What makes you like a watch?
Purchasing a watch is a highly emotional moment, or at least it's one for me because I haven't been able yet to find a logical reason for getting a wristwatch. So what cause us to root for one watch while ignoring others?
Is it reputation or brand recognition? Perhaps, maybe, IDK. It does explain why some people are excited to show off very banal looking watches, but it doesn't explain why they didn't buy something else instead.
Is it workmanship? There are some brands that push their level of finish and attention to details to extreme, but then there are also other brands, like one whose name start with a S and ends with an O but is absolutely not Seiko, that have the opposite reputation and they still do very well. So it follows that either we are exceptionally good at finding excuses for our poor decisions, or quality isn't such an important selling point after all.
Is it Heritage and history? Please don't make me laugh, and don't go there. Here, take this pocket watch, or even better - this sundial which was used by Pythagoras, and this large wristwatch next to it never went to the moon, and if it's too small then this other one was used to time bombing raids on civilians during WW2. Also take this with you, it's dangerous out there.
Thematical collection? I don't get this, but I know that other enthusiasts get wobbly knees whenever they think about improving or finishing a "perfect" collection.
It doesn't work for me but what does is a combination of habit and looking for the unusual. I can't think of myself without a watch because this is what I'm used to do since I was a kid, and that was a LONG time ago. This explain why roughly half of my watches are very plain, have a dated design, are simple looking and are well...cheap.
The other watches were purchased because there was "something" there that caught my attention. In the case of the Yema Wristmaster it's undeniably the cream dial with its unusual looking indices. There are other features that I like, but this cross hair dial was what really pulled me in.
It really doesn't explain anything is it? Well, this is where you get to help and tell me about your own reasons.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
Ummmmmm well shucks. You kinda hit them all for me hahahaha
At a certain point I realized a big part of watch collecting (or any collecting) for me is about having a microcosm to examine my own values and tastes. It's a game to learn about watches and refine which ones I respond to and which ones I could care less about. When I first got into them, the Rolex Submariner seemed like the ultimate. But now that I've tested my taste and experimented with different designs, a Sub is pretty low on my list. Also it's hard for me to buy things AT ALL for myself, so I get a little thrill out of plunking over a few hundred dollars for another chance to learn about who I am.
Also watches are cool.
For me it seems I've gotten fussier and more demanding that everything must line up for starters,
No mineral or hardlex, sapphire all the way, screw-crowns, No push on case backs,
The draw seems to be toughness, usually with boring black dials and a great lumed legible handset (Not cathedral or Merc)
Bomb proof and waterproof ultimately with the ability to stay un-scratched, look good and still keep time,
I have been leaning towards more quartz watches lately, looking at the Citizen PMD56,
I have owned a few pro master tough (Ray Mears), good but not their yet,
Over-engineered bomb proof on a budget is my kind of thing.
For me it seems I've gotten fussier and more demanding that everything must line up for starters,
No mineral or hardlex, sapphire all the way, screw-crowns, No push on case backs,
The draw seems to be toughness, usually with boring black dials and a great lumed legible handset (Not cathedral or Merc)
Bomb proof and waterproof ultimately with the ability to stay un-scratched, look good and still keep time,
I have been leaning towards more quartz watches lately, looking at the Citizen PMD56,
I have owned a few pro master tough (Ray Mears), good but not their yet,
Over-engineered bomb proof on a budget is my kind of thing.
Just due to the bombproof references, just sayin....🫣...I sense a need for a Holton Pro in your life 😂.
https://elliotbrownwatches.com/en-us/blogs/journal/is-holton-professional-bomb-proof
Since I view myself as an enthusiast AND a collector I guess I have two parts.
And mostly they are about Micros, cuz I honestly believe for most this is where you get the best bang for buck, and i like to support the little guys.
Reminds me of way back when, there were tons of mom and pop watch brands, mainly localized to your area. @Aurelian has spoken about it ad nauseum, follow his stuff it's better written.
Part One: Some new micro that has a different take/riff on classic pieces or maaking an interesting tool diver. Imperial, Momentum, Arken, Elliot Brown, etc.
Part Two: Buying into a certain brand. For example I REALLY enjoy the quality to price ratio of Helm, so I actively collect each model.
I would say the same for Lorier. I admire the design ethos, the company, and have REALLY started to enjoy Acrylic. So much so that I am now working on a second "collection" acrylic only tool watches.
Just due to the bombproof references, just sayin....🫣...I sense a need for a Holton Pro in your life 😂.
https://elliotbrownwatches.com/en-us/blogs/journal/is-holton-professional-bomb-proof
YES !!!, now that's what I want, thank you !
It is a little bit of everything you mentioned. There is no one thing and often some factors aren't nearly as important for a particular watch that may be important for another.
For instance, an Omega Planet Ocean is an incredible watch with clean design, excellent workmanship, a solid reputation, basically checking all the boxes. On the other end, how about that diablo cased Captain America watch with automatic movement from Invicta? No where near the quality, reputation, etc., of the Omega but at the same time it checks one button big time which overrides the others, that being design. I absolutely love it.
On the one hand it is a logical conclussion. On the other, just simple emotional attachment to the aesthetics.
For me History & heritage are part of a brand's reputation, along with craftsmanship, materials and quality.
Those are the determining factors whether I fancy a watch or not...
....but budget dictates whether I buy or not !!!
For me it seems I've gotten fussier and more demanding that everything must line up for starters,
No mineral or hardlex, sapphire all the way, screw-crowns, No push on case backs,
The draw seems to be toughness, usually with boring black dials and a great lumed legible handset (Not cathedral or Merc)
Bomb proof and waterproof ultimately with the ability to stay un-scratched, look good and still keep time,
I have been leaning towards more quartz watches lately, looking at the Citizen PMD56,
I have owned a few pro master tough (Ray Mears), good but not their yet,
Over-engineered bomb proof on a budget is my kind of thing.
I'm not dismissing what you say because you made a coherent argument explaining your preferences, but maybe you should reconsider your stance on sapphire if you are serious about the bomb proofing.
Sapphire is terrible for shock resistance, if you value resilience then acrylic is the way to go IMO.
Since I view myself as an enthusiast AND a collector I guess I have two parts.
And mostly they are about Micros, cuz I honestly believe for most this is where you get the best bang for buck, and i like to support the little guys.
Reminds me of way back when, there were tons of mom and pop watch brands, mainly localized to your area. @Aurelian has spoken about it ad nauseum, follow his stuff it's better written.
Part One: Some new micro that has a different take/riff on classic pieces or maaking an interesting tool diver. Imperial, Momentum, Arken, Elliot Brown, etc.
Part Two: Buying into a certain brand. For example I REALLY enjoy the quality to price ratio of Helm, so I actively collect each model.
I would say the same for Lorier. I admire the design ethos, the company, and have REALLY started to enjoy Acrylic. So much so that I am now working on a second "collection" acrylic only tool watches.
I agree that micro brands are currently where the more interesting models are brewing.
The big brands don't have any real incentive to shake the stage too much because they are already established and will gain nothing from trying to be too bold or innovative.
It is a little bit of everything you mentioned. There is no one thing and often some factors aren't nearly as important for a particular watch that may be important for another.
For instance, an Omega Planet Ocean is an incredible watch with clean design, excellent workmanship, a solid reputation, basically checking all the boxes. On the other end, how about that diablo cased Captain America watch with automatic movement from Invicta? No where near the quality, reputation, etc., of the Omega but at the same time it checks one button big time which overrides the others, that being design. I absolutely love it.
On the one hand it is a logical conclussion. On the other, just simple emotional attachment to the aesthetics.
This is why I started by admitting that for me, the whole process of buying a watch is mostly based on emotions and not on logic.
I'm not dismissing what you say because you made a coherent argument explaining your preferences, but maybe you should reconsider your stance on sapphire if you are serious about the bomb proofing.
Sapphire is terrible for shock resistance, if you value resilience then acrylic is the way to go IMO.
Friend, did you watch that video above about Elliott Brown? They literally blew the watch up 3 times!!
Friend, did you watch that video above about Elliott Brown? They literally blew the watch up 3 times!!
Yes I did but color me unimpressed. Surviving a shockwave from a 250gr of explosive isn't a big deal. I survived a 22Kg blast from a D30 artillery shell back in 1982 and I'm not made of sapphire.
Yes I did but color me unimpressed. Surviving a shockwave from a 250gr of explosive isn't a big deal. I survived a 22Kg blast from a D30 artillery shell back in 1982 and I'm not made of sapphire.
But did your face get scratched?
I'm not abhorrent to acyclic but it will scratch easier than sapphire
But did your face get scratched?
I'm not abhorrent to acyclic but it will scratch easier than sapphire
I managed OK, I'm not against sapphire, but it's really not the best if you care about impact resistance. Acrylic does scratch, true. But it's also true that it's ridiculously easy to buff it back to a pristine condition and it's scratch resistance can be improved with liquid glass.
I like this one aloe Claude! Reminded me of an HMT watch honesty but the dial color way is something to brag about. I like the big crown on it as well relative to the case size that is. There isn’t a logical reason why we get wrist watches. Like an Apple Watch makes more sense logically but then is doesn’t when you have a phone other then cheicking you heart rate. Point is we do it for the passion not the practicality. Functional jewelry. At the same time that it doesn’t make any sense name something as old as watches that is still around today being used! I Got to respect that.