Why do you get watches?

Good question. I didn't own watches for a very long time after the mid 90's and only recently (about two years ago) started wearing them again. For me, one big drive was wanting to return to things in my life that aren't digital. I work in tech and honestly, I'm burnt out on it. I realize the irony of typing that last statement on a computer. haha  

Anyway, I enjoy the wide variety of designs, watchmakers, materials and movements available in the watch world. Maybe it's partially nostalgia, but I've become interested in the history of watch making and horology as well. 

Ah that's really cool and interesting to hear! Thank you for commenting on the post by the way! 

Have worn watches since was a kid. I like shiny things, have spare cash and no other hobbies. Watches it is

Hahah fair enough

to plug a hole in lifelong depression, anxiety, and ptsd, and also therefore legitimize my lunacy spending habits by calling it a hobby?

ah shit

edit: too many sad faces, i didn’t convey that the hobby and the people are providing healthy distraction, and that it’s not all doom and gloom. I am poking fun at myself.

The rotation of the hands symbolizes earth's rotation, and simply screams tempus fugit in a very elegant kind of way.

Appreciation for finer skills that I simply just do not possess. 

I have no idea.

I just do.

I feel like watches, especially mechanical ones, help connect me to physical world and are a reminder to look away from the screen in front of me from time to time.

Of course, it defeats the purpose when I’m constantly online looking at watches…

Telling the time is definitely still important to me, because I live my life mostly without my mobile phone, as hard as it is these days.

But I'm also a collector at heart, and I have been a collector of things of various kinds I appreciate over the years, and watches are one of those things that are collectible. I look at the styles, the specs, and ask myself: this looks good, do I have a watch like that? And if not, I'm intrigued, I might buy it. But I'm not prepared to dedicate huge funds to this hobby, so I keep it cheap and cheerful.

I wear a watch to tell the time primarily, I can't always have a phone with me at work.

Beyond time telling, it comes down to looks, build quality, and practicality. Because those four qualities are my primary deciding factors, I tend to have mostly toolish watches. 

I love to look good when I get to wear something besides scrubs. I feel that watches complete a look. That's why I've gotten into getting a few pieces!

Hear ya brutha

I wear watches because unlike my sneakers, I don't have to ever take a watch off

Love the history of timekeeping and having a bit of it on the wrist.  So many design and mechanical variations makes collecting fun 

For the details. the small differences. the craftsmanship.

At the moment it's an irrational need to have a watch designed for every occasion, I never know when I'll need to know the time in Madagascar or if it's going to be a full moon that night when popping out to get some milk. Also I bought a large watch box off of Amazon and I haven't filled all the slots yet 😂

Saaaaaaaaaame

This might sound like I'm making fun of your question, but, to tell the time. I have this weird fascination about time, and watches feel like the ultimate expression of that. Doesn't matter if it is digital or analogue (mechanical or quartz) sometimes I just like to see the seconds tick along.

I buy and wear watches as a form of expression - I am my choices, my watches are my choices, therefore I am my watches.

I have always liked gadgets and watches are a gadget that I can take everywhere.  I remember my first plastic batman watch that I broke when I wore it in the shower.  I can't remember a time when I didn't where a watch.  

Watches for now are even more intricate and intriguing.  Plus, I'm highly  scheduled and constantly check the time.

I tend to buy watches when I've reached a significant moment. E.g. anniversary, birthday etc.  Every one of my watches has a story behind it. I have been guilty, though in the past of buying a watch because I liked the colour. Usually though it's because of a milestone. 

I'm with @Omega1Day on this one.  My 'nicer' watches all tell a story.  A professional milestone, a wedding, a birth.  When I wear them, it evokes that feeling.  However, that's not what got me to the party.  

What drew me in to begin with was the idea that a mechanical thing can be so precise.  Regardless of what standard your timepiece runs on (COSC, METAS, or none at all)...the idea that a mechanical thing with springs and gears can keep accurate time is incredible to me.  As my watch journey progressed...I started to appreciate all the many elements of what makes this so fun.  Cases.  Bezels.  Precious metals.  Grades of leather!  The list goes on.  Everyone here knows that you can dive deep on any element and there will be a bunch of people there discussing in great detail.  

And now my fascination is with complications.  The Perpetual Calendar...how amazing is that???  

So in the end, it's all about the journey.  And...they tell time too.  Enjoy!

As a wee lad I used to love having watches, specially if the were big digital watches, water resistant so I could swim and with big shiny backlights so I could see in the dark, even use them as a torch. More recently I got back into them because I was interested in having a device to help me in my workouts I bought the first chinese watch that popped in an online store then I was curious about what else was out there that didn't involve conecting it to a phone (and didn't have a touch screen which sucks when you are sweaty), the I got a better watch, then I thought maybe I could get a watch that I could use for swimming, then maybe something for school, something for when i need to wear a suit, then I started looking for my dad's old watches and taking them to a jeweler to get batteries, get them crystals, straps or fix the movements. And slowly but surely I started my little collection. I don't think I'll ever get into luxury, but I think there's still a lot of magic to be found here in the realm of affordable watches. 

Right now I'm looking for the perfect budget GADA (grab anytime do anything) watch, haven't found any outstanding candidates available in my country so it is taking me a while.

Since your question is about getting watches, not wearing watches. The answer is very different... 

I get/buy watches, it works like a therapy, basically it cheers me up, brightens up my day (well definitely longer than a day, much longer) 

I am British Hongkonger, and for the past decade or two, watching this home of mine lost its former glamour and charm under the rule of a bunch of puppets, an authoritarian regime and tyranny, days went by werent pleasant. This place has changed completely, along the people with her as in certain parts of the city, i heard mandarin more often than cantonese, i (we) dont like that. its literally an invasion to us right from the administrative system, legal system, legislative system down to our language, culture, education.... and yes - We lost our freedom. 

So yea, i went back to my second home where i grew up and yet not all of us have a second home to go back to. Despite laying low for the time being, we all need to find a way to keep us going, if you know what i mean, and getting watches is mine 🤝

https://m.festival-cannes.com/en/films/revolution-of-our-times

https://youtu.be/WbBU1AZS8HA

#fightforfreedom #standwithhongkong

Good subject, make me think. I enjoy beautiful things, gadgets, mechanical elegance, engineering genius, classy accessories, appropriate tools, precision and accuracy, collecting things, and something to leave my son to remember me by. Watches tick all the boxes. Plus they display the time. Bonus

I love cars and their mechanics, but I don't have the space to store more that one car. So for me that's when watches came to my life, they are quirky and with history.

I love watches because of how they look, how they feel on my wrist and how they go with various sets of clothes and...because I really like them. I like watches that are brightly coloured, too. Something that keeps me (reasonably) sane is the researching and the combing of the internet to learn more and to read reviews. 

The thing I have to be aware of is that, sometimes,  'expectation is better than realisation'. It can be too easy to pull the trigger. I can be shallow and think: 'it would be so good to have one of those', and just buy it. Fortunately, my collection is of watches at the lower end. And odd thought, but sometimes watches at the lower end can be more interesting than more expensive ones. Watches with cultural or historical watches are the most interesting, for me. 

I get them because they awesome times pieces that we enjoy and admire. And when you take pictures you can always look back and remember.