I’ve been there too. We bought a home that was in major need of renovations. While I could have swung them without liquidating my collection. It just felt right to do so. Now I’m down to a 16710 that I adore, all 3 inserts and both bracelets and that’s all I need.
A mechanical watch has soul. The Apple Watch is a consumer product with short shelf life. Also, do you really want to be connected to your phone all the time?
A Vacheron would be BOSS. Looking forward to whatever you get. I'd laugh a little if you wound up just getting a regular Explorer and calling it in though. That feels like an appropriate full circle endgame.
Its funny, Ive owned many Rolexes, among other brands (Panerai, Breitling, Tag, IWC, Blancpain, etc, etc), and now that I have an Apple Watch I feel like its a hassle when I'm not wearing it... I have to look at my phone instead of my wrist to get messages, and other alerts
I really enjoyed your reviews of the 5 digit Explorer 2 and Sub back in the early days. Going back to basics could be interesting. Alternatively, a vintage JLC, etc, that is not common, could hit the mark. 6 digit Rolexes are like VW Golf these days. They are everywhere, and not necessarily worn by the best of sorts.
Love your content and obviously respect the fact that anyone's collection is theirs to do what they want with. If there is a reason to cash out to put money elsewhere, especially if it will benefit the family, then that has to come first. My personal opinion is that a collector always has to have a couple of watches that mean something to them. For me, it is my Speedy moonwatch hesalite, which was my first "proper" watch, my first Rolex, a Sub date, which i bought from an AD in 2016 and a DJ41 from my wife for our 10 year anniversary, I could have the bailiffs knocking on the door and i wouldn't sell them. I have a Pepsi 16710, an OG Kermit and a tt 80s DJ36 - i love these, they get wrist time but they don't mean that much to me - they dont have a story behind them. Not for me to tell you what is important, but it seemed to me like you loved that 16710 Pepsi you picked up in Asia and your no date sub. The bluesy seemed to be an itch you wanted to scratch, same for the GP. These are the kind of watches that come and go. And rebuying the hulk, well that is like going back to and an old girlfriend - it wont ever be the same as what it once was. Again, personal opinion, when watches are coming in and out of your collection, nothing every really feels that special anymore - you dont get that same buzz as you once did. That is why i think it is at least important to have a couple of keepers, no matter what. Oh well, i look forward to the Apple Watch wrist shots on your instagram!!!
I appreciate the non clickbait title! Can't argue with those priorities mate, especially as they relate to home projects. Makes a lot of sense. There will be PLENTY of opportunity in the future to get back into the hobby. In fact, you probably couldn't have chosen better timing as by then, pieces might be a bit easier to obtain. Also, just because you got rid of your pieces, doesn't mean your experience in the hobby goes away. Feel free to continue making videos in the meantime regarding anything watch or life related. Always enjoy your talks buddy.
The Apple watch is a different headspace for sure. Would be cool if you did a brief one year review at some point to let one know about your experience over time. My sticking point is battery life on smartwatches. I personally just love the simple functionality of glancing at a mechanical for reading time.
I picked up an Ultra2 last year. It’s so useful for fitness and I like the connectivity to my iPhone, I wear my explorer 226570 as a daily and love it.
Wow, never expected this from you especially selling off that pristine 5-digit Pepsi. But I get what you mean. There's this fatigue that comes with the hobby.. I went from a 1-watch collection to a 5-6 watch collection to now a 2-watch collection where I'm done and contented with. No more 'lusting' over newer pieces. Enjoy your break and I hope you come back with a heavy hitter.. perhaps a Patek Nautilus 5711? A perfect heavy hitter one watch collection.
Hey Mike, do you still have your SMP300 or is it also gone? I would suggest you to take a look at the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in 42mm. Or the IWC ingenieur in titanium. Both would look stelar on you! Cheers mate, looking forward to a new video, hopefully sooner than in couple of months :)
Fair play to you and I get it. I have a small collection and was considering selling one of my Rolex's (datejust) and just living with my speedy, Rootbeer and picking up a Garmin. I could do with liquidating some funds and using it for something more important.
Interesting evolution in your watch journey Michael! Fun video! How and where do you sell your watches though? Just in case you inspired me to follow suit ;)
Did you get rid of the blue Laureato? All power to you. I’m not a fan of smartwatches but I can see the utility. As for the commonality of the Sub that may have come out wrong because if you wanted to stand out from the rest I think the Apple Watch is the complete opposite as it’s THE MOST popular watch in the world. Looking forward to what you end up with.
I am speechless...Kept waiting for you to say this was a joke, but I understand the desire to consolidate and move up. I think about that all the time. The yellow gold yachtmaster on the oysterflex or solid yellow gold sub would be it for me.
Michael, I very much respect this move. Not an easy one to make. It sounds like you have your priorities in the right place. You turned me on to the SD4K a few years ago and now it’s my one and only. I’ve owned an EXP I, EXP 2, GMT2 BLNR, and a ND Sub. The SD4K is the best of the bunch and I probably would have overlooked it if not for you and your channel. Thanks mate!
Michael, I can appreciate and respect the priorities you have made. Hope you are able to acquire a new watch soon. I'm considering the "Bruce Wayne" for its stealthiness and maybe that would be a consideration for you as well. Hang in there! Cheers! John
Good for you. In the end they really are just watches. You bought them, wore them, enjoyed them and moved them on. There will always be “another watch” opportunity.
I hate these Apple Watches! All this digital stuff is making us sicker every day! I see no value at all in a apple watch it gives me nothing I am interested in. Just my opinion.
Rolex isn't haute horology. You just need a reset. Nothing wrong with that. Older Rolex watches are easy to let go. I've done it myself. JLC are special. Even VC is a great option. Enjoy the journey for a new collection in the near future.
I had watch fatigue 2-3 years ago & sold my collection. I started wearing a samsung smart watch, but it didn't last long. I currently have a Starbucks & a Silver dial OP41. Keep it to 1 or 2 watches rather than having a big collection.
“Wearing a steel Submariner in Dubai is like driving a Volkswagen.” I think you may have gotten tone deaf from the area you live in. Dubai has no shortage of influencers and individuals displaying their wealth. Travel to the states, explore the world a bit more. Here in Atlanta most people just wear an Apple Watch, when you start seeing the rest of the world I think you’ll reinvigorate the appreciation you had for the watches you had to sell. Great video, Michael 🙂
I can relate to this. Whereas I started the year planning $50-$60,000 USD in renovations, they quickly ballooned to over $200,000 and I subsequently thinned my collection to three pieces (with a custom independent inbound). My biggest issue is that present renovations have me planning to invest another $300-$400k in the property next year! 😂
Wow! I'm very late to this video and I'm stunned! I'm wearing my Sea Dweller so I was just watching a couple of your older videos of that watch which led me to this video but I honestly thought it was a joke! You got to do what you got to do though.
I’ve had similar thoughts lately. I have 4 and find myself deciding which to take on trips, etc., when I only wear one. Need to narrow it down. Recently got a blue yachtmaster that I hardly ever take off. The proportions are amazing. Has subtle flash. The hulk gets the most wrist time. Thinking of selling the white explorer 2 and a serti sub. But then there are days when I say to keep the explorer and hulk (gmt and sub). Sell the other two and get one all gold blue face sub. So tough! You are right, there is no need for more than 2 watches after you’ve had the dopamine rushes! Ha enjoy your videos. Cheers!
Nothing wrong with liquidating because of shifting priorities. And how great is it to be able to start afresh and celebrate an achievement with that new piece/collection? Best of luck for you!
@@SteelmoonWatches Nah dude, I'm not impulsive when it comes to watches. Also I'm too poor to suddenly decide I now hate expensive watches that I bought. :D
I did the same thing when I got back into fitness. I burn about 800 cals/day w my routine of HIIT, ISO, TRI training and use the ultra to track all. Likewise, I use the device to track my calories consumed and burned to achieve a daily deficit. The Apple Watch is an indispensable tool that helps you be more productive, more healthy etc. and for health conscience high achievers - an asset. This why the great Apple designer Sir Jony Ive once stated, ‘the Swiss watch companies are fucked’ upon the released of the Apple Watch. That said, I did keep my 2005 SD 16600 with papers.
Yes, a bit shocking to hear. But let’s set things straight: priorities matter, and I am 100% convinced that yours are perfectly well put together. At the end of the day (we all don’t like to admit this), these are “only” watches. Looking forward to following your journey!
Interesting turn of events man. Glad you’ve given the Apple Watch a try, I know the charging is a pain in the ass but so is the mobile phone.. it’s been great for workouts as you’ve discovered but also for sleep tracking and other health related stuff.. just good to have something always keeping track of your movements and buildings charts for you. I wear it every day and tuck it under the sleeve of one arm, while I wear my mechanical watches on the other. That only works in winter though haha
Bravo! I've been meaning to do this myself since I've been wearing my Ultra 2 more often than just workouts and sleep. Moreover, selling all mine would net me roughly 25k and that great feeling of starting all over again. I've had my eye on some less expensive brands so there's that. Good luck!
Dude, you need to get out of your Rolex comfort zone. Its so boring. Here are two suggestions : a black enamel Cartier tank gold. A Doxa Sharkhunter 300t. An Omega Ploprof vintage with mesh bracelet.
A smart friend of mine who only collects Rolex once said to me this: "Once you start pushing towards middle age wearing a vintage Rolex isn't cool, just get a new one, young hipster dudes can pull it off, we can't." This is what I suspect has happened to you.
As I'm an optimistic person by nature, the positive side of this is you "burned the boats." You don't have any sunk cost fallacy or endowment effect. You're free to start over and chose the watch you truly want without any priors.
I am unlike most watch "aficionados" in that I've owned and enjoyed a version of the AW basically since it was released, currently own the first gen Ultra. I even did exactly what you did 5 years ago, sold every "good" watch I had including some Rolexes because I was wearing the AW so much. I then got deep back into the watch hobby during the pandemic like most people and am enjoying my nice watches and wearing the AW primarily for working out. I keep thinking there's a huge wildcard out there that might make me sell all my watches and go back to AW (or similar) exclusively again in the future. I think the health tech on these things will eventually get so good that they will be able to warn you of an impending health disaster (like a heart attack or stroke). At that point it would be downright foolish not to wear such a device basically 24/7. Having said that, maybe this tech will not be a reality in my lifetime, or it won't be a watch but rather some kind of small patch with circuits I can wear on my chest. Then I'll just keep enjoying my "real" watches and the AW together.
Actually, Michael, loved the video. I’ve always felt an 114060 or 124060 plus Apple Watch could be a perfect 2 watch collection. But I do not think the Apple Watch can stand on its own. Enjoyed the conversation today and always look forward to your vids.
Lol, I threw away my apple watch and bought a neo vintage submariner. The apple watch constantly fights for you attention, as a prompt to look at your phone. A great tool watch, but its ultimately disposable tech. Depends what you want from a watch, a companion or tech. Can't fault the apple as a piece of tech, its not competing as an alternative to mens jewellery.
I just came for the comments. Luxury watches are nothing more than jewellery, and the entire industry is a marketing scam - yeah, I like watches too; how I love H Moser, and my collection consusts of G Shock, and Seiko (Garmin doesn't count) If you're wealthy, fine; but, going into debt to buy something the price of a month overseas holiday, a car, or even a house (really), is nuts. Anyway, the bubble is bursting; it was a good time to sell.
Just sat here on holiday wearing my dj 41mm blue diamond dial steel white gold flutted jubilee etc I luv it very slim on the wrist beautiful.. you don't see many either. And I'm big guy bigger then you.. 👍
I was initially annoyed but, yeah, you've got to defer to your priorities at the end of the day. Nice to start from scratch in a way as well. Still though...not even a cheeky 5 digit sub? for the love of god man!
I've been watching your channel for some time. In my personal opinion, I don't think you'll ever be happy with what you have. There will never be "the one" watch because you're constantly moving from one to the next, chasing the high.
All these comments, if anyone should be able to understand, it should be watch guys. To wipe the slate and start again would be very refreshing. Sometime you need to raises capital and there is more to life than watches. Now if you own vintage don’t do this. Michael I see you got a PAM and I think they look great on you, you’re built for it. You have owned all the Rolexes you ever needed to, I think it’s time for you to more on from the brand. When I talk to guys with non Rolex collections, they had them all too and sold out of the brand and now own VC, Patek, Lange and some sort of Speedmaster. Get yourself a VC. It’s not got the same Rolex image as a gold sub on a yacht, you can’t buy class.
You seem to be in an age when people settle down in life. When you said I sold all my Rolex and bought an Apple watch and again justify this decision for the sake of the gym, again talk about Dubai wealth, then I started getting irritated thinking what kind of person can justify such decision. You are never a watch lover but rather an investor who bought all Rolex watches finding the prices are getting dropped, so sell all the Rolex. If I were you I would never put all my money on Rolex rather go with JLC, Vacheron, Patek and kept one or two Rolex. Enjoy your toy! If I were needed a gym watch, I would surely go for a Garmin not Apple shit.
Remember when Luke skywalker had to face Darth Vader to truly become a Jedi! You’ve just done the equivalent. Now you’ve become a man my son. Rolex = image, you mr steelmoon are substance… you dont need a Rolex to prove anything or become someone. It’s just a watch that’s loooonggg lost what it used to stand for. Apple Watch is fine, Breitling chronomat and a JLC ultra thin date are functional and beautiful watches… if you really feel the need to connect with the old school Rolex, get a vintage submariner or a coke. The force is with you young steelmooner….
