What have you learned to appreciate in your evolution of watch collecting?

[subtona]

What are some things you have learned to appreciate in your own personal watch collecting journey?

Brand history ?

Value retention ?

Functionality ?

design ?

Personally, one of the things I appreciate is balance, like a piece of art there are elements that make a design come together. These elements can be elusive, dials often compromised by movements that were designed for smaller cases or poorly designed from inception.

For example, it is said FP journe designs his dials first, then creates the movement to accommodate the elements of design in his dials. Another example that comes to mind is the Patek 5070, Patek addresses a challenge of a too small movement in an oversized watchcase 36mm to 42mm... Patek created an illusion with case and dial design to overcome the challenges of the ill fitted movement that resulted in a modern collectible. Still another are the trials and errors of rolex trying to upsize datejusts and day dates.

What have you found important in your collection and what have you learned along the way?

[Flyinghunter]

This forum. I joined to educate myself before buying my 1st Rolex. The knowledge shared is absolute gold.

[FTX I]

My own decisions.

[shoe-bop]

Originally Posted by FTX I

My own decisions.

This!

It's easy to get caught up in what the hot new watch is that everyone is talking about. Simple solution - buy what you like!

Another thing is quality over quantity. Have really shifted my collection over the years to having fewer/nicer pieces..

[GB-man]

When buying a new watch aesthetics come first. If I like everything about it but think I can get over that 430 date or that undersized movement...I end up not getting over it and flipping it.

I also learned that some watches are worth owning even though I understand from the get go they will not be long term keepers.

The curse of this hobby is that I end up selling watches I should keep because there is always another watch I want to try. I refuse to let my man jewelry collecting hobby spiral out of control lol

[jrs146]

My watch collecting journey has had many twists and turns. I’ve found that some things I’m very tolerant of and others are total deal killers. Here’s a few examples.

-Fit: I’m very particular about how my watch feels on my wrist. It can’t wear too tight or too loose. Even with multiple adjustments some watches don’t fit right. And others are not adjustable enough. Also, it has to fit right to me on my wrist shape. Sometimes it’s weird. The 116520 felt too small, but the 116500 didn’t. The 15400 didn’t feel right but the 26331 did. Weird but true.

-condition: another odd one. But I just have a thing for mint watches. I’m that guy who gets bothered by dings and dents. I’m fine with normal wear scratches and marks. But a major ding... forget about it. I much prefer to buy brand new from my AD with my name on the card. Especially if it’s a keeper.

-Completeness: the odd list continues. I need a full set. It is what it is. I’ll pay more. I don’t care. I’m perfectly aware that you can’t wear the box/papers but I don’t care. No papers, no thanks. I’ll let the green tag slide...

-Metal: I’ve found that I don’t really appreciate gold/platinum any more than stainless steel. So it’s not a huge benefit to me to spend the extra money. Steel also looks the best on me I think.

-Value retention: I won’t hide behind it. When you’re committing multiple 6-figures to watches it’s nice to know you’re not flushing the money down the toilet. Enough said.

-Repetition: I’m fine with it. I have no problem owning 2 16710’s or multiple submariners. If it’s special it’s fun and that’s all that matters.

The list goes on...

Pic for attention

[LandWatch]

The thrill of finding one watch to serve all purposes, that I don’t need to worry about, that can see me through all life’s experiences. Not to have to worry about choice, insurance, safes, vaults etc. There really is something to be said for simplicity.

[superstarmar]

I learned to enjoy what I have and be thankful...
To stop looking for the next big or best sport model...
I'm down to one and that's better than none...

[Dsmith1974]

Forum members.


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[htc8p]

i have learned that after years of collecting trying the most fancy complete with bells and whistles you will come back to the basics and classics.

[brandrea]

This is a great thread Gus

Two things mainly for me: aesthetics and feel on the wrist. If I like the “look” of the watch I can move on to wrist feel.

If a watch doesn’t wear well, and isn’t comfortable, no matter how much I love the aesthetics it won’t last.

An example for me was the Dblue. I LOVE the look of this reference, the dial, the domed crystal, etc. when I came down to wearability it just wasn’t for me.

[jay_kay]

I have leaned that you should appreciate what you have and not try and keep chasing the next thing.

The operative word is SHOULD!!

I'll get there one day!

[superdog]

Really great question.

Need to think about it for a hot minute.

[77T]

I’ve learned not to psychoanalyze my appreciation of any particular model.

We are all wired differently that way.

As in quantum physics we have the Observer effect - theoretically, the mere observation of a phenomenon inevitably changes that phenomenon.

Just my 2¢...


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[Brew]

There's no need to keep up with the Joneses, they're a moving target.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by subtona

What have you learned to appreciate in your evolution of watch collecting?

That merely owning "things" no longer makes me happy. I have watches that I like for now but the thrill of the hunt is long gone.

Seeing watches sit because I have too many to wear is a sad waste of resources, thinking I needed to buy something in hindsight, is depressing.

The chaos and frenzy in watches today and the absurd postings in the forum completes my desire to sell even more and move on to things that make me happy, travel and experiences.

[Normunds]

I learned one thing that I tell everyone who asks for my advice - buy only what you like, what "sings" to you. Don't buy watch because of you are supposed to have brand x or y, don't buy "hot" watches that are in fashion just now.

I myself don't care much about brand history, because for me buying brand new or 10 year old watch it is irrelevant if brand x is 100 or 500 years old.

[dmb359]

put simply....I like watches that I like.

Doesn't always need to fit a certain mold. i tend to have pretty eclectic tastes. I have auto, mechanical, and quartz watches. I have new and vintage watches. I have a variety of colors, a variety of sizes, and at a variety of prices.

I tend to like balance in a dial, a good fit on my wrist, and the thinner the better usually. I usually tend towards newer watches over vintage in most cases.

I'm always interested in what other think about things, but it plays no part in my decision to buy a watch or like a watch. I've found watches I really like, based on a recommendation by others on something I hadn't thought about.

I certainly don't really care enough about brand history to keep me from buying a watch from a newer company, or to only make me interested in certain brands.

I don't care about accuracy either. I don't care if its 1 sec/day off, or 1 min/day off.I set them every day I wear them anyways, since I never wear the same watch 2 days in a row.

value retention does play a part, I won't lie about that. Albeit minimal, if I have a couple watches I like in the same price range, one that will hold value better would likely help sway the decision. I certainly don't buy watches I don't like though, just because they will go up in value.

[1William]

Great question and I could write paragraphs about the last 25 years of collecting/flipping but I am in a place where I can sum it up very easily. Have fun, enjoy and wear what you own, this is not brain surgery, so don't take yourself so seriously. Different tastes for different people.

[uscmatt99]

My tastes have evolved over time. Here are some thoughts:

I like a small collection so that everything gets some wrist time. I'll never be one of those guys with more than 5 watches.

I hate the process of selling stuff. I buy pieces to keep forever, or pass on to my kids when they get older I suppose. One benefit of this tendency is that I could care less about value retention.

I contemplate purchasing a piece for a looooooong time. I try stuff on several times before committing.

I've really come to appreciate watch designs from the ground up. I can't stand tiny movements in big cases, I find it to be lazy. This is why I love FPJ so much. Design the dial, then design the movement around it no matter how challenging, yielding a harmonious piece.

I like my dials to be either very symmetric, or very asymmetric by design. In particular, I just can't stand date windows at 4:30. Not a huge fan of the 3:00 date window, though I'm okay with it if executed well with a date disc background color that matches the dial.

I like diversity in my collection. I'll never own 2 versions of essentially the same timepiece. I appreciate collectors who have a jillion Speedmasters or Rolex GMTs, but that's not me. For now I have a dive watch, a time-only Rolex, and a dress watch. Only thing I'm really craving, when the time is right, is a 15202 or 15500. To a WIS those are completely different, but in terms of my little collection, they would fill a similar niche.

[superdog]

For years I said I did not care about the movement. And to some degree, I still don't.

For me, I want a watch that is functional and aesthetically pleasing along with it being durable and comfortable.

But I have evolved to appreciate the movement. Not for its beauty such as in a Patek or AP, but rather in its ability.

All we have in this world is time. Some of us have more or less than others. The ability to track time, via a mechanical device is astonishing to me. And lately is has taken up a lot of my thoughts.

I care less and less about watches as a whole. As some others have stated the watch game has lost its sizzle for me.

All that said, I am really starting to appreciate what goes on inside and how it ticks by the moments of my life. And for that reason, manual watches are starting to hold an appeal for me that I previously did not have. I have been wearing my speedmaster manual, and I love the fact that if i don't wind it, it stops. I have also been enjoying taking it off, and watching it and listening to it as i wind it to run.

This is what I have learned to appreciate.

[Etschell]

My sense of judgment of what I really like.

The Rolex submariner. There is no other for me.

[Dr. Robert]

That I should only purchase Wilsdorf clan watches.

[droptopman]

LOL, that I love the classic design of the Submariner over all others. No matter cost, hype, value retention, rarity or any other BS, I just dig Subs. Over the 30 years of messing with Rolex I have gone through different patterns with my collecting. Once I hit 50 I stopped trying to create the perfect collection and just wear Subs in 3 colors.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by droptopman

LOL, that I love the classic design of the Submariner over all others. No matter cost, hype, value retention, rarity or any other BS, I just dig Subs. Over the 30 years of messing with Rolex I have gone through different patterns with my collecting. Once I hit 50 I stopped trying to create the perfect collection and just wear Subs in 3 colors.

Agreed!
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[andromeda160]

I think that a lot of the thrill is gone. Prices have gone so bonkers from when I started following price trends that I could never imagine purchasing any of the vintage pieces that were attainable just 5-10 years ago. I bought a beat up speed master for $950 and someone offered me $4000 on the omega forums. It’s nuts what people pay now, and while it was a straight lug, it was far from original. Life hands us plenty of opportunities but the enjoyment I get out of cars and bikes is far more worth my money than a watch would bring me at this point so I enjoy what I have. Pick up a piece here and there. And watch as prices soar past what I could ever justify on a watch.

[droptopman]

a full gold will be on my wrist sooner or later.


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[Etschell]

Originally Posted by droptopman

a full gold will be on my wrist sooner or later.


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Make it as soon as possible imo

[Boothroyd]

Not directly to your point, Gus, but I really enjoyed stopping by AD's across the US to talk watches, see watches and try them on. Had some really good conversations with enthusiasts.

The idea of shopping via the web leaves me cold--what I mean is, I need to see and feel a model to decide--a luxury that many no longer have available to them. Strikes me as a shame. Feel really sorry for those just getting interested in the hobby.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

Not directly to your point, Gus, but I really enjoyed stopping by AD's across the US to talk watches, see watches and try them on. Had some really good conversations with enthusiasts.

The idea of shopping via the web leaves me cold--what I mean is, I need to see and feel a model to decide--a luxury that many no longer have available to them. Strikes me as a shame. Feel really sorry for those just getting interested in the hobby.

Very much agree, sometimes no amount of reading and research can compare to a minute on the wrist. The challenging part can be a lack of availability of a particular model that is unavailable at the AD. The nautilus for example, was impossible to find at the AD just to try it on.

Watch collector meetups can and did provide the opportunity to finally try on many models that I was interested in.