u/SaltyEntrepreneur982

Mido TV Bid Date 40 mm Dia de Los Muertos Limited Edition.

Just came in today and I’m stoked.

Let’s see those timepieces, folks!

Rocking the Shunbun today. The titanium case and bracelet on this watch feel so nice on the wrist. If it were not for that mesmerizing dial, it’s easy to forget I am wearing it.

I always debate whether I should wear this watch to business meetings because I find myself staring at it so often that some might get the impression that I am trying to blow them off, or that I want to wrap up a meeting. Truth is, I just can’t get enough of this dial.

Happy “Tuesday that really feels like a Monday” to you all.

Rocking my SPB117 “Shark Tooth” Alpinist today and damn do I love this baddie.

What are you all sporting today?

Picked up this blue HydroConquest 42 recently and decided to change things up with a rubber strap from Anchor Straps. Upgraded it with their brushed steel deployant clasp as well.

I liked the watch before, but this completely changed it for me. The black rubber against the blue bezel gives it a much more purposeful, sporty look, and it complements the dial. The deployant also makes the whole setup feel substantially more OEM than I expected.

I’ve always thought the HydroConquest was one of Longines’ best everyday watches, especially this most recent iteration. On this setup, I think it absolutely nails the modern tool-watch thing.

Bracelet/mesh has its place, but I’m not sure this one is coming off the rubber anytime soon.

This one technically predates the embargo, so I’m calling it grandfathered in.

SPB117 finally arrived and I’m extremely happy with it. The black dial and shark-tooth indices give this version of the Alpinist a completely different personality from most of the others, and I love the little hits of red on the compass scale.

I’ve accumulated more Seikos than I care to defend at this point, so I’m trying to slow down and actually enjoy what I have for a while.

That said, an older collector-grade JDM Alpinist without the Prospex logo is absolutely on the eventual list.

Just not today. 😂

I’ve been collecting watches in one form or another for more than 30 years, starting long before I had any real idea what I was doing—or the money to do much about it.

These aren’t all of my watches, but they’re probably the best snapshot of where the collection has ended up. There’s no particularly coherent theme: Swiss, Japanese, expensive, inexpensive, mechanical, quartz, serious watches and watches I bought simply because they made me smile.

My tastes have changed a lot over the years, and lately I’ve been trying to curate rather than just accumulate. Some of these are objectively better watches than others, but the ones I’m most attached to usually have a story behind them.

Anyway, figured I’d finally put a decent chunk of the collection in one post. Happy to answer questions about anything in the boxes—and equally interested to hear what you’d keep, sell, or wonder why the hell I bought in the first place.

This Red-tailed Hawk posted up on my fence in north Georgia today and made it pretty clear that I’m merely a tenant now.

Absolutely gorgeous bird. I’ve seen plenty of hawks around here, and this is 1 of 2 that live in the woods behind my home.

That at stare is no joke.

For the avoidance of all doubt, this is my own content.

Second HydroConquest acquired.

I was going to make some argument about how the blue is completely different from my green one, but considering I own multiple versions of several other watches too, I think it’s time to stop lying to myself.

Apparently I don’t collect watches. I collect watches, then collect that watch.

Anyway, look at that blue bezel.

And this thing looks killer on the mesh.

No regrets.

No filter. No special lighting.

Just one of those moments where the dial decides to remind you why you bought it.

The texture, the icy blue, the polished indices, and that completely smooth Spring Drive seconds hand… this one really gets me.

This is where my GS collection currently stands. I’ve tried to avoid simply collecting variations of the same watch, and I really like how differently each of these presents — from the modern Spring Drive pieces and their ridiculous dial work to the older double-logo GMT and its much more restrained character.

The SBGM003 in particular has made me appreciate the earlier Grand Seiko design language even more.
I’m pretty damn happy with this little corner of the watch box.

Finally added the Shunbun to the collection, and I completely understand the hype now.

I knew the dial was going to be special, but I wasn’t prepared for how much it changes depending on the light. Pink, silver, champagne, almost white at times—and then the indices and hands start throwing reflections everywhere while that Spring Drive seconds hand just glides across the whole thing.

I’ve caught myself staring at it repeatedly today without once actually checking the time.

Absolutely useless as a clock. 😂

10/10 watch.

My wife surprised me with this Oris Big Crown Wings of Hope limited-edition when I got home from a work trip, and she absolutely nailed it.

I’ve always liked the Big Crown design, but this one really got me—the clean white dial, pale green numerals and lume, oversized crown, small seconds with that tiny pop of red, and the five-day movement. There’s a lot going on when you really look at it, but somehow the whole thing still feels incredibly clean and restrained.

I also love the strap. The natural leather gives it an almost vintage field-watch feel that works perfectly with the dial.

I have a fairly eclectic collection, but this is my first Oris, and I’m seriously impressed by it. The finishing and overall character are fantastic, and it feels like one of those watches that is going to get better and more personal the more I wear it.

Of course, the fact that my wife picked it out and surprised me with it makes this one pretty damn special regardless.

Not a bad thing to come home to.

Grand Seiko Elegance GMT (SBGM003).

Love this watch. Everything about it speaks to me. The double stamped cream dial, the case, and the blue GMT hand…it’s fantastic. And this new green gator strap fits it very well.

This was the first GMT that Grand Seiko offered in the U.S. market and it continues to be one of their best models IMO.

What’s everyone else got on their wrists today?

I could use some help from the hive.

A longtime client recently closed a startup transaction that my business partner and I spent a lot of time helping with. As a thank you, he insisted on buying each of us a watch. It’s an incredibly generous gesture, and we’re both genuinely grateful.

We decided we’d buy through the same AD that we each already have independent relationships with, and we’ve agreed on a price point, so the field is pretty well set. For that reason, I’m not looking for recommendations outside of these three watches—I really want opinions on these finalists.

The contenders:

NOMOS Zürich World Time Midnight Blue

Breitling Top Time B01 Triumph

Breitling Navitimer Automatic GMT 41

For context, I’m a fairly established collector, so this isn’t about getting the “best value” or a one-watch collection. It’s about choosing the piece that stands out the most on its own merits and that you’d be happiest to own long term.

Which would you choose, and more importantly, why?

My KUBO Usuki finally arrived today.

This is my third Kiwame Tokyo, and they continue to impress me with how much attention they put into dial design. The recessed small seconds is obviously the headline feature, but what really keeps drawing my eye is the way the lacquer dial, sculpted Arabic numerals, and the recessed “kubo” all interact with changing light. It feels much more architectural than most watches at this price point.

Specs are solid (38mm, Miyota 9039, 100m WR), but honestly that’s not why I keep coming back to Kiwame. They’re building watches with a very distinct design language instead of chasing vintage homages or luxury look-alikes.

Curious what everyone else thinks about this release. Is the KUBO your favorite Kiwame so far, or do you still prefer the MUNE or original models?

Edit: The watch is powered by a Miyota 82S5.

Loving how versatile this GMT is. Today, I am enjoying my coffee while getting some work done with a view. Yesterday it was all travel with some meetings and then bar hopping at night. The other watches haven’t left the safe in a while!

What’s on your wrist and why do you enjoy it?

Cheers 🍻

Current status of my constantly evolving collection.

I also have another Kurono Tokyo and a Kiwame Tokyo on pre-order, both of which should arrive in the next few weeks, and I have some desk and pocket watches not shown here.

I absolutely love collecting watches and I’ll probably never stop buying, selling, trading, etc.

Welcome the thoughts of the community. Does anything stand out? Tell me about your own collection and let’s talk watches. Thanks for stopping by.

It took me long enough, but I finally found the perfect first Grand Seiko for me. I began collecting when I was young and my grandfather gave me a 1970’s Seiko 5 that I have and cherish till this day. My collection has since grown expansively and I have always held off buying a Grand Seiko because I wanted something special.

I ultimately chose the SBGM003 because of the history, the Ivory dial, and it was introduced in 2004 which is when I graduated high school. I’m also a big fan of the double signed dial, both for its aesthetics and historical brand significance.

It took me a while to find the right one but I found this one online and bought it a couple of weeks ago. It’s in near mint condition with the original clasp and I’m blown away by the quality. The Zaratsu finishing and blued GMT hand are top notch and the proportions are basically perfect. 10/10 home run for Grand Seiko and I’m a happy guy.

Rocking the Grand Seiko Snowdrop GMT [SBGM255] on my first work from home day after over three weeks of travel. Love this watch and love being home! Cheers! 🍻