What is the best watch to start a collection ?

Ignore what anyone online says.  Buy something inexpensive that you like, something that fits your lifestyle and fashion choices.  Wear that everyday for six months while you figure out your next purchase.

Rinse and repeat.

This is the perfect answer 👍

Without anything specific to go on, I’d start with Seiko or Orient. They have something relatively affordable for just about anyone.

Seiko SKX007

i really like the tissot PRX, do you think it’s a good purchase for a first watch ? 
 

I would recommend that you go into a watch shop and try as many on as you can. Then pick one that you like the look of and that fits you well. While you may always have an affection for your first watch, it is unlikely to remain your favourite timepiece . Because as you get into the hobby, what you like might change quite a lot. Enjoy the journey. 

If I gave you my opinion I would be violating the principle contained in the advice, which is not to listen to what I say.

get something quartz and inexpensive to use as a starter. They last a few years and that will give you time to improve your watch knowledge as to what you can afford and like.

If the PRX is in your price range, and you like the style, it would be as good watch. 

I highly recommend going into shops, and trying on a few different sizes and styles before committing to anything though. Just because something looks good in a picture online does not mean it will look good on your wrist in the real world.  

I'm new also.  Started this madness about 19 months ago.  I will send you everything I did so far and just do the opposite.

For me japanese brands lire Seiko or Orient are the best to start à Collection.

I'm fairly new to...I've found that it's better to start at the more affordable end until you find what you really like. I have 30 watches. 24 of them I need to sell because once I found what I like I didn't enjoy them anymore. Don't make that mistake. I went way overboard.  Anyway...Seiko and Tissot are great for newbies. Good luck and enjoy. I love it.

Epimenides would be proud

If you like the look and style of the PRX maybe get the quartz version to start with, their either in 35mm or 40mm depending on your wrist size. It will depend on you're budget as to whether you want to spend that much on your first watch. In Australia they go for around the $500 mark, but you can occasionally pick up one with a decent discount as I did.

Don't go into debt or spend too much on your first watch, if $500 sounds like too much then it is for you. Otherwise go for a Seiko, Orient, Citizen or even a Casio my friend and get out there and try on as many different watches as you can so you know what you like and what fits your wrist best. Online shopping for you're first watch, I would say NO.

Good luck and welcome to this madness called watch collecting 🤣

Tissot PRX's are stunning though 🥰

I’d start with a G-shock or Swatch automatic. These watches are hardy and relative Low cost, so less of a regret as you progress in your watch collecting journey. And everyone needs a G-shock as a daily beater😁. 

If you don’t tell us what you have, how are we supposed to know?

Perhaps if we knew:

• budget
• wrist size
• preferred style
• your dream watch
• favourite brands
• a point of reference 
• what you don’t like

then perhaps this might be a more worthwhile exercise for all parties. Otherwise just buy a Seiko, it’s what 90% of people in here will tell you eventually.

My advice is... buy a watch (as long as you can afford to). Unlike a house, or a car, buying a watch will have absolutely 0 impact on your life if the watch fails.

You're only going to find out what you like/dislike about a watch after a while of wearing it. 

None of those things would help. Might as well ask:

favorite band/first band that you saw live

astrological sign

color of the shirt that you are wearing right now

hair color of the first girl that you had a crush on

favorite sports team

why you bought a Swatch?

What do we know about someone/anyone's tastes?  We often don't even know what we like.

I think @Aurelian has some good advice about making your first purchase a budget watch while you find out what you are looking for in a watch. I would like to add some other considerations to this. First, I would advise you to stick with a big brand; Seiko, Casio, Timex, Citizen, Tissot, or Certina are all good entry level brands, depending on what you are looking for in your first purchase and how much money you consider a budget/entry level watch to be.

I would advise you to avoid microbrands until you know a little more. Don't get me wrong, microbrands can offer great watches, but you are taking a bit more of a chance if there is a problem with your watch that needs servicing; big brands will be more reliable for warranties and service departments.

I would also avoid the collecting minefield that is AliExpress until you have a bit more familiarity. There are some great values to be found there, but quality control is always an issue there, even with the more reliable brands like Pagani Designs, Starking, Skmei or Corgeut, among others.

I see any number of comments recommending Seiko, and I would agree if you want an entry-level mechanical or automatic watch; older Seiko 5s are still widely available for around $100. If you are looking for a quartz or solar, I would advise you to consider Citizen; Eco-Drive solar technology is great and you can get an entry-level Citizen Eco-Drive for $100 or maybe even less if you shop around.

I recommended Seiko with tongue placed firmly within cheek, but you know that’s what everyone will do, it’s genuinely depressing.

Honestly the way i started, i bought inexpensive casios in multiple styles to see what worked for me and then expanded from there. But i'd say don't worry too much in the beginning, start maybe just by buying a watch that you like the look off and is practical as well as fits your sense of style. From there i moved up to seiko's and micro brands but if i could go back to talk to myself i'd say don't rush your first big purchase and if you're ready for that plunge then take it but whatever you get try it on first. My initial purchases were waaaaaaay too big for my wrist for my personal tastes. Before I started on the journey i knew nothing and i asked a guy in a random motorcycle store about watches he said "why don't you just get a seiko 5" this was prior to the new seiko 5's honestly i do wish I had listened but I had NO IDEA what a seiko 5 was... I didn't even recognise the seiko brand, I knew nothing about watches, maybe if you have a friend who is into watches they may let you borrow one to wear for a while. What is your experience so far with watches? Tell us about yourself, what kind of person are you? Reserved? Gregarious? Adventurous? Traditionalist? Creative?  

There can be only one: Seiko 5.

I rest my case

Welcome to WatchCrunch. You are asking a question that really can't be answered, since the answer could be different for everyone.

A few random things that I've learned in the almost 4 years that I've been collecting:

• watch forums are terrible places to ask for advice on what watch to buy. The results will almost invariably lead to nothing more than a random list of watches that other people like and/or suggestions that may not be applicable in your individual situation
• watches can look completely different in real life than they do in photos or videos
• the proper fit of a watch based on your own wrist size is critical. A watch that may wear perfectly fine on one person may look terrible on someone else with a significantly different wrist size/body type.
• the size and shape of a watch, as well as attributes such as dial color, bezel type, etc  are hugely important to how it wears, and therefore how you feel about it. Resist the temptation to buy a watch that you haven't had the opportunity to try on, since you can't go by the stated dimensions alone. 
• your tastes will most likely change over time
• if you have your heart set on a specific watch, try to avoid interim substitutes, as they will rarely satiate the desire for the watch you really want
• there is a ton of valuable information available online, but you really have to be careful about separating the real information from promotional B.S. as well as simply incorrect information. If you come across conflicting information about a watch you may be interested in, do further research instead of falling into the trap of anchoring bias
• when consuming watch content, be aware of the reviewers perspective. Someone who focuses on budget watches may speak glowingly about the amazing quality of a watch that is a bit more upscale than what they are used to, but if that same watch is of lower quality than you are accustomed to, you may find the quality barely acceptable.
• browsing watch content online can be a great way to discover new watches that appeal to you aesthetically, and can serve as a base for further research
• understand what is important to you personally in terms of a watch, not only from the standpoint of which complications it offers, but also features such as accuracy, water resistance, power reserve, movement type, materials used, finishing quality,  etc.
• with the exception of a few hot brands (Patek Phillipe, AP, Rolex, etc), the price of any watch you buy new will most likely drop considerably, so significant savings can be had by buying slightly used.
• keep your budget and lifestyle/tastes in mind. If you have a Patek budget and tastes, it is very unlikely that lower priced watches will be a great fit. Likewise, if your budget is more modest, make sure to focus on pieces that are comfortably attainable while still fitting your lifestyle. 
• quality tends to go up along with price, however there are always exceptions to that rule. There are some questionable watches with high prices, as well as great watches with low prices. By visiting different ADs and trying on different watches you can start to determine the general price bracket that will be most suitable for you, to provide a target group of watches to focus on.
• it is helpful to research and learn about watches both above and below the price tier that you are focusing on. 
• vintage watches require substantially more knowledge and caution when buying than modern watches
• the look of a watch can be impacted dramatically by the choice of bracelet or strap, and there are as many differences in bracelets & straps as there are in watches themselves. Several watches have integrated bracelet designs that make changing the bracelet/strap difficult or impossible
• every collector has different tastes, different budgets, different lifestyles, different needs, different reasons for collecting, etc,  so what works for one person may not work for you.  There are lots of extremely knowledgeable and helpful people on WatchCrunch that will respond to any questions you may have, but keep in mind that your perspective and situation may be different than theirs.

I know that this long winded response didn't answer your question, but hopefully it can provide some food for thought to help you make that decision for yourself.

Woah! Ok, let me elaborate. Not knowing OP, but I'm going to assume a few things:

• We're talking about someone who's come recently to the hobby and perhaps is still forming their tastes, preferences, etc, but would like something that will kick-start them on their journey of discovery.
• I'm going to assume we're not talking Patek budgets.
• I'm going to assume OP is still in the process of learning about brands and would like some guidance as to what's reputable and what's not.

In my opinion, if we're dipping a toe in the water, Seiko 5 (new or pre-owned) is a great entry point into the hobby as it won't break the bank, carries a large range of styles and is from one of the most recognised and omnipresent brands globally, so should something go wrong, you have a higher chance of finding a place that can repair it.

If you're in the fortunate position of knowing what you like from the start, and you have the means for acquiring the pieces you want - go for it and good health! For me, it took a few shots before my tastes started to take shape. Now I know what I like and what works for me, I've become more focussed.

It's just my opinion - take it or leave it.

I like this approach. I would lean towards the Seiko because you should be able to find a store near you so you can touch and feel and get a sense for the build quality and how big/small the different sizes are when on your wrist. 
 

good luck and enjoy!

So you pretty much repeated most of what I asked earlier, and then said Seiko: you’ve basically done what I said would happen to the letter, in order to try and prove me - wrong? Ok… 😂

I started w/ G Shocks (that is a whole other level of addiction). G Shock owners become very obsessed due the variety available and various collabs. Also picked up a Casio MDV 106 Duro. That was my first true analog diver. I have to tell you that Duro is a humble little beast. It's a great budget diver to start w/ to get your feet wet. If you want just go head first into the pool, go with Orient for automatics. Amazing caliber automatic watches at absurdly low cost. Get in now because the watch market is getting funky again and prices have been going up some.

No, just giving my rationale. Apologies if it seems like everyone else's. I guess I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction.

I pretty much agree with the majority of the comments.  Personally I would start with the big budget brands, that have been mentioned several times. Then if you can, narrow it down to 3 or 4 and take a trip to your nearest big town/shopping centre/mall etc and see if you can see and handle them in person. Then go with your gut and take the plunge and enjoy ! Also never sell, your first proper watch is a keeper.