Why are you into watches / collecting watches?

[SilverFoxUK]

Someone asked me yesterday - 'Why are you into watches?'

I had no good (or rational) answer.

I always liked them and since my mid-40's I found I could afford my first 'luxury' watch. I have become a bit addicted to 'the next' watch since. Some I wear regularly, some I do not.

I've thought about it since I was asked...I see them as both machines and as jewellery, and while I don't want to mention the 'i' word on here, not too bad a place to have money if you have sufficient spread of 'i' already and not much debt. However that is still not really an answer as to 'why'.

I'd be interested to know other people's answer to this question. Cheers!

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by SilverFoxUK

I had no good (or rational) answer.

You don't need one.

[beshannon]

I have always been fascinated by time, space, astronomy, physics . . .

The mechanical operation of a time keeping instrument is unique. It measures something that cannot be explained yet everyone depends on it.

A clock and by extension a watch allow me to view this as it happens. That watches are designed to be both functional and beautiful just adds to the appeal.

I need no other reason and I certainly never need explain that to someone who wont understand.

[macrowatch]

Art on the wrist.

Useful function (time keeping) in an apocalypse.

If not an apocalypse but crises, useful store of value to find physical safety.

In PM, useful hand weight to buff up the biceps.

[Xerxes77]

Because I love watches

[Madman37]

For me it’s the move to everything digital. I love to collect and keep things like Comics, Art (not banksy as that is stencil not actual painting) mechanical watches because I think eventually as everything is going digital these things will disappear. It’s the the eventual nostalgia of remember when...

[Giangos]

For me my first purchase was to reward myself for an achievement.

I wanted something beautiful, something special, something to last me forever. And it grew from there, I immersed myself in the history, YouTube, TRF etc.

And as we know, it can be addictive. I have several amazing timepieces, and plans for many more. Each one tells a part of my story, I research every piece before I buy it. And one day I will pass all of them down to my kids. And with them they will carry a piece of me long after I’ve gone.

Is there anything better?


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[CharlesN]

I blame it all on my mother.

As a child I was fascinated by her watch which looked like a bracelet but has a button you could press and a flap opened to show the watch face.

I inherited the watch from my mother when she passed away and I still love the watch

I have had it fully restored by the manufacturer ….. Patek Philippe and now my wife occasionally wears it.

Because if that I was “Infected” by the watch loving bug and I have never got out of the delightful sickness.




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[Handey0465]

I wanted an expensive family heirloom to pass down to my son one day. So I bought 1 watch.

I have 2 sons, so now it's a good reason to buy a 2nd watch.

I am not a collector or WIS. I simply love the look, style, and value retention of Rolex.

[Case61]

Originally Posted by pickettt

You don't need one.

[Xkwazexboy]

THIS👍

I like to remind myself of achievements and these Watches does that. Then passing it to the kids when they are ready.

Originally Posted by Giangos

For me my first purchase was to reward myself for an achievement.

I wanted something beautiful, something special, something to last me forever. And it grew from there, I immersed myself in the history, YouTube, TRF etc.

And as we know, it can be addictive. I have several amazing timepieces, and plans for many more. Each one tells a part of my story, I research every piece before I buy it. And one day I will pass all of them down to my kids. And with them they will carry a piece of me long after I’ve gone.

Is there anything better?


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[Lesnerelli23]

Originally Posted by beshannon

I have always been fascinated by time, space, astronomy, physics . . .

The mechanical operation of a time keeping instrument is unique. It measures something that cannot be explained yet everyone depends on it.

A clock and by extension a watch allow me to view this as it happens. That watches are designed to be both functional and beautiful just adds to the appeal.

I need no other reason and I certainly never need explain that to someone who wont understand.

This right away sums it up for me as well. For as long as I can remember! I could add anecdotal stories to support but I just graduated from UofM and have a tendency to be too wordy still lol. Anyway, add my love of art, the ocean, and intricate mechanics to the list. We can put all those things into 40mm on our wrist!

[Ichiran]

I can't explain. It started when I saw the old black and white Nautilus advertisement. Was hooked ever since.

[bp1000]

Grandad was a clock maker and artist

I was around clock movements from as early as I can remember. He used to paint and assembly grandfather clocks all the time.

Then Apollo 13 really cemented it for me. And it was always about the speedy.

[Oyster Sauce]

I have liked the way watches looked and the fact that they serve a function since I was a young kid. There is nothing like a quick glance at your wrist to enjoy the view and get some useful information. Putting on a watch and glancing at it periodically is an ingrained habit. The fact that in there is a seemingly endless variety of brands and styles make being an enthusiast even easier.

[IamJacky]

For me I've just always appreciated "nice things", especially things that are well constructed/crafted or with some kind of history/background and usually will require some level of education to fully appreciate its value.

Mechanical watches have always been an item of interest for me, it's just that in my 20's I simply could not afford high-end watches; my first Rolex cost more than the second-hand car that accompanied me through my college years.

When I turned 30 and was starting to make a comfortable income from my investments, I decided to get myself a real nice watch and bought a Rolex Datejust II. I didn't think I was going to eventually own more than one, but as the years go by, I learned more and more about Rolex and appreciated just about every aspect a Rolex watch has to offer, and so I started branching out to their Submariner, Daytona, GMT lines. Right now I only have Rolex watches, but I'm sure if money is of no issue, I would definitely branch out to other brands as well.

[msg315]

when craft becomes art

[PekWatchGuy]

I have allways been fascinated all mechanical. Watch is culmination of perfection in micromehanical art. Watches last and can be passed on. By buying and maintaining wathes i support watchmakers and heritage. It is a fine hobby.

[Driver8]

I have absolutely no idea why I like watches so much, other than the fact that I find them to be incredible feats of miniature engineering being able to track 86,400 seconds every day to the accuracy they do using only springs, wheels and cogs. All I know is I've worn a watch every day of my life since I was 5 years old, I bought my first "expensive watch" at 16, and have been into the whole watch thing ever since.

Neither of my parents or close family are into watches at all, but the odd thing is a few years ago my mother told me that one of my grandfathers (who died before I was born) was a part-time watchmaker. Spooky stuff. Maybe it's genetic!

[Mifune]

Flexing :p

[Master_Grogu]

Let me give you a quote to explain it all:


We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. So medicine, law, business, engineering... these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love... these are what we stay alive for.

[jaySL350]

I’m not far off Sixty and received my first watch around age 7 ,,it was one of those watches with windows for day,time, and date but no watch hands and I loved it
I own a similar Sicura from the 70s, that I still wear,,
Just always loved watches from a Timex to a PP and everything in between,,,

[brandrea]

I got hooked on those National Geographic Ads when I was a kid.

Now as an adult, I enjoy wearing automatic watches for several reasons:

They take me back all those years to my childhood.
They remind me of just how incredibly ingenious we humans are.
They feel like you’re wearing something with a beating heart.
They are like wearing art on the wrist.

[Droolex]

I grew up pretty poor. My parents worked hard and saved and provided a safe and warm place to grow up and a good education. My father is an honest and hardworking man who worked a trade and allowed himself very few luxuries in life. When they finally managed to move up economically, the first time I ever saw my dad splurge on a luxury item, it was a Rado dress watch. I remember going with him to the AD and seeing him trying watches on and how it made him smile and how he wore that watch everywhere. As soon as I could get my first job I started buying watches and haven't stopped. The only thing that has changed are the prices of the watches I buy ha!

[nachopc]

My grandfather used to wear a YG DD then my mother then I bought my first submariner in 1999 and here we are and counting…..


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[SilverFoxUK]

Some great insights thank you! I guess not fully understanding why something floats your boat is cool...I do agree with the fascination some people have said about the beating heart, the impressive mechanical achievements etc. It's quite nice to think that these pieces will likely outlast everyone alive today too!

[Iahughes]

I wasn’t really into watches until about 7 years ago. My line of work means I’m around sports people quite often. Seeing a Rolex Daytona really interested me and motivated me to save up for a Rolex of my own. Since then my collection has grown to 3 watches (not all Rolex)

[Oyster Perp]

just after I left school I got a job in a high end jewelers and gravitated to their watch department. They didnt sell Rolex but were an Omega main dealer. I stayed there a few years and eventually moved to a Rolex main dealer thats when the bug first hit me !!. We where allowed to wear a second hand model whilst 'on duty' but not away from the shop. This was the early to mid 70's. Leaving the poor pay behind I was eventually able to buy my own,a 16014, in 1985 (which I bought off a guys wrist for £300) and then it REALLY started......

[Brew]

My left wrist is ugly.


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[M9APO]

Woke up one morning in July last year and suddenly decided I didn’t want an Apple Watch anymore. I’d had Tags before, but nothing automatic.

By November I’d got a BB58 Blue, just got a new DJ from my AD which has put me on a proper list for a no date Sub, hopefully by next year.

Lockdown boredom/cash probably accelerated the interest.