Community Stories

Does the Itch Go Away?

vbrad26
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I find something I want and fixate on it. For the last year or so, it has been the Tudor GMT.
I would go out of my way to look at pictures of it, look at for sale ads and search the internet...just waiting for the day I could justify buying one.
That day came back in August. I went to buy another watch (not for me and not my money) and for the first time tried on the GMT.
Long story short, I left without it. And ever since, the "want" for that watch has actually sort of vanished.
I'd still like to have it, but I'm not craving it like I was.
Like others have said, take it slow. Had I been impulsive, I perhaps may have regretted it? Hard to say...but probably not.
But I'm confident that it would not have taken long for me to start hunting down the next one...
So I guess my point is that yea, the itch will/can go away. I still plan on buying one eventually, but I'm not in a rush like I once was.
 
JwRosenthal
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crd crd
If you’ve got the discretionary funds available then I don’t see any reason that you shouldn’t buy anything that brings you joy within your means. It sounds like you've worked hard and taken care of what matters and deserve to have some nice things that make you happy.
^^^ Yup!
I used to be very modest about spending money on luxuries, I didn’t want to “flaunt it”. My ex had a friend who was always struggling financially. When I bought my first vintage BMW, a car I had lusted after since I was 12, she said “must be nice to have a BMW”. At first I wanted to justify my purchase to her but thought to myself, I earned this. I said “yes, it is nice”.
 
crd
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gbesq gbesq
So you’re implying that there could be some kind of long term issue associated with this hobby? 😲

I don't see any issues there 😀 I guess the only issue is that you only have two wrists to wear them on. Hmm, ever thought of growing some arms?
 
gbesq
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crd crd
I don't see any issues there 😀 I guess the only issue is that you only have two wrists to wear them on. Hmm, ever thought of growing some arms?
I'm thinking about getting a pet octopus so that I can rotate my dive watches more frequently in their natural environment..
 
T
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I think it depends. Have you had any other hobbies/interests/passions in your life that you eventually lost interest in? If so, there's no reason to think watches couldn't go that same route.
 
THFan346
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crd crd
If you’ve got the discretionary funds available then I don’t see any reason that you shouldn’t buy anything that brings you joy within your means. It sounds like you've worked hard and taken care of what matters and deserve to have some nice things that make you happy.
Such is true, although I still have personal guilt for spending in this way, which I clearly shouldn’t have.
 
THFan346
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gbesq gbesq
So you’re implying that there could be some kind of long term issue associated with this hobby? 😲
4F2ECA4E-6D83-4036-99B1-AC0AFE9C9045.jpeg
Brilliant! Love that pic.
 
THFan346
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gbesq gbesq
I'm thinking about getting a pet octopus so that I can rotate my dive watches more frequently in their natural environment..

Love that.
 
THFan346
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T tjs1295
I think it depends. Have you had any other hobbies/interests/passions in your life that you eventually lost interest in? If so, there's no reason to think watches couldn't go that same route.
Only other real interest is cycling. I have 5 road bikes, each with different attributes, but ultimately all do pretty much the same thing. Hence I am not shocked by the need to collect more than one watch.

I still cycle, so plenty of use ahead for those, and still enjoy each of them even if they each get ridden less as a result of there being 5.

Best thing is, the combination of price rises and lack of availability in bicycles and parts has meant that I have saved a lot in the long term. That’s assuming I would have got to the point of wearing a single bike out by the increased mileage if I only had 1.

Does that logic apply to watches though…
 
JayBe
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THFan346 bpsmith
Only other real interest is cycling. I have 5 road bikes, each with different attributes, but ultimately all do pretty much the same thing. Hence I am not shocked by the need to collect more than one watch.

Five road bikes seems reasonable to me and my significant other would be happy if I had only five. In terms of bikes, it's not as easy as watches to store and unfortunately even harder to keep them in usable condition due to aging of the tires / tubulars. The value proposition is similar though, as I don't believe that you can lose money in keeping vintage Cinellis, Colnagos, etc original and in good nick.

In addition, as you say, I feel like I save money by riding the old 8-speeds way more than the 11 and 12 speed drive-trains that are much less durable and have astronomical prices for spare parts (chain, cassettes and chainrings seem like a major rip off).

In terms of watches, as with most hobbies, there is often a cost of ownership as not all can be a win-win. So some watches might lose value, get damaged, etc. But that is why it should be a passion foremost and an individual decision of how much you are willing to spare.
In the bigger picture though, who did not wish at some point that his (grand-) father would have had a passion for interesting watches, cars, paintings, etc given their value today?
 
THFan346
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JayBe JayBe
Five road bikes seems reasonable to me and my significant other would be happy if I had only five. In terms of bikes, it's not as easy as watches to store and unfortunately even harder to keep them in usable condition due to aging of the tires / tubulars. The value proposition is similar though, as I don't believe that you can lose money in keeping vintage Cinellis, Colnagos, etc original and in good nick.

In addition, as you say, I feel like I save money by riding the old 8-speeds way more than the 11 and 12 speed drive-trains that are much less durable and have astronomical prices for spare parts (chain, cassettes and chainrings seem like a major rip off).

In terms of watches, as with most hobbies, there is often a cost of ownership as not all can be a win-win. So some watches might lose value, get damaged, etc. But that is why it should be a passion foremost and an individual decision of how much you are willing to spare.
In the bigger picture though, who did not wish at some point that his (grand-) father would have had a passion for interesting watches, cars, paintings, etc given their value today?
Mine are 3 Ridley’s, 1 Bianchi and 1 Titanium Van Nicholas. Not sure they’ll hold their value like a Cinelli or a Colnago (C60 being my favourite), but my intention is to ride them all until they break.

All Shimano 11 speed, aside from the lovely Campagnolo Record 12 speed on the Van Nicholas.

All bikes running full carbon clinchers rather than tubs, but running Turbo Cotton’s or Corsa’s.

I am ok with the cost of ownership, but don’t want to get ripped off with something that doesn’t last.
 
tpatta
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THFan346 bpsmith
will the itch to buy another go away or is this a continual hell for anyone inclined to collect things!?!
Hasn't gone away yet...........
MySpeedys.JPG
 
Longbow
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T tjs1295
I think it depends. Have you had any other hobbies/interests/passions in your life that you eventually lost interest in? If so, there's no reason to think watches couldn't go that same route.
Er…girlfriend/wife/ex-wife? “Maintenance” costs; coincidence?
 
G
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I’m thankful that I primarily like dive watches more than any other type. It really narrows down my choices and really helps with this never ending itch.
 
THFan346
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G Gixnic
I’m thankful that I primarily like dive watches more than any other type. It really narrows down my choices and really helps with this never ending itch.
I was absolutely adamant that my first watch was going to be a chronograph and be a dressy type watch. Then continually got drawn back to the Diver. Almost bought an Aquaracer, then a Superocean, and then settled on the Seamaster 300M. I am a bit like you in that the Diver watches all draw my eye the most!
 
Walrus
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One day you wake up and realize you have a bunch of things that do the same thing, so you say frig it and get some more of those things.
 
JwRosenthal
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When your spouse sees you searching watch listing and asks “why can’t you look at porn like a normal person”, then maybe you know you have a problem.
 
THFan346
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Just out of interest, what is the build quality on TAG Heuer compared to Omega?
 
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