Collection Satisfaction…there was none, and as I stood there, looking at the watches, I felt ill.
In the fall of 2022, I had a revelation, an awakening regarding my watch collecting…I realized I had stretched too far. I had purchased a watch, outside my financial means, with little-to-no thought regarding the expense. It felt dirty, and wrong, and there wasn’t any fun or joy left in it. At that point, I imagined myself as an addict. The euphoria of the purchase faded so fast, it was almost non-existent. As watch enthusiasts, we title the period following a watch purchase as a honeymoon phase. You’ll see the hashtag “#NWA” (new watch alert) within posts on Instagram. Another hashtag, “#honeymoon,” mixed in there.
“Wearing my #NWA a full week now, #honeymooning!”
The euphoria of the watch purchase is shared with our fellow enthusiasts, and we receive the affirmation and praise of a choice well-made.
My first watch was given to me by my mother at around the age of 17. I vaguely remember a visit to a mall and the watch being purchased from a franchise jewelry store. I still own that watch. That was followed quickly by a Timex Ironman, purchased with money earned when I started working. A few years later, a modest Armitron from my new wife (I also still have that one). Eight years later, came my first “big” watch–both in price and size. I remember unnecessarily boasting to my father that the watch was $875. His comical response, once he tried on my Citizen Skyhawk: “Don’t fall overboard, you’ll definitely drown.” That watch, with its mesmerizingly busy dial and complications, was purchased because it had dual time zones, as I had just begun a F.I.F.O. rotational schedule with my employer.
Almost nine years passed before I purchased my next watch. In January 2019, I purchase a DeepBlue Master 1000 from Bob Allaby, the host of TimeToGo Travel and Timepieces on YouTube. He was selling a few watches on Kijiji and I was introduced to the wonderful world of microbrand and homage watches. Bob further enabled me by recommending Instagram as a fun place to learn about watches, and additionally suggested I start a YouTube channel of my own. At this point, everything gets a little blurry, I strap into my seat, and engage the warp drives…I enter a vacuum of watch consumption.
The purchase price of the watches hovers around $100-$200. I begin regularly purchasing watches, every month or so. This habit isn’t normal for me. I don’t have any bad habits. There are no vices in my life at that time. To collect any more than one watch for each wrist, seems silly to my wife and friends. However, I am a quirky fella, so it’s basically laughed-off. My conscience, with every watch I purchase, feels a little guilt. The doom-scroll of Instagram and my YouTube intake go stratospheric during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Today, discussing the topic of collection satisfaction with my friend Paul, he recounts the first watch he sold to me (circa 2020), a Seiko SRP777 for $300. He remembers my shaky voice, “I’ve never spent this much on watches.” However, I proceed to purchase numerous watches from Paul over the next couple of years, and the price of each purchase escalates. My collection had grown from 4-6 pieces in 2018 to 25 pieces in 2022. You’d expect happiness, joy…contentment. Always chasing the next acquisition, I wasn’t enjoying the watches I had. There was this weird combination of “choice overload,” social media burnout, and materialism. I was overwhelmed. This hobby I’d thrown myself into, wasn’t reciprocating.
September 2022, after failing to broker the sale of Paul’s Tudor Heritage Ranger 79910, I purchased the watch from him for $2500, with the intent of keeping it as a wedding anniversary (21 years) gift to myself. But there is no honeymoon phase and the irony of purchasing a watch, as a wedding anniversary gift to myself, and not being happy with it, isn’t lost on me.
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In 2022, I spent nearly $6000 in purchasing watches for myself. For me, that’s too much, and it weighs on me…so much so, at that point, I make the decision to stop all watch purchases. I’m not sure why I felt so overwhelmed and weighed down by it, but I knew it shouldn’t be like that. Since then, I’ve focused on enjoying the watches I have and put some up for sale. It’s been good. Maybe you don’t struggle with it in the same way I do, but I’d recommend, if you do, take a break. It’ll be OK.
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About the author
Jamie Andrews is a watch enthusiast on a budget. He doesn’t own a safety deposit box and he’s slightly cynical about investment pieces. In his own words, “I think best when I’m in the shed.” You can check out his YouTube channel, Madrock Watches & Adventure, or follow him on Instagram.
Notes from the Watch Shed: rants, reflections, and ruminations on watches and life, by Jamie Andrews.
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This is an all too relatable article! What’s funny is I have pictured myself being in this predicament every time I just consider a watch purchase. I know I’d feel guilty and be worried about regretting the purchase afterwards. Oh the predicaments of a watch enthusiast. Good piece sir
I really feel Jamie on this one. It is difficult to stay on the right side of enthusiasm and not fall into crass materialism
I enjoyed this article from start to finish. I feel like I’m very close to that point, especially having watches that barely have wrist time… Thanks for sharing your watch jorney.
I am right there too
Definitely agree with Jamie 🙌🏽 Being mindful of a budget is probably the hardest to do as an addict… But, being true to yourself and kind on your financial state is a delicate dance‼️😎
Everything here is right to the dot. And especially entering into ‘a vacuum of watch consumption’..
Collection satisfaction is a delicate topic to address, especially when what it ultimately boils down to is how you incorporate discipline into the hobby and not get lost. Too easy to go the wrong path unfortunately. Thanks for sharing on the topic.