I can feel myself slipping into watch addiction. Need advice!

Get straps. Economical way to “get new watches” out of your collection 👍

Don't get hooked on the dopamine hit of buying cheap. Aim higher, buy used & end up with a quality collection of watches you love , rather than a big collection of mediocrity.

It's easy to fall into the trap.

If you are needing to buy that regularly, you're addicted to the process of buying, rather than owning.

Take a step back and love what you already have, appreciate quality rather than quantity!!

You'll be far happier in the long run. 👍🏻

I wish I could help. I’m at the “oh, this watch is great! I forgot I had this one!” Stage of collecting.

Good luck. 👍

Agreed! But I ended up buying straps AND a watch

Solid advice. Do you think one should simplify their collection to own less but higher quality pieces? I believe that would be the end game in the long run. Sell my collection to buy better pieces until I end up with a handful of high quality pieces

Start buying straps? If you've bought what you liked you'll soon struggle to find something better than what you already have. I've not bought a watch this year simply because I can't afford anything better than what I've already got. 🤷

Quality over quantity.

It's good to experiment and discover your tastes in watches with more affordable pieces in the beginning. But once you have nailed your style and preferences, try to consolidate to 3-5 watches tops to step up in quality with the same budget you would otherwise spend hoarding 10-20 sub $200 watches.

Being an enthusiast or a "collector" doesn't mean you have to own every single "good value" "bargain" watch out there. You can enjoy them on others. Don't become a hoarder of cheapies, with many redundant pieces that will barely see any wrist time. That's the most common trap.

Never spend above what you are comfortable spending just to own some silly luxury brand name or try to impress. But focus your set budget on fewer, higher-quality pieces for different occasions that will each see wrist time and feel justifiable in your well thought-out collection.

Example: with a $1000 limit for your collection, buy 2-3 decent $250-300 watches to cover your basis (sport, field, dress) and a couple strap alternatives (rubber, nylon, leather). Don't buy 15 AliExpress watches YouTube influencers are trying to shove down your throat to use their affiliated links. 💸

Cut up your credit cards!!

I feel your pain.. been there, done that. I picked up 4 watches in the past 6 months. All high ends.. now I have max-ed out all my credit cards.

Yes, that seems to be how the hobby naturally evolves. Cheaper in the long run too, as cheaper watches are often uneconomical to service.

A few really nice ones are easier to maintain, get more wrist time each, can be a financial asset & if you buy carefully you'll love them more as time passes, rather than constantly looking for satisfaction.

At least that's my thinking & the process I'm going through at the moment.

Did you just ask a raging alcoholic how to ease back on your drinking 🤣

I am definitely the wrong person to ask. I have purchased 5 watches this year. 3 new and 3 vintage/used. Lolol Watching in case there is a WAA program...

It all depends. I personally, limit myself to 2 watches per year tops. Also, 1 watch for each type I’m into (1 diver, 1 chrono, 1 dress, and so on…). Also as mentioned earlier, buy different straps to give the watches a new look.

Most definitely in need of WAA program. Because if for you 3+3 equal 5 watches, you’re really drunk on watches my friend..😂

Nice tactic. Do you replace the watch in a category every time you buy a new one? (Eg. Selling/giving away Seamaster after acquiring a Submariner)

I only have now a nice diver and a homage (a $30 quartz Addiesdive Hulk) that I can use as a beater without having to worry. I am a very picky buyer (I tend to buy a watch after months of looking at blogs of YT videos) and that also limit my impulse buying. There are times where I do not buy a single watch in a year, and this prevents me from having duplicates. I guess I will burn that bridge once I get there. I also like buying from AliExpress and some watches can be given away as gifts to family after they have scratched an itch.

Just let go. It looks like you're already in over your head.

Make that 2 used/vintage..... ::: burp:::

I have a strategy to limit my core collection to six.

Dress

Business

Business/Smart Sport

Sport x 2

Fun

2 years ago it was five. I added Fun category since.

So it will probably be seven next year if I came up with a new idea of categorisation.

But at least it gives me time to think carefully before pulling the trigger because I need to think if the watch is good enough to replace the one I have.

Having said that your collection needs Citizen, GMT, coloured dial, square/rectangular, field/pilot, and vintage😁

Don’t let me drown into the abyss, eric…

Without a decent dive watch

What started as a great advice, ended with a nudge to buy some more. To the AD, we got 6 more to buy!

😂 Now that's the spirit. On WC you're in good company down there.