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

[Spartacus]

Design and functionality has been impressive to me.

I have some watches that are 10 years+ that still look and work great. I have nothing ...and I mean nothing (cars, shoes, electronics, etc.) that has required less work and given me more than my watches.

It’s sad to see the watch depression posts. I think on their own, watches won’t fill the void.

For me, my watches commemorate or memorialize events or phases of my life. Making memories with my watches has been fun. Sometimes when I look down at my various watches I get rushes of nostalgic memories. Very few material things can follow you for so long and be so memorable, this is I guess the culmination of my appreciation.

[Jocke]

I buy what I like simply without regard to value increase because I keep what I buy so it becomes the heirs problem. I rarely look at Rolex
anymore because the price picture has been tracked down in terms of popular models and vintage has become a market for scammers.
So in recent years I have mostly focused on independent brands.

[Snow-Dweller]

I have learned to trust my judgement in what I really like, that buying correctly is crucial to not losing tons of money, and that I’m happiest with a collection of no more than 4 watches.

[TK-710]

Size. My late teens through my early thirties I wore some very large watches. Now I’m very happy with the 37-42mm range. I know 42 might sound big still to some but not compared to the hockey pucks I used to wear.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by subtona

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

In the past ~25 years of being a very avid enthusiast... that reliability and service times are a big factor. Visual beauty is obvious as are the useful complications, yet underlining factors can be a deal breaker. Could be the best mechanical timepiece in the world, yet if it breaks often and service times take forever... what's the point?

If this was the 1960's, sure the Jaguar looks and sounds great, yet few would put up with those dreaded unreliable Lucas bits. And then comes the time / costs to have the mechanic fix it.

The above problems, combined with their modern lower quality versus higher quality vintage craftsmanship, is why i gave up on Patek Philippe timepieces in favor of Rolex as a daily beater. FP Journe is now one of the kings in craftsmanship as are some independents imho.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by JES77

Size. My late teens through my early thirties I wore some very large watches. Now I’m very happy with the 37-42mm range. I know 42 might sound big still to some but not compared to the hockey pucks I used to wear.

Meh. 42 is not big. That and bigger has been around for ages. Classic speedmaster, fifty fathoms, navitimer just to make a few.

I too cap it at 42. Lots of big beautiful watches out there tho.

[Blansky]

I've learned I can't have them all.

I've learned some I thought I would love I didn't and some I wasn't sure about, I love.

I've learned that if you have more than about 5-10 you can't appreciate them or wear them enough.

I've learned I don't wear lesser brands.

I've learned that buying used saves a ton of money and you don't freak out at the first scratch.

I've learned that in direct sunlight only a few watches retain the same beauty they have in less light.

I've learned I like different watches than most people.

And finally I've learned that the new stuff coming out doesn't seem to interest me.

[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by subtona

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.

I can't count the number of times I thought I was interested in a watch and it left me cold upon trying it on. And the opposite--never thought I wanted it, then loved it when trying it on.

I went Explorer over SubC, DJII over BLNR, and Tudor Black Bay Black (ETA) over the BB Blue and Red. One I really wish I had bought was the tuxedo dial DJ36, smooth bezel. Those were the days!

[hedet]

Comfort is the big one. Having a way to adjust bracelets on the go has become a big selling point for me, and not too big or thick. I basically like 39-43, and I really like grade 5 titanium.

I’ve found that I care about the way a watch looks at both it’s best and worst lighting conditions. I’ve found I care more about a high floor so to speak than I thought before. Some watches look great in pics but terrible in certain light that just ruins it for me. So I like seeing bad pics online as well as good ones to get a better feel for a piece.

Ive also found that I can’t really know if I love a watch unless I wear it for a couple weeks. Pictures online are a good starting point, but wearing it for a while is the only way to know. So I’m quick on the resell if it’s not working for me.


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[red1108nyc]

Over the watch journey, the most fun part are the people you met along the way doing deals. You meet some of the greatest characters from all walks of life where honor, family and friendship meant something. Honored to have some great exchanges with some of the finest friends here

[timepieceluvr]

I think patience is important.

I would also echo what others have said about size. I owned a couple watches with thicker case depths and didn’t enjoy wearing them.

Lastly, wearing and enjoying them is far better than obsessing about the markets.




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[wisguy]

Biggest lessons I'd say is "don't settle" and "buy what you really want".

Don't get swayed by other's opinions or hype and don't buy a watch just because it's a good deal, it's what you can afford at a certain point in time or use it as a bridge between what you have and what you want.

I can't say I have completely learned the lesson yet, but at least I'm aware!

Wait for the watch you want and please please please, try it on before buying it.

[descartes]

I need a damn good reason to buy something other than Rolex or Patek.