Never show your collection to someone who does not ask you about it.
I have been making a collection of watches for about 4 years(I have about 100 pieces now), I dreamed this since I was very young, they are all digital watches(for me those watches were magic when I was a child), now all of course are mostly vintage.
Well the thing is that sometimes perhaps because of my enthusiasm I have proudly offered to show my collection to relatives and some visitors(friends) who do not know anything about watches, or who only think that a valuable watch is the one that costs a lot of money, where I honestly end up feeling like an idiot trying to explain the value of my collection for me, is not a good sensation! they only asked for the price of the pieces or why those are not expensive brands, and I feel like I did something wrong inviting someone to read and see a piece of my mind.
I don't know if this has happened to anyone else, but I wanted to share it perhaps to prevent some other enthusiast who collects specific watches from experiencing the same thing and follow my advice: Never show your collection to someone who does not ask you about it.
Thank you and keep the time! 😀
I only collect what I like, fan of vintage digital watches...
That’s why we’re here. Most hobbies have a “Others won’t get it/think you’re weird” aspect to them. Thankfully we have the internet.
That’s why we’re here. Most hobbies have a “Others won’t get it/think you’re weird” aspect to them. Thankfully we have the internet.
Definitely! 100% true!
My older brother and my brother in law asks me about my collection all the time but I feel it’s too personal to show like showing your colllection if if undies… thats just me though… but I did share it and my older brother want to take some of my Oris and keep it lol and I said NO! I did show my brother in law half of the collection…but off course they did ask… I’ll will never show my collection if not asked
My older brother and my brother in law asks me about my collection all the time but I feel it’s too personal to show like showing your colllection if if undies… thats just me though… but I did share it and my older brother want to take some of my Oris and keep it lol and I said NO! I did show my brother in law half of the collection…but off course they did ask… I’ll will never show my collection if not asked
Well my sister began her own collection because of me, she my wife and my daughter are the only ones I fell comfortable talking about my collection now (including this web site of course) , but I learn by experience that what you wrote, is too personal, cheers!!
I also collect vacuums. People look at me cross-eyed when every closet they open sits two or three vacuums neatly lined up. Showing my over 60 watches to the uninterested is less bludgeoning. At the end of the day I may wince a little at myself…but ultimately remember these freak-show gawkers can pound sand.
When I recently started collecting again, I spoke about this to some friends. I had this dream about showing off my newly acquired erudition :-). I realized immediately that it wouldn't go as planned. When I mentioned that I'd spent $7k in the last 3 months on watches, one guy said wait that's only one watch. As if he would ever spend that much haha. Then another girl started talking about how some guy had offered her a Reverso to impress her. And they had all the usual public's misunderstanding about 'Swiss made' and Chinese watches, etc. I realized it would take way too much work to bring them up to speed on current developments, so I let it go.
I have watches that no one has seen except me and whoever was involved in the manufacturing or selling of it. I have shared most of my collection here, but not all...
I guess I shouldn't show my relatives my other collection then?
When I first started getting into watches, I had a desire to share my enthusiasm with my friends. I quickly realized that most folks would rather sign up for a full evening of watching paint dry than talk about watches. That's one of the great things about WatchCrunch - it's a great place to be able to discuss this crazy hobby with like minded people.
Don’t share any collection or hobby with someone who isn’t interested.
Even my wife doesn't have the complete idea of my full collection 🤫. Only person who knows is my 4 yr old and she loves every single piece, or at least she claims to 😂
There is the saying about people that know the price of everything and the value of nothing. I wish I could remember what museum I was in where some visitor kept asking what all the curated historical artifacts on display were worth. Like he was casing the joint instead of maybe learning something. I really wanted to defenestrate that guy.
Were it not for my awareness of this type of bugman, I'd blame your docent skills.
I guess I shouldn't show my relatives my other collection then?
A veritable gnomegasm!
I guess I shouldn't show my relatives my other collection then?
I knew Max did give you a sleeveless jacket 😆
This is, essentially, the way to behave around any hobby. Even stuff like showing your holiday snaps to people; you show them to people who ask. Even then, probably half of those people are only showing an interest to be polite. The average person doesn't care a jot about our hobbies, where we've been, or anything else that we want to rave on about for hours. Some people "get" this, and some people don't.
I guess I shouldn't show my relatives my other collection then?
Actually a very good point. A watch collection may not be all that exciting to many people, but it is at least easy to explain.
Well it goes the otherway too. I own few fairly expensive watches and was wearing one of them in a party. It was a rolex, so people know it costs a lot, but then again most people think 1000€ is a lot for a watch.
One guy came to me and started asking how much the watch cost and I was trying to dodge the issue and say all those things we enthusiasts say. I doesen't matter, it's about the feeling and it was fairly costly, but that's not the point ect.
Then another guy who knows about watches just came and said the price.
The way the guy looked at me with like pity in his face, like he thought I was an idiot for paying that much for a watch. He obviously liked the watch before he heard tje price.
That is the only time anyone has, outside of the hobby, been interested in my watch and wasn't the most uplifting moment.🤣
Pearls before swine.
We all here would like to see said collection....
I will show the collection, I will take the photos today, I am sure that here I will be able to show them with pride...hehe
it´s like a collegue who returns from vacation and wants to show me like 200 fotos of his holidays....then I think, just show me 2 or 3, the most spectacular and/or funny ones...I don´t give 2 sh*ts seeing the rest......so you´re right, only show your watch collection if you are asked....don´t impose to show it
I guess I shouldn't show my relatives my other collection then?
NICE!
Just as this applies to real life, personal social media accounts should be treated the same. I made the mistake of sharing my fountain pen and watch collections on my personal social media accounts and just got questions later that were not worth my time. My Instagram is mostly dedicated to fountain pens but lately, I have been posting watches. I forgot that little slider option that connects to Facebook when you post. I'll never do that again.
Don't worry about it. Most folk will never appreciate your collection, especially if they are non-watch folk. What's important is that its valuable to you and the joy it brings. Non of my friends and family understand or are even interested in my collection... also for me it's not about ££s value. An F91W is as relevant as a Seiko, Omega or Rolex.. you keep your collection and enjoy it.... we collectors will always appreciate what you have...
I also collect vacuums. People look at me cross-eyed when every closet they open sits two or three vacuums neatly lined up. Showing my over 60 watches to the uninterested is less bludgeoning. At the end of the day I may wince a little at myself…but ultimately remember these freak-show gawkers can pound sand.
Interesting: is there an online community like Watchcrunch (vacuumcrunch?) for others with similar esoteric interests?
Interesting: is there an online community like Watchcrunch (vacuumcrunch?) for others with similar esoteric interests?
Several. Vacuumland is one of them.
Your advice works for so many other things: "Never show your _______ to someone who does not ask you about it."
Might keep you out of prison too! ;-)
I also collect vacuums. People look at me cross-eyed when every closet they open sits two or three vacuums neatly lined up. Showing my over 60 watches to the uninterested is less bludgeoning. At the end of the day I may wince a little at myself…but ultimately remember these freak-show gawkers can pound sand.
@DariusII your vacuum hobby sucks.
;) dad jokes.
That's why I never (use to) write write about my amazing collection of 1/18 scale cars here...
Two of 65 die cast 1/18 scale replicas...
That's why I never (use to) write write about my amazing collection of 1/18 scale cars here...
Two of 65 die cast 1/18 scale replicas...
Oh guao!! Looks like a real size cars! Amazing!
That's why I began to collect them... I will in good time (maybe next year or so) publish a huge gallery over my collection in my vantechmag.com magazine... You can also message me your email address and then can I email you the finest!