Timepiece Tug of War: When Your Partner Borrows Your Watch Collection
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your significant other, who doesn't seem to have much interest in watches, suddenly becomes a "borrower" of your cherished timepieces? Well the good news is, you're not alone. Many watch enthusiasts have experienced the curious case of their partners "stealing" their watches, just like me and my girlfriend, who has been eyeing my Casio AQ-S800W-1BV and more.
It's a scenario that unfolds in relationships where one partner has a passion for collecting timepieces while the other remains largely indifferent to horology. The question is, how do watch enthusiasts cope when their beloved watches find themselves on the wrist of their partner?
For those who have experienced this situation, it can be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it's heartwarming to see your partner taking an interest in something that means so much to you. It can also be a bonding experience, as you have the opportunity to share your passion and maybe even impart some watch knowledge to your significant other.
So, what's the solution to this timepiece tug of war? Guess it all comes down to communication and setting some ground rules. With some understanding, communication, and a little compromise, you can strike a harmonious chord between your passion for watches and your partner's occasional interest in "borrowing" them.
Please let me know your thoughts Crunchers!
In addition to my thirst for learning, I have two captivating hobbies that allow me to express my diverse interests: collecting vinyl and watches. With a keen ear for music, I immerse myself in the ri...
I’m slowly implanting interest in watches in my wife but I have to do it one step at a time or it won’t work. It’s like reeling in a fish you know weighs more then what your line can handle. You can’t just yank it in.
So far so good. She went from I will ever wear a watch, to now owning 2. I got her on the birth year and I just completed a mod personally for her from scratch. Now! She wants a Santana watch because I’m building one for the rest of the immediate family 😈
When we go to the watch wind up fair I’m going to casually say “hey if you like something let me know” and change the subject right away.
If she started to really get into it and wanted to wear one of my watches it wouldn’t bother me at all. After all we are married so it’s not mine it ours anyway.
I’m slowly implanting interest in watches in my wife but I have to do it one step at a time or it won’t work. It’s like reeling in a fish you know weighs more then what your line can handle. You can’t just yank it in.
So far so good. She went from I will ever wear a watch, to now owning 2. I got her on the birth year and I just completed a mod personally for her from scratch. Now! She wants a Santana watch because I’m building one for the rest of the immediate family 😈
When we go to the watch wind up fair I’m going to casually say “hey if you like something let me know” and change the subject right away.
If she started to really get into it and wanted to wear one of my watches it wouldn’t bother me at all. After all we are married so it’s not mine it ours anyway.
Yes I recognise this, at first there was no interest at all, but as soon as other parties like family start beeing interested in collecting or just by adding a watch to an outfit, they are hooked. I found an ordinairy Diver quartz on a green natostrap, gone! "It matches my green coat and bag so well", guess that's why we love them 😉
Yes I know that feeling well..
Mrs now has a nice collection of her own, & is slowly accumulating tools with the intention of doing a bit of modding (doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, but obviously I'm encouraging her)
Be warned tho, with two of you collecting it's double the outlay and the better half is well informed on prices.....
Good Luck 🤗👍🏻
My wife and I are very different individuals, she lived a privileged upbringing, I came from a impoverished but caring family so after marriage there were many unanticipated issues to solve including my watches which the Mrs routinely picks up to wear when she needs a beater or is too lazy to set the time on one of her own. Since she is also much smaller than I am physically, she lifts watches that are at least suitable but lately she tried on one of my Panerai watches and liked the look asked if she could wear the functional item while assisting our younger daughter and hubby with their new born daughter, our first grandkid for a few weeks. I had no objections but reminded her that the watch was still good to not gift it either my daughter or son in law. She in turn reminded me that no sane person needs as many watches as I already own. Doesn’t matter watches are mass produced as long as my credit card is valid and can support the habit, I do not feel threatened by her offensive remark, lol.
If they’re careful, I don’t see a problem. Obviously also depends on the size of the collection.
My wife and I are very different individuals, she lived a privileged upbringing, I came from a impoverished but caring family so after marriage there were many unanticipated issues to solve including my watches which the Mrs routinely picks up to wear when she needs a beater or is too lazy to set the time on one of her own. Since she is also much smaller than I am physically, she lifts watches that are at least suitable but lately she tried on one of my Panerai watches and liked the look asked if she could wear the functional item while assisting our younger daughter and hubby with their new born daughter, our first grandkid for a few weeks. I had no objections but reminded her that the watch was still good to not gift it either my daughter or son in law. She in turn reminded me that no sane person needs as many watches as I already own. Doesn’t matter watches are mass produced as long as my credit card is valid and can support the habit, I do not feel threatened by her offensive remark, lol.
When has “need” come into it?
If they’re careful, I don’t see a problem. Obviously also depends on the size of the collection.
I see what you mean, yes well like I said she took my AQ-S800W, thank god I have a AQ-S810W in my collection. Bit big but hey, what men have to do for love 😍
My Mrs has an objectively better watch collection than me I suspect. But she didn’t know she had it till I put all her watch gear in a box.
My Mrs has an objectively better watch collection than me I suspect. But she didn’t know she had it till I put all her watch gear in a box.
Oh yes, I do recognise this vey well 🍻
I see what you mean, yes well like I said she took my AQ-S800W, thank god I have a AQ-S810W in my collection. Bit big but hey, what men have to do for love 😍
Not that I have that problem as all my watches are mine. 😜
When has “need” come into it?
Lol! After 1 or 2, need ceases to be part of any discussion. However after decades and decades in, I might be close to not wishing more!
I think I have the opposite problem. I'm slowly getting Mrs Yonder interested in my hobby, to the extent that she will ask, what am I wearing today. Unfortunately she has absolutely no interest in watches herself. She has a Baby G and as far as she's concerned, that's all she needs.
The problem is. I think her Baby G looks quite good on me as well 🤔
I've been collecting for bang on two years. Last week for the first time ever my wife complimented me on a vintage seiko, asked to try it on and here we are several days later and she hasn't given it back.
This has never happened to me before. I'm conflicted about it. On the one hand I'm glad she has shown interest but on the other hand I have lost the use of one of my favourites.
She did ask if I minded. Being married I told her of course not.....
On me and now on her!
I think I have the opposite problem. I'm slowly getting Mrs Yonder interested in my hobby, to the extent that she will ask, what am I wearing today. Unfortunately she has absolutely no interest in watches herself. She has a Baby G and as far as she's concerned, that's all she needs.
The problem is. I think her Baby G looks quite good on me as well 🤔
Baby-G? That is an idea, would perhaps fit me well too. Don't tell anyone but I don't own a G-Shock because I think their prettty huge on wrist 🍻
I've been collecting for bang on two years. Last week for the first time ever my wife complimented me on a vintage seiko, asked to try it on and here we are several days later and she hasn't given it back.
This has never happened to me before. I'm conflicted about it. On the one hand I'm glad she has shown interest but on the other hand I have lost the use of one of my favourites.
She did ask if I minded. Being married I told her of course not.....
On me and now on her!
Guess your watch looks great on both wrists, its a give and take in life 🍻 Still that's a great watch btw.! 💯
I've been collecting for bang on two years. Last week for the first time ever my wife complimented me on a vintage seiko, asked to try it on and here we are several days later and she hasn't given it back.
This has never happened to me before. I'm conflicted about it. On the one hand I'm glad she has shown interest but on the other hand I have lost the use of one of my favourites.
She did ask if I minded. Being married I told her of course not.....
On me and now on her!
Looks good on you both. You will just have to enjoy looking at it on your wife until you buy her a replacement for birthday or Xmas
Baby-G? That is an idea, would perhaps fit me well too. Don't tell anyone but I don't own a G-Shock because I think their prettty huge on wrist 🍻
My first G (which I still own) was a square because I thought everything else would be too big for me. Over the years I bought some larger G's but none of them lasted very long. I guess the big ones don't suit me either
I'd thank God and light a candle too🤣
I bought my wife one pretty little Omega with a Mother of Pearl dial. She loves it. I have an 8" wrist. Not huge, not small either. Making the majority of my collection 40mm, minimum. I do have some vintage that is smaller. So, no. I've never had the problem you mention.
Looks good on you both. You will just have to enjoy looking at it on your wife until you buy her a replacement for birthday or Xmas
She wants to keep it I fear so I will have to get a replacement for me!
Guess your watch looks great on both wrists, its a give and take in life 🍻 Still that's a great watch btw.! 💯
Thanks one of my favourites from of course @GasWorks
She wants to keep it I fear so I will have to get a replacement for me!
It's a hard life... Happy watch shopping 👌
I might be somewhat okay with my wife borrowing my toothbrush (when we’re traveling and she forgets hers) but a watch from my collection??? No, Nay, Nej & Never 🤙😂❤️
I have bought several watches for my wife this year (one for Valentine's Day, one for Mother's Day [which was "from the kids,"] and one for our anniversary.) I also got an unexpected free watch from Stuhrling, as a "we're sorry you had to wait 8 weeks for the 2 bracelet links you ordered" gift, LOL 🤣 My wife liked the way it looked, and the fact that it was a skeleton watch, so I gave it to her.
I plan to get her two more watches this year, one for her birthday, and one for Christmas. In fact, I already have the Christmas gift sitting in a box in the closet.
My point is, by simply gifting her watches, I have made a collector out of her, haha. And since I know what sort of aesthetics she looks for in jewelry, the watches I have gotten her have all been to her liking / fit her sense of style.
She used to have a small collection of fashion watches from before we met, and she had stopped wearing most of them, mainly because her sense of style has evolved since that time. But I got her a watchbox recently, and put all of those fashion watches in it, plus the ones I got her, and now she has a nice little collection going. And I am pleased that, currently, the two watches she wears most often are both ones that I bought for her.
She has mentioned that she does like my dive watches, because they are bigger, and easier to read, so for her birthday, I am going to get her one. (Probably a Duro. 45mm is big, but not too big.) I might push it to 47mm and get her an Invicta Grand Diver, but I haven't decided yet.
TLDR: My wife doesn't borrow my watches, because I make sure that she has plenty of her own, all of which she likes the look and style of. 😎