The 'watch hobby' w/o buying. Possible ?

Sure, why not? I'm a fan/enthusiast of hypercars, F1 (at times), and professional sports, but am I ever going to buy a hypercar or be able to play pro sports? Nope 😀

So continue to be be a fan/enthusiast of watches, and don't worry about not intending to buy one anytime soon or ever.

I think it's like being into fine cigares without smoking them 😅

I hear you, the difference being, perhaps, that many watches are within reach. But you got a point.

lol, yeah. And the more you look at things that you are a fan or enthusiast of, it's kind of like tempting fate and chipping away at your will power. 😀

Yeah that's what I wonder whether or not Ill experience.

I went wild last year, buying 20 watches (average price ~$75) in 10 months. I knew I could not keep that up; financially (to eventually acquire the Grail) or responsibility to my family-wise.

Said I would buy one (or none) per year and even though I've been on here daily, more or less kept my same YouTube channel subscriptions and even thought about buying a couple cheapies (Casio Royale & a Timex moonphase), I'm sticking to the goal I set for myself.

It's really not been difficult as I have an alternate goal to just acquiring more watches.

You can absolutely be an enthusiast without owning one, though before having etched-in opinions, you should at least handle them and try them on. Listening to fools like myself or youtube vids is fine and all, but handling and wearing is different than a spec sheet.

I love cars. Love them. I can talk specs, nerd out about them, but will I ever own a Ferrari GTO, a 1971 GTR, or the latest and greatest rare Porsche? Likely not, but that does not stop my passion for them.

I just bought myself my first 3 digit watch and while it's an awesome citizen promaster and I can't picture buying myself another watch until I fill up my literal piggy bank, so maybe not until next year. And its also come to the point where if I'm somewhere that sells watches, I'm usually wearing something that's way cooler than what's on the shelf, or too close to something I'm already wearing. However I still haven't bought myself a birthday watch this year ha ha ha

I may be actively trying not to buy myself watches but I'm still looking and reading about watches. Luckily there's lots of stuff to look up.

What I did is I made an social media account for preordering watches from abroad. I post and reviewed the watches that I think is cool and hard to find, and then people can preorder it from me. So I got the satisfaction of buying and holding all those watches that I like, without really buying it and spent any money on it. And I can sometimes even get decent profits from it.

Up until this point, what has been your "window" or range of collection? High end? Mid-range? etc.?

I'm not very wealthy (yet) so mostly read about them and [watching] YouTube videos. I have a small, yet functional collection for my needs. It's a pleasure to just look at pictures of watches because I think they are art just like any other painting or sculpture. I've turned my interest more into straps lately because that's a way to get a new look without spending the buck for a new watch. I've had moments where I've not been motivated enough for this hobby and stopped watching and reading so much content but then it eventually comes back again. It's kind of like dandruff.

My two cents:

I think if labels are important, then one can argue that watch fan is different from watch collector. Fans of anything will have opinions, likes, dislikes but may not actively participate in the space. Basketball fans don't necessarily play ball themselves but will know Kareem Abdul Jabbar's stats and will be able to argue using data why Bird is better than Magic or vice versa.

Same with watches. The collectors don't all know exactly what they're collecting but fans I expect to at least know enough about the hobby to be dangerous. Fans will know what a BB58 pertains to, what it looks like, maybe even its dimensions (?) and will have an opinion on why it's an important piece (or not) without ever having held one in their hands. Collectors may get a BB58 because they love collecting Tudor and that may be the only reason why they got a BB58 (this is good enough a reason to get anything).

Collectors can be fans, fans can be collectors. But those two things are not mutually exclusive.

I have no idea what an enthusiast is.

Collect inexpensive, fun stuff, make it a game. too many people are not in it for the love of watches, but for the flex of a name. What do YOU want out of collecting?

I would say this is me. I’m a 2-3 year spread between watches. Partly because I’m slow to build a curated collection, partly other priorities, but I’m still involved and read, get the latest news, etc. It’s a really fun hobby if you stay out of the reseller news.

There’s other ways to enjoy watches - writing about them, reading books, photography, getting involved in meetups, going to watch fairs, etc. Purchasing is definitely how most people get started but isn’t necessary for lifelong enthusiasm.

My bio for this site is arm chair watch collector so... I hope so!

Like most of us, my tactic for every big purchase I make is to do a ton of research beforehand. I read articles, find forums, watch youtube videos etc.

Then once I eventually make the purchase, I continue to obsess and research that specific thing. I also stop looking up competitors or things in the same genre.

After a while I've read and watched everything I could about the watch/car/bike I just bought and it gets boring. So I literally just stop doing any and all research. There's always something newer and shinier so why torture myself?

When I'm ready for the next piece it all starts over again. My obsessions definitely come in waves and it works for me.

Basically if I'm doing research that means I'm going to buy something in the near future. So if I'm not actively looking to buy I try to stay away from looking things up. I guess I'm weak and its too tempting.

I hope you stay strong my man!

But...what if you could afford super cars the way you may be able to afford Casios? :) You sometimes see these ultra wealthy having more toys than the mind would call for.

I just want the wearing experience, more than a high number. I have 2 wrists and 7 days a week, which is why Im trimming down to 5 watches.

I just hope Im going to be able to stick to that instead of always thinking that the grass is greener when it's newer.

I may also have to stop some of my bad habits around that hunt. I just hope i find the right balance, let's see

There is always the option to update your collection. You may not want more watches, but are there watches in your collection that could be improved upon? That's where I am, especially with my mods, but also with other watches.

I might take a cheap clone out of the collection to use its mystery movement to practice the disassembly and reassembly of watch movements.

I may eventually get a more fancy dress watch, but I'm in no hurry. The old watch would have to go, because at about 18 watches I'm probably at the maximum of watches that I can keep at the forefront of my mind. Replacing any of them will be a long and drawn-out process, but I'm looking forward to it. (Aside from all the tinkering.)

Its easy for me, I only really want one watch I can never have. So for me its a game.

Of course you can....Look at all the car fanboys that dont have the opportunity to purchase something now but will someday..same with watch folks. You can follow along and learn from all of our mistakes LOL and when the time is right get exactly what you want as an informed buyer. Enjoy the hobby

Your wrist, your rules. Do you!

Why not? I'm into aviation and planes (...and am secretly still hoping to own one some day, don't know how, but that's a future me problem!) so yeah, I'd say it's possible 🙂

Short answer is yes.

Self control comes with time too. I am much more restrained than used to be only because I found myself impulse buying just to try something. Now if I like something I ponder on it for a while and find most of the time I change my mind. But this time it's for free! I enjoy the watches I do have in between.

I honestly spend alot more time modding watches these days..so I guess that's kinda like buying watches? I just make an old watch a new watch haha.

There are 1.000 and 1 reasons for anything happening on the planet in this universe moreover.

There is no non + ultra, just cause. That in turn lays in the eye of the beholder.

We all are different and should not argue on taste nor preference, hence reason - if it does not affect others nor nature =)

#inaphilosophicalmood