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Thoughts from a noob

N
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I recently became enchanted with watches, particularly automatics watches, after going through the last couple of decades wearing either a cheapy quartz or none at all. So a few observations on this revelation:

1. How have I missed this in all of these years?

2. This has unleashed an absolute monster and I am already plotting out my collection, which will incldue at least one omega (ladymatic, constellation, or both, a moonphase, and perhaps some microbrands. I already took care of getting a diver.

3. The watch gazing online is relentless, and I notice watches now both in the wild and on tv, not mention the online research.

4. Is it my imagination, or is this forum (as well as others) relatively male heavy? Meaning are there proportionately fewer women into these things? If so, why do you think that is? This is neither good nor bad - just an observation.

Obviously a lot of topics in here, so feel free to comment on any of it.
 
Dan S
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Most of the members (and collectors overall) appear to be men, but there is definitely a valued group of female members who participate regularly, and we are always happy to have more. Welcome. By the way, we love watch photos.
 
SC1
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Watches are a fantastic sickness, measure multiple times/cut once with care.

What diver you get?

Plotting a collection when you're new is fun but ultimately a strange venture as much will change as you travel the very long highway with many off-ramps of watches.

Some wisdom if I may:

Research much, ask a lot and often, try to check out as many watches in the flesh as possible, join a local watch nerd group if there's one local to you (Redbar etc).

Be extremely careful of collecting lesser priced watches and micros as many of those purchases could equal your (eventual) dream watch purchase but with little to no resale to recoup funds for that ultimate purchase --and-- repairs on lesser priced pieces and micros can often cost more than the watch itself.

Chicks love watches too but yes, sadly, watches tend to be a dood thing.
I assume from your question you're a female -- if so, welcome aboard, please jump in and bring your perspective and energy to the group!
 
Spruce
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Welcome to OF.
Just appreciate that your tastes will develop/change over time so it’s as well to have that in mind.
 
Spruce
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A Alfachats
Out of interest, what's a micro??

‘Microbrand’, generally a modern watch company using movements from other manufacturers and producing limited edition watches at both ends of the price spectrum.

There’s quite a few.

I’m a 60s/70s fan and particularly like classic 35mm watches like Seamasters, but it’s sometimes nice to have a modern automatic, quartz, or mecha-quartz which doesn’t require parts, repair, servicing or mollycoddling.

I’ve gone for Baltic and Dan Henry, but there are many others to see - have a look at the WRUW thread
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Edited:
 
DrmexicoII
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Firstly, welcome! Secondly, would definitely echo what SC1 said above - be very careful about sinking money into the affordable end of the watch collecting spectrum. The temptation to build an affordable watch collection (quantity over quality) is very high at the outset. But, when your tastes inevitably change, or you want to move up to a more expensive watch and consolidate your collection you'll have a nasty surprise in terms of the value of your collection. "Pennies on the dollar" as one well known watch dealer is fond of saying. The purchase price of 4 affordable watches could equal one 2nd hand "luxury" watch purchase - just look at the value in the OF member sales and the recommended watches on ebay threads! Could be vintage, could be nearly new. There's tremendous value out there.

There's nothing wrong with an affordable watch, and I have a couple. Just make sure you really, really, really want it as it'll be almost worthless as soon as you've bought it.
 
Aroxx
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You’ve been afflicted. It’s how it goes. 😀 Happy to have another female member. A bit of diversity is always welcome. We do have a very diverse international community here which is very cool. The others have already said what I was thinking. Take a deep breath and sleep on any purchase for at least a couple weeks if you get too excited about a watch. The excitement will pass and you’ll save a bunch of money. Happy to have you here!
 
hen
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Welcome!
My advice is to get a Seamaster, maybe a midsize, perfect all-round watch.

Wait a couple of years before you buy the next one. Research the hell out of that purchase and get another Omega! Don`t let the net tell you what to like and wear. 😉

Women`s watches are cheaper than men`s watches, lucky you!

Non watch people will never understand you, get used to it.
 
Pianotuna
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Wait a couple of years before you buy the next one. Research the hell out of that purchase and get another Omega! Don`t let the net tell you what to like and wear. 😉


Ummmmm, …. Never mind.

As a comparative newbie, with profoundly less knowledge than nearly all of those present, I do concur with the advice of sleeping on acquisitions and the observation that your taste and mindset will evolve considerably over the first few years. Without that ‘sleeping on the acquisition’ policy you’ll look at your collection in two years time, and wonder what the hell you were thinking. I know I did, and I’d say my experience was fairly typical.

Enjoy. There’s an incredible collective of knowledge here and a lot to learn.
 
N
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Thanks all - I am learning a lot, and I hear the thoughts on not going crazy with many inexpensive pieces in lieu of one fabulous piece. I was worried about that too. I will say the husband suggested (after I was drooling in the Omega boutique) that I get something less fancy to try and figure out if I would like wearing a wtch after years of not and to see what I like before a big purchase. So it was a good idea to get something. I went with a Rado captain cook, which I got on sale and I really, really like. I did figure out that I am good with a dial up to about 37 mm or so. I was previously certain that I wanted only 30mm or less, which gets limited when coupled with my automatic requirement!
 
Dsloan
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I think the question of gender is fascinating. Does anyone know the history of watch branding and how watches got associated more with menswear and style? And how far back does that association go?

Some potentially ahistorical armchair analysis:

- in contemporary western culture, men tend to have fewer ways to show off with fashion and jewelry, especially as workwear grows more casual. For me, I'm usually in jeans, sneakers, and a shirt. So, a watch is the only distinct piece of jewelry that I own and wear daily. I wonder if therefore I obsess over watches more than my partner, who is comfortable with a wider range of dress and jewelry to make a personal statement. For me, I do have self-awareness of how I layer gender and personal identity on my watch choices. I tend to like big, robust 'tool watches' probably because I like to think of myself as hardworking dude. I'm aware that it's a silly thing to think at some level, but yet it persists.

- I also wonder about the association of watches and work culture in America. Before watches were solely a fashion accessory, they were tools for time management at work. I wonder, therefore, if watch collecting obtained it's current gender disparity because of historical labor force disparities, with more men working in fields that required or valued having a watch. I think you see this in the historical design of watches - men get marketed big, legible watches with chronographs and timing bezels. Women get more tiny, indecipherable watches that are the equivalent of the useless tiny pockets on women's jeans. I'm generalizing and there are lots of exceptions, but I think this difference in design is relevant.

That said, I'm glad to see these associations get broken down and mixed up in our contemporary, postmodern world. This should be a field of collecting that is open to everyone and anyone, regardless of who you are, and regardless of why you find yourself drawn to watches. They are expensive, anachronistic, unnecessary machines, and therefore they are all the more ripe for everyone to layer their own personal meaning upon them.
Edited:
 
N
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Dsloan Dsloan
I think the question of gender is fascinating. Does anyone know the history of watch branding and how watches got associated more with menswear and style? And how far back does that association go?

Some potentially ahistorical armchair analysis:

- in contemporary western culture, men tend to have fewer ways to show off with fashion and jewelry, especially as workwear grows more casual. For me, I'm usually in jeans, sneakers, and a shirt. So, a watch is the only distinct piece of jewelry that I own and wear daily. I wonder if therefore I obsess over watches more than my partner, who is comfortable with a wider range of dress and jewelry to make a personal statement. For me, I do have self-awareness of how I layer gender and personal identity on my watch choices. I tend to like big, robust 'tool watches' probably because I like to think of myself as hardworking dude. I'm aware that it's a silly thing to think at some level, but yet it persists.

- I also wonder about the association of watches and work culture in America. Before watches were solely a fashion accessory, they were tools for time management at work. I wonder, therefore, if watch collecting obtained it's current gender disparity because of historical labor force disparities, with more men working in fields that required or valued having a watch. I think you see this in the historical design of watches - men get marketed big, legible watches with chronographs and timing bezels. Women get more tiny, indecipherable watches that are the equivalent of the useless tiny pockets on women's jeans. I'm generalizing and there are lots of exceptions, but I think this difference in design is relevant.

That said, I'm glad to see these associations get broken down and mixed up in our contemporary, postmodern world. This should be a field of collecting that is open to everyone and anyone, regardless of who you are, and regardless of why you find yourself drawn to watches. They expensive, anachronistic, unnecessary machines, and therefore they are all the more ripe for everyone to layer their own personal meaning upon them.

Those are some good ideas and probably do contribute! I liked wearing watches years ago, but never thought much of the mechanics inside. I will say it has been refreshing now that have been wearing something to not always be looking at my phone or seeking out some applience to check the time!
 
N
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Dan S Dan S
Most of the members (and collectors overall) appear to be men, but there is definitely a valued group of female members who participate regularly, and we are always happy to have more. Welcome. By the way, we love watch photos.
happy to oblige! This is the captain cook I got. For me - a good balance of nice looking but I can swim in it and it should tolerate my day to day type usage.
 
IMG_0147.jpeg IMG_0151.jpeg
ghce
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Welcome to the forum and condolences on your new addiction.

I guess we are all different from Rolex guys ( and girls) who don't care so long as it says Rolex to those who appreciate the mechanical mastery of a timepiece.

With wristwatches there is so much variety from simple time tellers to complications galore, those who like it fancy and over the top to classical uncomplicated dress watches ( hey that's me).

Thankfully the only thing that suffers from this obsession is your checkbook and bank balance.
Enjoy.
 
SC1
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N newfan
happy to oblige! This is the captain cook I got. For me - a good balance of nice looking but I can swim in it and it should tolerate my day to day type usage.

Good lookin' piece right there!

Love the lume too (I am serious lume nerd)!
 
vintage hab
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hen hen
Wait a couple of years before you buy the next one.
Impossible! If you can keep it to four the first year, you’re doing great!

But the advice is good: don’t go crazy out of the gate like the rest of use. Focus on quality not quantity (wish I had done this…)
 
N
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vintage hab vintage hab
Impossible! If you can keep it to four the first year, you’re doing great!

But the advice is good: don’t go crazy out of the gate like the rest of use. Focus on quality not quantity (wish I had done this…)
Seriously. While I understand the don't go crazy advice, two years? Good grief I hope not!
 
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