How old is watch crunch?

I'm 53, tastes have changed as disposable income has increased, eyesight has decreased & life has become less rough & tumble.

Oh yeah!

Apparently, after 45, you're all the same 😂

I turned 72 last July so most times I am the oldest guy in a room unless I meet up with some colleagues who used to call me the “punk”. However I win a lot of friendly wagers about age, I still have a full head of dark hair with some grey creeping in. When I first started in my lifelong hobby, I aspired to own serious timepieces, I still ache over a decision to trade my first Breitling Chronomat with a rose gold bezel, rhodium dial, dull gold zones and a bullet bracelet for a rose gold Patek perpetual calendar Moonphase when I visited Kowloon in the early 90s. There were extra dollars involved but I discovered from that flawed decision that watches need to be actively worn to be truly appreciated. My Patek sits in a back box while I now just buy watches, mostly mid tier objects that I can wear whether I am fixing the boiler or sitting in a neighbourhood bistro complaining about too much salt and butter but tastes great. I will never want any watch that might be termed a “grail” sounds too much like conclusions! Lol.

Bank box, oops.

Yep; decrepit old fossils to anyone under 30

54 here. More play cash, less time in water; not riding jet skis anymore, not hiking, haven't been in white water for more than 15 years.

Don't work ICU now and spend most of my day in my office caring for a computer and my staff. Far less abusive to my watches now.

I sit, shit, sex and sleep with nice watches on. More of the first one and, unfortunately, less of the latter three. You will understand one day.

I’ve only aged 7.5 years since getting properly into watches. My tastes have changed since before then, when I had a Boss and Paul Smith watch - both were chronographs.

I still like chronographs and am happy with square, but my tastes have definitely developed. Since getting into the hobby though it’s been fairly static. I spend a long time pondering before purchasing, as I want to make choices that will last the years as I grow older.

Interesting break down in age. For you youngins, you go through stages in adulthood, mostly associated with your kids.

1. In school no money

2. Out of school, no kids, little money

3. Young kids get all your money

4. Older kids get even more of your money, but you keep a little.

5. No kids, lots of money.

I don't know if the age skew contributes to the quality and politeness of discussions here, but as a new member coming from Reddit, I absolutely love it.

Wow, this community skews older than I thought so far based on the poll. That's cool. More representative of the population of watch wearers in real life

Lol, now THIS should have been the poll!!

Lol, my younger daughter and her husband are expecting a first child so I need to budget for my grand daughter, older daughter who is an executive working in finance suddenly feels not quite so secure so I need to budget in case she has a rough period. My logic is that nobody asks to be born, a parent’s duty is never completed, sort of, there are limits, haha. You are correct there are few benefits to growing older, money should not be a major one.

My watch tastes have changed depending upon my style of dress. During Covid when working from home I was into divers and sports watches. Now back in the office in a suit, it’s dressier watches.

Wearing an Apple Watch for three years and inheriting vintage pieces from my dad made me appreciate smaller watches.

15 here

Really cool to see the variety in ages here. I’m 35 and I’m encouraged to see that there are plenty of enthusiasts on either side of me.

I have worn a watch since I was 4, but have been an enthusiast for about 12 years. I’m actually surprised by how much my taste has remained consistent. What has changed:

• I really enjoy tough quartz dive watches that are a little easier on the budget. I have started wearing my Scurfas for workouts more often in place of my square G-Shock.

• I am better at making choices that push me out of my comfort zone. When I used to do that, I would usually sell the watch pretty quickly. Now, I am better at selecting watches that are more likely to stay even though they are outside of my normal taste. My best example of this is my Sinn U50. I thought it would be too large or too weird but now it’s one of my core 3 watches.

• I have never been caught up in the latest craze as I am usually down in my own rabbit hole but I am more patient with purchases. I have found this hobby encourages impulsivity but rewards patience.

• I have added art into how I enjoy the hobby. I now draw and paint watches and have even done a couple projects for people I know that requested a piece be made for them.

I like your philosophy and approach. I just browsed your profile. Very cool watches! I haven’t dipped my toe into Russian yet but watches like yours make me curious.

I'm 31, I started to love watches very young, and yeah, my taste and knowledge in watches evolved a lot. Chronographs were my favorites and they still are, but now I do enjoy a lot of different styles. Also, my knowledge of brands and movement went from non-existant to quite well informed, when I bought my first watch(Citizen Eco-Drive) I didn't knew automatic watches were a thing... and I tought solar was the newest and best solution.

I'm 58 and since I was 30 my taste in watches hasn't changed much. I love chronos and Divers sports watches, always metal or rubber bracelets, I don't use much leather straps and in some cases NATO-type straps

53 and I've grown to appreciate smaller size watches; Sub 40mm and non-divers. I would have never considered a dial size under 40mm. My opinions and tastes have changed as I have gotten older.

I just had a laugh at the age categories and how it just ends at 45+. That's so old and you're clearly near death so why bother asking beyond that

Not really for me. I'm kinda a black dial, tool watch guy with colorful straps dude 😂.

I still have some color in dials, because I'm an enthusiast. I like watches, period.

Ever since my first Orient, have always been into micros. Mainly due to their David vs Goliath, small town vibes and the bang for your buck.

Still searching for a black dialed Bathys 100 Fathoms. IFYKYK.

Only real thing that has changed is my disposable income levels as I've ranked up, so to speak, over the years 😂.

Not one bit. Have always like tool watches

Turned 21 last month. Even over the three years I've been interested in watches my tastes have changed

Im 65 and yes my taste have changed somewhat ..especially when i see original interesting watches . Though i still love my traditional and vintage look watches..