I enjoy my wristwatches. I have a small collection, not particularly expensive ones, but I really enjoy wearing them and looking at the mass of online reviews and videos etc on the subject. Anyone else share my passion?
I used to bring back a few snide ones from Brasil until one day one literally opened up and fell to the floor. Nowadays I am very partial to a Fossil or a Timberland number. Not fakes!
I'm not (I've owned one watch for 15 years and only had a couple before that) but during lockdown I did watch a load of amusing crap on youtube, including a load by "producermichael", many of which are about his watch collection and buying new watches. You can get quite engrossed in them...here's a starter for 10..
I'm not (I've owned one watch for 15 years and only had a couple before that) but during lockdown I did watch a load of amusing crap on youtube, including a load by "producermichael", many of which are about his watch collection and buying new watches. You can get quite engrossed in them...here's a starter for 10..
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
I just recently scratched a big itch and pulled the trigger on a Seiko Alpinist. What do you have in mind?
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
Expensive watches or just particular makes? I still love 80s watches simply because of the design.
I'm the exact opposite. I haven't worn a watch for years and never miss not having one. For me, too much of modern life is driven by the clock. As someone who just likes to live in the moment, I find there are too many clocks everywhere without me carrying a little one on my wrist. Good luck to those of you that do appreciate them, though.
Used to wear a Modaine for a while, and a really nice Citizen Ecodrive, but have been wearing an Apple Watch Sport (Series, 2, 4 and 6) constantly for 5 years now, and that's a discussion on whether that's a watch or a computing device.
I tend to see them as very well designed watches, that give you a lot of flexibility. I like the shape, but then my favourite watch is a Tag Heuer Monaco
Yep know it well. Like the way it covers watches at all different price points. The article about the Seiko 5 "that looks a million dollars" is one of my favourites.
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
Expensive watches or just particular makes? I still love 80s watches simply because of the design.
The former I'm afraid - no particular manufacturer but I do have my favourites. I have good relationships with some authorised dealers and can usually get my hands on hard to obtain watches - not that I flip watches but by selectively buying certain types from certain manufacturers it can be a reasonable investment.
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
I just recently scratched a big itch and pulled the trigger on a Seiko Alpinist. What do you have in mind?
Very nice - Seiko produce some fine watches and have a lot of bang for your buck.
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
Great investment though Bob, as I am sure you know. I bought a Rolex Submariner (17 years ago) - paid £1700 for it brand new and can sell it today for £6-7,000 fairly easily. I don't wear it much nowadays and prefer other, regular priced watches I have. As an investment, not much beats them at the moment.
I love a nice watch and own a small collection. Got a nice Omega but have several much cheaper ones. I tend to let the watch pick me if that makes sense. My current favourite is my metal Ice watch - great value at approx £130
Used to wear a Modaine for a while, and a really nice Citizen Ecodrive, but have been wearing an Apple Watch Sport (Series, 2, 4 and 6) constantly for 5 years now, and that's a discussion on whether that's a watch or a computing device.
I tend to see them as very well designed watches, that give you a lot of flexibility. I like the shape, but then my favourite watch is a Tag Heuer Monaco
Used to have a Citizen ecodrive calibre 8700. Beautiful watch.
Used to wear a Modaine for a while, and a really nice Citizen Ecodrive, but have been wearing an Apple Watch Sport (Series, 2, 4 and 6) constantly for 5 years now, and that's a discussion on whether that's a watch or a computing device.
I tend to see them as very well designed watches, that give you a lot of flexibility. I like the shape, but then my favourite watch is a Tag Heuer Monaco
Used to have a Citizen ecodrive calibre 8700. Beautiful watch.
That's the one, still have it, but the Apple Watch has taken over as the full time watch
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
Great investment though Bob, as I am sure you know. I bought a Rolex Submariner (17 years ago) - paid £1700 for it brand new and can sell it today for £6-7,000 fairly easily. I don't wear it much nowadays and prefer other, regular priced watches I have. As an investment, not much beats them at the moment.
Yes they are, and stainless steel Rolex sports models in particular. They are not easy to get, though, but when walking out of the dealer with a new one is like someone has just given you bucket loads of cash!
My only (well one of) guilty pleasure. I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend. I have a very understanding missus!!
I just recently scratched a big itch and pulled the trigger on a Seiko Alpinist. What do you have in mind?
Very nice - Seiko produce some fine watches and have a lot of bang for your buck.
Yeah I'm loving it. That green and gold dial. Total wrist porn!
Omega Aqua Terra currently on my wrist, 2 Hamiltons at home and a Longines Hydroconquest currently on its way to me. Also on the list for Tudor Black Bay 58.
I have an old Omega. This thread made me realise it is 50 years old this year! It is relatively rare but not particularly valuable. It is called a driver's watch (not a diver's watch) because it's designed for wearing on the inside of the wrist and so 12 o'clock is where 3 o'clock normally is. This of course back to a time when cars didn't have a dashboard clock lol. It has been cleaned once and had a new glass at the same time. But it still works fine and has the original strap.
I don't wear it all the time and have a day-to-day watch, currently a Swatch.
Money no object? Then I would try to find a Patek Phillippe.
My problem with watches at the moment is the trend for huge diameter jobbies. They look beyond silly on my spindly wrist.
We only talking about watches the other day when my wife mentioned H. Samuals selling watches for £395 in there sale and she was complaining "who's going to pay that for a watch" I quickly reminded her about the Christian Lacroix watch she has and also the Tissot watch I have that both sitting in the cupboard waiting for the day we need to sell them to pay a vet bill or something. Love a nice watch but now its only my old Fitbit that sees daylight.
One of the posters on a watch forum I frequent posted the following rules. They make a lot of sense!
1. More is not more.
For some of us, owning dozens of watches is a goal in and of itself. At one point, my collection reached around 40 watches.
At some point, I realised that I wanted to wear my watches, rather than keep them in boxes, and that therefore, I simply had too many. Since most of them were mechanical, I also realised that the servicing costs would be quite severe. Consequently, I decided to aim for a smaller collection - and I have to say it definitely suits me better.
Pretty much all of my watches are now in my collection for a reason, and serve a specific purpose. Consequently, they get used - which for me at least, is the main point of owning them.
2. Do not buy solely on price.
I went through a phase of buying 'bargains', where a good price was the main driver. I don't mean that I bought only cheap watches, but rather that I was buying because of the 'deal', rather than because of the watch. This led me to buy some pretty unsuitable watches, which of course, did not stay long. In some cases I was able to recover my outlay on sale (even making small profits here and there), but I also took some losses. In any event, owning a watch that you would not have bought at normal price is not too satisfying IMO.
3. Watch out for the herd instinct.
When you are a frequent visitor to watch forums, it is all too easy to get caught up in the clamour for the latest forum darling. I have certainly been guilty of this on several occasions - sometimes it's fine (Tudor Black Bay), and other times, I have bought the wrong watch (Seiko Monster, Seiko Samurai).
4. Buy what you like.
Almost the opposite of the above. It's easy to be swayed by forum opinions, and sometimes, for some reason, the crowd dislikes a specific watch. In the end though, if you like it enough to buy it, buy it.
5. It's not for free.
Like all hobbies, collecting watches has a cost. Of course, careful buying can minimise risk of heavy losses, but (with a very few high-level exceptions) watches do not make good investments. So buy, own, enjoy, keep, service, sell, whatever. But expect it to cost something.
6. Accept no substitutes.
Of course, within reason. If you have set your heart on model x, with strap y and a specific caseback, try to avoid buying something "close" to your ideal. Near enough is rarely good enough, and you will probably regret it.
7. The thrill really is in the hunt.
Taking time to decide what you want, searching for the right example, the best deal etc, is all part of the satisfaction. Rushing into purchases can often prove unsatisfactory.
8. Judge watches in your hands, not online.
I often read posts saying "I like everything about watch x, except the... (insert tiny little detail)" or "I like all watches made by brand X". From my own experience, looking at watch pictures is all good and well, and can definitely provide some background knowledge, but there is no substitute for handling them, trying them - even living with one for a while - to really discover whether or not that "tiny detail" is important, or that in fact some watches in the range of Brand X are not as good as others.
9. Experiment.
Despite all of the above, there are situations where you need to step outside the framework and experiment. This where you're on your own. You need to be streetwise, and most of all, know your own mind. In some ways, it's a combination of all the rules because you may be playing the long game, or you may be impulsive. Yet it's against them all at the same time. It's down to your own risk appetite. What's pocket money for one may be a big investment for another. But the experiment can be either the acceptance that resale may at a loss, or it may be a rock solid investment such as a popular Steinhart or a Rolex. Either way, you should go into an experiment fully informed, and with an escape plan.
How else will you really know what you like if you don't experiment?
10. Always buy on the bracelet.
Bracelets are usually much more expensive to buy separately, so always consider buying the bracelet with the watch, even if it takes you over budget or you don't fancy it right now. Aftermarket straps are usually easy to match to watches with standard spring bars, however non-OEM bracelets rarely look the part.
Omega Aqua Terra currently on my wrist, 2 Hamiltons at home and a Longines Hydroconquest currently on its way to me. Also on the list for Tudor Black Bay 58.
The predecessor of the Aqua Terra was the Seamaster 120. Always fancied one of those but never quite got round to buying. Sounds like you have a wonderful collection.
Comments
Nowadays I am very partial to a Fossil or a Timberland number. Not fakes!
I have a nice collection and try to limit my urges for new watch purchases to one a year - it's actually been 18 months so I'm due one and was actually looking over the weekend.
I have a very understanding missus!!
https://www.hodinkee.com/
Swatch and Mondaine for me.
want a single hand Slow watch if anyone wants to treat me.
I love MVMT watches, loads of nice styles
I tend to see them as very well designed watches, that give you a lot of flexibility. I like the shape, but then my favourite watch is a Tag Heuer Monaco
I have good relationships with some authorised dealers and can usually get my hands on hard to obtain watches - not that I flip watches but by selectively buying certain types from certain manufacturers it can be a reasonable investment.
Omega Aqua Terra currently on my wrist, 2 Hamiltons at home and a Longines Hydroconquest currently on its way to me. Also on the list for Tudor Black Bay 58.
I don't wear it all the time and have a day-to-day watch, currently a Swatch.
Money no object? Then I would try to find a Patek Phillippe.
My problem with watches at the moment is the trend for huge diameter jobbies. They look beyond silly on my spindly wrist.
Edited to add I've just found one for sale, they go for a bit more than I thought. https://www.chrono24.co.uk/omega/chronostop-geneve-driver-mechanical--id17005455.htm
1. More is not more.
For some of us, owning dozens of watches is a goal in and of itself. At one point, my collection reached around 40 watches.
At some point, I realised that I wanted to wear my watches, rather than keep them in boxes, and that therefore, I simply had too many. Since most of them were mechanical, I also realised that the servicing costs would be quite severe. Consequently, I decided to aim for a smaller collection - and I have to say it definitely suits me better.
Pretty much all of my watches are now in my collection for a reason, and serve a specific purpose. Consequently, they get used - which for me at least, is the main point of owning them.
2. Do not buy solely on price.
I went through a phase of buying 'bargains', where a good price was the main driver. I don't mean that I bought only cheap watches, but rather that I was buying because of the 'deal', rather than because of the watch. This led me to buy some pretty unsuitable watches, which of course, did not stay long. In some cases I was able to recover my outlay on sale (even making small profits here and there), but I also took some losses. In any event, owning a watch that you would not have bought at normal price is not too satisfying IMO.
3. Watch out for the herd instinct.
When you are a frequent visitor to watch forums, it is all too easy to get caught up in the clamour for the latest forum darling. I have certainly been guilty of this on several occasions - sometimes it's fine (Tudor Black Bay), and other times, I have bought the wrong watch (Seiko Monster, Seiko Samurai).
4. Buy what you like.
Almost the opposite of the above. It's easy to be swayed by forum opinions, and sometimes, for some reason, the crowd dislikes a specific watch. In the end though, if you like it enough to buy it, buy it.
5. It's not for free.
Like all hobbies, collecting watches has a cost. Of course, careful buying can minimise risk of heavy losses, but (with a very few high-level exceptions) watches do not make good investments. So buy, own, enjoy, keep, service, sell, whatever. But expect it to cost something.
6. Accept no substitutes.
Of course, within reason. If you have set your heart on model x, with strap y and a specific caseback, try to avoid buying something "close" to your ideal. Near enough is rarely good enough, and you will probably regret it.
7. The thrill really is in the hunt.
Taking time to decide what you want, searching for the right example, the best deal etc, is all part of the satisfaction. Rushing into purchases can often prove unsatisfactory.
8. Judge watches in your hands, not online.
I often read posts saying "I like everything about watch x, except the... (insert tiny little detail)" or "I like all watches made by brand X". From my own experience, looking at watch pictures is all good and well, and can definitely provide some background knowledge, but there is no substitute for handling them, trying them - even living with one for a while - to really discover whether or not that "tiny detail" is important, or that in fact some watches in the range of Brand X are not as good as others.
9. Experiment.
Despite all of the above, there are situations where you need to step outside the framework and experiment. This where you're on your own. You need to be streetwise, and most of all, know your own mind. In some ways, it's a combination of all the rules because you may be playing the long game, or you may be impulsive. Yet it's against them all at the same time. It's down to your own risk appetite. What's pocket money for one may be a big investment for another. But the experiment can be either the acceptance that resale may at a loss, or it may be a rock solid investment such as a popular Steinhart or a Rolex. Either way, you should go into an experiment fully informed, and with an escape plan.
How else will you really know what you like if you don't experiment?
10. Always buy on the bracelet.
Bracelets are usually much more expensive to buy separately, so always consider buying the bracelet with the watch, even if it takes you over budget or you don't fancy it right now. Aftermarket straps are usually easy to match to watches with standard spring bars, however non-OEM bracelets rarely look the part.