How do you look at collecting?

Needed to add “mental illness/addiction” to list 😂

Well, that’s why I said it! Lol

If one was to look back at a few of my posts, I think they would find I'm getting a lot of self-reflection out of this hobby. So A & B, tilting to B

I love collecting in general. Not to get too dark but I also think it helps take our minds off what limited time we have here and how one day everything and everyone we love will be a memory.

It's a little of both for me, I collect other things with many moving parts and when it comes to watches I love the craftsmanship as well the history behind them, I don't plan on having a huge collection but something else for me to enjoy and for my kids to remember me one day

If I had to identify a valuable life skill that I picked up from this "thing", I guess it would be the ability to embrace comments that annoy me and use it to highlight insecurities of my own and find out why they exist.

Other then that, I don't consider watch collecting as a hobby. I used to, but I've accepted that there's no real skill in pushing a "buy" button.

(Of course I'm not saying watch collecting isn't a hobby. I just prefer not to consider it one for myself as a mechanism to keep me somewhat anchored in reality and not completely lost to the watch addicted abyss)

Edit: basic video editing is also a valuable skill I've picked up since getting in to watches

I got sick and wasn’t able to work at all for a year and I started collecting to stop myself from going nuts, and now I’m hooked on it.

Tools or toys but very low on the priority list.

Do all hobbies require skill? Is choosing what suits you best not a skill? Is the watch hobby all about collecting? Can someone not say that one of their hobbies is watches, namely learning about them, enjoy looking at them, but not necessarily own any? Especially in this century?

To me they are religious items. I believe in human ingenuity, creativity, craftsmanship, technology and science. Owning well made, beautiful mechanical watches are remainders of what humanity can achieve.

You should have added "jewellery" as one of the options. Some people collect them because they pretty 😍

I selected B...but may I suggest an option 'D Avid Wearer / User.' The single thing I enjoy the most about watches? Simply wearing them.

I'm also an old car guy. Kind of naturally, I have friends that are too. But they like constantly working on them. They have another project on them. They may want to sell one of them and buy something else. But rarely are they used for what they were intended.

Me? Just like watches, my biggest pleasure is using 'it.'

I am a diagnosed schizophrenic and go through many times a day where I need to basically "ground" myself too reality. Having a watch always on my wrist with the time displayed brings a huge sence of comfort too me.

This is a great question. I have really no idea why I do it. I just love having a watch on my wrist but at the same time there are times when I really don't want to wear anything at all 😱. A lot of my watches were given as gifts. This I'll treasure always but the ones I buy are because I love the way they looked... what was the question again?

As with any "skill" it's an acquisition of knowledge or information that can be applied to a task. I've learned so much in this past year. Especially how these objects can become repetitive of moments in our lives.

I dont think I am a collector!! In that, I buy and then down the road i sell them (and lose my a--) LOL but if i was a collector I would have just kept all of them but I think a rotation of 15 to 20 pieces is more then enough for me..JMO enjoy the hobby

I know a lot about watches that I don’t own or never will. I like that it reminds me of why I’m here. It’s time. I like that each piece captured a moment for me. I agree with you.

These are questions that only you can answer, but if you're seeking my approval then I will tell you: if that's how you want it to be then thats how it is👍

It is definitely a learning process, and the conclusion is uniquely different for everyone👍

You have good friends, if they gift you watches!

Collecting always turns into an obsession for me.

Definitely, as with any interest or passion (word of your choice), it is individually personal. Unlike with many things, this is a "hobby" that you can carry on you anywhere you go.

Not dark at all. It’s a fact that should make us live everyday to the fullest. It’s an inspiration.

I am between A & B 🤔

I don't like stamps.

Short term, it is collecting. Long term, I like watches with either historical and/or emotional significance

Obsession ....

I am not a watch collector but rather a watch enthusiast who likes to try new watches and sell/gift the ones that no longer hold my interest.

It occupies my free time and I enjoy it and can afford it. One day, if it no longer is enjoyable, I will move on to something else.

I feel like they are reminders, capstones, and trophy for personal achievements. That why even some of my cheapest watches mean something to me

You’re right. I got my Tudor as a big reminder of my recent promotion. And some like celebrating with my children. Yes. Excellent reminders.