As a beginner, buy selectively or opportunistically?

There was a thought that my goal was to have a watch for every occasion, with variance in designs, colors, and theme. Acquisition was mostly selective, but certain pieces became available at attractive prices and were purchased at great opportunities. So, it was a mix for me as I suspect others probably experienced.

What I’m into now is so drastically different from when I started. I would have never picked Neo vintage Ana-digi watches to be my thing and yet here I am.

When you buy selectively, do you narrow down to a particular brand and/or model you want, or more about the style of watch?

Selective opportunist?

You can narrow it down to a diver style watch, and then take the best deal you find in that category. Is that fair to say?

Your taste just evolved over time, or something specific changed your direction?

I went with best deal for the best specs…at a reputable brand.

I would try to cover the basics inexpensively in the beginning. How does a type of watch make you feel? Even the collector generally prefers to collect watches he also likes to wear.

If you can figure out what makes you happy early on, it will save you money down the road.

P.S.: Don't listen to what people on watch forums say. We've all had too much of Koolaid.

That sounds like just being an opportunistic buyer. The only selection criteria I see there is "I want a new watch".

To me, there’s three things to consider as you start in the watch hobby.

First, as a beginner, you don’t have enough experience to know exactly what you want. Second, your tastes will change many times over the years. Third, if you start with various styles of inexpensive watches that look “cool” to you, you will soon figure out which types of watches you enjoy most without spending an overly large amount of money.

One way to get the ball rolling is by looking at What’s on Your Wrist posts here on WatchCrunch, peruse a bunch of YouTube watch videos, and then use websites like Joma shop and Chrono 24 to research prices so you can stay within your budget.

Even the collector generally prefers to collect watches he also likes to wear.

So buy a variety in the beginning, discover what you like and prefer, and get more selective from there?

All the dang time 🤣

Right, bit a small variety will cover it. In my case, I like the look of divers, but they are rather impractical, and don't necessarily work with my business attire.

Also look at yourself with the watch in the mirror. For some reason the the complete image of yourself with the watch makes it easier to tell if it fits you or not.

It can also be sobering to see a watch at the jewelrer at the first time. What looks good in pictures, can be too busy or too blingy in person.

It may take a while to find out what you like.

I was more opportunistic when I started because I didn’t really know what I liked. After a few years of learning along the way, I’m much more selective. Start off buying used so you minimize your loses if you decide to sell it later. Once you become selective, buy new or used, whichever you decide.

I think the more watches I tried and owned the more my tastes evolved. I like the stories behind the watches. The specific uses.

Enlightened Irrationality

You've really thought this through! 👍

Might has always been selective (i buy what i like. Good price is just a very welcome bonus) BUT with very strong influence from social media 😆

Do people flex their watches on social media? I don't use social media sites so I really don't know.

This site is my entrance into social media, if this counts as social media.

There are facebook groups that are specific for watch enthusiasts and even some specific to just one brand. Also i consider watch crunch and youtube as social media. Lots of watch media exposure for me daily.

Got it. I know about some YouTube channels, that's about it. No Facebook unfortunately. Do they have discussions similar to this?

I mean are they proper open discussions like this, or more promotional discourse?

Yes they do. I left a bunch of them back in April in the hopes of slowing down my watch addiction. I figured less exposure would lead to less wanting and buying. It only worked for maybe a month. 🤣

That's encouraging to hear, that it's discussion and not just promotional or advertising bullshit.

After watching some good YouTube content, I've come to equate watches and social media with MVMT et al...so it's news to me that there's good stuff happening there too.

Yes, you do some trial and error, that is inevitable. But at least ensure that your initial criteria you do have are properly met by looking at the full spec sheet and the images available. I had some regrets where I had failed to do that.

Ditch FOMO, that's the biggest money waster of them all, especially as a beginner. Yes, you find stories on youtube where watch channels tell you about the watches they missed out on and how they regret that now. Mostly these people are in the trade, or paid influencers. It's also mostly about luxury watches, and as a beginner you should avoid these anyway. It is one thing honing your taste by getting an $80 Parnis you later regret, and something else doing exactly the same with an $8000 Omega.

It is one thing honing your taste by getting an $80 Parnis you later regret, and something else doing exactly the same with an $8000 Omega.

You nailed it.

I’m opportunistic but within a selected, small number of models. I know which ones I want to buy next, but if I found something that is in my list for next year or later at a very good price, I’d go for it.

Buy what I liked. What interested me.

I haven’t voted but would say a bit of both. I have 2 watches that are opportunistic and one that was a thought out intentional purchase. Funny enough that one is the most fulfilling 😁

Sometimes you don't know what you want until you see it!

I have researched and carefully selected a purchase for a hundred different reasons, and been less satisfied than I have with an impulse purchase.

Maybe A for grail, B for rest of collection.