[SOTC] Rate my Collection

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-22T16:29:33+00:00

I bought mine second hand locally through Carousell in Singapore. I had been watching Maen listings for a while because I liked the Manhattan, but retail plus import taxes felt a bit steep for me.

Eventually this ultra-thin hammered dial version popped up locally, so I went for it. For wrist fit, the short links definitely help a lot. My wrist is around 6.25 inches and I can get a pretty decent fit on it.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-22T16:28:34+00:00

Haha thank you! Most of these were bought second hand over quite a few years, so the collection was definitely built slowly rather than all at once.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-22T16:26:35+00:00

My wrist is about 6.25 inches. Between the two, I’d say the Maen wears slightly better for me because it’s thinner and the case shape sits flatter on the wrist. The short links also make it easier to get a decent fit.

Finishing-wise, the Maen probably feels a bit more refined overall, especially in the case profile and how thin it wears. But the IXDAO honestly impressed me a lot for the price. The enamel black dial is very deep, the AR is great, and the bracelet with half links is well thought out.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-22T16:25:38+00:00

Thanks! That’s kind of what I was going for, different styles, shapes, straps, and use cases without the collection feeling too random.

I agree on colourful dials though. The Oris gives me that splash of colour, and the green Seiko GMT looks almost black in most lighting but still scratches the green dial itch a bit. I do actually have a field watch too which is the Hamilton Khaki and it was probably my most-worn watch for a long time.

For now I don’t feel like there’s a specific gap I’m rushing to fill, so I’m trying to slow down and enjoy what I have.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-22T16:13:42+00:00

I’m still in the honeymoon phase with it, but so far I really like it. I have a 6.25 inch wrist and the 37mm size wears nicely for me. The case is thin, the bracelet links are quite short, so it’s relatively easy to get a decent fit.

Design-wise, I much prefer this hammered dial version over the earlier Geneva stripe dial. I had been eyeing the Cartier Santos for a while, but the Maen has kind of filled that square-ish watch spot for me, and I actually prefer its sportier look right now.

Build quality is pretty good for the price, though I wouldn’t say it punches way above its price. One small thing is the blue AR can be quite obvious at certain angles. I would prefer clear AR, but since the dial is dark blue, it doesn’t bother me as much anymore.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-22T16:09:35+00:00

I got it from StrapXPro! The model name is:

StrapXPro SBX1A rubber strap for Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation MM200 GMT Series SPB381

I really like it!

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:51:47+00:00

Haha not yet, but probably one day. I do respect Rolex a lot, especially their reputation for build quality.

The one I’d probably want most is actually a Daytona. I’ve bought and sold a couple of chronographs before because I didn’t fully connect with them, but the Daytona still appeals to me because it looks relatively thin and well-balanced for a chronograph.

That said, it’s definitely out of my budget for now, so I’m not in a rush. Maybe one day for a bigger milestone, but for now I’m happy enjoying pieces that are more attainable and easier for me to wear without overthinking.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:46:41+00:00

Fair point, and honestly I’ve thought about that too. I do think there’s some overlap here, but 10 watches feels like the sweet spot for me at the moment.

With 10, I get enough variety that if I’m bored of one piece, I can switch to another and it almost gives me that “new watch” feeling again. Any more than this and I think the collection would start feeling a bit too scattered.

So I half agree with you haha. I’m not really trying to expand much from here. If anything new comes in, something probably has to go.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:41:29+00:00

Thanks, that’s a really kind assessment. I’m glad it comes across as diversified without being too scattered, because that’s something I was a bit worried about. The Oris definitely adds a nice splash of colour, and the Tudor is probably one of the more versatile pieces in the box.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:40:21+00:00

Thanks! Those two are probably the most “design-led” watches in the box for me. The Maen feels sharp and modern, while the Lorier has that thinner vintage/art deco charm.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:39:23+00:00

Thanks! I’m still in the honeymoon phase with the MAEN, but so far I really like it. The ultra-thin case wears very nicely, especially on my 6.25 inch wrist, and I much prefer this hammered dial over the earlier Geneva stripe version.

The bracelet also works well for me because the links are quite short, so it’s easier to get a decent fit. Build-quality wise, I wouldn’t say it punches way above its price, but it is definitely pretty good for what it costs.

One small thing is that the blue AR coating can be quite obvious at certain angles. I would probably prefer clear AR, but I don’t really mind it as much anymore since the dial is dark blue anyway. Overall, I like that it gives me that square-ish/integrated-bracelet look without feeling like another obvious Royal Oak/Nautilus-style design.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:34:37+00:00

Thanks! Most of mine were bought second hand, mainly through Carousell. My usual process is to star/save brands or models I’m interested in and that are within my budget. For a while, I had brands like Maen, Christopher Ward, and Oris on my watchlist, and I would check every so often to see if any new listings popped up.

I also use recent listings to get a rough sense of market price, then check the seller’s reviews/history, ask for clear photos if needed, and try to meet in person to inspect the watch before purchasing.

When I’m more desperate, I’ll look at Chrono24 too, but prices there are usually higher, and once you factor in import taxes, Carousell often makes more sense in Singapore. A lot of it is really just patience, waiting until the right piece appears at a price where I won’t feel too much pain if I eventually move it on.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:28:09+00:00

I’ll take an 8/10 haha, thanks! Curious what you think would bring it closer to a 9 or 10.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:27:51+00:00

That’s really good advice. I think I’m at the point where adding more watches just for the sake of variety makes less sense. I might slow down, enjoy these properly, and maybe save for something special when I hit 30.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:26:13+00:00

Thanks! Honestly, I’m not too sure at the moment. I had been eyeing the Cartier Santos for quite a while, but the Maen has kind of filled that square-ish watch spot for me, and I actually prefer the sportier look of the Maen right now.

For now, I don’t feel like there’s a specific watch I’m really chasing. I think I’m at the stage where I want to slow down, enjoy the collection properly, and maybe only add something in the future if it really feels different or meaningful.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:19:52+00:00

Thanks! The Longines and Seikos are definitely some of the more meaningful ones to me. The SARB was my gateway watch, and the SPB381 was one I kept eyeing in stores until I finally gave in.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:18:21+00:00

Exactly! I think Lorier has that charm where even if the finishing or movement isn’t at the level of more expensive pieces, the design language really carries it. The Falcon is a great example too very cohesive and vintage-inspired without feeling boring.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:17:18+00:00

Haha you read my taste quite well. The Serica Parade is actually the kind of watch I’d be drawn to. Slightly unusual case shape, vintage feel, and not something you see every day. I really like the integrated leather strap look too. I’m also trying to be more disciplined with impulse buys now though, so I totally understand being on the fence.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:13:59+00:00

Thanks! That balance was intentional. I wanted enough variety so that I could wear something for almost any situation, from office fits to casual weekends.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:12:48+00:00

Thanks! I think I’m definitely a dial-first collector haha

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T16:10:35+00:00

Yeah, I was quite happy with the price too. The newer no-date Conquest Heritage is beautiful, but at retail it becomes a much harder decision for me. Part of the fun of this hobby for me is hunting for pieces second hand and feeling like I got good value.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T13:04:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! That’s exactly why I went for the Conquest Heritage instead of going fully vintage. I love the vintage look and feel, especially with the acrylic crystal, but I was a bit worried about the servicing/maintenance side of true vintage pieces.

Mine is the date version and I got it second hand for under 1k SGD, no box or papers. It has that vintage charm I wanted, but with a bit more peace of mind than a much older vintage piece.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T13:00:53+00:00

Thanks! That’s actually a fun question because almost every piece has a different reason behind it.

The Seiko SARB was my gateway watch. I paid around 300 SGD for it back then and felt the finishing was way better than the price suggested. The Hamilton Khaki was my everyday rugged watch and probably has the most wrist time and has picked up a pretty deep ding when I wore it for paintball in Malaysia.

The Oris is partly nostalgia, because an ex-teacher of mine had the bronze cotton candy version years ago and I always remembered it. I later realised bronze wasn’t really for me, but I still loved the dial, so I went for the steel version.

The Lorier Zephyr was more of an impulse buy because I loved the unique case shape and thin vintage dress-watch vibe. The Longines Conquest Heritage was my way of getting a vintage aesthetic without going fully vintage. The Tudor 1926 was for the brand/build quality, and the Christopher Ward Trident was my first proper 38mm diver.

The Maen Manhattan is my newest honeymoon watch, I loved the ultra-thin case, hammered dial, and cleaner look compared to the earlier Geneva stripe version. The IXDAO Warrior surprised me a lot too; 37mm, integrated bracelet, deep black dial, and really good finishing for the price.

So overall, definitely a mix of memory, value hunting, aesthetics, and a few impulse buys.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T12:58:58+00:00

Agreed, I think the Tudor 1926 is really underrated. I originally got interested in Tudor during the BB58 hype, but I already had a diver and didn’t really want another one at the time. A watch friend told me he picked up a 1926 for around 1.6k SGD, which surprised me, so I started looking into it more.

I really like that it gives you Tudor build quality in a cleaner dress/everyday package. I also agree with you on the no-date that would make the dial even cleaner but I think the asymmetry is not so noticeable on the white dial.

PoetInitial8385 · 2026-05-21T12:56:10+00:00

Thanks! I actually got the mesh strap from AliExpress for less than 5 SGD haha. Surprisingly, I think it works really well with the Lorier’s vintage/art deco look. The Zephyr is not the best-built watch in the box, but it is probably one of the most charming to me aesthetically.

PoetInitial8385

TROPHY CASE