Collect, collect, collect.

I honestly don't know whether my collections are worth all that much but I have learnt a lot in the past years about collecting and I go by my gut feeling. I have learnt that collecting fake watches is a waste of time but seeking out older models of Omega, Patek Phillipe and Cartier are well worth the effort.

But they're expensive ---too expensive for me--however, if you have the cash, seek them out. A forties or fifties watch may surprise with its value and its gold content (in many cases). There are many examples to be found in the Khan El Khalili market in Cairo, where I live.

The point here is: choose wisely and build a collection that is going to become an investment. I chose South African banknotes, Dinky toys and Corgi toys of the fifties, sixties and seventies, token coinage and the scarce Strachan tokens from South Africa. In the coming weeks I shall be talking about all of these as well as the "do's" and "dont's" of collecting. Please look out for these articles:

• Dinky and Corgi. Worth it?
• Restorations of die-cast models.
• Other die cast collectibles.
• Parts and boxes for die-cast models.
• Tokens.
• Banknotes.
• Gold coins.
• And other interesting collector items.