What’s the one thing you LOVE about being a watch collector?

Watches 😃

Well said. I like the history of time and watches. The micro-engineering, and the different designs.

Wristwatches are the intersection of engineering, design, fashion and history, all topics I’m interested in.

Also, wearing a good quality timepiece gives you a little boost of confidence in any situation. I was 30 years old when I got my first proper watch, a Seiko 5, and I could notice quite a difference on how it made me feel in comparison with the cheap brass-cased fashion watch I used to wear till that point in time.

What you said 😂

Well you haven’t left any chance for my input, my friend.

You’ve said it well!

The endless possibilities of movements, designs and styles.

Life is precious, having watch with high accuracy make you spend your time wisely. So if you have a beautiful watch, and tell you the exact time, you are in control. YOLO.

Gadgety momento mori jewellery.

And talking to you lot & learning from you all.

Thank you.

💗

It’s a hobby, where you can decide perfectly, how much time you want to invest and when.

I have been obsessed with mechanical timepieces for all the usual reasons for more than half a century, even became a competent amateur watchmaker when I was much younger but waiting for another day to start, sipping strong espressos reading posts on Watch Crunch perhaps even thinking about another purchase my watches remain an small act of selfish behaviour a reward for surviving snafus etcetera.

I always know what time it is

Exploring, researching, and pursuing watches based on history/heritage, design, engineering, and/or overall aesthetics. I find many avenues and aspects of watch collecting fun and enjoyable - but it's the feeling of the desired watch on wrist that provides contentment.

I'm just here for the chicks

For me it’s the experiences and memories being made with a piece you know could last a lifetime. Personally, it puts me in a great mood when I have a watch on I love!!

I think you summed it up beautifully!

I’ve always thought tracking the time is one of the skills that make a successful and reliable man. Watches are not only a method to do this, but an engineering masterpiece and a way to express our personalities through art and design.

They’re also a call to a simpler time which is why I don’t and never will wear a “smart” watch.

I specialise in international affairs and politics - that's not a very cheerful place to be right now (or for some time).

Watches take me to a completely different space: the artistry, the incredible technological capabilities of these tiny machines on our wrists, the history, the associations... and all of the fascinating and really very amicable discussions we have here on WC. Thanks to you all!

I appreciate engineering, art, design and fashion. Certain watches scratch some or all of those itches for me.

Watch collecting is one of the very few hobbies which have a practical value and where you get to take your collection out with you without having to make any special preparations or hire security.

That I have a tiny little mechanical machine on my wrist with lots of little parts just humming along doing their little jobs

When I'm wearing a tactical watch it makes me feel like a BMF. That's about it really

Easy answer is the watches…the more personal answer is that I get to enjoy something that makes me feel good and I get to build my own life journey through my collectiion. The value proposition is nice but mostly an afterthought. I love getting dressed for work and choosing which watch to wear with my outfit. Put’s a smile on face every time I do it…which is everyday😋

I think one of my favorite things is picking one for the day. Looking at my watch box and thinking about the day ahead of me and deciding what I want to wear, setting it, winding it, maybe swapping a strap and beginning the day.

A watch collection takes much less space than a classic car collection!

True that!

Totally. It’s thinking about what you will do that day and being prepared as well.

Hmm… finding a watch I love and that almost nobody else has even heard of, until a random stranger says, “Whoa! Is that…?!” And then I nod sagely, “Yes, it is.”

I just like

1) handling the watches;

2) the feel of them on my wrist

3) winding them,

4) looking at them,

5) noticing all the details.

6) The fact they are not really needed today; they are an anachronism.

Most of all;

I am the only person that really cares about the watch I am wearing. Sometimes a Rolex will be noticed as a Rolex - but many watches I wear never get any notice.

Case in point the following (my daily wearing) watch does not get any notice;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GSwWNDTYN4

https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/products/prospex/snr027j1

I just like the idea of something that's been around and mostly unchanged (for automatics) across multiple centuries. There are very few mechanical things you can say that about.

It's also somehow refreshing to be able to check the date/time without having to look at a screen yet again

The challenge of filling the blanks (complications, mechanicals + quartz movement, dial colors, bracelets/straps, sizes...), from high horology to beater watch, but all with history, with the less watches possible. In my case, I need 6 watches.

Hands down and no hesitation, top of the heap is the people.