Why are you here?

I got a watch, I looked it and asked myself what watch is missing/new releases, then I look for it, try to get it, when I get it you feel job done, then repeat. Just a material boy in a material world. 😎

i think as a boy of course we need some "toys" just to look at, taking photograph of it, hold it after long day work. it can be action figure, cars, bike, but for now its the watch

I think acquisition disorders tend to be a product of relationship difficulties. The patient values and appreciates objects in ways that he (sometimes she) has problems doing with humans. Typically this is born of unaffectionate parenting or complete absence of nurturing parental figures during formative years. Emotionally cold and distant upbringings are very common among the collecting type.

I just like them. I have since I was a kid in the 60's.

Been going with the flow for decades and don't know , or care, why. That would ruin everything.

This is an interesting theory. Are there studies to back it up?

I will tell my mother that she failed with my upbringing. She is ninety one BTW.

How much do you charge an hour for a therapy session ?

I guess I'm messed up according to Dr. @OscarKlosoff lol

Cheers!

I collect things for one reason: LEGACY. I want to have some nice things to pass on to future generations. That's also the reason that I am a registered armiger. (I won't go into details HERE, but you can look at my webpage here: https://altenaugenealogyheraldry.wordpress.com/ and specifically, this blog post here: https://altenaugenealogyheraldry.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/the-germanic-tradition-of-arms-transference/ if you are interested.)

My son and daughter are both very proud that our family has a coat of arms, which they can inherit from me, and pass on to their own children.

The new house that my wife and I are building is on 8 acres, and my son has already said that he will keep the house as his own / not sell it after we're gone. Of course, he is going to have to fight his sister for it, hahaha. Of course, one of them could easily build another house on the property, allowing for two families to live on the estate. I am sure that all of that will work itself out; both of my children understand the value of a family home, that stays in the family, and the value of being a landowner.

The reason I started collecting watches was because I saw a movie, or maybe it was a TV show (don't remember what it was / who was in it / etc.) recently, where the hero of the story was getting dressed, and he opens this dresser drawer that is filled with watches, contemplates for a moment, chooses one, and then starts choosing jackets, cuff links, and ties to match; and I thought, "Wow, that would be cool, to be able to have enough nice watches to go with any outfit." ...and that was that.

I already had three watches (two from my wife, one from my parents) that I had received as gifts over the years; so then I decided to learn all I could about watches, so that I could make informed decisions, and collect watches that would be reliable, long-lasting, and timeless in the fashion-sense.

I also wanted to end up with a collection that I could pass on to my son, again, the whole legacy concept. Eventually, one of his kids might be on this forum, saying "I'm wearing my grandfather's Tissot Classic Dream, which he displayed in over 500 WRUW posts, under the profile TwiceTollingClock." ...Or something like that, haha. 😎

Long story short: People collect things for different reasons. The reasons above are my own, personal reasons for being a watch collector. And the watches themselves are secondary, compared to what they add to my family's future history, traditions, and heritage. 😀

Me too

Watches are like romance but you have to keep buying frogs until you settle on the one...or three...

I have OCD and collecting gadgets with near infinite variations keeps me busy and engaged vs annoying someone with my nitpicking including myself....oh plus they're fun to look at!

Like I said in my first post, I started collecting this year after a long absence because of my stroke and it's attendant problems.

I can't smoke and can't play conputer games (the fingers in my right hand lost some dexterity). So yeah, time to get back to watches.

I collect because I like shiny things. Bonus that they are also engineering marvels, which appeals to the technical/geek side of me.

I've always admired the intersection of art and engineering, being a Metallurgical Engineer and an admirer of artistic skill. While I've been a gearhead since my teens and loved (sail)boats and boating, I've never been able to afford to collect either. I discovered watches late in life, about 5 yrs ago, and very quickly became entranced by them, particularly mechanicals. When I put one on or even look at it on my wrist, I feel this almost magical sense of the balance wheel swinging back and forth, moving the pallet fork to and fro and think of the genius it took to figure this out over 2 centuries ago. It always blows me away. I see each of them as an expression of my personal style and a subtle, mostly unnoticed representation of such. Pretty corny, huh?😉

Why does anybody collect anything? Does anybody need more than one car (are you listening Jay Leno? 😂)? Do I need a basement full of Bandai kaiju figures? Nope.

I suppose you either have the collecting gene or you don’t.

The other thing is you can stop collecting. This happened with me and pens. I used to love to go pen shopping and have a smallish collection of pens. Since retiring, I find I just don’t have reason to carry a pen so it has been years since I bought a nice pen. I always thought it appropriate for an architect to carry a nice pen/pencil. I still have a nice collection from the day.

I started stamp collecting as a boy, moved on to notes and coins, some toy cars, then mountain bike kicks in during my teens, stopped a while and got back in after college, the upgrading bug sting hard, and it stopped when you bike lesser. Then now watches. Boys being boys, just need some toys. At least healthier than collecting Whisky bottles and cigarette buds 🤣

On side note, met a fellow traveler during a trip in his early 60s, shared his watch collecting journey ( collection that I would dream of), and now he's on a Garmin watch that trumps everything in his collection, and he does everything wearing it.

It was never intentional to start a collection. I didn't even consider it as 'collecting' until I met all you crunchers. For many years I've been buying watches because I liked them and it made me very happy. Thats all there is to it. (or is there some mental disorder?)

My dad showed me the workings of his pocket watch in the 1960’s

I thought I was witnessing actual magic in front of my eyes.

Since then I’ve been mesmerised by watches, and simply like wearing them looking at them and hunting for them. I also don’t mind selling them to buy more.

I always liked watches from a distance. Preferred cars. As time went on, project cars just weren’t feasible. The space, time… etc. I look at watches in the view I use to look at cars. Watch boxes make more sense than pole barns I guess.

I have always been a collector of "something". I eventually plan to retire to being a full time RV'r (ya I know retirement is a pipe dream in todays economy for a lot of people myself included) and an 8 watch watchbox is something I'll be able to take with me as it doesn't take up a lot of space. I have as much fun with my "virtual" collection of "watches I think are cool but will never buy" as I do with watches I actually purchase.

That being said.. If my Lady keeps adding to her watch collection I'll have to add a cargo trailer to the retirement train 🤣

Ok I’ll bite… is this actually factual?

Deep question...

Guess it's to acquire knowledge and reproduce. 😁

The simple answer is; why not !

everyone in life has a passion of sorts, and we are only here for short while. (Horologicaly speaking) Make the most of your life and enjoy everything you can.

For me that's a bit like asking why do you love your children.

For me, I see the watch as an extension to my personality.. so, I find it fulfiling to search for that watch.. also, I enjoy learning about history and listening to others journey in life as they collect watches..

Could it be that the tools of measuring time distract us from the passing of it?

Watches represent a form of self-expression and a way to showcase individuality and style. Each watch in my collection has a story, a unique feature, or design element that makes it memorable and meaningful to me.

1- because we can

2- as a hobby, it can make a life more fullfilled. Your watch collection can reflects who you are, and it is exciting.

3- there is a community and you can share, which, as a social hobby participate to the fullfillment

4- there is not really a good or bad watch collection You can wear a $100.000 watch a be ass.