I bet they're all nice watches but 3 is a good number to aim for. My dream collection is two watches (a dress/office watch and a sports piece), but I'm currently stuck at 5 and looking to trim down. 5 is just too many, for me at least.
I've only been in the hobby a couple of years but my goal was and is to have a watch for most occasions. By now I have a nice alrounder (Quarz), Chrono (Quarz), Diver, Pilot, Dress and Summerwatch. All within 300-2500€ value. Next I am looking at a GMT and additionally waiting for my Explorer 36mm call. The way I approach a purchase is simple but takes time. I scout the interwebs u til I find something I like. Then I check if the price is something I'd be comfortable with and if yes, I watch all the videos I can find on it and try to find an AD that has it in stock for me to look at. Then I wait and wait and wait to see if I still like it weeks or even months later. If yes, I go ahead and buy it. That way I try to make sure that I don't regret the purchase, fall out of love with it soon etc. Has been working fine so far.
I never think about the next owner of a watch. I have bought watches for family, but my watch is for me :) I enjoy others attitudes & opinions respectfully, it helps me define my own. Whatever we decide it should be personal & not because someone else says it’s good. I can’t have too many watches at any one time, I buy a watch wear it & enjoy it. If I have too many I get confused. I’m a one watch sort of person. I admire collectors with huge collections who get pleasure from that, for me I’d feel cluttered & it would cause me stress.
This was an awesome video! I've been collecting my whole life but this hobby has gotten extremely fun in my 30s. I'm finally able to get some dream pieces and am loving Omega and now Rolex phase. 2 down 3-4 more to go. I'm currently trying to complete my Land, Air and Sea. I have an Explorer II Polar and GMT (Batman), after a green bezel sub currently. The next on the wishlist is a dress piece (Sky-Dweller on jubilee) and a precious metal on Oysterflex (YG/WG Daytona). Maybe my 40s will be filled with AP and Patek. A guy can dream right. Lol. Cheers Bruce!
Imo I don't consider amassing wrist jewelry a hobby. I just like something and get it. Hobby implies something else, potential skill development, mental engagement. Movement technology is a shallow pool unless you're the one making breakthroughs.
We each have our particular moods or phases in the watch collecting journey that will dictate which watches and how many are in the collection at any particular time. As such, I don't particularly believe in grail watches... Or, at least I don't believe grail watches are the end game as they may be perceived to be. Let's call such grails long or short term goal watches. Once goal achieved, there will be others on a list. Or, we can always find and create new ones... And, we probably will. The casual browsing and curiously searching for watches of interests will always be there. And, thus, we can always, eventually, find an excuse/reasoning to add to and/or modify our collection. With perhaps the exception of the most disciplined and focused watch collectors, I think the cycle of change will always be there for most of us watch collectors. Lastly, I think what can make this watch collecting journey negative are the degrees of financial commitment one may create for themselves, feeling they can never achieve a seemingly unobtainable watch(es), and the endless in and outs of the watches to find/create the "perfect collection". To the first 2 points above, I can't say more on it other than work hard at disciplining one's purchasing choices to maintain both. To the last point of the "perfect watch collection", I don't believe there is one as the cycle of change is perpetual. At best, a watch collection may be as perfect as possible at any given point. But, it also doesn't have to stay locked down by specific timepieces and can and probably will adjust as the watch collecting journey continues. To that end, whatever and whenever that may be, just keep the hobby and the journey enjoyable in all respects and at the end of your life, looking at what you ended up with and where you have been on what will hopefully have been an amazing watch collecting journey.
It's a balance but very vulnerable to the emotional side for me. I've always subscribed to the axiom that "form follows function". But the watch hobby is one where that logic often goes out the window. Sometimes you win and sometimes you loose.
Currently I have 32 watches 70% from this year alone but I'm trying to get down to twelve. My problem is I git my name down so when they call I buy, git three submariner in two months so I'm not inquiring about watches until twelve pieces.
Hi Bruce, this is an interesting question. In a nut shell I just get the watches for me, yes that may sound selfish but ultimately my watches have some value, maybe not the value that I spent on some of them but considering other hobbies that some others have like modifying classic cars or doing bespoke garden fixtures some of these may depreciate or appreciate in value due to different fashions and taste. I do not have a reliable crystal ball and to be honest I've yet to know anyone who has. If you like a watch/car/laundry dryer etc and can justify it consider that purchase. That's my take and thanks for sharing.
Watch collecting is a FUN hobby, and can be done at any level of disposable income. Just buy the watch that will give you enjoyment and you will wear! Easy peezy!
" It never ends" is the perfect title. It's a strange hobby because subconsciously you need the approval of your fellow " nerds" to love a watch. You can fall in and out of love with the same time piece and suddenly become fascinated by a brand you didn't even consider. Generally though, this isn't a bad hobby and does reward you with hours and hours of pleasure.
Easy to try and be logical in a hobby that is completely illogical lol think making mistakes and trying different things out is just part of the process. Even if you do a ton of research, until you live with something for awhile you don’t know how you’ll really mesh with it. I’ve hopped on bandwagons (GS/zenith) bc they were hot, and even tho they were great watches I didn’t really wear them as much as cheaper/older omegas I just love. Not saying I won’t try the brands again but the models I went for were bc of hype and not bc they fit into my collecting journey.
Words are cheap and watch enthusiasts with channels tend to overdramatize things. So is it an unhealthy obsession? If you got self-awareness, self-control and hopefully people you call family who will call out your bull****, then maybe you'll be alright.
