You revealed your sensible, and less sensible, watch collecting rules
Borna BošnjakEveryone’s got a type, even though they may deny it. Modern or vintage, dive or dress, I don’t know a single watch enthusiast out there who doesn’t have a particular set of collecting values. So, what better way to get to know our audience on an even deeper level than get you to tell us your self-imposed collecting rules. Would this reveal an alarming amount of watch snobs, or perhaps some controversial opinions? If you haven’t weighed in yet, make sure you do so below, and read on to hear what your fellow watch nuts have to say.
View this post on Instagram
A pleasantly surprising level of common sense
If you’ve ever felt your faith in the greater watch-collecting community slipping, here’s something that may help with restoring it. I’m not quite sure why @watch_girl_life chose to highlight two-tone watches in particular, especially with some beauts coming out recently, but the intention is clear. After all, if you buy something you don’t really like, what’s the point?
This sentiment is especially relevant because of the importance of the secondary market. You may not partake in the AD-schmoozing shenanigans that resulted in the crisis that was at its peak during COVID times, but it cannot be ignored. Over the last few years, the scarcity of some watches (artificial or otherwise) has affected numerous level of the watch market, diluting what watches should really be about. Sure, the idea that you could do a prolonged test run with a watch, shall we say, before selling it on and not losing much money (if any at all) is attractive, but highly unrealistic in most circumstances before the boom.
Thomas sums up the platonic idea of watch collecting perfectly. If you buy something you truly enjoy, you have a much better chance of making lasting memories with that watch, potentially passing it down to the next generation. I know for sure that I’d much rather remember my parents by the watches they chose to wear because they liked them and they served a purpose, rather than my dad lining up outside a Swatch store to scalp a Mission to Moonphase.
Some sensible, some specific, some less salient
While I’ve picked only three comments to support the “buy what you like” thesis, I do feel like that was the overall vibe of the comments, with many pitching in with similar sentiments. As for the more specific comments, and those that are perhaps less prescribing of what watch collecting should be and more what it could be – well, the spectrum was wide.
For many, buying a new watch often represents another milestone reached, so naturally, if you achieve something greater than before, the new watch also needs to be “better”. I can understand wanting to explore the higher tiers of horology, but as Mark says, you can find the same level of enjoyment from a watch costing $300 as one costing degrees of magnitude more.
Robert of @rbchronos brings up the topic of fakes, which can be sensitive at times. Watch collecting is an exclusive hobby in many ways, perhaps most obviously so when it comes to means. As much as I’d hope it to not be true, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has shown up to a watch get-together with an old Seiko, only to be met with a mostly cold reception. To combat this, a knock-off may seem an easy route, especially when seeing those videos where the differences between a top fake and the real thing are nearly imperceptible. Even still, rather than springing a decent amount of cash on a triple-A fake, I’d probably do a double take at the watch circles I’m in to determine whether it’s just a bunch of cashed-up Lambo owners taking pics of their RM-clad steering wheels or genuine enthusiasts.
Considering my watch boxes contain at least a handful of Seikos at any one point, this isn’t one I can get on board with personally, but @eyesonthewrist does make a valid claim. For those who are perhaps not as in-tune with watches as the most deep-rooted enthusiasts, it’s easy to get tunnel vision and just go for that next Rolex, Omega, or Cartier. While there’s plenty of merit to owning multiple watches from most big box brands these days, it does have the potential of closing you off to unique designs and fantastic value proposition pieces.
I hear you Zach – after a certain point, this is probably the healthiest way to do it, both in terms of avoiding accusations of hoarding and being kind to your wallet. But what if you have 19 “keepers” that you’d never even think about selling? Asking for a friend.
Now we get into the nitty-gritty of being a grizzled watch collector. The Instagram of watch nut, physician, and Generally Muscular Canadian™️ R.J. Kamatovic is a record of his watch-collecting preferences, from micros like Avi-8 to perpetual calendar Mosers. While highly specific, I could easily see it as a good guideline to making sure you explore as much as you can, while still allowing for multiple brands and watch styles.
And then there was this. I’m not sure I can delve much deeper into this moment of clairvoyance, but if you’re already familiar with @crapwatchphotography’s usual repertoire, this piece of advice will come as no surprise.
Straight-up slander
I was just about done reading the comments, when I saw Will’s… unique take. I don’t really need to say that they’ve come to the wrong place to post this comment. Them’s fighting words, Will. Nice photos, I guess.