Is watch collecting becoming more of a competition rather than a hobby?

There’s really no competition, just with yourself and what you want from your collection. There is very little flex culture here. I think there’s genuine appreciation for each other’s collection and I haven’t seen much bragging or gatekeeping. For me, I was more impressed by a Crunchers with a Timex museum than a box full of Rolexes. Stay humble and remember that there’s always a bigger fish.

I’m not talking about anyone on here just in general. Sorry I should have mentioned that in my thread. I have nothing against anyone here. But I have come across those on other forums who love to look down on someone who can’t or refuses to drop thousands on watches.

People have acted like this about any number of things forever.

Just as in life, someone will always have it better. The important thing is that you love what you buy and wear and not worry if it's worthy or not. I have luxury watches but I love all of them and treat them even down to my cheapest duro with the utmost care. Almost babying them but now I'm getting better at just telling myself if it gets scratched or dirty it OK.

Just my Opinion of course. It's a very interesting topic. Although I have not been on many forums I have been on enough to see that unless you have a 10k watch your either ignored and made to feel inadequate. I must say on the whole that WC is more welcoming to everyone. Of course you can get people who are disrespectful or snobbish unless you have an expensive collection. Somebody posted yesterday (not saying who lol) and I managed to not respond or make a negative comment, I noticed he didn't get many likes or replies. Most of my collection is affordable with the majority coming in at under £150. I have a couple of more expensive watches that took me a long time to save for. Is it competitive, for some for sure, but not for me. I go for the design and how it looks and feels and is it well made. Then I hope it's in my budget! As for GTG (took me a while to work that one out, doh !) I haven't been to one but happy to yak Casio all day long with anyone. It is true that the more premium brands have more GTG but I would rather be down the pub talking to others about that Seiko find in a junk shop, or their 22 year old Lorus that was posted today by @Solrighal.

If you’re talking about posting on WC, than I think the competition might be all in your head bud. I feel sharing a new a watch or a collection is just wanting to find ways to talk with like-minded folks what you particularly treasure or happy about. Sometimes we just want to share the excitement with others who care about the same things. I personally don’t care how many Rolexes (Rolexi?) the other guy has… but am happy for him if it’s something they are excited about.

As far as Rolex GTGs, it’s a good bet the most expensive watches are also the most rare… and a GTG might be the first time new folks may ever have an opportunity to see a Big Red or a Paul Newman in person. I am sure there is a bit of show-off happening, but I don’t necessarily think it’s about bragging about who has the bigger wallet. I’d imagine it’d be the same sentiment behind a Casio meet up… a Hamilton meet up… a Longines meet up, etc. I have zero interest in owning a G-Shock but would happily attend a GTG to talk to folks there - especially if it meant I could see some rarer Casio models.

Just my 2 cents of course. 👍

I'm quite new to the hobby and this site. I had some concerns coming into the hobby of the kind of competition you are referring to. For the most part I have been pleasantly surprised at the support, not only here on this forum where it is definitely the norm, but elsewhere in the industry.

People, especially watch people, like to show their stuff.

Seiko lovers show Seikos.

Casio lovers show Casios.

Rolex lovers show Rolex.

Regular collectors show a representation of their stuff.

On every. single. forum.

Not quite sure where you're coming from. People like to show their watches, whatever they have.

It's only a competition among the luxury brand YouTubers because they have to stay relevant somehow by outbuying each other. I don't think any of the Rolex 'tubers even like watches that much, they just have to flex and look like they are doing better than everyone else to keep their seething audience of hate-watchers satisfied.

Of course, when you compare what any of the YouTubers have in comparison to someone actually rich who collects watches, or to any of the watch stores who are only too happy to keep selling the watches to them, it renders it all even more ludicrous. They'll always be outclassed by the billionaires with trayfuls of Cartier Tanks dating back to prehistoric times, for instance.

On here, there are a few flexers who usually get ignored, then muted and blocked, but generally, people just have huge collections because they are mentally ill like me and can't stop buying.

I'm currently battling a Swatch addiction. I just bought another one (5 minutes ago), so I'm failing badly, but it's in no way a flex nor am I in competition with anyone.

Only a competition if you make it one.

Discussions on the inner workings or design of the watch is much more interesting than SoTC IMO. For example, digging into how/why Spring Drive was created is truly fascinating and more rewarding in this hobby.

Got it and appreciate the context. Yeah, WC is different in that there's little of the negatives. Watch collecting is a weird hobby in general. You're going to get all types. I'm a firm believer in karma.

I feel bad for you, you clearly said you weren’t talking about people on here yet at least a couple posts found it helpful to tell you “if” you’re talking about people on here etc etc…. They proved your posts message in essence. A lot of collectors seem unhappy so they try to be rude in a clever way or sometimes in a not clever way. Like when someone posts an NWA and the next guy says hey that’s a real nice Seiko, I have a “BB” (cuz I’m too cool lol) that looks just like it. Who knew!?! Is Tudor ripping off Seiko? You got a great buy there. LoL as if no one notices. Just my opinion, same as how they reminded you not to go makin’ trouble on here even though you said you weren’t talking about people on here 🌈

I don’t see it as a competition.

That said, there’s always that segment of society (men especially) that make all a competition in life.

Bigger truck, house, faster car even down to my kid graduated at a better school.

Sad little people that probably come up short elsewhere if you know what I mean.

If anyone is using a watch collection to compete with other people then all they are really doing is waving their wallet around. A watch collection represents the owner, so mine is in a makeshift cardboard box (I'm cheap) with old (clean) socks as pillows and over half my watches are pre loved. I might put a picture up occasionally but that is more for my benefit than anyone else's. I've found expensive watches don't really impress people on WC, interesting watches do.

watch collection is fine.

People who want competition are collecting music gear.

For some sure, but for most on WC, nah.

I attend A LOT of watch enthusiast gatherings where having something rarely seen will draw more attention than having something common but pricey.

Many collectors (myself included) leave common pieces at home regardless of price point. Everyone has seen a Rolex Explorer but perhaps not a Mondia Moonlander.

WC isn't immune to social media flex culture but it's nowhere near as prevalent as on other platforms that I've left.

"Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself." Mary Schmich

I think generally fellow crunchers post the watches that interest & excite them just to start conversation with people who got the same interest, not for mere flexing or competing. Yes you can & will find some snobs who like to flex/compete, it happens in ANY forums, but usually they will just be ignored by others who know better.

GTG means Get Together so GTG

Well said my brother.

It all depends on the individual. I'm sure there are some people who are like, "Mwahahaha, I have 10 watch boxes full of watches! Sure, I never wear most of them, but 10 WATCH BOXES BITCHES!" and in their mind, they are truly winning at life (and watches).

Meanwhile, other people look at that kind of thing and think, what a waste of time and money. And certainly don't regard that person as having "won" anything at all.

So, swings and roundabouts.

I’ve always liked watches even as a kid. As I got older I learned more and upgraded accordingly. I wear my watches for myself to celebrate my life and special moments. I enjoy seeing others collections and don’t see it as competition.

Hey, if it is a competion, I probably have the competition beat as far as quanity goes (200+) and probably competative when it comes to value based upon MSRP. 😂

Your sentiment is why most of us have settled here. Very little trying to impress others (watch pictures featuring expensive steering wheels for instance) and most are respectful that not everybody can afford upper end offerings.

And then there are people like me. I am just as likely to be spotted wearing a Rolex as well as an Invicta I bought on huge discount. No "airs" at all and certainly no trying to impress. It is fun to "put on the ritz" every now and then but a constant diet of same is not for me.

To me the cost of a watch does not add enjoyment value. They are nice to have but at the same time I had just as much fun collecting Fossil character watches in the 1980's as I do now.

Do I mind SOTC postings? Not really. Most are just saying this is where I am and where do I go from here, advice welcome.

Im only in competition with my bank account

I agree but would replace "nicer" with "more expensive"

I really think modern day now with internet we can partake and share our watch hobby. From different parts of the world.Back then you had to know somebody and pass the word join a watch club. If this was a competition it be a lot of back lash snobbery going on. We all respectable here.

I don't know, I have no trouble talking about my Seikos with the Tudor / Omega crowd at work. Similar to many other topics, I find watch ownership far less divisive of an issue offline.

I used to have a competition mindset with cars in my early thirties. Then someone needed my truck for a move, and I drove his Porsche for the weekend. We continued swapping cars whenever we felt like it. It also killed any sense of being in a competition.

Well for me I appreciate and enjoy everyone collections. Even it's a $10 to $1M watches. I learned some point, stories, history here and there. We have a good community here.Happy Holidays!❄😉✌🏻

It's not a competition, but I seem to be losing.