5 Ways being a "Watch Collector" makes the watch hobby more fun. 

Very incisive thoughts, thanks for clarifying that, all I need to do now is work out if I'm an "enthusiastic collector" or a "collecting enthusiast"😂

I had a go at 'collecting' watches, with some sort of theme and reason. But found it troubling to have something (watches, some expensive, some less so) sitting and not being used. And after deciding I didn't enjoy that, I switched to just having nice things. Again, watches in this case, and only where I have a strong use case for the watch. i.e. it is different enough from others that I own, such that I choose it wear it over others, at least occasionally. Which can lead to turn over, as tastes change. but that's just a part of life, and the depreciation is the cost of partaking in the hobby.

Hum… I don’t recognize myself in this definition of a watch enthusiast. But I am glad watch collectors enjoy being watch collectors.

I don’t know I’d say I’m a collector or enthusiast. I love watches but am extremely particular about what watches I buy, they need to fit a particular use case and I need to actually wear them. I don’t sell my watches, if is a cheaper watch I’ll give it to someone who needs a watch. My core rotation is a Datejust, Tudor Blackbay 36, AnOrdain Model 1, and a Zodiac diver.

I don’t own the “best” watches. The watches I own are the ones I really like🤷🏼‍♂️. That’s a good point of view ☝🏻. Thanks 🤝🏻😊

To me, a watch enthusiast is more about someone’s interest in watches. It’s the thoughts and thinking about watches and irrelevant to action. The collector is about the action of gathering watches.

Pete, you make collecting seem fun - for you. I’ve never sold a watch so we agree there and I don’t bother with buying the “best” watch or defending my watches. We all have different criteria. Bickering over mythical “best” trophies is a little like arguing about favorite foods. Shrug. We all have different palates. Or to beast a dead horse I have favorite watches and brands that are best for me.

I've been collecting watches for as long as I can remember. Always wore one since I was a teen. Started off with mostly obscure fashion quartz watches (i.e. Chili Beans) then slowly started learning about higher quality watches (solid link, sapphire glass, etc.), then more recently into microbrands such as Zelos. In the last 4 years I started allowing myself to shell out for watches that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, including a few entry luxury brands (i.e. Omega). At this point I have about 25 watches, which is a lot to me, and I've only sold 2 or 3. I don't really have any rules for collecting, except to stay reasonably within my means and I do not purchase other watches too similar to whats in my collection (very hard for me not to do). I think the most recent trend I started incorporating purchasing watches more based on comfort than anything. Meaning, allowing myself to purchase smaller/lighter watches. Most watches I collected for the first 10 years seemed to be > 42mm for my 20mm wrist. And just the last year purchasing mostly < 42mm. My most recent acquisition being the CW Dune GMT 38mm, which has the smallest presence of any watch I own (my 38mm Zelos Nova appears larger) but is by far one of the most comfortable watches I've worn.

The comment about selling is interesting. I don’t like selling anything due to what you described but due to value, quantity (not close to your numbers) and I’m getting older and feel I just need to simplify my life. I don’t need to sell for money but part of me feels I should. I work in the super yacht industry and the current vessel owner wants to put the vessel up for sale. The owners current feeling is described as REST…. Reduce Expense and Simplify Things. This person can afford all he sees and owns vast amount of things but the REST idea does resonate with me. I own 3 cars (1 is a defender that’s a project), 3 motorbikes (2 are projects), 25 ish watches 10 are what you would call premium watches. One recently serviced at a cost close To £1k.

« Don’t complain, don’t explain » that’s what collectors do 👍

Just found your channel. I need more! Keep it coming. Great stuff.

I feel that I'm both. I love nearly all watches and everything about them. How the dial is made, the movements inside and the design behind them. So am I an enthusiast? However, when it comes to spending my money I'm a collector. I'm not made of money so chose special watches to me that make me tingle.

Comparing watch collecting to a game because of the arbitrary rules the participant creates for himself to follow was a clever observation.

Pete thank you for the vid, you have given me some things to think about. Regards, Starlight

I'm definitely on the hunt for the best watch...es. The thing is, the best watch isn't. Not anymore. I used to have just one steel black dial quartz watch for everything, all through high school, university, and two jobs. And I can't replace it with even the best piece I can afford, because there are also nice options that are different. So I gave up and I'm just enjoying my collection of watches. The only limitation of new purchases is "will I wear it?" It's stricter than it sounds.

Point 5- oh so absolutely true!!!!! Yet that’s why I am at 54 pieces and counting….🫣😉 Loved this couple of vids👍🏻

I still think that you and I are more than collectors, we are curators. I think this can be more focused. Also, no more rules! 😂

I think the characterisation of enthusiasts as continually flipping and FOMO and hence the negative points you made is simplifying the alternative to the collector. What if you had the philosophy of a collector. I.e. keep the watches you buy, only buy what you like, buy with a purpose. But with the enthusiasts desire to have no overarching plan, but instead focussing on variety in your collection.

Flippers seem to enjoy selling watches.

selling watches can be a hassle.. for most of the time buyers are great, but their are buyers and too many of them, that will take a liberty and return a watch worn or broken and it happens often.

I consider myself a collector (you would consider me an enthusiast). Here’s what concerns me about being a collector in your eyes, the whole concept stresses me out and I pretty much see most of your reasons here as bad points rather than good ones. Most of my watches are blue, I have 3 non blue watches and I’ve toyed with the idea of making a blue collection and a non blue collection. But my heavy hitter moser is green and I wouldn’t be happy lumping that in with an old explorer 2 and an omega. Also I’d struggle to find another 3 blue watches that I genuinely desire. Maybe I could at a push but it would cost me a lot more money. Then I’d have the non blue collection to pad out. I like 8x watch boxes so I’d need to find 5 non blue watches, I’m not sure I could do that. Okay so the blue/non blue thing isn’t going to work…. I’ve got 2 Christopher Ward Bel Cantos on order and a The Twelve already, maybe I could have a CW collection?! yeah but having read their entire website I maybe like one other colour way in the Twelve and not a lot else… oh oh what about a cheap and cheerful collection, I could have a zodiac super sea wolf and maybe some Louis erard colabs (Alain Silberatein and the time eater) they’re fun. But then I’d have spent the best part of 10 grand in total on a bunch of cheap watches and that’s a long way towards being able to buy another moser…. Then there’s the whole “I adore this watch but nuh uhh, can’t buy it, it doesn’t fit in your collection, better find something else that does bs. How on Earth does that make sense?? I could go on but you’re likely bored already, my point is i find it stressful. If I go down the buy what I like regardless of the colour, type, genre route I can just enjoy the watches I enjoy. I think a lot of the negatives you are addressing in your list of plus points can be countered by simply not caring about much outside of one’s own wants and giving very little shits about what other people think about ones collection…. P.s. nice Swiss cheese plant… p.p.s. Really enjoyed the video and discussion.

You've clearly never met James "Mr. Rolex" Dowling. Now that's a watch collector who can suck the joy out of watch collecting faster than an Aussie barman can pour beer on a Friday night. As a watch enthusiast though some of your points apply to me too. If I don't like a watch there's no FOMO, etc. I have sold watches but it's a way to trim the herd and there is a discipline around that too. I'm not a mad flipper but if I haven't worn a watch for a few months and don't miss it then, it's time for that to go. Happily this is a rare occurence.

I think the characterisation of enthusiasts as continually flipping and FOMO and hence the negative points you made is simplifying the alternative to the collector. What if you had the philosophy of a collector. I.e. keep the watches you buy, only buy what you like, buy with a purpose. But with the enthusiasts desire to have no overarching plan, but instead focussing on variety in your collection.