Advice for New Collector

It’s easy to feel like that when you’re first starting. There’s so much out there and you want to experience it all right now.

Keep looking around and trying on all different models you’ll soon realise a pattern of what style draws you in most.

I went a bit overboard at first but in my defense I was learning what I liked and didn't like. If you already have that part dialed in its easier to stop impulse buys. Another way I've found is to get extra straps for your watches, it helps the watch seem new again.

I have heard getting new straps for your current watches helps you fall back in love with them, so I will definitely try that first

You can use as I do... Just follow two limits...

Buy only wathes you really like or love, which is a great natural limit - because they are simply very hard to find... I classify every interesting watch i find as class C (found 48 different) and truly delicious or great watches I really like as class B (found only 45) and amazing masterpieces as class A (found just 15) and that include naturally many with crazy prices...

Then do I "only" buy every class A or B watch, that cost max 280 euro (faster than a hungry cobra) and never any class C watch, which I absolutely not love and don't even want to wear!

And now do I actually own 15 of the 60 class A & B that I found, which is 25% of the finest!

I would advise you to do it like me, but that's probably not the path you're looking for, because I've only collected two pieces so far. I am too strict about what watches I buy, they have to appeal to me with something more than just that they are well made. I'm looking for some bond or anything with which I know I'll be happy to have them. For instance, the PRX I have were bought by my girlfriend because she could no longer look at the fact that I had them in my basket in online shop for 9 months, so I also have quite a funny story about them besides the fact that I got them from someone close to me. Or there is another option, when you can't help yourself from an impulsive purchase, try to buy a watch that is easy to sell after a week or two of wearing it so that you don't lose too much of your budget.

Extremely helpful

Thank you!

Have you considered marrying someone who doesn’t like you spending money? Works for me.

My advice for not buying to rapidly, close this site. Never look on youtube again, clear all browsing history and meditate in closed space.

After 5 years emerge as a human being that has no recollection of any brands or watches 😄

Because this is a rabbit hole and we are all a bit looney here. Take the blue pill mate 😛

Hate to say it, but once you've gotten a new piece you're happy with stop coming here. Stop looking at every watch site and enjoy what you have.

It's really easy to get caught up in the hype and start accumulating, especially if you're new to it.

@TinyTim knows the way

Over-buying is a real thing - I have two close friends, one that got into watches last year, and one that literally bought their first this past weekend...BOTH of them ended up going above their pre-established budget, and BOTH of them ended up buying 2 watches at the same time. It's natural to get hyped up and caught in the thrill of buying all the watches that catch your eye, because after all you're "building a collection."

For me, what works is having a grail timepiece that is a cut or two or three above the rest, that usually means it's a little pricey, and then I have that timepiece as my "north star" of sorts, where I save and save to put money aside to get it eventually. So whenever I get an impulse or get distracted by another watch, I pull up my current grail timepiece that I'm saving up for and my want for it makes the lesser but newer temptation go away 🙂

Lastly, I emphasize the "do I really love this watch, or is it just cool and neat?" aspect. If I've fallen super hard for a watch, then, well...maybe I buy it, but only after I compare it to my current active grail. That's sort of the litmus test. And it's worked for me in at least 3 different instances. But there's no silver bullet, we're all different, and what may work for me may not work for you. Part of the fun (although it more than likely doesn't feel like it in the moment) is figuring yourself out, and as much as we'd all like to fast-forward through the less-than-great times, we can't. We need the mileage, the experience, and the lessons learned along the way. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy the ride is all I can say 👍

"A man's gotta know his limitations." - Harold Francis Callahan (American philosopher)

Try to think of watches as categories. Do you have a watch that already takes on the same role? Do you really need what is essentially a duplication? Would you rather spend the money on something you don't yet own?

The most expensive watch is the one you don't need, regardless of it's price.

You are actually in a great place right now. You are sharing what you are thinking and feeling about collecting in regards to finances. Many people (I am raising my hand) have paid for a PhD in how not to collect with money spent on watches they no longer own OR regret owning. There is lots of great advice already shared in this post. IMO , start by making a real budget for your life. What? No watches involved! Boring, no, bad! LOL How would you truly know what you have to spend on this hobby of you don't know your personal finances? All watches ($30 mall kiosk buy to $1 Million Richard Mille) are Veblen purchases not necessities. This is a luxury hobby at any level. Understanding your budget, this hobby is not a necessity, and looking at pieces that fit in the price range you can afford is a great start. Half the fun is the hunt. You will appreciate the build of a value watch that punches way above its price range and relish the moment you purchase a Grail. Having a watch you must work and save for is fun as well. You accomplish building the cash reserves to buy a great watch comfortably. No better feeling than buying something you pay cash for and can really enjoy. Also, better to own a few pieces that make you happy than a box of watches that make you depressed. For now, watch videos, read reviews, and try on as many pieces as possible. Don't be afraid to ask to try on a watch. If you are not treated well at an AD never purchase from that store . You learn who you want to buy from by testing their service level.

Good advice on straps.

Personally, I do the following. First and foremost (as you and many have said already), make sure you have money set aside and can afford the purchase without going into debt (credit card or otherwise). Saving disposable cash for each purchase will make you more discerning in your purchases.

Second, once you have the cash, use a cooling off period (hard when you have the cash, I know). I personally wait a month after I am ready to buy the watch I fell in love with and during that month consume all my normal watch related content (articles, videos, forums) and if, at the end of that month, it is still first on my long watch list and I am dying to get that watch, I go out to a store to get it. However, I have found that I almost always fall in love with another watch (I'm hopeless) during that month saving me the expense of buying a watch that I may have only really loved at that moment in time.

I am past my month's period for the new Bulova Lunar Pilot Panda (I'm a sucker for Apollo era space watches). The new panda coloring (to contrast with my grail Speedy) along with filling the HAQ slot in my collection pushed me over the edge which brings me to the final thing I do: try the watch on! The worst is to fall completely in love with a watch online only to try it on and realize you don't like how it looks on your (well my fat) wrist. I had that experience after dragging my wife to a new store far away to try on a dive watch I obsessed about for over 3 months. It looked to me to be too small on my wrist and was noticeably top-heavy making me sadly leave empty handed.

If it wasn't for the fact that the Bulova AD I was going to this past Saturday inexplicably closed at 2 pm (ARGH, I got there at 3!!!), I would have completed this task and most likely bought the watch at that time.

But now that everyone is hyping Watches and Wonders (predictions), I am thinking that maybe I should wait until the other brands make their big announcements at the end of the month so I can keep my financial powder dry.

Try on watches that you like and take a picture for your reference later in time. If you still like down the line and it’s financially responsible to get it, do so :)

On the flip side, take photos of your existing watches as you wear them for your reference (and for WRUW!) sometimes looking at your current watches vs other watches helps you appreciate the ones you have (or help you realize it’s time to sell one).

It’s soo easy to get sucked in that way with all the brands/microbrands and models out there. I tend to gravitate towards models that fit my lifestyle. I used to dress up for previous job so I’d buy dress watches. I no longer do that so I’m not buying Cartier, Datejust or dress JLC. I go for more sporty or casual now. Buy what you love, not the current trend. Save for the pieces you really want, it’s worth it! Good luck!

I always run a virtual or digital wish list and I let a watch linger on it for 3 months to a year before buying it.

Put a cap on the total number of watches you want to maintain in your collection and if you reach that number then get rid of one before buying another it makes you examine WHY you want it and if its worth trading something you have for it.

Put x amount of money back weekly or monthly (never go into debt for a watch!) and make yourself save for it this also makes you examine how much you want a watch.

Don't settle for what you don't want today, save up and buy what you really want in the future.

If you just have to give into impulse go for straps, tools, accesories ect that will work for many or all watches in the collection

Just advice nothing more 🙂

I have a Gshock DW6500BB (my first introduction to the watch world), I purchased a modded Seiko Submariner later and than a Seiko SNX79. I am now looking at maybe getting a Seiko 5 GMT, or potentially waiting until I finished my Masters degree and use that wonderful Grad job salary to get mu current grail, a Tudor BlackBay 58.

I only have Japanese watches at the moment and am clearly a fan, but entering the world of Swiss horology has always been a goal

Study my watch buying habits very carefully for an extended period of time while taking copious notes. Now do the opposite.

just buy watches you can never have enough! 🤪👍🏻

1) Stick to buying watches for special occasions. Big trip, big raise, anniversary, birthday, etc. This will not only limit your buying but will make you think twice before buying/selling a piece since sentimental value is attached to it.

2) Don’t buy the watch upon release. Give it time, let’s the reviews & posts come forth. The guinea pigs will find features, faults and determine how it wears for you. Once it’s had a good amount of spot light (or maybe after a better variant is released) swing in and make your purchase.

Those have worked for me.

First off: Three watches is plenty.

Secondly: This is about as happy you will ever be about your watches, you just don't know it yet.

And lastly: There is no reason why you should "climb the ranks" if you are somewhat pleased with the quality level you are at now. It's all relative and never ending. Don't be fooled 😊

Just some friendly opinions

Good luck with that...it is a very deep hole this rabbit is..LOL

That's a good start really. Consider buying something to celebrate an achievement, eg graduating or getting a new job. That will make the purchase of the watch more significant. The Black Bay 58 is an attainable grail. There are cheaper timepieces such as Longines and Oris, but I would always consider the Black Bay 58 as the best entry level luxury watch to get the ball rolling due to the build quality and the movement.

This. I probably bought 20-30 (good) watches over the course of years until I finally decided to save for my grail (omega seamaster pro) and now I’m just buying grails which has slowed my buying wayyyy down but upped my satisfaction.

Also a novice... I like to set arbitrary timeouts and checklists for myself. No new purchases until wearing the last one for at least 1 week... wait for that big contract to make sure my financial situation is really as stable as I think it is... and so on. Most reliable way of breaking my own obsession that I've yet found.

I've also been sticking to the aftermarket because, as an early collector, I figure this is when I'm most likely to buy favourite watches that I'll destroy over the course of my life. So no sense chasing the very latest model and a few dents are fine as well...

Glad you found your method/groove! I am still dealing with it to this day. For instance (and to showcase the insane range of just how far the delta between what my grail is and what I currently want) the Timex Expedition North 41mm in titanium looks phenomenal (and I have a thing for titanium) exhibition caseback, automatic movement, sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, 200m water resistance - phenomenal timepiece that won't break the bank at $350. My current grail? The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 50th Anniversary Silver Snoopy 😍 the delta here is around $9,650 😂 so yeah, it's crazy, but it works (for me) 👍

Find it, look at it, Go try it on, walk away. Think about it. If you still feel the same a week later and you can still pay your bills and eat, PURCHASE💥

An attainable grail is really good advice. That’s what I did as well, though I do plan my purchases a year or so in advance. This year I’m picking up a used citizen Promaster automatic, and a farer aqua compressor. After that, I’m saving for a speedmaster professional. Having that ultimate goal really helps to curb impulse buys, as they’ll set one back a bit.

Exactly that! Again, I'm sure it's not a "one size fits all" solution for everyone, but for the people it does work for, it works well! A bit of a read, but a great example I described from personal experience below:

https://www.watchcrunch.com/The_Timist/posts/the-cartier-journey-15-year-anniversary-watch-13809

So many opinions and perspectives. It's good that you're soliciting them. Let me offer mine.

In the last four months my collection has grown from less than 20 to now 65. This is expendable income - I'm not going into debt - and nothing I own is impressive by any means but all of them were purchased with intent because I liked them.

But instead of buying watches to satiate my continual thirst for them, I've decided to learn how to work on them and repair them for myself. After all, I can do the same with a car or a computer, so why not a watch? I bought some non-functioning watches of many different kinds so I can take them apart and put them back together over and over and learn from design commonalities and potentially apply them to new movements I've never seen. Do and learn. Repeat.

Consider doing this as a way to temper your enthusiasm for simply purchasing a watch, if you're concerned about spending. Keep in mind that you will be spending on tools but it won't be forever. You'll acquire enough to do what your skills will allow at the time.

Later, imagine the confidence you'll have when eyeballing that cool vintage watch that's a steal because it's not working and think to yourself, "Hey, I could fix that." That's satisfying too, and on equal footing of a straight out purchase.

But that's just my opinion. 😉