Thoughts on watch purchases. Am I over thinking this?

To answer the question in the thread title-Yes.

As a side note,What does this mean?

"I’m at a point where I’m comfortable with that I have, but definitely want to expand my collection."

This is a philosophical question. Do you love one of your children or pets more than the other? I don't! Price of the watch doesn't matter to me. I love all my watches the same. There are just watches for different occasions, and some are more comfortable to wear than others but in the end I'd like to wear them all at once because I love them all the same! 😂

Yes, you are overthinking this. However, I'm not sure a watch budget is a good idea, as watches are not something that you need. Now, if you have a watch budget, it triggers the tendency to spend, as the budget was allocated to begin with. Therefore you might easily spend it on something that is "good enough for the price", rather than starting with a watch you really want.

You are over thinking. Just buy what you like at the time. Over the years I have some watches that I love that are one tenth of another watch I love for different reasons.

No you're not overthinking it. You're just thinking about something that means something to you.

I would say that if you're positive that you're not going to love the next watch as much as the one you have now, then the question is: why do you want it? Because it symbolizes something special or just for shits and giggles? Either answer is fine as long as it's one that you're okay with.

Since I'm relatively new to watches ( about a year), I've been in an "building" phase, and up until recently I always felt that there were gaps in my collection. Again, now I feel much more comfortable with what I have, but do want to add certain things over time, for example I want to add a moon phase at some point, or something that uses an El Primero movement, possibly a bespoke piece (Garrick).

That is a perfectly valid question. I don't know. But if things are as you say they are, it's fine to like something cheaper more.

My Vostok cost twice as much as my Timex and I like my Timex more. At the moment I even like it more than my Tisell, which was twice as much as the Vostok.

But neither my Tisell or my Vostok were meant as the peak of my collection, which is more expensive still.

(And yes, I'm your fellow overthinker.)

Understand your thinking and your question but rather than a crisp clear answer here’s a conundrum.

So you work your way through a number of watches, you know what you like you know what you’d love and you earmark something really special, you save up for it, you get a good deal on it, you love it, it’s way beyond both your expectations and all your other watches but you wear it rarely as you don’t want to risk dinging it.

Essentially if you think of the best watch you could realistically buy - is it worth going that high if you’re not going to feel comfortable wearing it?

My conclusion is that the watches you will enjoy most are the watches that you can afford to damage/lose. So the ultimate challenge is to find the best watch that is comfortably within your means - ‘cos you’ll actually get to wear it.

No, none of your watches should be assigned intrinsic value based on monetary value

If you are comfortable with your collection, then don’t plan any purchases. Sit back, relax, enjoy what you have.

Then when you find something you absolutely love and must have, grab it. What’s the rush?

And who knows, you might fall in love with a $1500 watch instead of 2x$750 that are just filling a slot. Same money + more love = better value.

I hear you. I have thought about this one extensively. For me it's easier since it's basically dress watches. I love the look of dress watches, but I know that they will get little wear. And I've held off on a few I was considering buying, knowing that if they wouldn't be in a weekly or even monthly rotation, no matter how beautiful, it might not make sense. Not from a financial perspective, just lack of use. I want all my watches to be used, not just collection pieces that sit on display. Nothing wrong with that, just not my thing. A great example of this for me is this Zenith, I was planning on buying it earlier this year, and after a lot of thought, realized I would rarely wear it, even though I love almost every thing about it:

If I gave the impression that I was rushing purchases, that is not the case. It's much more a reflection question.

Sound thinking - I’ve been round the houses on a few a reached the same position. Happy to admire from afar.

Have fun and enjoy the journey

Tough question! I’m currently going through my watches and will be selling 3 of them. I already have the replacements planned and it may take me a while but I’ve decided I’m no longer going to have watches in my box I don’t love.

I think each watch I buy will liked more than the last. That’s why I’m getting it. If I thought it wouldn’t be I’d look elsewhere for something that would. There is one exception I know nothing will hold a place in my heart like my speedmaster for many reasons. I have bought watches that don’t beat the one before and these quickly get sold on. The watches I have left in my collection have at one point been my second favourite watches even if it’s just been for a few weeks before something new came along with the exception of of my last watch. I put in a low bid for a Seiko tuna and it arrived at the same time as another watch that I really wanted and not only has it stuck around but I’ve sent it off to be serviced by Seiko. It wasn’t ever a favourite and it’s not even my favourite tuna in my collection but it does have something. I think you should strive to improve your collection each time. Not the cost but how you feel about it each one should be the favourite within reason maybe the best of a certain type or brand. I think if it doesn’t move your collection forward it will be unloved and you won’t enjoy it with few exceptions

Here is my exception

Wow this makes so much sense like I don’t have to spend the money I wanted just because I have them

The price of the watch it's not the reason for liking one more than other, but definitely I like some of my watches a lot more than others, I wouldn't mind to sell a couple and others are out of the question.

Price means everything just like the name on the dial. People can hate me all they want but it’s the truth.

Yes no need to overthink this one mate! My question is WHY do you want to expand? Don’t plan too much, just let your taste develop and explore new things at whatever pace feels natural.

Alarm bells went off for me when you started talking about your, 'next set of purchases'. Why not think about a really great watch next, not a bunch of them? And maybe thinking about whatever budget was going to that 'set' as going to just one great watch? Quality over quantity wins every time. I know in watch communities there's a tendency to gluttony and people posting multiple watch boxes full of watches they never wear, but don't get sucked into having to compete with it. Buy one amazing watch, and love the hell out of it.

How can you be sure your favorite will not change if you haven't experienced the next one yet?

Simple answer for me. It doesn't matter about the price of the watch

If you love it, you love it. I love my Tudor and I love my Seiko, but somehow, my Oris is my favorite watch and it is far cheaper than the Tudor.

Probably over thinking it. Just my opinion! Get what you like and enjoy the watch on your wrist. 😜😊

As someone who has also just finished the initial "building phase" like yourself, I believe that every watch I buy should be better than it's "competitor" in my current collection. Otherwise, what is the point of buying something that I perceive to be worse than a watch I already own? That just sounds like a waste of money to me, no matter if it's a £50 Casio or a new Rolex.

Love I think is a difficult metric to measure your watch purchases by because your love for the correct watch purchase will grow over time (which can be difficult to perceive at first).

I add the types of watches that I don’t have or that have unique features that interest me to my collection. Like a chronograph, atomic, solar, ISO diver, world timer, GMT, full lume dial, etc.

My favourite watch is my most expensive watch, but for practical reasons it doesn't get the most wrist time. Higher cost doesn't have to mean higher wrist time, but if you are hesitant and it's an option buying used will mitigate the risk.

So, firstly. Your obviously not "happy" with the watches you have.

Being a collector is not about happiness.

It's about seeking the approval or adulation of others.

Harsh but true.

Realise the reality of your situation. Come to terms with that reality, move on and enjoy watch collecting for what it really is.

I'm not discounting the other obvious reasons like curiosity, fascination and heritage I.e. My grandfather was a watchmaker or my dying "insert relative" gave me this watch etc etc.

In the end, we all seek each other's approval.

And that's ok.

Go buy whatever pleases you. As long as it doesn't adversely affect you or the ones you care about.

Too deep?

Who hurt you?

No one. Just saying it how it is.