Don’t be afraid to jump in and start exploring the world of watch collecting for beginners. It’s not as daunting as it looks!
Every watch enthusiast will tell you that collecting timepieces is one of life’s absolute joys. No one ever said it was easy, though. Generally speaking, beginners will experience their fair share of challenges and confusion along the way. How can you choose from such a vast array of styles and designs? Where should you buy from? What are the most important must-have features in a watch?
If you’re a novice, don’t fret. Simply follow these pointers and, above all, don’t overthink the process. Here’s where to begin if you’re a beginner.
How To Start a Beginner Watch Collection – Key Points
A beginner watch collection is like baking a cake. You begin with the essential ingredients you like to taste in a cake. While it’s baking in the oven, you’re already looking for ways to enhance what you’re creating. How can you add to those essential ingredients to create a more sophisticated palette? When the cake is ready to eat, you can sit back and enjoy the pinnacle – the slice with the cherry on top!
Simply put, you begin a beginner’s collection at the very beginning! Follow the pointers below, and it will all become clear. The steps I outline in this article include choosing a style and setting a budget. They also explore the various ways to acquire your first timepiece.
1. Set a Budget
There’s no point in acquiring your first watch without considering the most important element: money. What’s the point in spending time and energy researching a watch you can’t afford? Don’t set yourself up for major disappointment. Start with an achievable budget and let that dictate where you look.
That might sound like quite a restrictive approach. But really, never has a phrase been truer than “look but don’t touch” when it comes to budgets and watches. My personal opinion happens to be that if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Don’t max out your credit card or rack up debts by taking loans out for watches. Timepieces bring a lot of joy to life, but that’s all they should be—a joy. Start small and reasonable. Working your way to the top is a journey, not a race!
2. Choose Your Style
Choosing your style is the second most important piece of advice when collecting watches for beginners. There are so many styles and types of watches on the market (and many rabbit holes to fall down!). The sports watch category covers divers, chronographs, pilot’s watches, and GMTs. Then, there are dress watches and elegant complications for pairing with formal attire. You may be looking at a modest three-hander for a simple office watch. Or maybe you want something practical, robust, and affordable, like a digi-ana watch.
Decide whether you like watches with a touch of retro flair or want a modern companion. Once you understand your personal style preferences, you can build a collection that becomes more cohesive over time.
3. You Don’t Have To Go Textbook
One of my biggest pieces of advice is that you don’t have to follow textbook recommendations. I offer this advice to anyone looking to jump into the world of watch collecting. You’ll always come away with an opinion no matter who you speak to within the watch-collecting world. “It should be highly water resistant,” many will say. “Steer clear from gold watches; they’ll scratch too easily.” “Don’t trust this brand” or “Only buy from this manufacturer or that manufacturer.” Most advice boils down to personal preference. You must remember that watch collecting should be (and is) fun. To enjoy it properly, you must listen to your heart.
That’s not to say you should buy whatever looks good without considering what you really need in a watch. Obviously, you should be thinking about what you’ll be using it for and where you’ll be wearing it. But one person’s ideal watch may not bring you the same level of joy and satisfaction. Let your gut make decisions rather than just adhering to “must-have” lists. The bottom line? Don’t look for all the standardized checkmarks in a watch. Go for something that triggers an emotional response when you pick it up.
4. Choose Your Movement
Deciding on a movement is essential when buying your first timepiece. Many beginners are under the illusion that their budget will only stretch to quartz. But there are many affordable mechanicals on the market today. You can learn more about mechanical vs quartz in another article. But for simplicity, a quartz watch operates via a battery and generally costs less than a mechanical one.
Mechanical movements cover automatics and manual-winding watches. While an automatic movement powers itself using the natural movement of your wrist, manual winding is different. Manual watches, AKA hand-winding watches, require regular winding each day. Once you know the distinctions between the different watch movements, you can make an informed choice based on preference.
5. Start Broad
Don’t begin this journey by trying to pigeonhole your dream watch. Instead, start broad when shopping and exploring the market, rather than having a set brand in mind.
Choosing something versatile when investing in your first timepiece is always a good idea. Pick something that can easily pair with casual and smart attire. Buying a bold statement piece as your first watch can be quite limiting. If it’s too flashy for work, you’re instantly restricting yourself to how much you can wear it throughout the week.
Think broadly when buying your first watch. Stainless steel or titanium cases are good options. Gold timepieces are super dressy, while black carbon/ceramic watches are highly sporty.
6. Connect With Fellow Collectors
A big part of becoming a seasoned collector is joining the watch-collecting community. Don’t worry—it’s not as daunting as it sounds and can be quite a useful tool.
You can learn a lot by joining a community of fellow enthusiasts. It’s a great platform to ask questions and sound out ideas. You can also get a good feel for what’s hot or not. Fellow collectors can steer you in the right direction using their past experiences and knowledge and save you from a few epic fails, too!
7. Choosing an Investment Watch
Your first watch may not hold much value exactly, but that’s normal. After all, a beginner’s budget won’t necessarily stretch to grail levels. But as your collection grows, you’ll make room for more long-term investments. The key to choosing an investment watch is to sniff out those most in demand. Researching the market will give you a good indication of the most desirable timepieces up for grabs. And selling a few unwanted timepieces will enable you to reach the level you want to be at.
The best investments are often those with an interesting history. Just look at Gerald Genta’s sports watch designs from the 1970s, for example! Some of these are still the most expensive to own and the most fashionable to wear.
Brand provenance is essential when it comes to investing in a watch. Even if you sell all your watches for one grail watch, that’s ok. So long as your one-watch collection ticks all the boxes you want in a timepiece, that’s all that matters.
Exploring the market for pre-owned watches is a great way to stumble on an investment piece. Be aware, however, that there are many pitfalls to buying vintage watches if you’re new to the scene. Choosing wisely involves trusting in a reputable seller or dealer. You also need to know what to look for in terms of the condition and quality of a watch.
FAQs
Here are some things to think about before beginning your watch-collecting journey.
How Should I Start My Watch Collection?
Start your perfect watch collection with something practical and versatile. First, make sure you have a budget in mind. Robust sports watches and three-handed steel or titanium watches serve as good cornerstones. They’ll complement most outfits!
Is Collecting Watches a Good Investment?
If you can afford to kit out your collection with solid, valuable collectibles, watch collecting is one of the best investment propositions. Some watches hold their value better than others, however. You need to conduct good research before buying an investment piece to reap the rewards. Watches that carry horological history and an exciting backstory hold their value most.
How Many Watches Should You Have in a Collection?
There is no limit to how many watches you should own. The most diverse collections comprise various complications. However, some collectors prefer to focus their interests on a particular genre, like pilots or sports watches.
Take It Slow – Watch Collecting Is a Marathon, Not a Race
You can never have too many watches, so take the journey slowly to avoid making rookie mistakes. If you begin with a timepiece that makes you happy, it can only get better from there. Enjoy the process of finding a watch you really love.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking at vintage pieces on the pre-owned market, a mid-priced watch, or starting with a budget-friendly daily beater. Use this guide. It will remind you to trust your instincts and refrain from trying to tick every box. The truth is, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to watch collecting. What’s suitable for one collector is not so great for another.
Practicality-wise, consider what you need your watch to do and the conditions in which you’ll be wearing it. Pick a versatile style you won’t fall out of love with after a few months. If you’re looking to buy watches that hold their value, think outside the box. Look at what the market tells you and invest in something that sells for more than its retail price. Look at how well the watch performed historically and what people say about it. Above all, choose a trusted and respectable brand with historical significance and a story to tell.
The main point to take away from this guide on “watch collecting for beginners” is to enjoy the ride. You will make mistakes, no doubt. But your knowledge in the field of watch collecting will grow as you become more experienced. Before you know it, you’ll be the knowledgeable, seasoned collector from which all your friends want advice.
Are you a beginner watch collector with a burning question? Pop it in the comments section below!
