Bites: How to face the biggest fear in watch collecting.

I generally take so long to make purchase decisions that even my impulse buys afford me enough time to decide if I really want the piece. This strategy certainly results in a lot of missing out, and I’ve been struck by FOMO before as well. I overthink everything and as a result have a curated watch collection due to most potential impulse buys being purchased by someone else, before I finalise my decision. 😂

Nowadays I maintain a permanent list of pieces I intend to acquire in the future, the only issue is deciding which ones to purchase first.

🙏✨Confucius say....WatchGeckos got Zulu straps on discount✨ Great read as usual👍

Have you every considered starting a watch blog? You should.

The phenomenon that you describe with eBay is one that I have experienced. I am buying many fewer watches recently. I don't care that I may never see a particular version of a generic Swiss brand again. My box is filled with them. I am learning to enjoy what I have.

However, I can't completely break the cycle. I have bought a few vintage watches from an eBay seller that also has a brick and mortar store in the U.S. These are some of my best watches. They came exactly as described. Last week they had a Gruen "military" style watch listed. My ears pricked up at that description. Gruen famously missed out on all WWII military contracts because it was feared that they could not get their movements from Switzerland to Ohio to meet the contract demands. Gruen redirected its military designs to airline pilots, especially those making long distance flights and the Gruen Pan American was born. Pan Americans are among the most collectible mid-century Gruens. So, down the rabbit hole I went: checking all the obsessive Gruen sites and forums, reading every WUS Gruen post, learning what I could.

Somewhere in the mail is a Pan American coming my way. I rationalize the purchase just as you have described. It cost less then the dinner that I bought my family at a Japanese restaurant on Saturday. Look at the money that I saved. I didn't let it go. I didn't miss out.

The flip side is that it frees me to sell a watch. Perhaps I am lucky that I don't miss them when they go. Not once.

That badges debacle last week was not good, very not good. The former something with lasers increased his total by 44 new badges. So, he got a new name. The CWC wearer was dead last. He and the Casio Duro wearer each get an asterisk, their first. No word search for Wednesday. Friday's WRUW must be at sunset. Saturday's WRUW must be at sunrise. Wear another watch.

I know from experience that limited editions is not for me. My thought process is way too slow for them. They are long gone when I finally decided I want one. No real FOMO though except for that Seiko blue ginza.

I’ve had limited editions. I didn’t go looking for them. I found them in my ADs display case and I liked them. When I sold a couple of them, they weren’t worth more than others and not close to MSRP either.

I did buy one limited edition because it was limited but only because I was able to buy number 1/95. I felt that was pretty special.

As a rule, I pay little attention to limited editions unless they make it in a variation that I really, really like. But by then I have usually missed the release and can’t get one anyway. Which is fine by me. I was never their target market.

A wonderful read! And I read in one sitting!! Got me captivated and very very relatable .

I fell and constantly falling into this pit of FOMO largely because being friends with your AD is not good lol… but that’s my fault. I personally is in a lull with watches and which is good like you said and trying to enjoy what I have…and not fall into the Pitt again…

The pain of endless researching is a problem I get too. I have no idea how to help with that though, so let me know when you figure it out 🫣

Limited editions generally put me off because I really do feel like they are a manipulation.

I think perhaps the consequences of FOMO are worst when it's a watch that you don't absolutely love, but you think you might really like and would be a good fit with your collection. At least if you absolutely love it, the purchase can be justified on the grounds you might have missed it, and you're still really happy with it. Yet those watches which would be a good fit, but you might like time to consider, present the greatest problems when time limited. Normally you'd leave it, and come back later if possible, but the FOMO forces you to buy now.

eBay and an interest in lesser known or vintage brands must be the worst for this.

Allied to FOMO, nowadays, must surely also be FOPI - Fear of Price Inflation!

I view limited editions as annoying rather than desirable. Surely the only reason you would make a watch limited is to drive people to desire it more than they otherwise would. It just feels too blatant in its sales tactics.

I wonder how well some of these collaboration watches would do if they weren't limited.

I have the same issue!

My AD is really lovely... which makes him an excellent salesman!

The fact I have no money stops me getting too carried away 😆

JOMO!

EBay is a real temptation zone. Especially if it’s something that with a new strap and a bit of polishing will look awesome. Not to mention ladies watches if you have someone who will wear them and enjoy them once you sort them out.

Haha wow! Amazing photo @outoforder

I don’t know if they put me off but not seldom they are a variation of classic configuration on the original. Why change perfection?

Thank you @Whitesalmon and @Deeperblue, it’s an honor to sport the badge, I’ll wear it proudly! And to my fellow winner @OutOfOrder, congrats! Very creative “get dry” alternative take, love it! 👏🏻

I might just have torpedoed my 1-watch-plan because of the damn FOMO.. Also I probably didn't handle well, my plan to wait for a sale or second hand price on my "backup" watch. So trying to save and be good really did cost me this time around....

It’s well deserved! Great shot!

Maybe you can consider a 1-W plus a rotating guest watch? You'll likely loose some money every time you rotate, but at least you can keep that FOMO under control with something new every year.

The FOMO is real. You described eBay vintage watches, I have Amazon and Casio's with the same dilemma.

I did however just recently beat out my own FOMO for a Baltic MR01. I was sooo close to buying one for Father's day. Then I reconsidered if it really fits in my collection, other things I can buy for that price, the movement, etc.....ended up buying a Seiko 5 on sale instead haha. And honestly I really enjoy the Seiko so much more and can see myself wearing it more often.

Even my latest Vario acquisition was an impulse buy. Determined I "needed" a rectangle dress watch. It actually is a very nice watch, but my FOMO comes from "checking off the box" sometimes and that also does not work let me tell you. There are too many variations and subcategories, you just end up creating more checkboxes in the end.

Great read as always!

Maybe 🤔 I would need to decide on a limit I think.. One a year maybe? But what if I want to keep it 😅 I hope to keep this as my second watch... But it's not as versitile, so it's not a true backup... I dunno! I feel like I'm going a bit crazy...

Mine is not necessary FOMO but more about the fear of not knowing (FONK!) and then missing out, i.e. the Lorier Worn & Wound Hydra II limited edition. Completely missed that announcement. Sigh...

I feel like I'm going a bit crazy...

This is the watch enthusiast mantra friend hahaha.

As long as you have a second watch you will technically always have a backup. I still think you should e kept a Casio or GShock. Those don't count lol! Even a good old A168 is something everyone can own without any sense of guilt. Spend the extra $10 for a screen protector and you're covered.

I feel FOMO but it's a weak force, I can't think of a time when it's motivated actual actions.

But FOBP - Fear Of Being Played? That's super real for me. Hype watches, game playing, building a relationship all feel like some person at an AD or brand is pulling my strings, getting me to dance to their tune and laughing at me the whole time. FOBP has made me draw a line through a bunch of brands even when I might like their watches.

Fear can br an Acronym F = False E = Expectations A = Appearing R = Real

Congrats to @HorologyHype, I love how dynamic that shot is! And thank you to @Deeperblue for hosting and @Whitesalmon for judging too! Pleasantly surprised to see I won, there were a lot of really nice shots last week 😅

I asked for the additional badge if possible as I thought your pic was out of the box. surrealistic, well composed and super funny!🎯

Thank you for addressing this so concisely. There are a number of psychological aspect to this hobby that nag at the back of my brain. Thanks for bringing them to the fore and helping address the issues.

Why in the world was the blue ginza a limited edition? Seiko could have sold many more of those. Maybe that dial is too difficult to make? Of course, trying to figure why Seiko does anything is a waste of time.

Perhaps the answer to FOMO is buying what you really like, and then setting the bar for the next one very hifh, perhaps unattainably so. That way, you get to enjoy what you like already, then postpone the next one indefinitely. In the process you are even able to save up and not waste tje money on your lesser desires. Works so far for me 😁