Is being a watch collector still fun?

kov · Aug 28, 2020

I've managed to meet a couple collectors/friends lately and the excitement came back quite quickly, a true revival, I think I really needed that. Back from the GTGs I checked my saved searches here and there and managed to come across a couple of my grail watches. It looks like people are selling even pieces that would stay in collection in rather "normal" times. Maybe an opportunity.

Since GTGs seem to remain compromised till at least the end of this year, I believe I will try something different to entertain the passion. There's still a bunch of watch-related museums here in Switzerland I still didn't visit : since most are now open for visitors, I think this will be my personal program for the second half of 2020.

Will try to make pictures and share here as I'm visiting different places. At least you'll be able to get a remote glimpse 😀

Marsimaxam · Aug 28, 2020

kov
I've managed to meet a couple collectors/friends lately and the excitement came back quite quickly, a true revival, I think I really needed that. Back from the GTGs I checked my saved searches here and there and managed to come across a couple of my grail watches. It looks like people are selling even pieces that would stay in collection in rather "normal" times. Maybe an opportunity.

Since GTGs seem to remain compromised till at least the end of this year, I believe I will try something different to entertain the passion. There's still a bunch of watch-related museums here in Switzerland I still didn't visit : since most are now open for visitors, I think this will be my personal program for the second half of 2020.

Will try to make pictures and share here as I'm visiting different places. At least you'll be able to get a remote glimpse 😀

Please do, as the last time I was in Switzerland... years ago, I wanted to visit the Patek Philippe offices in Geneva, this was before they moved, and I was told by an official that I must make an appointment in advance. I told the gentleman that I was only in town for the week and his reply was,"We will see you next time." Obviously, at that time, appointments had to made well in advance to see their exhibit.

My brother-in-law and his wife lived in Geneva for almost 10 years. I enjoyed Geneva and all of Switzerland, a beautiful country with some of the cleanest cities I've ever seen.

schoolboy · Aug 28, 2020

davidswiss
I suppose it depends on whether you still pleasure from owning, researching and wearing the watches you have. I agree that meeting other collectors is the plus side of this hobby. My only only experience of a get together in London was very enjoyable and apart from learning about the watches that the others brought, it put faces and personalities together with the names. Unfortunately I don't get much of a chance to do that any more but I still do enjoy the collection I have and being a member here. So on balance I,d say yes it does.
I'd also say that any similar collecting hobby is in the same boat.

I agree.

I personally have never been to a get together, but I enjoy wearing my watches, cleaning them, researching and learning.

DaveK · Aug 28, 2020

I am still enjoying the hobby, though I very much miss hunting in thrift shops for that unexpected treasure. COVID has put a damper on things to an extent. Without OF, I would really be at a loss to grow my knowledge and continue my interest.

My idea of collecting is evolving. From wanting to buy anything that looks interesting, to being really focused on grail pieces. I have been saving for a while now towards a really nice Canadian dialed Railroad pocket watch. And now that I am pretty much there, do I want to get it, or do I want to keep saving 2x or 3x more for something truly epic? I dunno 👎. Part of the joy of collecting is, well, collecting. But on the other hand, adoring and servicing everything in the watchbox is also rewarding in a different way. With all that said, I have had a love/hate relationship with the bargain EBay deals thread. All that temptation 😒, and yet, all that fun ::psy::

. And yes, there is a sweet three star Benrus incoming, with thanks to @JwRosenthal for facilitating the logistics

I have also started making pocket watch lanyards as a hobby. It feels good to contribute to my fellow hobbyist’s collections, seeing them wear their pocket watches more - it feels great, and it keeps my head in the game. I’ve sent along 14 now, to Canada, France, Australia and mostly the US. So I am enjoying that quite a bit.

higher watch prices are a bummer for sure. Everyone has half-googled every watch and determined that the watch is a sub-brand of Rolex. Therefore what would have been a cheerful $20 thrift shop find now has a $100+ price tag. And the really nice pieces...it is truly deep knowledge or amazing luck that will land you a good deal

repoman · Aug 31, 2020

OmegaRody
Would like to ask you besides Rolex absurd price hike what other brands had inflate prices considerably?

I don't follow brand pricing, I follow individual item prices.. and some of the watches I've tried to acquire in the past are no longer possible for me, for instance 1976 Apollo Soyuz Speedmaster, I've made several offers in the past 2-3 years around $30,000 and managed to always be a few thousand away from getting a correct one. Well, you'll need about $80,000 - $100,000 to get a correct one today.

Inpw · Sep 1, 2020

To put it as short as possible - being a watch owner, yes. Being a watch collector, no. There's so much money around nowadays that vintage watch collecting has become a minefield and prices have become totally detached from actual 'value' (whatever that may be). I feel my days of collecting are over, I enjoy what I already have instead.

SpeedyPhill · Sep 1, 2020

congratz on those who stopped smoking...
the right marketing might lead some of us into temptation... #FictionalCigarettes
☕

Is being a watch collector still fun?

kov

Marsimaxam

schoolboy

DaveK

repoman

Inpw

SpeedyPhill

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