At what age did you start collecting?

No real advice to offer. but that chart that seems to show average case sizes over the decades is WAAAAAAY off.

Get’s what is cool to you and within your student budget. If you’re brand agnostic, then you’ll have many more options. In the mechanical/automtaic world, steel dive, addiesdive, Pagani design have some quality high value offerings. Regarding age, I started wearing a digital watch probably around when I was 10. I wouldn’t say I collected until past the half century mark.

You have a great two piece collection as it is! Especially at 18 and starting out.

My best advice is don't loose sight of what you have and get caught up in the "hunt."

I'd also suggest that before investing significantly in a watch, as yourself "can I afford to loose this?" If the answer is no, then perhaps it's beyond your reach - especially on student money. Don't stretch yourself too thin financially for a watch. And don't ever go into debt for one. Ever.

But to answer your question, I've liked watches from a young age. But only until recent years - say 5 years ago - I was a "1 watch at a time" guy. About 5 years ago I started slowly adding other timepieces. I'm at a collection of 6 now. But they're all fairly curated and well loved (i.e. bashed around) :-)

I start collecting seriously in my early 20s. I wanted cool watch for out in town but also that could survive the rigors of Navy occupation. This was back in the early 2000s. I'm only now getting into some upper brands. I'm kinda of happy because i have appreciation for watch of all price, all places of origin, and all movement types. I say this because there are a lot of influencers and a lot of "flexers " that will tell you only certain brands matter, only certain price points, matter, only certain places make real timepieces. Forget those crowds and enjoy. Look at quality or prestige. Realize you can find a great watch at any price. most of all , have fun

Nice to have some youth on the forum (and in the hobby) myself got into it seriously in my 40s (yes old man) but that's when I got more disposal income, always had an interest but mortgages etc had to come 1st. Advice, well it can be a money pit, and there's much metal out there for much money. If you want a tank (lovely watch by the way) yeah go for it, earn,save and you'll get there eventually. But don't get too hung up on these little bits of bling (it's so easy to get obsessed, i know) there's life out there to experience and time goes so fast. Best bit of advice I can give you is have fun (and your off to a good start on this forum) but keep it fun and don't deny yourself other pleasures just to get 'a watch' and there's plenty of other awesome watches out there for not too much money that you can enjoy along the way.

Nah, I was into watches as a teenager. I begged for a g-shock for Christmas and the family was like... really? Boyfriend knew I wanted the Micky Mouse watch for Christmas and I was over the moon. Couldn't afford anything expensive until I was much, much older but I dreamed of Piaget

49. I'm now 50 😁

Just my .02¢, stop worrying about steps, ladders, and climbing them to attain luxury.

Enjoy the watches you have, wear the snot out of them, buy stuff you like, when you can afford it. Stop listening to those who talk "strategy", "investment", "authenticity" or whatever.

Also by literal definition, there is no such thing as a grail, since the concept is the quest for the unobtainable. (Despite what errbody will tell you in every watch enthusiast corner everywhere, here included)

Also don't forget to have fun.

Yeah I only took any image from google, don’t pay to much attention to it hahah

I love the idea of a curated collection, congrats! I think the philosophy about not buying watches I can’t afford to lose is great, never heard it before. I think it would be wise to follow it in the next years

I started watch collecting when I was in my mid 20's. I was always interested in watches from a young age but it was more of a casual thing, rather than a hobby. At the time, I wasn't exactly earning a lot either so value was my number 1 priority rather than the brand. Given you're working with a student budget, I'd say stick to what you can afford. There are now so many great watches that are well within the affordable price bracket so that helps. If you know you really want a Tank, then focus on it and work towards no. I can say with certainty that any watch you purchase along the way to satisfy that urge/itch will not last and you'd still end up wanting the Tank. So eyes on the prize and work for it, even if it takes years. A wiseman once said, good things come to those who wait.

Take your time, your priorities will most likely change more than you can comprehend in the next 10/20 years. Watches are fun but be smart and enjoy the journey. 👌

To separate from the crowds isn’t easy but I’ll try my best to build a meaningful collection

Thank you very much! I think I needed to hear something like this. Though it may be fun to have more watches and improve the collection, I should travel and have fun and shouldn’t let a watch drain all my savings.

I'm also about your age, maybe a few months younger, and I've been in the game since I was sixteen. I collect mostly vintage watches, which came about as a result of not being able to afford new watches. Vintage watches are a rabbit hole and can be a cruel mistress.

I too struggle to save up, often getting halfway to my goal and then having my heart stolen by some or other slightly cheaper thing somewhere.

You have an excellent collection as it stands. I'd probably suggest putting the Cartier in the back of your mind until bigger fish are fried. I wouldn't buy a luxury product as a student, even if I could afford it, because my priorities would be elsewhere.

But put a little bit of money away each month so that once you're finished and reasonably financially secure you can buy it. If you're not in that position, then you'll at least have some money to help you out. I'd also buy used.

Happy collecting!

I didn't mean to be a collector but when you get a certain number you have to call it something and collection is the most non negative thing I can call it. LOL I enjoy it so it can't be all bad. I didn't ever have more than one watch at a time til I was about 46. Since then it has just gone up. I retired at 48 and that jump started it. Idle hands and all.

If you were gonna say you owned a Rolex or a Patek at 18 while I’m almost pushing 40 trying to make ends meet I was, going to quit collecting lol. But in all seriousness I’ve always been into watches even at an early age I can remember being as young as 7 wearing a watch. I thought it would just be a phase but nope 32+ years later and I’m still wearing one. The only advice I can really give is don’t jump straight in without doing some research or jumping the gun just because a watch may look nice in pictures or videos doesn’t mean it is. Also please whatever you do don’t impulse buy believe me I’ve done it, more times I’m embarrassed by it. Sure a watch you just stumbled across looks nice, price is good etc but how long will it last in that honeymoon phase? A day? A week? A Month? 75% of my watch collection is mostly impulse buys. And what makes it worse is I’d lose like 80-95% of the value of each watch. Don’t get me wrong it’s nice to buy a watch even the cheap ones are good for certain occasions like fixing a car, yard work or walking in a bad neighborhood. But if you have a $1k limit are you gonna buy 5 $200 mediocre watches or 1 $1000 watch? Well good luck.

I bought my first watch when I was around 20, but at that time I only needed something to tell me the time (when I didn't want or couldn't use my phone). Around 25 I was fascinated by mechanical movements but not interested in watch brands and collecting. I consider myself as something like an enthusiast only for a couple of years (I'm 40 now).

I have no real advice for you, because we are all different. So do what you feel is best for you, even if you may regret it later, that's how we all learn and grow.

I've worn a watch my entire life, but I probably didn't start collecting watches until about 2012-2014. I wore the same watch every day of my life from 1997-2012 (or thereabouts) and it was a Coach (Movado-made) chronograph in two tone. When that watch broke, I started to dabble in other watches like a Bulova and a few other mall brands. It wasn't until 2012 when I got my first microbrand watch and 2016 when I got my first mechanical that I truly entered "the hobby".

Yeah, I’ll start by saving a sort of “watch budget” and then decide what is really worth it. I’ll separate it from my travel budget and my investment/saving budget.

Nice to have someone my age around here, you got a great collection!

Thank you! Maybe keep the watch money in an investment account so that inflation doesn't tear it to shreds.

I think impulse buys are ruled out, for now. Due to my student budget I can’t go buying watches whenever I want hahah. I’ve loved the Tank as well as other watches for more than a year, and there’s a long way to think about it before I can buy it. I agree with you about using my budget in fewer, more “curated”, pieces.

Seems like a lot on here (social media platform) are a younger age demo or at least a very vocal part of WC as they are more active in posts and inquiries. Ive been collecting since 1980's in my late teens, 20's...so a good near 50 years... thats when I grabbed a newer Casio lap runner's watch with those orange buttons on the front, or picked up a swatch... when the Swatch store opened up in the local mall that took the old Woolworth's spot🤓 No rush to buy $$$ watches, they'll (Tanks etc) always be around.

That’s great to hear I’m stubborn when it comes to saving up I tried but I always never go all the way through with it. Hopefully one day I stick to it.

Hey man im 17 😂 guess we are in the same boat!

Goldhammer has ine that seems more accurate

I began last year with 19 as a Student and got into Watches mostly through my boyfriend. I bought then my first decent watch, an 70‘ Omega Geneve from Ebay. I usually saved nearly all of my pocketmoney and had enough to go.

Looking at my collection, I now save the money I make as a recent graduate for a Chrono, either Vintage Gold Omegas/UGs or a Speedy 57, I don’t know yet.

My advice is to wait how much you will earn and can set aside to estimate how much you can save up for your Tank. Also, watches that are more expensive can be a great gift to oneself for a promotion (where you already have saved and then hopefully get a payrose)