Watch collecting - an addiction?
I was recently looking at different watches and going through my mental list of watches I would like to add to my collection, and found myself coming up with arguments to justify the need for adding 10 or more watches to my collection of close to 30 watches.
Why? I own more watches than I could ever objectively need. And why am I so reluctant to sell any, once they have entered one of the watch boxes?
Part of the answer is that I feel drawn to the story a watch tells, to the design and to the engineering that goes into making it work. When I wear a watch, I look at it and it makes me happy to think about these things. Not to mention when I run into someone who shares this interest - “outsiders” think you are mad!! On a more philosophical level, wearing a watch reminds me of the fact that time is the most precious resource of all.
Some of my watches have great sentimental value and are therefore priceless to me. Truth is that the monetary value of a piece is of little interest to me. I only really see price as a limiting factor when admiring a watch - I definitely don’t have unlimited funds.
I am actually very happy with the watches I currently own and I have introduced a “one year - one watch” policy to limit the growth of the collection. (With a “Sell to replace” clause to keep me thinking “what if…”)
Back to finding arguments for buying watches: I managed to convince myself that i really needed to add an Omega Railmaster to my collection based on the usual history-, style-, engineering-, plus getting a good deal arguments. Am I happy with it? Yes, absolutely. It’s an excellent watch and it was a great “2023 watch”.
But here is the point: The urge is back and I am already about to make the 2024 purchase - delivery right after New Year. Yes, watch collecting is an addiction and I don’t know how to get through 2024 without buying more watches…
Time is precious - great watches need not be!
As long as you enjoy it and can afford it, just go with it. Better than spending money on other vices.
Good luck with the new rules you're implementing to keep the addiction in check. I too implemented the same strict regulatory framework to abide by last year, I also vowed to get fit. Needless to say by the end of January neither of these life goals were now a realistic, achievable prospect. The one plus is that I haven't purchased multiple rowing machines throughout the course of the year & my Omega to Rowing Machine ratio remains at a healthy 6:1 ratio in favour of Omega 😜
It’s a sickness that affects us all 😂
Just remember that you’re likely to lose 30% of the purchase price when you move it on. Sometimes I find the financial lose to help act as a deterrent, at least for the spurious purchases.
1 in 1 out is another nice way to limit oneselve. Another way is to consolidate down to 2-3 nice pieces. That way you get to enjoy the pieces more on your wrist as opposed to the watchbox!
My brilliant immigrant dad wore a simple steel Rolex OP circa early 60s whether he was repairing our broken boiler or enjoying a day from his daily grind. I own too many watches, was thinking about his casual lectures about excess last week when I purchased 2 new additions to my stash, he would be disappointed with my spending but I realized a long time ago that I could never rise to his level with my watch affectation and also other habits. I admit to being flawed but not addicted, as long as my dollars wasted on my hobby do no harm to my family or me, I am ok to continue.
As long as you enjoy it and can afford it, just go with it. Better than spending money on other vices.
That’s what I tell my wife 😆
That’s what I tell my wife 😆
I wonder what is her reply to that?