Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to 2023. We start the year with everybody's favourite post... 'Keeping Track of Wrist Time' (I jest of course, it doesn't get any more self-indulgent than this!), in which I reveal which watches I wore the most (and least) during the year of our Lord Jean Claude Biver 2022.
I know, it's a LOT, just keep calm and we'll get through this together! Haha.
Now if you've already read my 'Another Crazy Year of Watch Buying' post that went up a few days ago, you'll know that there's been a fair bit of coming and going this year. Actually a lot more going than coming... which is a good thing, because looking back it's clear that I had (and still have, truthfully) far too many watches to actually wear them all. In fact I'd be somewhat surprised if I'd worn my Microtimer more than 25 times since I bought it back in 2017. And given it cost me £85 for a new battery last year, that isn't a good ratio!
Microtimer CS111C
Pretty cool isn't it? But believe me that big steel case is a scratch magnet like no other. I will be doing the History of the Microtimer soon, though it will be quite short as there's not many variations. I had hoped to get on with the History of the Carrera over Christmas, but unfortunately I've not been feeling up to it, so it will take a while longer.
Speaking of scratches, maybe they aren't all bad. When my blue dial Grand Carrera arrived a couple of months ago it was more beat up than I would have liked, but it was actually a good thing as it freed me to wear it without worry, and I wore it a lot. Until I had it serviced and polished and had the bezel replaced. Since then... not so much. But that's partly cos my other Grand Carrera arrived, and then my SLR.
Okay, so I know you're itching to find out the results, so let's not delay any longer...
#1. GRAND CARRERA CHRONOGRAPH: CAV511A.BA0902 (27 Wears)
Incredibly, my most worn watch of 2022 is a watch that I've only just purchased. And on top of that, it's (almost) immaculate, save for the small scratch I put on the side of the clasp taking a link out. Logic dictates this one should be living in its plush wooden box, but no, for some reason this watch has completely defied convention and I can't seem to take it off. This may be in part because I know it has to go back to Watchfinder under warranty because it's gaining time and the minute hand moves when you operate the chronograph... hence I am wearing it everyday until it goes back. But to be honest even before that fault arose I was wearing it a lot.
#2 GRAND CARRERA CALIBRE 6: WAV511J.BA0900 (26 Wears)
Surprisingly, despite what I've just said, the Grand Carrera Calibre 6 came in second by just one wear. I really love this watch and considering my first experience owning a Grand Carrera left me rather disappointed and disillusioned, second time around the model is really hitting the spot with me. If only I'd picked the right model the first time around!
#3 AQUARACER CALIBRE S: CAF7013.BA0815 (16 Wears)
This was not so surprising, given how much I cherish this particular watch, even more now perhaps since I put it back on the steel bracelet it came with. It's funny, I originally wanted to buy the yellow dial Calibre S Aquaracer on a rubber strap but could only find it on a bracelet. So I bought the watch and the rubber strap and immediately transferred it over. A few years later I switched back and now I wonder why I bought the rubber strap. But, you know, in a couple of years I might put it back, this is the great thing about some watches, the ability to switch them out and freshen them up.
#4 3000 SERIES STEEL QUARTZ: 932.206 (14 Wears)
Again this isn't really a surprise as this is my absolute favourite 3000 Series, and probably my favourite 1980s watch too. Going in to 2022 I had three 3000 Series in my collection, at the end that had reduced to just two (I sold my two tone quartz three hander a few months ago). Basically this watch will never be sold, no matter what. Unless I need to sell it to buy food!
#5 2000 SERIES SEARACER QUARTZ: CK111R.BA0328 (13 Wears)
This one did surprise me though, I was not expecting this to fare nearly so well. I think this was largely because I wore it a lot when I first got it though, I certainly haven't worn it so much the last few months (well frankly, once the Grand Carreras arrived hardly anything got a look in). I'm a little torn on this one, on the one hand it is kinda cool, but when I see ropey looking ones on Chrono 24 for £900 I'm almost tempted to cash it in - cos I didn't pay anywhere near that for it!
#6 AQUARACER CHRONOTIMER QUARTZ: CAF1010.BA0821 (12 Wears)
This one probably could have peaked a little higher in the list, had it not been for it being sent back to TAG Heuer for a service at the end of November. The hands were losing time, but the digital display wasn't, I'm guessing it's may be a lubrication issue? I don't know. I've had a quote and paid it, but it's not expected back until mid February... I am missing this one, and again I can't see me ever parting with this.
#7 FORMULA 1 ORANGE DIAL QUARTZ: WAZ101A.BT0724 (11 Wears)
I honestly thought I'd worn this one more than 11 times this year, but apparently not. I'm still not 100% happy with the rubber strap, but it's better than the unusable, cacky (if aesthetically pleasing) textile strap it came on. When I heard there was a new orange Aquaracer coming in 2022 I was a bit miffed, thinking I'd shot my bolt too early, but now having seen it, I am satisfied that the F1 was the right one for me. Again, hard to see this leaving the collection any time soon.
#8 PILOT QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH: 530.806K (10 Wears)
This was another watch that needed attention recently (though thinking about it, it might have been 2021). The crown had barely a quarter turn of thread left on it and so I sent it to a local watch repairer who carried out a complete service, including replacing the crown and all the gaskets. This is one I intend to keep so it's money well spent, should be good for a good little while now (hopefully).
#9 2000 SPORTS COKE BEZEL QUARTZ: WM1112 (9 Wears)
This was another 2022 purchase and a watch I had been hunting for years. Again I thought I had worn this more, but it seems not. I don't know if I like it as much as I thought I was going to. The bezel is very cool, but the numerals are kinda weird on a sports watch like this... I dunno, I'm in two minds about it, but given how long it took to find it I'm in in no rush to dispose of it. Now that I have less watches hopefully everything will get more wrist time.
#10 SLR CALIBRE S LAP TIMER QUARTZ: CAG7010.BA0254 (9 Wears)
This one actually tied with the Golf and the departed 2000 Series WK1113 on 9 wears, but I've chosen to include this one in the top ten because if I had owned it more than a couple of months I'm sure I would have worn it more. Also, I've been struggling slightly with a bracelet that isn't nearly as adjustable as you would think, so it's been rather loose and annoying up until now. Thankfully Santa brought me a rubber strap for it, so hopefully those days are behind me and 2023 will see it getting plenty of wrist time.
Golf Quartz WAE1111
9 WEARS
2000 SERIES BLUE DIAL QUARTZ (WK1113.BA0311)*
GOLF BLACK DIAL QUARTZ (WAE1111.FT6004)
2000 Series Multigraph WK111A
8 WEARS
2000 EXCLUSIVE TWO TONE QUARTZ (WN1153.BD0341)
2000 SERIES MULTIGRAPH QUARTZ (WK111A.BA0311)
AQUARACER 500M QUARTZ (WAJ1111.BA0870)
AQUARACER CALIBRE 5 (WAY208C.FT6142)
FORMULA 1 SENNA QUARTZ (WAZ1014.FT8027)
2000 Series Quartz WN1112
7 WEARS
2000 EXCLUSIVE BLUE DIAL QUARTZ (WN1112.BA0332)
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC RED/RED QUARTZ (385.513/085)
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC GREEN 'LUME DIAL' QUARTZ (372.513)
KIRIUM BLUE DIAL QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (CL1112.BA0701)
Carrera Heuer 01 CAR2A1Z
6 WEARS
2000 SERIES GOLD DIAL QUARTZ (974.006)*
4000 SERIES WHITE DIAL QUARTZ (WF1112.BC0527)
CARRERA HEUER 01 CHRONOGRAPH (CAR2A1Z.FT6044)
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC BLACK/YELLOW QUARTZ (380.513)
S/EL LEATHER WHITE DIAL AUTOMATIC (WI2110.FC6009)*
1500 Series GMT 159.006
5 WEARS
1500 SERIES WHITE DIAL GMT QUARTZ 5 (159.006)
2000 SERIES TRISTAR GOLD DIAL QUARTZ (954.406)*
AQUARACER BLUE DIAL QUARTZ (WAB1112.BA0801)
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC BLUE/BLUE QUARTZ (388.513)*
S/EL RED DIAL QUARTZ (WG111C.BA0473)*
S/EL BLACK DIAL QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (CG1110.FC6141)
2000 Exclusive Quartz Chrono CN1110
4 WEARS
2000 EXCLUSIVE BLACK DIAL CHRONOGRAPH (CN1110.BA0337)
2000 SERIES GREY DIAL QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (262.206)*
3000 GOLD DIAL QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (237.406)
EXECUTIVE BLUE DIAL QUARTZ (915.613)*
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC BLACK/BLACK QUARTZ (383.513)
FORMULA1 CLASSIC STEEL BLUE/RED QUARTZ (WA1210)*
KIRIUM BLUE DIAL QUARTZ (WL1116.FC6113)*
MICROTIMER (CS111C.FT6003)
S/EL WHITE DIAL TWO-TONE QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (CG1120.BB0424)
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6000 Series Quartz Chrono CH1110
3 WEARS
3000 SERIES GEEY DIAL TWO TONE QUARTZ (934.206)*
4000 SERIES GREY DIAL QUARTZ (WF1111.BA0511)
6000 SERIES SILVER DIAL QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (CH1110.BA0675)
6000 SERIES BLUE DIAL QUARTZ (WH1115.BA0675)
AQUAGRAPH CALIBRE 60 CHRONOGRAPH (CN211A.FT8001)
CARRERA CALIBRE 16 TITANIUM CHRONOGRAPH (CV2A80.FC6256)
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC GREY/YELLOW QUARTZ (382.513)
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC RED/GREEN QUARTZ (384.513)*
LINK SEARACER QUARTZ REGATTA CHRONOGRAPH (CT1113.BA0550)
2 WEARS
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC BLACK/GREEN QUARTZ (375.513)*
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC BLUE/BLACK QUARTZ (381.513)*
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC ORANGE/GREY QUARTZ (WA1213)*
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC (STEEL) BLACK/YELLOW QUARTZ (WA1216)*
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC (STEEL) BLACK/PINK QUARTZ (WA1217)*
KIRIUM PLUM DIAL QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (CL1113.BA0701)
1 WEAR
FORMULA 1 CLASSIC BLACK 'LUME DIAL' QUARTZ (371.513)*
FORMULA 1 KIRIUM QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH (CL111A.BA0700)
*Watches marked with an asterisk have been sold.
A couple of observations, you might presume my favourite Kirium is the blue dial quartz chronograph, but you would be wrong. That one is kinda beat up so I tend to wear it when I need a watch I'm not too fussed about, like going to gigs, things like that. I keep thinking about having it serviced and polished (The chronograph doesn't work properly) and the bezel replaced, but then again having a beater is rather handy sometimes. My favourite Kirium is actually the F1 Kirium (my first ever TAG Heuer), but it's a bit tight at the moment and I've never got round to putting an extra link in the bracelet (same goes for the plum dial one, although I don't actually have a spare link for that one I don't think).
Also I did go through a period of several weeks where I tried to wear watches for five days in a row, rather than flitting hither and thither. This eventually became four days and then three, but even so it will have affected the overall results somewhat, to some watches advantage and to some's detriment.
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Well, there we have it for another year. With far less watches available to me for 2023 it will be interesting to see how the distribution of wears changes, especially as I continue to trim the collection. It is quite hard though, to decide to sell watches, even though I know I need to do so to fund better things and to bring it down to a reasonable number. Even some watches I've barely worn I am reluctant to part with... but it's gotta be done.
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