How do you narrow your watch selection choice

I don't buy expensive watches, but even for the affordable ones I have a little fund that I'm filling slowly with the money that I'm not using otherwise. As I'm constantly studying watches, I usually have certain ideas for a next watch in mind, a project or something I would like to try and just dig very deep until I am left with THE ONE choice. And then I just use the part of the fund, or try to save up for the fund to get what I want. For instance. I have 2 projects in mind. One is to make a Space Vostok for me, that is cheap, but requires collecting parts from all around the world. It should look something like this
 

I also want to get the best possible watch for me under 1000 and now I'm in the process of collecting all the options to make a comprehensive table, select categories, get these categories some coefficients and mark every option based on the specs, video and text reviews and everything I will be able to find on the watch. Currently there are 25 options there, but I have only started. 💪

Love the sound of that. I don't think I'd venture into the building watch space, but respect those that do. I currently have a serica in my to buy list but obviously that's 500 odd reduction in funds for the bigger purchases I have in mind. First World problems

I just love everything that Serica is doing. I have a soft spot for vintage inspired watches (everything was better back then). So Serica is very cleverly plays the strings of my soul. The newest GMT is sick. Now I don't know what I like more visually: Serica GMT or Glycine Airman DC4 GMT. Specwise Serica crushes. But Glycine is history. 50/50

💯 with you. Serica and the vintage look/feel is totally my thing. I will be getting one. I'm tossing up the idea if actually going to Paris to purchase in person  for rhe complete experience. Trouble is I will end up buying the Gmt and the Diver blue bezel along with the commando I have decided is the first 🙄 maybe safer online 🤔

Usually, I let the watch speak to me…if I’m more drawn to the specific watch that’s what I will usually choose… My Ad loves to push watches to me to entice me but if it doesn’t speak to me i usually choose the one I’m more drawn too…

yes, id like think I'm that way inclined. I've had certain Rolexes pushed on me for the if you want a superman expectation. i no longer have any interest in that game. my trouble is i like too many watches and mentally want 

I agree…look as much as I try to believe a watch can speak to me… I keep browsing which watch I’m going to get first and the selections is endless…Alas, unfortunately we are the same and both doomed!!! 😵‍💫😂

Me? I have a 'Wristwatch History of my Lifetime' theme to my collection and a list of features I want represented in it. 

I've strayed once or twice, and bought too quickly or duplicated a criteria a few times, but having the criteria helps me to narrow down the field. Then when a watch with the features I'm looking for speaks to me from a design & visual perspective, I do a deeper dive & a broader search in that specific area to find the right watch in the right budget. 

At least that's the intent. Sometimes something falls into my lap and before I know it the credit card is out and #NWA post!

For me there has to be visual appeal combined with a subjective view that the watch fulfills its intended purpose. The appeal can be based upon beauty, functionality, simplicity, practicality, or some other characteristic that strikes me about a given watch. But it is based on looks and purpose, not on brand or status. So, to me, my Casio G-shock solar/atomic is as magnificently practical as my Zenith Elite is gorgeous. 

A blingy dive watch that costs into 5 digits just doesn't do much for me. But a dress watch with some complications in that range may be very appealing.

Nuff' said.

sticking to strict criteria make perfect sense. Kudos to you if you manage this. I've tried to do this previously but there's always that one watch which destroys the criteria. 

this is why i mentioned the tool watch thing. that 90 percent what i should be wearing for the daily use but i can't keep my eyes away from the luxurious fine watchmaking out there. 

My budget won't allow me to get too far into that fine watch making category. Lol.

I MIGHT be able to pull off one >$1K piece and that is reserved for a Speedy.

stick to your guns mate. The speedie is a fine watch. as you may have noticed I went with the mark ii. No regrets.... yet .... 

Ive separated my watch collection into 4 tiers which is how I make buying decisions. Each tier has its own box with limited space. This practically limits my impulse buying...a bit. If one comes in, one goes out. 

The only one I spend any real time pondering is the first tier and that has to be watches I could wear daily, otherwise not worth buying. This is also the only tier where I will go into the >$200 mark.

I think what you wear depends highly on your lifestyle and geography. You might not wear a Rolex in LA for example, but if youre only hanging around posh and secure areas maybe you do? Its just a matter of how comfortable you feel. Some people like wearing their most expensive watches just around the house too. But I would argue you should not buy a watch that will sit in a safe for months on end, seems wastefull.

I like the idea of watch boxes for different tiers, might have to implement this one!

'I think what you wear depends highly on your lifestyle and geography' Agreed. i live i good safe area but i work in a much less desirable place and regularly frequent London which as advertised is a hot bed for watch theft at present, for this reason i would not wear my Rolex or Omega's in these areas. it shouldn't have to be this way, but the thieving scum live amongst us.

Buying an expensive watch just to sit in a safe for me what people do that have more money than sense. unless there a flipper a watch should be bought to enjoy, even if only around the house,

I don't have a grail. I pick a selection of watches I like, and normally go with the watch in that selection that speaks to me the least. (This is a factor of me liking watches that are simply not right for me, meaning that I slowly reduce the list to something I actually wear.)

I personally think that once you have a "base" collection of everyday pieces it is worth to gravitate also to more dressy or occasionaly wear pieces.

I know how you feel. I love IWC as a brand and the designs they have. Yet 80 % of there offerings are way to big 

Let's be honest here. The two main constraints are 1) Money and 2) Wrist time.

Money is the primary constraint for most people. Sure, there are pieces that don't require thousands or tens of thousands to acquire but there is a pretty strong correlation between price and desirability. Nice pieces cost $ and really nice pieces may cost $$$$.

Even if one is really wealthy such that cost is not an issue or can attain joy from boxes full of cheap watches, the fact that we only wear 1 piece at a time (most people and most occasions) means there has to be some selectivity to make sure we aren't just mindlessly hoarding. What do you want to represent about yourself and your collection with your limited wrist time?

I had decided to not pick any professional watches (divers, pilots, military/field and so on) when I was in the process of closing off my collection. The reason was that my OCD could make it hard to cut of my collection because I probably would want one of each kind.

But the Seiko Tuna snuck in never the less at the last second... But it feels right. Seiko and especially divers was very important to me early on in my collecting.

So let's hope it doesn't cause problems 🙃

I use to make s list of characteristics I would like in a watch and then start searching in base of that... For example:

Screw down crown is a must ( after drink some whiskey I use to forget to quit my watch before taking the shower)

Sapphire crystal is another must... Or I'll scratch it before the day ends.

40mm is a need... Or I'll need to use glasses. 

Has to be mechanical

I need lume during night.... Etc then i use those filters and make a list of the watches that match that... Then my budget ending the decision

?

Love the whiskey story 😂 man after my heart 👍 

Completely appreciate your critia. Logical sense for sure 

Seriously...

Financially, I COULD buy the watch currently worming it's way into my brain, but then I WOULD be sleeping in the spare bedroom for a bit. 

Better save that purchase for my birthday in 4 months.  

Ditto. Would love a pilot chronograph but no way it's fitting me 

@woodcut like this 😕 shame it's so big, obviously the big pilot I'm pretending that fits

I don't narrow down my selections - that's my problem...(as my wife reminds me constantly)

When my wife would ask me about "A" or "B" - my answer: "Why choose?"

My way for narrowing down my choices is by waiting. Leaving aside spec sheets or collecting strategies all together: if after a year I still lust after watch X, I either buy it or, if it's more expensive, seriously start saving up for it

Doesn't work for people who need instant gratification, but since we a) don't need these anachronistic artefacts anyway and b) the chase is always better than the catch, this has worked well for me.

With me I narrow it down with size, style and brand. I can see myself owning a high end watch one day. but for now I just got basic watches with different variation with my style and looks since I have small wrist not going to go all over board. I try not to go over board its been a while now purchase another watch. Carefully I'm being picky and selective to certain brands and watches. The highest I will go is quasi-luxury I be satisfied.

It’s taken me years…..and 100’s of watches to finally have an easy  filter to apply 

1.  Lug to lug max48mm…… anything else doesn’t fit my wrist 
2. 20mm max lug width…. I don’t like anything over that 
3. hand set has to be a decent size, my 60 year old eyes can’t see small thin hands.
4. anything after that is in play.

I have general guides, but my tastes clearly evolve. I have divers and chronographs in my collection, both were not on my radar at the start. I’m fortunate to be able to acquire watches over a a wide price range. I would not buy anything I’d be afraid to wear though, that would diminish the experience a lot for me. I love the designs of AL&S for example, but I have a pretty informal lifestyle now, so wonder if they would really get wrist time. I’m debating on JLC now, that probably will happen in the net year, but it will get worn.