From collecting to addiction.

I prefer the term “watch accumulator” versus “watch collector”. More accurate in my case and sets the expectation up front 🤣🤣🤣

Hehehe.... I thought so!

🤔🤔 she may be onto something! Ya know, your horological acquisitions are not going to decrease. 😎🍻

Agreed! I am a "HOROLOGICAL ARTS ACCUMULATOR!" HAHAHAH 🤣

With us, you are right.

With her, you aren't right.

Addicted...not a word i hear very often from my wifey. Her terms are 'looney', 'mad' and 'totally lost the plot'😁 and i wear these terms with pride

My wife says the same thing…….

The trick is to get a bigger box. It makes larger collections seem much smaller!

I see no problem at all 😁😁

I tried it.. worked for a minute but I guess she's just not a watch lover. She's never been in to jewelry except for her wedding ring. As far as Bongo "my cat" she literally came and posed with the watches!! Lol. I'm thinking maybe I should have married her instead, she obviously likes them too lmao 🤣!!

If as a husband your biggest "flaw" is a large watch collection then your wife has chosen well.

I do keep my wife posted on which of my watches are particularly valuable and told her that if something should ever happen to me dump those ones first and use the money on something extraordinary for herself.

Tell her she’s addicted to shoes, purses, clothes, jewelry, etc.

It is a problem if it causes a financial burden to your loved ones. How many earrings does your wife have? How many necklaces? How many shoes?

We try to fill the void with stuff to make ourselves feel good. Reality is, you don't need those watches so keep the ones you love and maybe a few more that you know are truly special and get rid of the dross.... I have over 25 watches and I am definitely selling 4-5 to be able to buy a new one later on.

I don't need more than 25 watches since I just won't wear them..... 😵🫣😅

But anybody who tell me I don't need more than 5 watches doesn't know anything about watches.

Even your cat is looking at you like: wtf dude?

But seriously Id say that you definetelly have a problem, but so do most of us here. Collecting anything is pretty nuts if you think about it, but as long as it doesent cause any issues or financial problems who cares? It makes you happy and that is what really matters.

Appreciate it! Ill give her some love on your behalf! Best of luck on your watch journey!

True! Lol.

Reminds me of a wise saying from a coworker: "You can be right or you can be married."

Could be worse. Could be meth instead. Watches look sensible in comparison

Why can't it be both? Lmao 🤣🤣 joking.

Same here, my wife says I’m addicted. She’s knows that I view it as a hobby but she says it’s an addiction because I’m always looking up watches, texting my friends about watches, going to ADs to try watches on, etc. And I only have 6 watches (only 3 that I wear regularly). I think she’d normally be okay with it if it wasn’t taking time away from her and the family and because it costs money. I try not to have it take time away, and always point out that there are many other hobbies that take more time and money (golf, cars, drinking…). But I guess two wrongs don’t make a right. My wife doesn’t like to spend money on herself or anyone really, so it’s hard for her to understand that 30% off of a $1000 watch is a fantastic deal that I can’t pass up, when she believes the $700 is better spent elsewhere or gifted to charity, so she’s really good about keeping me in check. We balance each other out.

Here’s a good article from Fratello that could help too:

https://www.fratellowatches.com/do-you-actually-enjoy-your-watch-collection-or-is-it-always-about-the-next-new-thing/

Sometimes I wish I could just find “the one” so I can stop collecting and enjoy the rest of my life with “the one”. I honestly thought the Speedy that I got would be it, but why do I still want others?

I believe you suffer from the same curse as many of us. We are watch sluts! Plain and simple. Just when We think we've found the one, we find another one, and another one! We are Horological whores, second hand sluts if you will. But we are also kings of the 👑 crown. Alphas for the Omegas and psychos for the Seikos. We love what we love and we will NEVER SETTLE! Cursed to remain Horologically restless until our well timed deaths!

Amazing collection! I have the same addiction, but I am happy and no body get hurt, so no problem here.

By the way, you need more cats in your collection.

Agreed!! 🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱

Who knows what watches meth heads would wear. Brands like MVMT, DW and Vincero "cut out the middleman", which, in their world, is their dealer. So they actually like the middleman.

I can say this with conviction because I have decades of experience in the substance abuse industry- Collecting becomes an addiction when it starts to take a toll on your finances and your loved ones. As an addict you don’t see the damage being done to others. You only think of yourself.

An addiction is classically defined as a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences. As long as you have the means to support your hobby and it hasn’t become harmful to you or your family, keep enjoying your passion and live your life to its fullest.

❤😻

As an ailurophile, I can say that this is the best part of your collection:

I have a cat collection as well as a watch collection. Currently 11 in total - 7 that are inside-only, plus 4 outside-only ferals we trapped/fixed/immunized and take care of. They only come to me and my wife. This is a typical dinner time situation, the stares of expectation, lol. The one that looks like Chrono Kitty is named Spike, he's new and still getting used to us, but he noticed what the other ferals were doing and just joined in a couple of months ago. Who am I to say there's no room at the inn?

Regarding your collection, you are merely an enthusiastic collector if it's not causing problems.

This is a great question for self reflection for any hobbyist. Leaving the actual watches alone for a moment. It is fair and beneficial to look at the time and attention being put into this hobby. Is it a passion or an escape? Probably a little of both for most of us. Is this where we want our attention for X hours a week and is this attention taking the place of something we would rather not address? Not to dive into a therapeutic rabbit hole, but taking a thoughtful look into how we engage with a hobby can tell us a lot about other parts of our lives if we are willing to be open to the vulnerable feeling that comes with the exercise. Sorry, I work in mental health 🤷🏻‍♂️