How to pick out a watch?

I've recently posted a few threads regarding my lack of ability to decide which watch to buy. Thankfully, that's been resolved as I purchased my 3861 Speedy a few weeks ago, but it got me thinking.

When I purchased my Seamaster Chrono, I rushed into the decision and had some buyer's remorse. And now I feel somewhat stuck with a piece I'm not super happy with. At the end of the day, it's a watch, a material item that honestly doesn't really impact my life. There are certainly more things in life to worry about, and I'm thankful I have the means to own two great pieces in the first place.

With that being said, I am not in a financial position that really allows me to go drop another 5-10 thousand on a watch, so when I do purchase something, I want to be dang sure it's what I want and don't want to leave a few weeks later with buyer's remorse.

So my question, while probably seeming a little elementary (I'm a serial overthinker), is how do you all approach buying a new watch? Do you go into the AD knowing what you want? Is it the watch you have found yourself looking online at over and over? Do you leave thinking about or even purchasing something different?

It seems like my tastes change, and the watch that sparks my interest changes almost daily. When I go into an AD, the watch I thought sparks my interest doesn't actually, and then something completely different stands out (which is exactly what happened with the Seamaster). For the future, I want to be able to protect myself from buyer's remorse. Our access to information is a blessing and a curse for me when it comes to making these types of decisions.

I think “mistakes” like that are just part of the learning process—and part of homing in on what you like. When I first started this hobby I swore I hated watches with big functional bezels (divers and chronos) and that I’d never want a precious metal watch. Now I’d probably say a platinum Seamaster diver is my grail watch. Your taste will probably evolve, expensively. Buying used as Dan suggests will help.

My personal philosophy (developed through painful experience) is: never make an impulse purchase. If possible try before you buy. But at a minimum wait a few months before buying. It takes self restraint, and it means you might miss out on some great deals. But I’ve found that I make better and more durable decisions this way. Can’t tell you how many watches I thought I loved and needed to have ended up fading in my mind before my mandatory waiting period lapsed. 😀 Anyway, works for me.

I wouldn’t put much stock in categories or coverage—like I have a dress watch and a diver, so clearly I need a chronograph now even though I don’t really care for chronos. Buy what you like, even if it means you end up with seven similar watches. Who cares?—it’s your collection.

Ignoring beaters and throw-aways I have only had three new watches in over 50 years. First was from a magazine advert, I did not care what it looked like just wanted a good quality chronograph for my sport of car rallying. 1969 Heuer Carrera was the result. Second while browsing Jeweler's windows looking for a present for SO (of the time) saw a TV-screen Seamaster that I liked a lot. Bought it but do not remember what SO ever received, if anything. Then recently because most of my watches are from the 1960s and not to be taken out in the rain, a favourite here, a Hamilton Khaki Field as a quality beater. I did call ahead to see if there was one in stock. So you see I am mostly a creature of impulse. Like! Want! Shake piggy-bank 🙁

Still have and wear them, if only occasionally the older two.

My 3861 Speedmaster was my first big time watch. I had a titanium Seiko back in high school that I loved but then I stopped wearing watches in college and early in my career. As a space nerd who's walls are covered with space photos and other memorabilia, I knew I wanted a Speedmaster at some point. I didn't know which one, or from what era... I just knew I wanted one. So for me, it was easy. Since then, my watch tastes have taken me in a few different directions, and I know I need to focus in my tastes before my next big purchase. As of this moment, I have two vintage Omega's on my "want" list, but I also wouldn't mind picking up a newer Seamaster.

Like you, I'm a serial overthinker, so I usually just sit on a decision until I'm sure. I say that, and then someone posted about the Dan Henry watches and I bought one that same day. I guess thats the difference between 6k watch and a sub-$300 watch.

Bottom line, if im dropping a ton of money, i'm going to stew on it quite a bit. The smaller the dollar amount, though, the less I stew.

Avoid low cost watches just because they’re “cheap” and it seems cool now. You’ll end up spending a lot on a bunch of watches you never end up wearing and can’t really resell. For expensive stuff, if you're super excited about a watch, sleep on it for a few months and see how you feel. The feeling may pass and eventually the one that just won’t go away will present itself. Think about how the watch will actually fit your lifestyle as well. If you have any interest in vintage there is space for a lot of fun for the price of a single 10k watch.

Me too!!! I really wish I knew what happened to that watch. Mine was a chronograph, and I used the tachymeter function primarily to check the accuracy of our cars' speedometers on the highway..... 😀

Try to envision how often, and with what you will actually wear the watch. It doesn't matter if it's under $1K or multiples of that. I have watches of different price ranges, and I absolutely love all of them because I took the time to research and think about the purchases.

Others have admittedly been sold in the past, but that can be a part of the process and as long as you remember to try purchase what you want to keep long-term, you should actually wind up with the watches that you have no regrets over.

Who hasn't woken up with a righteous hangover and a Tag Heuer on his wrist?

More like a righteous hangover and missing his watch and wallet and keys and memory and…

Me, 60 Day Rule:

Once the idea enters my noggin' nothing happens for 60 days... amazing how many watches go from "MUST HAVE IT!" to "What was I even seeing in that?" in 60 days.

Just my opinion for what it's worth, but if you're a serial overthinker and your tastes change daily, watches may not be your thing. Nothing wrong with changing tastes, but in the world of watch collecting, that and overthinking are severe character flaws. Good luck!

I kind of outlined my thought process in the other thread, but I think I start with "what is the purpose of this watch?" "what do I want it to say about myself?" "under what circumstances would I wear it?" These criteria are flexible- for example if I set out thinking the watch HAS to have a blue dial but then I find a dark green dial I like, I don't immediately reject the dark green. I go back to my checklist and I say, "will this still fit the original criteria I laid down?" As logical as we are capable of being, we're still subject to our emotions, and trying to bury them doesn't have good results, so I listen to what I like.

THEN- I go and see it in person. You've probably already discovered this, but boy can that make a difference. Watches you thought you would love, suddenly all wrong. A watch you thought too small just right. Or too big, for some reason appears too small. There's a ton of subjectivity that foes into purchasing a watch, and yes- that means sometimes you're going to look at multiples before you find the right one.

Also, don't give in to the need to walk out with a new one! If it isn't you it isn't you. There's no rush. If you have to have it today, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to have it tomorrow if you sleep on it.


Lastly-

For me the first watch should be able to do essentially anything. Once I've gotten that out of the way, maybe I look for one that would have more specific application- or maybe not, many watches can do just about anything.

And I've got to add- I wasn't always this way. Impulse buying is a factor of experience and age, and when I was younger I bought a lot of silly crap that I ended up not liking. So don't beat yourself up- if you're REALLY unhappy with the Seamaster, consider getting rid of it and putting what you get from it in a fund for something else.

Good luck!

This is spectacular advice. NEVER go "cheap," and most especially never go cheap if it's second to what you really want and you're just impatient. You'll regret it every day you put it on!

Sure, but there is a vast difference between inexpensive and cheap. Or at least, that's how I think of it and that's how I think it was probably meant in this context. Something cheap could be inexpensive, but cheap is typically relative to something else in direct comparison. Some of the orients I have seen are absolutely beautiful. On a secret fan of the gold and blue Seiko tuna can (don't tell anyone). It's also not expensive.

Now there is a time that you have to temper this and say, "I absolutely cannot justify affording a watch over X price" but buying cheap today because you don't want to wait for tomorrow almost never works out.

Given how these words can be used interchangeably it's very likely we are all right here, so I am going to put down a strict definition and say that when I think of cheap I specifically think of something that costs less than something else that is also desirable- not just less expensive.

Funny you should mention Orient. I've been wearing mine for the past few days after neglecting it for years. Great watch. I almost took that part out of my response because it seems like the OP was only asking about expensive purchases. I was thinking more of the "enthusiastic newbie" type purchasing where one buys a bunch of $50-$300 watches because they're attainable and probably hyped and then realizes they have a ton of watches they don't particularly care for. Luckily, I only had a couple of these early on and they were very cheap learning mistakes. I got this same advice early on and I think it largely helped me avoid that trap. Definitely not hating on the Seikos, Orients, etc. More so the attitude of impulse buying them simply because they're cheap and hyped instead of saving up for the grail.

This thread needs a picture anyway. Purchased around 2015 for probably less than $150 and currently running +14 a day.