the end of an era...

[taxico]

over the last 10 or so years, i have amassed a collection of watches that i enjoy. this month marks the end (?) of my journey with watches...

i promised my wife many many many years ago that on her 30th birthday, i will stop spending so much time with watches. and her birthday is near the end of this month.

what does this mean? no more research on watches. no more flying overseas just to pick up or trade a watch. no moer sending and receiving watches to/fro overseas... no more buying "few hundred dollar parts" which will combine to cost more than a whole watch. no more surfing for whole watches on sale either...

i will complete my master's next year so this year needs to be spent on studies and work (tied together).

on the horizon might be our first child... we're still not sure (mostly me), but we'll let nature take it's course.

i will probably return to my other hobbies of riding and tinkering with motorcycles and scuba diving. my unspent money can now allow me to go to the track and workshop more often with my car.

although this amazing horology hobby has taken up a lot of my time, this is a bitter sweet event for me.

what have i learned? lots. but to sum it up:

the more i know, the more i don't know. the more i know, the more i want to know. sometimes, it's best that i don't know... and the chase will never end unless you're disciplined.

for the rest of you just starting out in this addictive "hobby": it's not too late to turn back from this black hole! flee while you still can...

for those who cannot: buy rolex watches with interesting dials and under valued precious metal models. IMO they will pay off in future.

for the hard core collectors: yes, you should invest in another bigger safe deposit box because the giant safe at home and your "smaller" SD box is not good enough to keep your watches and parts and papers in!

maybe i will return to this hobby at a later time when i have more discipline in my life... or maybe i won't. who knows what the future will bring.

taxico

[Oceanklassik]

For someone as knowledgeable as you are, it's a pity. From what I see, it's simply a case of discipline in how you manage the (watch)hobby. You need not give it up totally. Let's hope this is not the end of the road for you, as much as for the many of us, in horology, that is.

I wish you best of luck in whatever you are going to embark on and may you succeed in whatever good you are doing.

[triton]

first of all congratulations on reaching the end of this journey of studying. as i have always mentioned, you will get to your destination, it is the journey that shapes you and enrich you.

scuba diving may not be cheap either. buying regulators, BCDs, learning new techniques - rebreathers, nitrox, etc. scuba diving is equally addictively. in my first 2 years of diving, i was practically diving almost every other weekend, logging in close to 100 dives within 24 months. going to 6 of the top 10 sites back in the 90s. the only regret, missing out on a great white expedition.

in an event if you should want to release some of your treasured collections, can i have the first right of refusal?

you may have considered to slow down/ putting a halt in watch collecting, but sg-roc will always welcome you to post your experiences and sharing them.

i will complete my master's next year so this year needs to be spent on studies and work (tied together).

on the horizon might be our first child... we're still not sure (mostly me), but we'll let nature take it's course.

i will probably return to my other hobbies of riding and tinkering with motorcycles and scuba diving. my unspent money can now allow me to go to the track and workshop more often with my car.

although this amazing horology hobby has taken up a lot of my time, this is a bitter sweet event for me.

what have i learned? lots. but to sum it up:

the more i know, the more i don't know. the more i know, the more i want to know. sometimes, it's best that i don't know... and the chase will never end unless you're disciplined.

for the rest of you just starting out in this addictive "hobby": it's not too late to turn back from this black hole! flee while you still can...

for those who cannot: buy rolex watches with interesting dials and under valued precious metal models. IMO they will pay off in future.

for the hard core collectors: yes, you should invest in another bigger safe deposit box because the giant safe at home and your "smaller" SD box is not good enough to keep your watches and parts and papers in!

maybe i will return to this hobby at a later time when i have more discipline in my life... or maybe i won't. who knows what the future will bring.

taxico

[pegasi]

End of buying/collecting more watches does not mean you have to stop reading and sharing your thoughts about watches on the forums. You just have to be disciplined and not spend too much time in order to keep your promise.

Hope to "see" you around still, or return some day.

[breitling77]

Watch collection is not just a hobby. It's an interesting, meaningful and investing event. We learn to appreciate and understand each watch and its brand true value. We learn how a delicate mechanism that controls our life. And if it turns out well, we can make a hefty good investment. Watch collectors see watches in various different perspectives. It tells more than time. It also turns out to be my family heirloom!

Do hope to see you back into this hobby.

[jieming]

Thanks for sharing. Good luck in your new hobbies, work and studies.

Refer to your advices "for those who cannot: buy rolex watches with interesting dials and under valued precious metal models."

Can give some examples? precious metal models are always priced much higher then ss.

[Iceheller]

Common man never say never. If you are preparing for baby arrival, you can download the app baby center. There tons of info inside and can help you keep track of things. Cheers.

[Watcha]

Pity to see a knowledgeable watch enthusiast abandon the hobby.

I believe many would like you to go slow, pause but not out.

[Dfive]

Sounds like a drama to me.... as the Terminator once said "I'll be back" ...so will Taxico

[watchwerkz]

sounds more like a long journey he has been walking...
a man with great knowledge when "retire" is of course a sad thing, but nothing really lasts forever -- we always have to say our good-byes.

that said, thanks taxico for sharing, one of the particular phrase you wrote I think applies not just in the hobby of watch collecting and horology, but also in life's pursuits in general --

the more i know, the more i don't know. the more i know, the more i want to know. sometimes, it's best that i don't know... and the chase will never end unless you're disciplined.

VERY TRUE. always keep an open mind when sharing and do not lose your ultimate end direction / who you are.

wishing you all the best and enjoy the new hobbies to come.

[watchman86]

best wishes for the future.. im starting out and certainly i believe a good journey it will be

[sickfield]

over the last 10 or so years, i have amassed a collection of watches that i enjoy. this month marks the end (?) of my journey with watches...

i promised my wife many many many years ago that on her 30th birthday, i will stop spending so much time with watches. and her birthday is near the end of this month.

what does this mean? no more research on watches. no more flying overseas just to pick up or trade a watch. no moer sending and receiving watches to/fro overseas... no more buying "few hundred dollar parts" which will combine to cost more than a whole watch. no more surfing for whole watches on sale either...

i will complete my master's next year so this year needs to be spent on studies and work (tied together).

on the horizon might be our first child... we're still not sure (mostly me), but we'll let nature take it's course.

i will probably return to my other hobbies of riding and tinkering with motorcycles and scuba diving. my unspent money can now allow me to go to the track and workshop more often with my car.

although this amazing horology hobby has taken up a lot of my time, this is a bitter sweet event for me.

what have i learned? lots. but to sum it up:

the more i know, the more i don't know. the more i know, the more i want to know. sometimes, it's best that i don't know... and the chase will never end unless you're disciplined.

for the rest of you just starting out in this addictive "hobby": it's not too late to turn back from this black hole! flee while you still can...

for those who cannot: buy rolex watches with interesting dials and under valued precious metal models. IMO they will pay off in future.

for the hard core collectors: yes, you should invest in another bigger safe deposit box because the giant safe at home and your "smaller" SD box is not good enough to keep your watches and parts and papers in!

maybe i will return to this hobby at a later time when i have more discipline in my life... or maybe i won't. who knows what the future will bring.

taxico

Really? your missus would rather you play with motorbikes than watches?

[Matty]

Well, best 2 b able 2 juggle work, studies, family & hobbies altogether, but easier said than done i guess? Anyway best wishes 2 u & do hope u can drop by the forum here again. Cheers mate!

[Ender]

over the last 10 or so years, i have amassed a collection of watches that i enjoy. this month marks the end (?) of my journey with watches...
i promised my wife many many many years ago that on her 30th birthday, i will stop spending so much time with watches. and her birthday is near the end of this month.
what does this mean? no more research on watches. no more flying overseas just to pick up or trade a watch. no moer sending and receiving watches to/fro overseas... no more buying "few hundred dollar parts" which will combine to cost more than a whole watch. no more surfing for whole watches on sale either...
i will complete my master's next year so this year needs to be spent on studies and work (tied together).
on the horizon might be our first child... we're still not sure (mostly me), but we'll let nature take it's course.
i will probably return to my other hobbies of riding and tinkering with motorcycles and scuba diving. my unspent money can now allow me to go to the track and workshop more often with my car.
although this amazing horology hobby has taken up a lot of my time, this is a bitter sweet event for me.
what have i learned? lots. but to sum it up:
the more i know, the more i don't know. the more i know, the more i want to know. sometimes, it's best that i don't know... and the chase will never end unless you're disciplined.
for the rest of you just starting out in this addictive "hobby": it's not too late to turn back from this black hole! flee while you still can...
for those who cannot: buy rolex watches with interesting dials and under valued precious metal models. IMO they will pay off in future.
for the hard core collectors: yes, you should invest in another bigger safe deposit box because the giant safe at home and your "smaller" SD box is not good enough to keep your watches and parts and papers in!
maybe i will return to this hobby at a later time when i have more discipline in my life... or maybe i won't. who knows what the future will bring.
taxico

congrats on the masters! and assuming that it's been agreed, hope you get your first child soon too.
just not too sure if it is going to so simple to just walk away from this black hole hobby of ours....
anyway, all the best in your future undertakings!

[Darkangel]

There are times that I said it's the end....but more often than not...it isn't.

I will see you back soon