flair without the headache.  I'm sure I'll still buy something from the 70's but right now there are other things keeping me entertained.

[SpinDoctor]

May 24, 2015 2:32:59 GMT -8 tritto said:

Those pens you have a beautiful guys. I'd love to branch out into a nice vintage pen but as a lefty a fountain pen has always proved too difficult to master (try pushing a nib instead of drawing it across the page). That and many years using a keyboard instead of handwriting and I'm hopeless. :-(

fellow lefty here.  0.7mm Uniball Jetstream from japan simply the best pen ever for us.  the ink is perfect.  so smooth.  no blotches.  dries immediately so no smearing.  cheap as chips too.  buy a whole bunch because people will steal them.  unfortunately the insert is proprietary so you're stuck with the cheap plastic barrel.


www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-Sport-Ballpoint-Pen-0.7-mm-Black-Ink/pd/1530


www.jetpens.com/search?q=jetstream&v=2


if you have a parker insert, the schmidt easy flow 9000 is a close second.  very smooth but smears a little.


www.amazon.com/Schmidt-Easy-Flow-9000-Black/dp/B0025ZX11S

[cd_god]

May 24, 2015 17:13:47 GMT -8 C4L18R3 said:

I realize that waiting 11 months on queue in someone's workbench in Colorado is not my idea of "vintage watch maintenance" (RIP my 2 6309s)

Don't say I didn't warn you in advance and tell you so (and everyone else)

wristsushi.proboards.com/thread/5735/get-watches-serviced

Cross was / is my brand of choice for writing utensils since 8th grade when I bought my 1st 1/10th gold filled Cross pen / pencil set.

However the modern Cross and even the Parker writing utensils seem heavy and the "metal" ones feel slimy and sticky when used in daily life and as mentioned above when I have handed my beater Cross pen to a customer when I had it out on accident they dropped it.

Now on the other hand my Mont Blanc Generations (AKA cheapest Mont Blanc) has the perfect balance of weight and diameter compared to the smaller diameter but heavier Century series pens or larger diameter upscale Townsend pens.

I miss my carbon fiber Townsend that I used as my daily beater until I dropped it and the shell snapped off at the threads

[C4L18R3]

May 24, 2015 19:39:26 GMT -8 cd_god said:

May 24, 2015 17:13:47 GMT -8 C4L18R3 said:

I realize that waiting 11 months on queue in someone's workbench in Colorado is not my idea of "vintage watch maintenance" (RIP my 2 6309s)

Don't say I didn't warn you in advance and tell you so (and everyone else)

wristsushi.proboards.com/thread/5735/get-watches-serviced

Yup I remember reading that.  I should've listened!!!