What Mistakes Did You Make As A Novice Collector? What Did You Do Right?

Wrong: since getting into watches in 2016 I have been searching for the best next thing daily - I will never get back those countless hours. I have lost some money. I have sold watches I shouldn’t have. The heartbreaking feeling when you drop a watch and it needs to go to the watchmaker.

Right: since 2016 I have learned so much about watches and they have made my life more interesting. I have also made some new friends in the progress. Life is not just about counting hours. It’s about the moment. And the moments have been glorious!

A moment like these…

Great thread...
A bit of history...not really a "collector", more of time spent acquiring watches. I have always liked/worn a watch. And historically had both a "daily" and a "dress" watch. My daily's have typically been Casio's since Keanu Reeves in Point Break (G Shock - 1980's). Owned 2 of those. Then moved to a more Chronograph "style" the past 20 years.

Wrong...bought an Invicta dive watch on a cruise ship. $795 tag "on sale"...long story short, the same watch is on Amazon for between $80-$130. Angers me every day, since discovered my "great sale find" was in reality a moment of callous ignorance. I think I probably paid around $350 for it.

Right...found Omega Forums, just as I was about to buy an overpriced Seamaster Professional 2500D. Found this site, in part due to my "lack of watch buying knowledge" and the above mentioned Invicta mistake.

Have several "collections", Guitars, Amps, Cars, Knives, Briar Pipes, Hats, Lucchese Boots, etc. Most are "small" collections or have been paired down to what I consider my "most" cherished pieces. Same with my potential "new/used" Seamaster. Long admired Rolex, thought I wanted a Grand Seiko, then discovered Omega. Think I am home. Price, quality, value, resale...

Right: Did not start collecting watches!

Wrong: Bought a handful of mediocre watches in the 800-1200 euro category and sold them at a 100-200 loss after I started to notice they were actually not as nice. Often overpolished, too much patina.

Right: Learned to be patient and wait for a good condition variant to come up, asked some opinions before bidding on a watch (my worst one - see below, cannot believe I thought this was nice)

I think one thing I did right was to not buy a bunch of low cost watches when I first got bitten by the watch bug. I read about this pitfall early and thankfully didn’t end up with a large collection of cheap stuff I don’t wear. I did buy a couple of duds that I actually managed to sell recently. I do wish I had bought an SKX back when they were a little over $100.

When repeated (really repeated) wrongs make a right.

Wanting for a very long time a one watch collection for a milestone birthday. Getting that watch, thinking it’s the one… never being content… thinking what a horrible mistake I made with that significant investment on my wrist ($300 was a lot for me until this with g-shock)… never being happy with the watch… always chasing what’s next… always finding fault with what I had and selling it for a loss (did break even once on a used watch that resold for the original price)… history repeating itself for 2 years (with a Garmin and an Apple Watch in there briefly [don’t judge!])… thinking this is never going to work… went to an AD and ended up happier than I can imagine sporting a 43.5 Planet Ocean and absolutely loving it… weight is not an issue… fits like a glove… they say it’s the journey and ‘they’ are right… you don’t know what you don’t know and now having all that out of my system can enjoy this masterpiece in harmony.

Thanks for listening and thanks for the thread.

Great idea for a thread, haha.

Right: Generally (and through sheer luck), I've been very patient. I got into watches, specifically vintage, when I was 16/17, which meant that I was still a few years away from being able to afford any of the vintage watches, even the relatively less expensive ones, that I want to buy. As a result, I had about 4-5 years of learning about watches and waiting before I bought a vintage one (a 1970's Speedmaster that I bought on the forums). I think that really paid off, because I never got excited and rushed into buying the wrong watch. When I did buy one, it was a great example that was correct, unpolished, etc. This did teach me that patience is the most important attribute of a collector, though. I recently bought a 16710 Rolex and I waited for months before I found a great, great example. And now, I think I have one of the nicest ones out there.

Wrong: Being too dogmatic about what I liked and don't like. I use to make up my mind about what watches I liked and didn't like pretty quickly, even before buying them or trying them out. I think new collectors should get used buying and selling a lot as they learn about watches. The 16710 I mentioned is an example. I hated the idea of owning a Rolex for a long time, but then I realized I could buy one, wear it for a few months, and sell it if I didn't like it. I've had my watch for a few months now and want to move on, but owning it has made me realize that I'd love to own a vintage Rolex, so that's next on the list once I sell this one. I would have never thought of myself as a vintage Rolex person a few years ago, but I think being open-minded and trying something out has been good in that regard.

Biggest early wrong was falling in love with a watch and in that neglecting the obvious re-dial. I should have used my eyes... I believe it was in 2006.



On the bright side - as @STANDY - I have kept all my "cheap" watches because I liked them. Now they are not that cheap anymore... I have also kept almost all (95%) of my "expensive" watches because I like them. That feels good too.

The right I have done is buying what I like to wear and to look at and kept the mantra "condition, condition, condition" close to my heart. I have not had an investors perspective. As one close to me said regarding art - "Buy what you like to have on your wall to look at - and in the end if it happens to have been a good investment - perfect. If not you still have a painting you like..."

That gold Constellation is very nice.

Best and worst thing I did while collecting is actually wearing the watches I was collecting… 😟 ah ah ah

Wrong: I didn’t do much research and believe every word from the seller I just met and got burned for it.
Right: I do lots and lots of homework for each model of the watch that I plan on purchase, most importantly, be patience.

Beautiful watches and top notch photography. That Seamaster is cool on that rally strap, no wonder you fell for it.