Late starter here, I bought my first watch in my thirties, a Longines Flagship Quartz. I wore it for a couple of months, then forgot about it for umpteen years, it's now my daily beater.
A few years later and my first vintage Omega was what I thought was a birth year watch for the good lady wife, wrong... and I've put more into that to make it right than what it cost, my newbie mistake and to boot she's only worn it a couple of times, preferring her Apple... I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect!
To be honest, I've only really got into watches over the last year, now that I can finally afford the odd piece and the enjoyment in looking down at the wrist.
Friends were in banking law and so I was around watches often. Bought myself my first "luxury watch" for my own 30th birthday. I'm not a big birthday guy but I felt like so many were passing by unrecognized. I switched industries a few years ago and the watch thing has become an obsession.
I have a handful of watches now, but I still wouldn't say I'm a collector. Having met many collectors, I'm a small fry. After about 3 I'm always thinking about which ones I should get rid of. But I like learning about them and the history.
Have you read the post...https://omegaforums.net/threads/my-descent-into-hell-the-mind-of-a-watch-addict.118376/#post-1577279
before it's too late, you are a collector. As my wife says,"You only need one watch." I don't listen to her.
