It is the middle of the night, here in Paris, and the house is quiet, so I have the time to think about it...
I have a lot of watches which are in my collection for some very long years, and I don't sell more than one to three watches per year, from my personal collection, so I guess it must be true love.
What does determine the longevity of a watch, for me?
1/ Watches I was running after for a long time.
If I get one of them, it is to keep it. I don't see myself selling my Patek 5110P, for example, nor my vintage JLC Deep Sea Alarm / Lecoultre Deep Sea Alarm.
2/ Watches which have a special origin:
The Polaris 65 / Tribute to 65 are certainly in this category. They are gift from friends, which enhances the beauty of these watches, and the love I have for them.
Same for my latest Vintage Girard Perregaux.
3/ Watches I sold and re bought.
Thre are some in this category. Their absence made me understand how much I missed them.
Two examples: The Rolex Yacht Master ,and the Girard Perregaux Vintage 45 Chronograph.
4/ Last, but not least, watches I madly love.
This is the most important- in number- category, which embraces the vintage and the modern world ( that is my personal damnation, to love both modern and vintage watches ).
Please note that the Point 4 applies to the former points, too...
The UN Freak cna be mentooned, as well as the Sonata, which are true keepers.
The Tudor 7924,and the Rolex 6542 will be the last Rolex / Tudor watches I will sell.
5/ Watches with which I built a common story.
I like your comparison with humans, because it is so true.
A watch which has been on your wirist for so many years, which shared the good and bad moments of life with you is just much more than a watch. It is a companion
Well, I think you have all my criterias, Ping.
Best!
Nicolas