Perhaps an Intervention is Necessary
I've come to terms with it. I'm not a watch collector. I am watch ACCUMULATOR. I call myself an enthusiast. My wife and friends say I'm overtly obsessed.
The lines have become blurred.
I've asked myself several times "should I reel it in?" The short answer is, I'm not sure I know how. Call it a bonafide vice, I guess. Nothing has gotten to the point where my income or my relationships are compromised; however, I get tired of hearing that I can only wear one watch at a time.
And that's what I intend to keep doing. Just pay no attention to the fact that you may not see the same one again for quite some time.
I love my watches. Like my three kids, I love them all. Equally, yet differently. Ironically, it took one of my daughters to drive this point home as she asked, "if mom did the same thing with PURSES as you're doing with watches, how would you react?" I laughed and said "she already does it with shoes."
"Dad, you have more watches than she does shoes."
She'd be grounded if she wasn't 26 and didn't have her own place.
Needless to say, she's the reason I'm writing this, my first post on this sight. Please be gentle...
Everyone has a vice. A watch happens to be mine.
Welcome to WC. I think many of us are in the same boat, with collection sizes that have grown beyond our initial intent. As long as you enjoy the watches, and aren't making any financial sacrifices in order to have them, I don't see it as a problem.
Welcome! Lotta obsessed (bordering on pathological) watch nerds on here, so you’re among friends. 👋
Welcome to the Struggle. Acknowledging your addiction is the first step…to keeping it going bigger and better.
I can tell that I'm among friends. 🍻
It's called an addiction for a reason, lol
You might want to explain it to your family in the following manner: “Shut up.” (Apologies to Ring Lardner)
Clearly this has all been very traumatic. I suggest you go on over to Jomashop (or wherever) and pick out something nice for yourself. I don’t know anything about you at all, yet I am absolutely certain that you deserve it!
I am a watch enthusiast and also a licensed therapist. I know we like to joke about “addiction” casually, but there is a point where there is too many watches. Once your watch collecting gets in the way of your ability to reach financial goals it is a problem. Watches are beautiful. However, they aren’t a house, a car, or an opportunity to invest in your children’s future.
I am a watch enthusiast and also a licensed therapist. I know we like to joke about “addiction” casually, but there is a point where there is too many watches. Once your watch collecting gets in the way of your ability to reach financial goals it is a problem. Watches are beautiful. However, they aren’t a house, a car, or an opportunity to invest in your children’s future.
100% agree. First, we’re here to have a good time talking about watches. Luckily, @crimsonplaya seems to have the means to luxuriate over watches but is also smart enough to know he has only 2 wrists so he can only wear so many watches. Obviously there are plenty of people in the world who have real problems and we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t genuinely feel for them. At the end of the day, we’re talking about items that are not really necessary, and if it ever came down to watches and putting food on the table, I think most people here have the good sense to choose the latter.
I don't know you but would ask how long have you been collecting and what is the number of watches in your collection. I was in simmilar situation some time ago ( at beginning of this journey ) and hoarded watches without jeopardizing my family financial situation. As time passed I noticed I have no special connection to many of them, oftenly staying in a box for 3-6 months, some even more. Ultimately decided to trim down to app. 7 pieces ( which still seems a lot to many people, even to my spouse ) and work more on appreciating what I have and enjoying them more, making stories/memories, buying with more taught process ... But if you enjoy your collecting style don't bother too much and explain in same fashion as you did here. It is your hobby, some spent more on watches, others on shoes, fancy dinners, cars ... it is called enjoying the life and not just living it for the sake of living
I was in a similar position at one time with very close to 100 watches. It took me some time to realize what a mental drain these things were, keeping up with repairs, sourcing parts, wearing each one once or twice a year whether I wanted to or not.
I cut back to a very manageable number and I enjoy my smaller collection way, way more than the overgrown menagerie that was my collection.
As my collection grew over the first couple of years, I bought a watchbox with 12 slots, thinking that should be enough. I don't want to own watches I don't wear, I'm too tight for that. So far, when I've gotten to 11, sometimes less, I get the urge to purge and get rid if some. I'm doing that right now. But I have a few I still want, so I'll be filling that watchbox up again as I can. Thankfully, I'm spreading my purchases in order to buy better quality pieces and am working at keeping my urges under control. Mostly. 🙄