How old were you when you started collecting watches?

The first time I had more than one watch at a time, consciously purchased for variety of complications and styles, was about 20 years ago, when I was 30. At some point, that collection was stolen and I only started all over again in 2023.

Glad you still found your way back to be able to love watches even after having your collection stolen 😔❤️

No idea, as long as I can remember. I've always worn a watch.

Did you always choose your watch consciously?

I think I got my first watch when I was about 10 years old and always wore one, but never spent much time thinking about what watches I wanted to have or what would complete the ones I already had. The first informed and thought out buying decision for me was last year, at the age of 24. So over a decade between my first watch and the “start of my collection“.

Probably not my first, but yes as a kid I remember going through the Argos catalogue (or whatever one it was) and putting circles around the ones I wanted. Can't remember what it was tho, probably a Smiths or Timex

I wish I could say the same. I‘d love to have a cool first watch that I could still cherish today. At least I don’t have to be sad that the watches I had as a kid got lost at some point, probably better this way 😂

How old was I when I purchased my first watch is very different to when I was infected with this collecting virus.

Oh, actually I bought watches under 25 and had a few, but I didn't really start collecting until recently. I just didn't have the means. But if you can start early. You will be rewarded when your my age

Ah, mine too - had a perchant for carefully disassembling things to see how they worked - unfortunately usually with a hammer or molegrips 😱🤣

I've mentioned before I remember I'd scratched the plastic crystal up intentionally so I could only read the time if I licked it. Made me feel like James Bond 🤣🤣🤣

I’ve always wore a watch (including Apple Watch) but it wasn’t until later in life I started collecting.

Same for me. First a few quartz watches and even one cheap automatic for a years, then I had an Apple Watch that I wore daily for about 4 years before getting bit by the watch bug (thanks Teddy B) 😂

I have been keenly aware of watches since high school, my first watch was a crappy moonphase knockoff i bought in a fashion store in a mall... I was extatic! My best friend in college had a Tag Heuer, I was so jealous!! I always had 4-6 fashion and bulova watches in my 20s and 30s, and then started learning and collecting during covid.

Moonphase knockoff sounds like you at least already had taste back then 😂

My first watch was this crappy thing (actually it was quite sturdy, but not really my taste anymore):

These were very trendy in my age group at the time. But like all trends this was very short lived of course 😂

It started way beyond 45, when i met an old friend of these days. He infested me with the g- virus, leaving me now with 20+ casios...(he s still around:-))

You‘re never too old to have a new interest or try something new. Of course the age when you start collecting doesn’t matter at all, I just wanted to see what the „common experience“ is. But it seems it is quite varied. 😁 and of course one can never have too many g-shocks

Which time? I used to collect cheap and odd digital watches when I was a kid, had a ton of them. Moved on from them as I got older, but then came back to them a few years ago during the pandemic, but now more expensive mechanical stuff.

I‘d say you were a collector from that time you were a kid 👍🏼 At least you already had a healthy obsession back then 😉

I don't know about the "healthy" part, lol!

I started collecting when I was 12 years old. I’m 18 now

I started modding, building and servicing watches at 14💀

Very cool. Are you planning to become a watchmaker or just continue doing this on the side ?

I'd like to become a watchmaker but I just don't know where to go considering I live in Australia

Probably best to find a watchmaker that would take you on as an apprentice, who could also guide you through the process. They’d probably be glad to have someone to teach their knowledge and experience to. It seems like it is a slowly dying trade due to lack of new young watchmakers (definitely not because of lack of demand). So I‘m glad there‘s still young people like you who want to pursue this 👍🏼

19 this year, slow and steady :)

Started out at 16