What is your biggest WHY?

You’re going to get an overwhelming C response on this platform.

A couple of side notes to my “C” response:

• I like several watches that are enthusiast approved. I suspect I like them and the community likes them because they have great traits, but maybe I’m just swayed by the crowd.

• I have a thing for iconic watches, which are also enthusiast approved. That’s okay. I only have so much wrist time and I want to put the best watches on my wrist that I can afford.

As I wrote my question, it became apparent that I LIKE certain watches BECAUSE I first heard about them on YouTube, and learnt that they are enthusiast-approved. For me it’s between B and C, leaning more towards B because I had bought a couple of micro brands that I grew tired of after a few months.

I also wouldn’t be opposed to A, but I haven’t been able to afford a watch that represents good investment 😭

I collect watches that I like. Does anybody source watches they do not like? For a very long time, I favoured Breitling over others mainly because the watches appealed to me, along the way there were some amazing friendships that developed including one with the elegant Swiss gent who was the Canadian agent, he became a good friend to my wife and two young daughters. We eventually drifted apart but remained sociable and I continue to support the manufacture although my old acquaintance no longer represents Breitling in Canada.

What I've realized going to watch meet ups is that a good majority of collectors out in the wild have pretty damn conservative tastes . . . Rolex, Tudor, Omega, maybe some Cartier and JLC . . . the occasional Grand Seiko if you're getting wild . . . rinse and repeat. I love a lot of models in that line up, but if I stayed the course and worried about what some random dude thought I wouldn't have the joy of a Nomos or fun brands like Studio UnderDog. I do what I want.

There is never a binary reason. I never collect with the hope of it rising in price, watches are not investments. I also never sell, so there is that.

On the flip side, I refuse to over pay for a watch, no matter how much I like it. No one likes spending X amount on a product only to get home and realize they could have bought it for 30% less. Capital preservation, while an investment strategy to not lose a lot of money, is not the same thing as investing for growth.

Nobody is going to be honest enough about the vanity of this hobby to vote B, but I think a lot of people are influenced by social media and end up buying what they perceive as fan favorites after being bombarded with pictures every day and brain washed into buying the same watch as everyone else to fit in.

Hi Crunchers. My seletion is "C", but usualy "B" and "C" goes hand in hand - for me at least. 👍

I've never sold a watch and I have no intention of ever doing so. I'm happy to give some away and I think that tells you all you need to know about my views on collecting.

So… investment? 😜

Very true. I’ve certainly found it to be the case for me personally.

They are:

A. Collect watches that increase in value

B. Collect watches that other enthusiasts approve

C. Collect watches I like, even if nobody else approves

For me it's not that clear cut. I am drawn towards the big brands but mainly because I want to look and feel before I buy which is not possible with the microbrands. I often am drawn towards watches based on reviews as there are so many things that hit the market and I am not that close to a big city where I can see the new releases. And I am always aware of the value of the watch, this will drive me to buy new or used or just stay away. I am not investing in a watch but equally don't want to throw away thousands of pounds. But ultimately I buy what I feels right, what I know I want and what will make me happy.

Maybe someone can help me. How do you see the rest of the text on each option? All i see is like the first 3 words of the top line. So i dont know what im actually voting on. I am looking at these on my phone. Maybe different if on computer? Thanks

When I first started is was watch frenzy & just looking for bargains that i might like. Along with a load of Ali express homages.

But I think this helped me decide what I liked.

What you see on paper and YouTube reviews doesn't always translate to wrist time.

You learn what you actually wear and now I'm trying to reshape my collection to pieces a wear and pieces that have meaning to me, gift or occasions or historically relevant.

Every now and then I have a cull but if you shop smart you can usually get alot of your money back, if not a profit.

Happy hunting 👍

If I could I'd collect them all 😂. But as I can't I focus on wearabilty. I look at when and where I'd wear them. I also like variety so for now I try (and I'm not sure how long this will last) and buy a watch from a different brand each time. Focusing on my favorite watch of that brand. I look at watches from mainstream brands, "luxury" brands and independent watch makers etc.

Yeah, I had to go to my web browser, flip my phone to landscape mode and then I was able to read them. 😝

@Max begging for a bug fix please!

Can you send a message to support@WatchCrunch.com 👍

Sorry might be TLDR

So I chose C but I’d be lying if there wasn’t an aspect of A & B in some of my decision-making. I think we’re all inherently concerned about the value we get when we buy a watch. Nobody wants to be the first owner that takes a bath when he decides to sell his Piaget, IWC, Blancpain, Breguet, JLC or almost any other haute horology Maison that depreciates dramatically when bought new. A smart collector would opt to buy those second hand and save themselves thousands of dollars. So in that regard value is always a concern. I know many of us would prefer to buy brands that appreciate at retail if given the opportunity and there is nothing wrong with that. Why pay more if you don’t have to?

More people need to select B however. I do believe we as humans like validation. I’ve come to enjoy our WC community and part of that is sharing our collections and getting feedback from our friends. I’ve found a bunch of kindred spirits on this platform and I’m grateful for the supportive community as a whole. Part of me thinks that if an enthusiast recognizes my watch and likes it, that’s a good thing because they’re not just in it for the money and hype pieces.

All I can tell you is that when I look at a watch for the first time and I love it-it shows all over my face. It’s kind of a running joke between me and my sales advisor-she’s always told me that she can just look at my face and tell whether or not I’m gonna purchase the watch. I show all my emotion on my face. Perfect example of this was earlier this year. I got the call to purchase the an Everose Day-Date 40 with Olive Green dial and I thought I would love it but when I saw it for the first time I wasn’t in love with it. I thought I would fall in love since it was considered a “hype” piece, but it didn’t do it for me.

On the other end is my GO PanoMaticInverse. I absolutely fell head over heels in love with that watch the moment I laid my eyes on her. This is an example of C. The PanoMaticInverse isn’t exactly a popular watch that many people have reviewed on YouTube or on many online watch publications. Nobody swayed me to buy that guy. 😅🤪

And yet there is the compulsion to share. This is what I'm talking about in my first reply as being common to collector communities and, as I also noted, there's also nothing wrong that that. But it is there.

I draw a distinction between, "I don't care what people think..." and "I want to show everyone what I own..." as the latter is typically wanting a reply and, unless the person is a bit weird, a positive reply.

I think most people go for watches that they like. They're madebto be worn, treasured yes, but worn most of all. Buying a watch because of its prestige or resale value when your not that attracted to melts my melon.

I usually get watches I intend to keep for ever (yes I know sold enough to know there is a chance that will change) just feels like mine more than a used one so value retention is irrelevant and how it makes me feel is everything. Watches I want to try but think perhaps it’s going to get moved on I try to buy used at a good enough price I can sell it and not lose too much so I can replace it without dipping into my savings too often. Almost always loose something but not enough that I can’t refresh my collection throughout the year without a top up. Only problem now is I’ve got very few watches I want to sell and many I want to buy 🫣 so that’s a failed plan too lol but I only buy watches that I’ve tried and I’ve had nice watches for a very long time and only twice has someone noticed my watches(23 years of a speedmaster 0 comments on a reverso duo face. The most stunning watch I’ve owned ) so A is a waste of effort and money to me I like to think I’m all C but will dip into A to try something I’m not sure about so I know I can move it on without too much pain

"where you won't lost money" is a tough criteria. You'll lose money on almost all watch brands at retail and, even from hype brands, most models don't retain retail value. So, then you buy exclusively/mostly grey market? What if there was a watch you really, really liked but there is no inventory - move on? Just curious to people's motivations.

I didn't vote B because that's not the main driving factor. I don't buy a watch expecting praise when I show it off. I buy a watch because a mix of all of these points because who wants to lose money, who wants to be ridiculed by peers, who buys things they don't like? The main driving factor is I like it - I like the look, the technical features, the hand finishing, the scarcity.

When I do share it here, the main motivation is that I want to share how excited I am about my new acquisition and show off my new toy. Of course I want it to be praised, but mostly I want it to be marveled at.

Each of us won't have a super unique watch, so it may feel like people are buying the same thing bc of hive mind, but to the individual, it is their story from their perspective.

That said, or course we get influenced by media and peers. That's when you realize,*oh crap I don't like it, I just bought it bc of hype or something ". I'm guilty x2 on this front - my snoopy speedy (bc even snoopy couldn't make me like a boring speedy) and my kurono Tokyo that I want to love but I can't (the hour hand is LONGER than the minute hand!).

I should've read your comment before adding my opinion. Very similar view!

I had a similar experience with your olive day date. I was given the option to buy the Lange Odysseus in steel (3x retail), but I don't love the look of it - feels like an old man steel sports watch to me though it has grown on me, and passed on it. The manager later told me he respected my decision even though I'm crazy bc I like what I like. So, of course I was happy to be validated about my choice, but the initial rationale was "I don't like it". Even to this day my rational brain tells me, "idiot, I could've flipped it for 2x with no effort". So, value of watches and the *investment" side of some watches is always going to have appeal bc who would say no to money/value?

But the compulsion to share is not because I/we want to show off.

It's because just like if you like the Lakers or Manchester United you want to discuss with other Laker or MU fans so you can fully enjoy your passion.

I never have better conversations than when I can talk to someone about a topic I am passionate about.

It has nothing to do with the need to feel recognized or to show off.

I have always loved watches. When I was 6 years old I was obsessed with flic flack watches. Then with swatches, then with Gshocks, then with breitling, then with Rolex...

It's just a passion like I was passionate about Starcraft or soccer or food. If I can find other enthusiasts who are also passionate about and want to tall about it it just makes the passion so much more fulfilling.

I collect watches that appeal to me, however I tend to factor in potential resale value as well when considering watches at the top end of my price comfort zone. Approval from other watch enthusiasts is always a plus, but it doesn't factor into my buying decisions.

I’m new to watch collecting, having only taken it on about 6 months ago. I am leaning towards collecting watches with a rich history, as that brings me the greatest enjoyment. My first luxury watch was handed down to me by my late grandfather, and I intend to hand it over to my children when they grow up too.

I do not collect watches. I try to find a balance between wearing pieces I like and not fearing for my live when I step out of the home (living in Paris)

The Sinn 556, Formex Essence and The Citizen Chronomaster fall into the category of models fitting that bill

Definitely #3 for me. I have a few watches that don't seem to be on anyone else's radar and/or are of little $ value that I prize all the more for that very reason. I have many different brands and I feel like it really gives me insight to both what I like and what others understand and see in them. My Sekonda,Rotary, and Bugle Boy I cherish!