How to REALLY Collect Watches - 5 Mistakes You Can Make as a Collector
We all make mistakes in life. Whether that is in your personal decision or in watch collecting. Some of the best advice one can be given is talk to as many people as you can to learn from their mistakes. So with a bit of experience in collecting luxury wrist watches, here are a couple of mistakes you should try and avoid as a collector.
Don’t buy watches just to create a collection. Take your time.
I know this seems like a counter-intuitive one when talking about being a collector of watches, but it really makes sense. We recently had a conversation with a collector who had over 350 watches in their collections. But, the thing we noticed about their collection is there was a lot of overlap and a lot of watches that were inexpensive and not the best quality. Now there is nothing wrong with inexpensive watches, but what we got from this collector is that they wanted other pieces that were a bit more expensive but they really were so focused on the volume of their collection. Don’t collect just to be a collector, take your time and find watches that feel right and tick all your boxes.
Build a watch collection that YOU want.
Speaking of finding the right watches that tick all your boxes, this is such an important thing to consider when collecting watches. So many times I have met people with similar collections - an Omega Speedmaster, a Rolex Submariner and a Seiko of some sort. Yes these are phenomenal watches but I guarantee there are other watches that these collectors probably love way more. They probably bought these watches because they are mainstream and known for being phenomenal. If you take your time as a collector and truly understand what watches you like what fits your style, personality and wrist, your collection will be way more enjoyable.
Enjoy the hunt and do your research.
I cannot say this enough. Research, research, research. You should know everything about the watch you are about to purchase before you buy it. You will be able to validate that it is real, but also you will know what watches you actually want in your collection. If you want watches in presence condition, the hunt may take a bit longer but you will have to put in the time to find one. But that is what makes watch collecting so much find.
Try on every watch that you possibly can.
This is a fairly simple tip, but trying on every watch you possibly can is an essential part of watch collecting. It will help you understand what type of collector you are and what watches fit your wrist. It can even help you figure out small quirks about yourself, like if you prefer a leather watch strap to a bracelet, or maybe even a rubber strap!
Wear the watches that you own.
I get it, this one might be a bit controversial, but there is method to the madness. If you have taken time to research and fall in love with a watch, you really should wear it and enjoy it. There are obviously collectors who focus on keeping their examples in 100% all original condition, but I think this is a very niche community of collectors who need to do so. Wear the watches you own, and enjoy them.
Enjoy!
