Am i really into watches or am i just a brand cautious person?

I think you might be questioning whether you truly appreciate the watch for what it is or if you only find it appealing based on other people’s opinions and the social status tied to wearing a Rolex. If that’s the case, perhaps ask yourself would you still want one if no one could ever see you wearing it? The answer to that should resolve the matter. 

For me, it's both. I have to like the watch design itself, the craftsmanship as well as the brand. I try to only collect watches were the brand reflects something about me. I want the brands story to be apart of mine in a way. I guess a third layer would be how others see the brand on my wrist, for this reason I think I would stay away from Rolex. (I'm more of a Omega man) 

In the beginning, I was more brand conscious, simply because advertising works. Entering this hobby, everyone is at least aware of Rolex, Omega and Seiko. But my interests have branched out since those early days. Things that I never would have paid attention to, have become interesting. 

It's hard to separate the two sometimes; brand history and stories are themselves products of marketing. Strapping one to the wrist of polar explorers or mountain climbers, sending them underwater with professional and military divers, and everything else part of the Rolex story was done, in part, by marketers. This isn't to say that brand stories don't matter and that your interest is invalid either way. 

In fact, it really means whatever reason is a fine reason to be into watches, or anything, as long as you can actually afford to spend what you do on it. That's what I'd say at least.

Buy a £8.00 Casio, and give the rest to the homeless?

Both 🙌🏼

But with the being said i dont like seeing whats happening with rolex at the moment, i hardly wear them anymore. I converted to become a seikopath, pagans approach lol. 

My dad has a steel and gold Rolex oyster perpetual date just and before he had a steel and gold submariner, so for me its partly because of him, but I also really like their designs.  

I think if you’re wearing a watch to impress anyone other than watch enthusiasts, you should definitely buy a Rolex. It’s the only brand for that, nothing else even comes close.

If you’re buying it strictly for your own enjoyment then the brand can still matter. A way to clear this up for yourself might be to look at some excellent, honest and shameless homages. If they also tickle your fancy then you’re probably more in love with the design than the brand. Steinhart has some excellent, shameless and honest Rolex homages.

Do you know a lot about the mechanics of watches? I think for a high end luxury Swiss watch to make sense in a mechanical enthusiasm perspective, I think you have to be honest with yourself about whether you appreciate the anachronistic aspect. On some level you have to love the tradition, the history and the exquisite but futile pursuit of precision through obsolete technology. Any Casio digital will beat it in precision and a Grand Seiko will beat it both in precision and the smoothness of the second hand sweep.

I Bought 3 Rolexs and I use the brand name as justification for the purchase. It’s a brand that Doesn’t lose its price. Unlike a car that depreciates in value. I bought and sold a milgauss for the same price. There are watches that love like Sinn and Sérica but I’m afraid of purchasing and if I want to sell it be hard pressed to find a buyer.

Hi, thankfully I’m immune to the Rolex bug, but I totally understand your feelings, I have the same for Vacheron, it’s irrational, but my wallet says Hamilton auto or even Swatch Sistem51.