Nachos Watch Goals For 2023

February 12, 2015

Three hundred sixty-five days of 2022 are over and done with, and the next three hundred and change lie in front of us. The start of the year offers an opportunity for introspective thought. You can call it soul searching or just chalk it up to a bit of casual (and maybe slightly festively hungover) philosophizing. Regardless, its as good a time as any to set yourself up for a good rest of the year. Though defined goals are often a good way to set yourself up for failure, theres still a noble aspect to these long-term goals that I cant help but admire. Furthermore, as watch enthusiasts, its worth noting a few watch-related goals for the year. Whether its to finally get your hands on that elusive grail or a spot of consolidation, its best to come into the new year with some targets in mind.As Lex mentioned in his article, you should write these things down. Otherwise, if these goals are between you, the floor, the ceiling, and the walls, accountability may become a bit of an issue. The Fratello team is taking the bull by the horns as we have all decided to express our watch goals for 2023 in article form. This way, you, our lovely readers, can hold us accountable. I have decided to keep my goals simple. Theres no point in overshooting what you think youll be able to achieve, so keeping these reasonable has me feeling optimistic already. And as achievable as they may be, I dont think theyll be boring at all because my two key purchases will commemorate special occasions.Nacho s watch goals for 2023 - Big ambitions for a big yearNot that 2022 was an insignificant year. In July alone, I celebrated my first full year at Fratello and became a homeowner. Other than that, life began to feel somewhat normal again after the lockdown-laden years prior. But even with all that to live up to, 2023 looks pretty promising. There are two major life events lined up for the year, one of which I wont talk about until the time comes. The first one, and perhaps one that doesn t warrant the major label, is my 30th birthday, coming up at the end of January. Call it a worthy reason or a cheeky excuse, but a round number like that only comes about once per decade. I feel its worth marking it with a decent watch purchase.When faced with the prospect of buying a special watch, many options came to mind. With prices well over $8K, it was clear that the 16570 was still very much out of reach. In my search, many more options crossed my path. In fact, the first week was completely counterproductive. It left my head spinning at the range of options available. So with that in mind, I decided to set some guidelines. The first was to set a budget, which I fixed at $3,000. The second was that it had to be a watch I could always wear, not just one for special occasions. I wasnt about to buy something dainty and delicate that would only work with a suit. Ill save that for my later years. For now, an adventure-ready, no-nonsense tool watch was clearly the way to go.Which watch(es)?Since I started writing this article, a lot has happened. In fact, I made up my mind and even bought the watch already. However, I wont talk about it too much here. If you listen to the Fratello Talks podcast, youll already know what it is. For the sake of this article, Ill only reveal some of the options that crossed my mind. When thinking about versatile, sporty watches that offer value for money, Omega was a clear choice. I have always enjoyed the classic blue Seamaster 300M, a watch that found fame on the wrist of Pierce Brosnans Bond. However, I wanted something slightly different. The Seamaster 300M Chronograph (2599.80.00) was a tempting option. I also almost pulled the trigger on a Seamaster 300M GMT (2535.80.00). In the end, I went for a classic favorite from my watch forum-lurking days: the SMP 300M 2254.50.00!Images courtesy of ZeitauktionWell, thats it, folks! That s the first of this year s watch goals ticked off the list. Time to sit back, relax, and wait for 2024! If only it were that simple- As you know, I mentioned another significant event coming up later this year. Though Im not usually the superstitious type, I dont want to jinx it. But I will say this: when the time comes, I ll write a little story about it. It s something I m sure I ll only do once in my life, so definitely a watch-worthy occasion. With these two celebration-worthy milestones taking place in 2023, I fear that there wont be any room for much more than that. But two special purchases in one year are certainly enough to get me by. It also offers a perfect opportunity for a bit of consolidation.Conscious consolidationAnd just like that, we arrive nicely at my other major watch goal of 2023. Its a shame to own watches that you dont wear. So, from time to time, its good to have a look at your watch box and identify some pieces someone else could enjoy that you no longer find time for on your wrist. I found a couple in mine, which I hope to be able to move on to new owners. I think that being able to move watches along this way is a part of any watch enthusiasts collecting journey. Both of these pieces - the Tissot Le Locle L164/264 and the Citizen Eagle 7 - were exciting to me when I first got my hands on them, but even shortly after, I could tell they wouldnt stick. Now, having moved further along and developed my taste in watches further, these watches are still nice but not worth keeping around.In my opinion, any watches you purchase for yourself that arent heirlooms or pieces to which you have attached special meaning are fair game to sell on. These were watches that satisfied my curiosity in the past but now take up precious real estate in my watch box. Selling them not only provides a pinch of budget to be used on future purchases but also a bit of clarity in my collection. A couple of years have passed since I got those watches, but they just didnt fit my collection anymore. And with both being relatively contemporary pieces, they arent special or rare enough to keep. I recommend that you try some consolidating too. A bit of spring cleaning is good for the soul (and the wallet).Theres more than one way to wind a watchThis is more of a lifestyle goal than a watch-related goal. However, as someone who enjoys purposefully wearing (and taking pictures of) his watches, it does tie into my horological (and photographic) endeavors. Its a simple goal, but I really want to do more this year. More of what? you might ask. Well, a bit more of everything. Last summer, my scuba diving plans went up in smoke, but this year, Im determined to get back in the water. Camera in hand and air tank on my back, I hope to be able to share those adventures and the watch I wear while embarking on them with you. But thats just one very specific example of this lifestyle change. In general, Id love to do more on my weekends, whether it s exploring Holland or taking short city and nature trips around Europe.This also ties into a personal fitness goal. With the pandemic truly feeling like an excuse from a distant past to lose ones fitness, its time to get back into a good rhythm. And though I have continued my weekly running, I want to set the goal of running a half-marathon before 2023 is over. This is something that I have done twice before but would love to do again. And though Im in no rush to double the 21km figure to run a full marathon, I do see myself running one in the future. But thats a goal for another year. For now, I want to get out, touch the grass, jump into lakes, rivers, and the sea, and wind my watches while doing something fun and meaningful with them on my wrist.Final thoughtsThatll just about do it for me and my 2023 watch goals. I hope you enjoyed reading along and that you find yourself inspired to pursue some similar goals this year. If you do, make sure to let me know in the comments below! Id love to hear more about what you guys and gals look forward to most in 2023. Whether directly watch-related or not, make sure to share those below, or reach out to me on Instagram (@ncgwatches). I wish you all a great 2023, and I look forward to meeting some of you out there or at one of our upcoming Fratello events!