I used to post quite a lot on the forum but now I don't. I like observing and checking out what is happening in the CW universe, as well as being pointed in the direction of new watch models and brands. After running with the forum for a number of years and starting all manner of threads I realised that a lot of the regular posters on here were collectors of one sort or another. I also knew that that was a space that I didn't really want to get sucked in to - or 'enabled' as it's often referred to here. Over time I came to realise that watches (for me) are for the wearing; I like them on my wrist...as much as possible. When I see watches in my watch box redundant, unworn, it pulls at something at the heart of my being. In short, I don't like it ("get a grip man," I hear ringing out in certain corners).

So, to that end, I knew I was better suited to being an enthusiast. I could learn about watches from all manner of brands, I could also covet them from afar. But every additional watch I added was going to further distance me from my above stated objective, that's a true dilemma if ever there's one, in fact it's more than that, it's a paradox.

So, what's your position? Do you see yourself as being in one camp or the other? Can you be in both camps at the same time? Maybe you're in one camp but have ambitions to move to the other?

Finally, to return to the paradox I mentioned, am I alone in feeling this way? Does anyone else find themselves looking at unworn watches with pangs of almost regret and betrayal?

Des

I certainly think it is possible to be both an enthusiast and a collector. I imagine that accounts for the majority of folk who post on watch forums, myself included.

I also totally get that it is possible to be an enthusiast, without being a collector.

I have also observed those that if you probed deep enough would turn out to be neither collectors or enthusiasts.

As to “do I find myself looking at unworn watches with pangs of almost regret and betrayal?”

Absolutely not!

I have a few in that category, or rather two categories from my perspective…

- those that I have no inclination to wear, other than an occasional pick up and wear for a few hours before putting back and unlikely to wear again for another year. But no inclination to sell.

- those that I may not wear for six to twelve months or more, that I know I really enjoy wearing when I pick them up. Likely to be worn in a group of three or four for a month or so, before going back into hibernation again. My solution to being a flipper, as it often seems like wearing a new watch.

Neil

How many watches do you have to own for it to be a collection?

Mikkei4 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 9:18 am How many watches do you have to own for it to be a collection?

An interesting question! Given that you can only wear one watch at any one time, surely more than one watch lends itself to being a collection of sorts. That said, in watch circles we often hear 'the one watch collection' spoken about. Confusing, ain't it.

D

I consider myself both, and even though I too find it difficult having 'too many' watches that I don't wear 'enough' I still think that even two watches counts as a collection because of what happens when you put two watches together side by side. A while back I started a thread where I invited people to post a photo of a pair of watches from their collection that looked good together, or that they felt 'went well together.' And I realised that even with two watches (and even though we're only wearing one of them at a time), the one watch considered in relation to another created another wearing/owning experience. And I think on the forum people do give some thought to 'what the collection as a whole looks like' - is it a 'balanced' collection? Does it represent me as a whole?

Even with two watches I'd be thinking of them as a pair as well as as individual watches. So I think of myself as a collector / curator too

I think I'm an enthusiastic, beginner collector. .
Although I have found myself immersed in the watch world it came as a surprise to me as id never really had any contact with watches over a prolonged period, certainly not within my household growing up. So I don't really want to label myself or am not really bothered if others do. I enjoy the whole watch thing immensely and just go with the flow.
If, in time my enthusiasm wains or something else takes precedent then so be it. While I'm enjoying and learning and I suppose collecting as I'm acquiring pieces then I'll just try and enjoy it until if and such a time as I don't. After all, there are so many serious things to deal with in life and this is or should be a pleasurable distraction and release. I guess if I had to choose I'd say I'm an enthusiast as a collector sounds quite serious and diminishes for me what is a fun part of life. Just my thoughts, as I always say "what do I know", many minds far greater than mine will have contemplated similar questions, I just don't have either the inclination or time to go that deep.
Pat

Redpat wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 9:57 am After all, there are so many serious things to deal with in life and this is or should be a pleasurable distraction and release.

This has been the size of the whole thing for me.

If I could offer one word of advice it'd probably be don't rush things. Try not to buy on a whim. Stunning watches are released almost daily; for me the research is almost as fulfilling as the acquisition.

Des

It’s certainly a topic that has been raised before, Des, though always worth revisiting. I think I’m of the opinion nowadays that the whole watch thing is whatever you really want to be. Me…?

Collector? In a way. Unavoidable really, because I have quite a few watches. But I’m not into curating, cataloguing and recording in the way that some people are, so I would venture to suggest it’s not really a hobby for me. I think I am more of an accumulator and wearer. I wear some of my watches a lot more than others, but I do get pleasure from firing up one that I haven’t worn for a while; not with any feelings of guilt, by the way. I look after my watches as best I can, but I don’t get all OCD if one acquires a mark or scratch, or gains/loses a second or two more than I expected.

Enthusiast? I suppose so. I have an interest in watches, and in horology in general. Probably more on the historical side; I’m fascinated by the stories behind, for example, the marine chronometer. I have absolutely no desire to take a watch apart or modify it, though I’m interested in how they work, in a sort of layman's way. However, it seems that I’m not overly interested in a lot of the things that are being produced at the moment, at least not within what I think of as affordable price ranges. Having seen other people’s photographs of the watches on offer in Manchester the other week, I’m quite glad that I didn’t purchase a train ticket or take a long drive to go and see them.

So I’m probably an enthusiastic wearer of watches that interest and attract me. Does that make sense?

I've seen a fair few discussions over the last few years about what defines a watch collector. Personally I take the view that a collector has a thematic approach to their watch purchasing. This could be by style/complication e.g. a collection of chronographs or vintage divers, or just by brand. There are plenty of fairly serious collectors of CW watches on this forum, often to the exclusion of any other brand.

Conversely I regard myself as an accumulator of watches. There is no real theme other than variety and stylistic appeal, and a desire to wear all of them of a fairly regular basis. Having said that I do seem to have ended up with quite a few pairs of brands: 2x Omega, 2x Tudor, 2x Nomos, 2x Oris, 2x CW, etc.

Certainly most normal people would regard me as having a 'large watch collection', but maybe I've just got a large accumulation of 2-watch brand collections

Interesting question! With the terms as you define them, I’d say I’m more of an enthusiast, but maybe even barely one at that. Perhaps I’m more of an enthusiast wannabe. I’ve learned enough about watches to follow the conversation here, but I’m far from the expert many others are. I’ve got enough knowledge to sound like I know what I’m talking about, but if you scratch the surface there’s not too much there.

I certainly have the mindset to be a collector. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of collecting other things - cookware, guitars, unmentionable pocket folding “tools,” camera gear. If I had more disposable income, I’m sure I’d succumb to collecting watches, too. But I’m a superficial collector of things - driven more by a personality affliction than a meaningful desire to immerse myself in something fully.

If I’m being honest, I’m drawn to this forum more by the community of people here. The focus on CW watches is almost incidental. A look at my posts reveals this, as very few actually have to do with watches. That fact even gives me pause when I go to start a thread sometimes.

@Amor Vincit Omnia Yes, this thread had been posed before, Steve, probably by myself. I just tried to frame it a little differently, and I thought it might provoke some introspection from newer forum members. Funnily enough I've always thought of you as both an enthusiast and collector. A collector because you have a whole subset of vintage watches, but also because you've bought in to typical collector favourites like the moon watch and tank, with their well defined history and back story.

@timor54 Accumulator/collector? Could this be the definition of splitting hairs? Doesn't Sinn feature in your two watch collecting habit also?

@jkbarnes You're just a highly social animal like the other half of your avatar. You like being around people; anything that gets the ol' tail wagging.

Des

I’m definitely not a collector, I’ve sold too many watches to fall into that category.

However by selling most of the watches I’ve owned, it has allowed me to own a good number of very nice watches I would never have afforded to be able to if I had kept, or collected every one.

I suppose this makes me either an enthusiast or just enthusiastic.

I’ve now got three great watches that have found their way permanently into a small collection.…..

Hang on, maybe I am a collector after all.

I suppose the moral of this post is that even I don’t know which category I fall into so how is anyone else going to know.

iain wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 2:30 pm I suppose the moral of this post is that even I don’t know which category I fall into so how is anyone else going to know.

I think it just goes to show that the terms are quite nebulous and are more of a mindset than anything. I liked the addition of big game hunter by @strapline. I think the hunt is definitely a defining element for some people.

I could probably write a small book on this this topic but I will try and keep this as brief as possible!

I started out as an enthusiastic purchaser of watches. In the early days my questions were quite simple:
1. Do I like it? and
2. Can I afford it?

I cared little for brands, 'value' and others' opinions. Without wanting to speak for him or reduce his post too much, I think it was a similar position to @Redpat's views above, and it was a wonderful place to be. Over a 6-7 year period I added maybe one or two watches a year, never really thinking about a 'collection' and not actually thinking too much about watches in general.

3-4 years ago I started to get much more interested in watches overall. Researching brands, reading articles, learning about movements, and more recently engaging on forums such as this. I've been exposed to more watches, more brands and more opinion. Fundamentally I really do like watches ( ) and this has consequentially led to an increasing rate at which watches have been bought. But the purchasing decisions have come with maybe less instinct, more outside influence and more expectation from my side.

My current feeling (as I've similarly discussed ad nauseam on the other recent thread) is that the marginal benefit of owning extra watches is decreasing rapidly for me. When I look at my watch boxes I feel no guilt in the older models sitting there for months at a time unworn, as I know I'll experience that same feeling @nbg describes of wearing what almost feels like a new watch when the time comes. But the newer ones I feel much more guilt about not wearing, or even owning altogether.

Thus a definite need, from my perspective, to curate a watch collection of a number and type where I'm much happier. But hopefully more driven by the first very simple question above: "Do I like it?"

In a very roundabout way to answering your question @strapline my aim is to ultimately take a step back and be "an enthusiast with a watch collection".

Best,
TB