It's nice to see the channel of a regular guy, with a regular income, and the watch collection collection he is able to obtain. This channel is where I feel at home.
Yeah, as much as I love the luxury segment and I aspire to have a luxury timepiece soon. I have a hard time watching people talk, with a straight face, about the "$5000 entry level watch"
I have don't consider myself a serious watch collector, but I found that buying a variety of straps is a great way to breath life and excitement into my collection without buying multiple hundred dollar watches every so often and keep my watch count low.
Agree. I now have a Vostok Amphibian with a blue dial, a Casio F91, a white-dialed Bentime dresswatch, a black G-Shock GA100, and an assortment of straps. I'm wearing a different look every day.
I have a 10 watch collection ranging from $20 to $500 and I enjoy not worrying about what could happen to them. The best part is that about it is, a year ago I gave access to my 16 year old son and every day we go together to choose our watch for the day. Sometimes we want to wear the same watch and it’s fun sacrificing my self so he wears the one he wants, and 10 times better and more rewarding when he notices I have an important day and he sacrifices himself so I can wear the one I want. Anyway, I would not trade my collection and those experiences for any Rolex.
I sold both my Rolexes (2010 Submariner date and 2016 Explorer II), put the money into my pension and now I have a modest "affordable" watch collection that I'm enjoying enough that I don't regret the decision at all. I no longer face £500 service bills, insurance, fear for my personal safety walking the streets, lack of accuracy (oh the joy of radio controlled quartz!) and fears of costly repair bills. I feel a lot less stressed!
I totally agree with you and many of the comments of your subscribers. The joy I get from changing my watches both buying and selling and just as importantly wearing is the reason I am a watch collector. The thing is just because you collection is affordable doesn't mean you can't appreciate the top end watches and enjoy watching the TH-cam videos that promote them.
I have 2 Omegas, and I have often considered "selling up" on the basis of the maintenance costs which are getting close to outstripping the original purchase cost of the Omegas. I have 4 Citizens one of, is a new PCAT model, brilliant watch, none of them make me feel I'm missing out. The service cost of my Planet Ocean could get me a Seiko Samurai AND a Seiko Core Titanium in the current sales and leave me with change! Food for thought....
This video is eye opening. Im just on my first 2 watches and im hooked. Watching youtubers saying" $1000 is an entry level affordable, everyday watch" had me rethinking this hobbie.
Meanwhile we can be laughing with a shiny little Casio A158-W, cost less than 25 bucks and has some cool retro style, or a Timex Expedition Acadia Solar that's a neat little sun powered Analog watch that will run indefinitely as long as it gets out and about with you. And affordable watches can have all kinds of wacky styles that are too "fun" for luxury watches to dare try
I definitely understand. The watch you like is the watch that deserves to be in your collection. Honestly, the quality of watches now compared, say from the 80s, it's pretty much the same on a "visual" level. Enjoy your watches!
One shouldn't forget that watches at his point are to a big part actually jewelry. A 300-400 €/$ watch or even one for 150 is still a pretty expensive piece of jewelry.
There is no real entry price point in my opinion. I own 6 watches. 5 of which cost less than 100 bucks a piece and the 6th cost me about 700 because it was a fathers day present to myself. Watch collecting, as a hobby, is supposed to be fun for the individual regardless of income bracket. Just do what you love and to hell with the naysayers.
Always refreshing to see TH-camrs who are affordable collectors. I have a Seamaster and several affordable watches. I get the same enjoyment out of wearing my Casio A168 as I do the Omega. I will most likely stay in the affordable watch realm as there are so many great watches out there for tremendous value. Seamaster was my dream watch, but I really can't justify spending that much again on a single watch. Great video as always
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is going to be my retirement watch. I'm saving for it now. In the meantime I also enjoy the variety affordable watches offer.
Thanks for the first hand info on your experience with a luxury piece! As the TH-cam channel has grown a bit, I'm getting curious to actually get my hand on a luxury watch and wear it for a bit to see if how they really compare to affordable watches. But that's not in the cards anytime soon.
I've got the a168 sitting here ready to go for night duty (electro luminescence) next to my a500 world time, G-Shock square5610, Seiko 007skx, Seiko5 snk355, Citizen etc etc.. so many choices in the under $300 mark. Too much fun buying all these.. 😁🍻💙🇺🇸
I started watch collecting around ten years ago. I continually traded up to the point where I owned 5 luxury pieces. I’ve recently gotten back into affordables and I’m discovering great brands and pieces that I overlooked the first time around. What I’ve learned is that in this hobby, the relationship between cost and happiness isn’t linear. There are diminishing returns with the more you spend. Having experienced luxury watches has helped me appreciate the value offered by something like an Orient Kamasu, which I’m wearing on my wrist today.
I laugh when I hear those hipster watch collectors boo-hooing cheap, affordable quartz watches that keep better and more consistent time than any automatic or manual watch. Like buying a bespoke suit for pajamas; just wear pajamas, dude.
I love affordable watches: My favorite: Casio, Victorianox swiss army, Seiko, Hamilton, Citizen, Swatch, Timex, Marathon, Tissot, etc ( no order) these watches are Quality, durable, etc. No need to spend thousands of dollars
@@arnauvizcarramiserachs6318 I got a Hamilton automatic for about 300 on Amazon. Victorianox has quite a few for 300 and under. Marathon has about 2 watches for under 300
@@batgiant3535 yes sure, that's the Khaki Field 1, the lowest mechanic watch in the brand which it is still good quality for the money, I'd say quality/price the Khaki Field 1 is one of the best watches abailable.
Same here in Indonesia, as our purchasing power is only around 1/10 than most American so 200usd watch would feel like spending 2000 dollar for a watch
I can imagine! I live in Japan, but I still feel basically the same way. But it seems like the lower end of the market has gotten so much better recently, there's a ton of great watches coming out of China that are just insanely affordable.
Just the Watch : Yeah, I know right? I think the Chinese market is where the Japanese market was post WWII. Even growing up in the '70's the (typically mildly racist) term for Japanese goods - from cars to toasters - was "Jap-Crap". Chinese goods are being viewed similarly now, often for good reason. But dollars to dimes that will change as more money is put into QC practices. Come 2040 the watch market will most probably look very different....
I'm 62 and here are some guidelines I've set for myself over the years, though I sometimes break them: Decide if you're going to try and keep every watch you buy or try to just have say 5, 10, 20 or whatever and sell off a piece every now and then to help finance the next. Unless you're going to keep them all, the secondhand value is crucial, so buying a pre-owned watch that has minimum 6 months warranty left and has the box, papers etc. can mean that you avoid the big price drop from new to used (even if the warranty is out of date, it tells you something about the previous owner if he/she kept all the stuff). When window shopping on the web you can then make a list of watches that are up to maybe twice your budget. If possible buy a watch that has a popular caliber that a watchsmith won't refuse to touch if it ever needs attention, especially with chronographs! Buy a selection of watches that reflect your different moods: 'serious business', 'funky-fun', 'traditional reliable', 'wacky', 'vintage', 'exotic'... If you're a bit OCD (many watch geeks are) avoid quartz, unless it's one with a sweep second hand, no second hand or even a sub-second (watches that hit the marker every time are not usually cheap). Make a budget for straps to refresh your collection. If you can't afford a watch one month or quarter, an inexpensive strap that fits a number of watches can bring a lot of fun. Try some weird combinations, it's often surprising. A steel mesh can be interesting. If you're going to buy a vintage watch try looking online at local watch vintage enthusiast forums. You're usually not allowed to sell watches there until you've been a member for a while. Longstanding members can give advice, sell at the market rate for a particular watch and condition, and have a reputation to protect. It's not a foolproof method but better than most. Anyway......
"If you can't afford to buy a luxury watch, you probably can't afford to own one"...well said. I would add: - If you are afraid of wearing a luxury watch (as not to scratch it or break it) then you probably should not get one - If you can not afford to replace a luxury watch right away (as in..buy another one) then you probably should not get one - If you're thinking what sort of other things you could do with the money that you would spend on a luxury watch then you probably should not get one - If you're trying to justify to yourself that you need a luxury watch then you probably should not get one I love seeing people take pride in affordable collections. Watch collecting is a different journey and experience for every person. Why would the journey of luxury watch collecting be more valuable than the journey of more-affordable watch collecting? It's still about the search, the thrill, the excitement, the fun, and the passion for horology !
>Once you own about, I dunno 6 watches, and 8-10 straps or so, there's Zero point in adding more to your collection. I agree with this. Once you build a rotation of watches you like you're kind of done. Doesn't matter if they're cheap/entry level, mid priced or luxury watches, these are now _your_ watches and that's really all that matters.
I'm having the same issue, want a collection of a variety of different watches, my mistake was starting with a Gshock and now I can't stop buying Gshocks.
Exactly, I just started and it took me a month to make my first purchase (Tissot Ballad) and I am going to send it back since I can't read the dial well enough. The search continues...
Right? Every time I look at Casio, low end Citizen, or even Timex watches I find more I like. Do have my sights on getting a Bulova Lunar Pilot though, My Space nerd side can't resist having at least one moon watch
I feel like for me $500 is sort of a threshold where you run pretty hard into the law of diminishing returns when it comes to watches. So I see that as a limit when looking for the next watch. I like Rolexes and Langes but I can't imagine spending that much money on a watch. I'd rather use that kind of money to travel somewhere. One thing that bugs me about my newfound watch addiction is it detracts from my travel budget.
There's a lot of Hamiton watches that are a tad over $500 that I'm really interested in checking out, and maybe some Seiko pressage watches, but above that, yeah, there's not a lot that seems like I would really enjoy any more than some of the $500 or less watches I have or am eyeing.
Yup: the old 80/20 rule! Of course it's...*sublime* to experience the 20 part of that equation, but that big fat world in the 80% is rich with varied and quirky and austere and downright pedigreed wonders!
@@JusttheWatch I actually just started dipping my feet into basic Swiss. I just bought a pre-owned Hamilton Khaki Field Auto for $300. Pre-owned was a requirement anyway because I wanted the 2824 movement and not the new H-10 thing you can't regulate. And I have a Tissot Le Locle Chronometre on the way. They won't replace my Timex and Seiko's. I am getting rid of the Invicta to make room in the box, though.
Love this down to earth content.The problem with people these days is they buy a watch to impress others.I own several affordable watches with different prices but the Casio duro(Marlin) is my favorite.
Your affordable watch collection is much classier and more tasteful than some of the really expensive collections I've seen on TH-cam. It's really inspiring.Thank you.
Words of wisdom! I did own Omega Moonwatch for about 10 years. Bought it new as a 30th birthday present for myself. It was my only watch. Then I had to get it serviced which was 800€. At that point I realised that I can´t aford to or don´t want to own a luxury watch and sold it. Now I own several affordable watches (Seiko, Citizen, Casio etc.) and enjoy them greatly. Newer again will I put all my eggs in one basket.
Great video, Dave. I agree with you on every point, I think you really hit the nail on the head. My budget is even more limited than that, and for me to buy a watch for $250 is very expensive. Thanks for making this video, In a world dominated by social media and a culture of lifestyle and luxury, I think it is very important to highlight the value of good value.
I hear you! When I started this channel, the Nighthawk was my "grail" watch. Some of my other pricier watches I bought after selling off other things from a previous hobby, and now the only reason I can afford to purchase watches in that price range is because the TH-cam channel has taken off. But if it weren't for that, I think I'd be in pretty much the same boat!
Most of the collection world is driven by the high end collectors. Am glad to connect with people with more realistic goals having the same if not more enjoyment out of collecting, discussing and learning more about watches.
I agree. I was able to buy a vintage-Seamaster with a 2 year service warranty for less than the price of two middle-range Citizens. That Omega fits my proportions way better and it has some timeless charm on it. And it's also cheaper to service one vintage-Omega than two mechanical Citizens. :) Some people might consider Omega as a luxury watch, some people don't. Usually with vintage watches you can lay your hands on pretty interesting (luxury) watches with small money, if you dig the old styling and sizes and even the service costs aren't that huge, if the movement was "popular" back in the day. Personally for me with my small wrists the older watches fit me better than modern bigger ones and because of the way I usually dress those are also more of my style.
Thanks for keeping it Real. It is truly nauseating to watch those snobby pretentious watch collectors on TH-cam. Just because they own a luxury watch does not make them an expert in watches.
I am a middle income young man. I am a watch enthusiast. The enjoyment of luxury pieces is the enjoyment of the art form at its peak. That is my view. I saved for years to buy my Datejust and I am proud of that. Snobbery has nothing to do with it in my experience.
@@calvinhandley2373 and great grandfathers that rode horses in the army 200 years ago which automatically gives all their 2019 field watches "authentic" military cred.
One of your last statements was the most important! " I like what I am doing " That goes for expensive timepieces and the affordable ones. It all comes down to your personal budget, but remember, you might enjoy your affordable pieces more than someone that can buy everything in th blink of an eye.
@lolroflkartoffel123 He says, "That goes for expensive timepieces and the affordable ones." He didn't say that he only loved cheap watches. Pay attention next time. Also, owning expensive shit that you don't like is the dumbest thing one could ever do.
I own 14 Citizen watches, (including one XC atomic radio ) , several Fossils ,several Swatches and one Tag Heuer Carrera. I love all of them and feel a time piece is an accessory. I personally think Citizens are a great option for people who want a dependable watch for a low-mid range price! Even though I am a lady, I still enjoy your channel.
Excellent philosophy on watches. The fourteen watches I have in my collection might equal the cost of a single Rolex. It has been said that the best watch is the one that makes you smile. Never mind the cost.
Thank you for staying strong to your mission on a affordable collection! This is important info, and there is already more than enough channels that cater to the high end watches & enthusiasts (nothing wrong with them, just setting the baseline here). It seems to me that what you are doing can help introduce the wonderful world of watches to the next generation! Where to start, what to look for, how to not waste your money while at university, or even high school. This video got me to click the Subscribe button & bell. Look forward to watching more of your content!
Guy, I agree with you 100%. I feel the exact same way. There are a lot of good quality affordable watches out there and honestly I don't see the need to have a 5 thousand dollar watch. I like to wear watches according to my mood, dress and activity, and having a variety of watches that don't put you in debt allows me to do this with much ease and satisfaction.
Affordable (budget) watches definitely have their place. They are a great way to explore the world of watches without a second mortgage. And they are good every day watches you don't have to spend a lot of money to fix or worry about if they get banged around. However, mid-tier watches ($700-1500) to me are the sweet spot. The watches I have in this price range are of measurably better quality and you can see it. Once you get over the $2k mark though there just isn't enough difference in quality for me to justify that kind of money. I doubt I'll ever own a luxury watch.
I am on the same boat as you, after 2k....the quality or what you pay for is not necessarily better. I float around in the Mid Tier price points also...the quality is great at that price point.
Really enjoyed this video. This issue really resonated with me. I have spent quite a bit of time recently dwelling over this dilemma: sell off and upgrade or continue with more affordable pieces. All of this questioning has really just stopped me enjoying and appreciating what I have already. Time to let go of the NEXT watch and just enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
I was unable to wear wrist watches or jewelry at my job for various reasons, so I never considered spending money on those things. After I retired I decided that I needed a watch, which would also double as jewelry for me. Rather than blowing a pile of money on THE ONE WATCH that would last me for the rest of my life, I decided to try different styles of inexpensive watches. Am I a chronograph kinda guy? Do I want a GMT watch? Do I really need a Tachometer bezel? What color dial suits me best? What color case suits me best: Silver, gold, rose gold, gun metal grey, black? Am I ever going to swim with a watch on? Do I want DAY and DATE? or just DATE? Ooh, look, a watch with a compass dial, I need one of those. I am enjoying trying out different styles, and types of watches. This would not be possible if I blew thousands on one watch. Collecting a variety of inexpensive watches is fun, and will help me figure out what is the ultimate watch for me. When I find out what that is, I may decide to spend a lot more on the ultimate watch. But for now, trying different inexpensive watches is fun. When women question me owning several watches, I just ask them how many shoes they own, or how much jewelry they have. That ends that conversation. I have a feeling my 6 space watch box may be too small.
I've come full circle. Started with affordable watch collection; moved into having multiple luxury watches now I'm going back to more affordable watches. You're spot on about fun.
I feel the same way. Watch collecting is all about the research, the hunt, the find, the anticipation, the acquisition, and the feeling you get when put it on. Many times I find myself circling back to older watches in my collection, and those feelings come flooding back. As long as you don't expect to get your money back out of your collection, affordable watch collecting is where it's at for all the reasons you mentioned.
Hi... great vid, great topic. And definitely not one discussed often enough. Everyone's definition of "affordable" will differ, but I'm pretty much on the same page as you are, and I am certainly enjoying the hobby the way it is unrolling for me. I love the high end watches and love learning about timepieces that I know I will never afford, but prefer to buy watches that make sense given my own lifestyle and life's (non-watch) obligations. I love the variety of watches, and love the excitement of searching for one, then waiting for a watch to arrive...plus, I have too many grail watches to be beholden to just one! Maybe one day things will change for me, but right now I am enjoying the hobby as it is! Keep up the good work!
Thanks! I really enjoy learning about luxury watches too, even though I don't have any real aspirations to ever own one. But I find it really interesting to see what goes into a luxury watch in terms of design and then look for similar design elements in affordable watches.
Great Video: No.5 *says it all* : Watch Collecting is Fun. I appreciate luxury watches as much as any "watch guy" however it seems to me that if you were to translate many watch enthusiasts view over into other areas of life, such as cars, what they are saying is 'don't buy that 2020 Mazda MX5! Wait and save your pennies (and catch the bus...) until you can afford an Audi R8! There is always a *benchmark* of engineering and styling. That does not make other less costly examples of *precise* engineering and styling an undesirable piece of rubbish.
The youtube watch cosmos has nothing to do with the real world anymore. TH-camrs will show you a 500$ watch and title it as „the perfect beater watch“ but for someone it is the dream time piece they have to work and save up for. Its just gone crazy, and the price of some Rolex Models on the grey market is the perfect evidence.
Being a Casio fan I've had a watch gifted from a friend, colleagues and family. Having 3 completely different watches gives me a lot of versatility and I feel the love from each of them every time I wear them.
Great video. I totally agree. Having a variety that is on the less expensive scale is more fun than having 2-4 expensive watches. And I say that knowing I could be in that latter group. I still get a kick out of my $30 Snoopy Timex my girls gave me last year.
I started collecting when I was 14 with a Casio and my collection has over 70 watches and I have now been collecting for 35 years. My watches range from $9 to 15k in value, I enjoy them all equally. I especially now collect in the $500 to $2k range and add about 5 new watches a year and sell a few each year as well. Your advise is excellent.
For me it comes down to a value equation. I'm by no means a smart man, but once we're talking thousands of dollars, that's the price of a used car. People can discuss the complex milling of a clasp, but I'd argue that the complex milling of cylinders and rotors is greater. Granted, the watch will hold its value long after the car is gone, but still... car. The higher the price of the watch, the greater the value equation. Soon we're talking the price of a nice piece of land, or a house. The watch may be stunning, and its delicate moving parts crafted in the greatest of care... vs. nice house. I enjoy your channel, just subbed :)
The "don't buy shitters" and jUsT sAvE uP "argument" never really ends. Why buy five $10,000 Rolex watches when you could have just bought _one_ Audimar Peakgay or Patek Phillipe watch? Get a "really good watch" instead of "wasting your money" on affordable watches. Why buy five $50,000 APs or PPs when you could have just bought _one_ "really good" Richard Mille or something equally astronomical?
I agree with your take on this. I actually own my 'grail watch', which is a Rolex Submariner. While I was saving up for the Sub, I wore an homage (Invicta 8926OB), and continued to wear the Invicta as a 'beater' watch even after I got the Sub. At the time, my Submariner cost about £2,000. It was a lot of money, but it was worth it to me, because it was (and still is) my dream watch. I wore it daily. I would have been gutted if I had lost or damaged it, but £2,000, while very significant, wasn't an insurmountable amount of money to save up if I had had to replace it. Fast forward nearly 20 years though, and my Sub is now worth more than my car. If I lost or damaged it, I would never be able to afford to replace it, even if they were available to buy. So, my Sub stays safely locked away except on special occasions, and I now mostly wear one of a number of Sub homages that I own. I do like a bit of variety occasionally though, so I sometimes buy an inexpensive watch to scratch the itch. I still get that 'Christmas morning' feeling that comes with a new watch, but I don't have to feel guilty about spending loads of money or be scared to wear it.
I did the same as you. I bought a rolex sub 10 years ago. I like the look of dive watches and they are a great everyday watch. Long story short, my rolex stays in my safe locked up to pass along to my kids. So, I wear one of my sub homages or seikos everyday. I will also say this, the only compliment I ever got on a watch I was wearing was a $150 seiko chronograph.
Interesting and refreshing point of view. I did the contrary, I own a Seamaster that I bought for my son’s birth and hopefully will transmit to him one day. I don’t wear other watches. I see it as a dependable piece that will be able to survive generations. I don’t mind it getting used, Omega will polish it back during maintenance. Owning an insurance is also an inexpensive way to give piece of mind. I also don’t mind not getting variety, I feel like the piece is a part of me now. I just change straps to match the occasion.
When you first start collecting there are so many different styles/sizes of watches with a myriad of strap options - start by collecting some affordable watches, and experience each watch. Once you have found the watches you gravitate towards, then you can start to up the amount you spend on each piece, reducing the risk of purchasing a watch you regret. Great video as always!
To me, the most important reason I do the same with you, is the fact that afforable watches offer more than the luxury ones for the money that they cost: made of steel or titanium, with sapphire, with very decent mechanisms, automatic or quartz, I do not need anything more. I agree with you. I have a small collection of 10 watches, worth 150€ - 400€ each, and I am enjoying as anything else! Just found this channel, and it's exactly what i'm looking for!
You hit the nail on the head with #3. It is a process getting to know your own personal preferences... takes time and handling of many pieces to learn this. After a couple of years and 40 watches later I think I’m finally getting there. In 2020 I will be selling off at least half of them. I will NOT be replacing them with higher end pieces either. For me, the $300-$600 range is the sweet spot! BTW, I’m really digging the more refined, yet rugged pieces as well (think Explorer, Alpinist, SARBs, Ball Watch, or even smaller vintage inspired basic diver(ish) pieces such as the Maen Hudson).
Thank you for sharing that affordable watches collection idea, I have a small watches collection that exactly as affordable purchase, most of them are Japanese and Chinese made from entry to middle range grade, but they have all the styles I love : 2 dress watches; a full two tone one, and a silver dial one with black leather strap, a all black pilot watch, a chronograph sport, 2 field watches , and a diver watch.😀
I just watched this video, wisely proposed by TH-cam. I am stunned by your honesty and authenticity. I can easily identify my passion for watches to yours. I am very into affordable watch and was actually wondering if I shouldn't go for more expansive/luxurious watches. I got here a very nice answer. Thanks!
Exactly. One of the main points for me is understanding which watches you like and the only way you can do this by variety which the affordable market allows me.
I like variety and I'm starting my collection with sub $200 pieces. I'm getting used to wearing watches and handling them. I'd rather learn with easy to replace pieces instead of anything $4000 plus. I'll buy those when I'm more comfortable with watches.
That's exactly how I started, and I think it's a great way to ease into the hobby. And honestly, there's a ton of great watches in that price range, there's not even a huge need to go much higher unless you start getting more interested in collecting.
@lolroflkartoffel123 Not necessarily, Firstly never buy on a loan, that is just sad and pathetic. servicing (without them actually doing anything can cost you more than some decent entry level Swiss watches and repairing/replacing parts can often only be done by certified dealers/in the headquaters as nobody else can even get the necessary parts) I know exactly how much it can cost as I needed to have a mainspring replaced..... Secondly some people can simply appreciate horology and quality, not only branding and prestige. Some don't need a brand to feel good about a watch, they simply enjoy it and it is mostly irrelevant and only matters as some brands stand for good quality (don't confuse that with luxury). As rolex ist the most faked Brand of all the question "is is a real Rolex" is asked all the time and they don't tend to believe you anyways unless you are rich/50 years old, which let's face it isn't the case for most people who have to think about getting a freaking loan to buy a watch. Real watch enthusiast I know own several fun watches while having other watches, each watch worth more than 10 times the price of their fun watch collection....and now guess which ones get the Most wrist presence.....nobody likes watch snobbery. It's about the Hobby/feeling not the resell price/Stock market
I’m into watches for last 4-5 years when I started college. Honestly its the best video I’ve ever seen regarding watch collecting. Best perspective. Thumbs up immediate ❤️ Writing from Bangladesh where $200 is a lot of money for a watch. As a regular guy and a watch lover, couldn’t agree more
Price is subjective. I love my citizen eco drives and I have a recent one.. a blue eco-drive AR on a rubber bracelet and I love it.. dial is beautiful and all I want to do is put on a NATO bracelet.. I do have some seiko 5's and even a swatch.. of course a g-shock and an F91w like all collectors need.. saying that I think build a collection to match what you wear and find something you enjoy and like aesthetically.. a rolex does not tell time better than a timex
the best watch is one you like . i dont understand someone telling me this is what you need to have or like . this channel and "just one more watch" are great channels
This is great video that brings up a very good point. I've owned a Rolex, Tudor, and a few other, "high end" watches but I am currently rocking Vostok, Casio and Traska micro brand watches that I absolutely LOVE! I have a great time with them, they are fun, tough, durable and if I lose one or break it... I'll go buy another one! Low stress and a lot of fun!
Nice video. There is a thin line between affordable and cheap. I think as long as you're collecting affordable watches with some history / heritage behind them, then you're most likely not going to regret it, once you can afford the more expensive ones. Imagine being stuck with a box of Daniel Wellingtons, and then finding out after you've wasted all your money 😆 I have a Seiko 5 which I absolutely love and will never sell, no matter how big my budget gets, so as long as you love what you buy and you enjoy this hobby, that's all that matters.
Who wastes more money, the guy who bought 3 daniel wellingtons for 600 and sells them on ebay for $100 5 years later? Or the guy who buys a $4000 omega speedmaster triple and sells it (to me) for $1200 8 years later?
I think you'll find that most real people would agree with you that an affordable collection is fun, flexible, versatile, and a smart way to go. I've recently gotten back into watches after not wearing one for a decade because my pseudo-luxury Seiko Kinetic stopped running - yes. the dreaded capacitor issue. So about a year ago I started a collection with the goal of not spending more than $100 on any watch. I am amazed at how many bold and dressy styles are available for affordable prices. With half a dozen purchases in the year, I've got a very nice little collection and don't really worry if any one time piece fails. It can be replaced, if it requires anything more than a battery. Rummaging through the junk drawers I've also found some of my childhood watches and they are now also proudly displayed in the watch box as nostalgia.
As a now "Rolex-owner" (read-bait) let me tell you my story about my journey into watches and how I started with affordable watches. I started out 5 years ago getting into watches, first watch I bought was a $500 Tissot Mechanical (Automatic) and I loved it.. for about 2 days.. Ended up returning it as I couldn't connect with it and felt it was overpriced for what it was. I tried maybe 10-15 different brands and models, mostly automatic watches between $150 > $400. Today I have exactly 1 of those left in my collection > The Seiko SKX013 (Small wrist). There is no doubt that the Seiko SKX is the BEST value for money you can possibly get in a watch. It just FEELS like quality. Sure the movement is basic and you can't even manual wind it. BUT! it's dive-proof, it has a rotating bezel (that is solid and doesn't feel cheap to turn - feels better than an Omega Seamaster), it has GREAT lume (as good as a Rolex Sub) and a Day+Date display. This is my holiday/water-activity watch and I absolutely love putting this on my wrist when splashing around in water. Diving down and seeing the lume light up under water. It's FANTASTIC. Next to that I purchased myself a Rolex Oyster Perpetual because I really wanted to celebrate a time in my life with a special watch that I could keep for the rest of my life, and yes of course, also for the status because 'it's a rolex'. It's what you consider an Entry-level Rolex at around $5k but it ticked all the boxes for what I wanted in terms of size and look. I didn't want polished mid-links, I didn't want a date and didn't want something too big. IMO It's the PERFECT watch that you fits any occasion. You can wear it with a suit, you can wear at casually, you could even swim with it (Water resistance rating at 100m) and most importantly when I look at this watch I know the special reason why I bought it (celebrating a milestone in my life). Now the OP isn't going to make me any money by selling it (unlike other sportsmodel from rolex that go up in price), but it will probably keep it's value close to what I paid. I was considerate of this when selecting the dial (black sunburst) colour, just because I don't like purposely spending money on something that isn't "worth it". How do you define the value of something? Well in my opinion it's by looking at the 2nd hand market. I lost around 50% of the purchase cost on all my "affordable watches" I tried when starting out, because no one wants to buy a used watch (from non-high-end brands) close to retail. If we say 13 watches at around $250 each that's a $1625 loss.. :O Was it worth it for me? Yes and no. It allowed me to try and wear a bunch of different designs to really figure out what I wanted in a watch. Would I recommend people to get an "affordable watch collection"? No, definitely not. Because in the end, you have purchased something that doesn't hold it's value and financially that can never be recommended. Watches are certainly an emotional investment, but I can't help to also see it from a financial standpoint. If you're scarce with money, then I wouldn't recommend getting into a "collection" in the first place. Buy a single watch that ticks most boxes (waterproof, can be worn as a dresser, daily, etc.) and just enjoy that. Now I have what I believe is my perfect collection of just 2 pieces. The OP works as a dresswatch, even if it's on a steel bracelet. Ideally I would want to have a "proper" dresswatch at some time and I will most likely purchase a Lange & Söhne to take care of that. But that again will be at a special time in my life (When I get married or have a baby) and that will be a box queen only to be worn on special occassions. 2-piece collection - out.
I'm with you on the 'affordable collection' but I'd say 3 watch collection.1 Steel sports (Rolex?), 2 18k gold dress watch with some complications (JLC), 3 Something cool (Spring drive?)
I own a G Shock that cost a fraction of that, it's tough, requires almost no maintenance has tons of features. I suppose it depends on what you want from a watch. As an antisocial type who needs something that can be whacked against boulders and dragged through mud it's perfect. Probably would look out of place in a boardroom or in high social circles though.
A Citizen Nighthawk is one of my favorite watches. My son gifted it to me 15 years ago. The capacitor died so it started doing the two second jerk. I decided to change it myself. It is as easy as changing any quartz battery. At the same time I replaced the scratched mineral crystal with double domed AR coated sapphire crystal. Changes the appearance of the watch entirely. I enjoy your channel.
My main concern that I don’t hear talked about is if you don’t live in the best part of town if you should even bother getting into collecting watches that are a constant risk just to wear out and about.
I think buying and wearing a good amount of different watches in different sizes and styles is essential to figuring out what you really like to wear. You have to live with something on your wrist to know if that style/size/color of watch really resonates with you. The visual appeal of a watch and whether that watch works on your wrist are two very different things. Personally, I think you can have the best of both worlds...Build a reasonable collection of affordable watches, and that will point you toward your grail. Once that vision is clear, I say save up and go for it. I'm going through this process now, but I can tell you the grail for me is a Cartier Tank Louis (I feel lucky because it is barely 5 figures)...But no matter what watches the future may bring, I'll always love and appreciate my good ole Timex Marlin, and the Tank doesn't diminish that at all. There are great watches at every price level. Just like guitars, a cheapy Danelectro can have a magic a high end custom American made Gibson could never have, and the converse is also true. One doesn't take away from the other in my view. Great video.
Deminishing return and cost per wear, is a factor on soo many levels. Understatement is the best statement 😀 The watches you actually wear and take care of is the best watch.
Totally valid points. Makes perfect sense, but some times there’s emotions attached to these expensive pieces, and that’s the appeal. Collecting affordable pieces is more fun btw👌🏽
totally agree. I get bored quickly wearing the same watch. always like to change things around and modify watches. it's a hobby for me, not an investment project.
I love this channel so much! I am dude who loves watches,but with true spirit and not just to say that i own some silly "10000£" watch,like many people love to do...So,i really feel like...at home on this channel.Thank you for that! ☺️❤️
Interesting video. As an owner on two luxury watches (seamaster and tudor Pelagos) I also own two g shocks, a cheap seiko automatic pilots and an old citizen dress watch. I think the term affordable is a very subjective matter which is solely dependant on the collector... all watches are great and a very personal thin especially for men who tend not to have a jewellery collection. As one of my family members once said to me, "you can also tell what kind of a man you are by the shoes on his feet and the watch on his wrist". Thanks again for an interesting video 👍
I have 32 watches in my collection. Mostly higher end watches, but also Swatches for fun and a $60 Seiko 5 that I probably wear the most. Don't have to worry about it.
Great vid. I guess I really haven't thought of myself as having a collection, but I do have over a dozen nice watches and a mini vintage Citizen collection (80's autos). I picked watches based on 1) Category ; diver, pilot, chrono, etc. 2) Affordability; I've never spent more than $275 on any watch and 3) Uniqueness; Does it have a look or a function that isn't duplicated by my other watches. That said, I haven't bought a watch in 6 months, so I'm at the stage of, 'to get one, I have to sell one'.
In this exact predicament of trying to decide if I want to invest heavily in one big piece instead of my small collection. . Thank you for posting this, it really helped to hear your insight.
It is a bit of an obsession really. I have a collection of very expensive watches, and a collection of affordable watches many of which I have purchased after being inspired by your videos. I wear them all proudly in sort of a random rotation. I enjoy the beauty and precision of watches of all kinds. Keep up the good work you do here on the channel.
Hi Dave, i totally agree with you. For me having a one expensive timepiece collection is boring. Yes it is nice to have one good time piece, but its even better to have an affordable watch collection together with your expensive timepiece. Thank you for sharing your watch collection. I would naver have learned about these brands if it wasn’t for you. Thanks again. Continue making these videos for regular income guys like me who want to have an affordable watch collection
Enjoyed the video, Dave. You make some good points. I'm enjoying trying out different pieces and wearing a different watch each day. As much as I'd love some higher end pieces I think I'd really miss the variety. Most of my favorite watches are more mid-range anyway strangely enough.
There's just so many great watches under $1,000, which makes it even harder for me to see the reasoning in buying a luxury piece on my income. That and I'm terrified of getting featured on the @prophetnwatches Instagram feed.
I agree with every point you made. I have one watch, a Hamilton which I just had to have, that cost over £500. I have Sekonda, Rotary, Tissot, Seiko, Orient, Vostok, Raketa, Raymond Weil, Bulova, Christopher Ward, T W Steel and Casio in my collection. All varieties Chronograph, Dive, Field, Dress, brand new, pre-owned, Mechanical, Automatic and quartz. I vary my look every day and I vary my watch as well. It works for me.
Thanks man. I just start my enthusiast in watch, and start collecting several budget watch that I like. As I am now entering into "watch world", I have been watching a lot of watch enthusiasts/experts in youtube, but somehow I dont feel really connected. As if it is totally different world from mine. Watching this video, I feel like, finally, a watch enthusiast has the same feeling and understand about the way of thinking of 99.99% people. And therefore, now I am subscribing you, and you are the only watch enthusiast channel that I subscribe.
My low priced collection has depended to a large part on heavily discounted discontinued models or big sales. Also, although I have 2 automatic watches (one somewhat expensive) I kind of prefer the quartz watches that I own. Especially the ones with the screw backs so I can easily change the batteries myself. I agree with all he is saying, even though his collection is far and away more impressive than mine!
It’s great to hear the mindset of a 2 year collector, wait till you get to 10 years! You’ll look back and laugh. Nothing wrong with affordable watches ( I have many ) but you’ve just begun down the rabbit hole. Cheers
That was my thought as well while I was watching this, this is the right way to start.figure out what you like, what’s your ideal size and complications but after collecting for over a decade you will start to really notice the difference at each price threshold. It’s a slippery slope
I built a collection of affordable watches over the years and it taught me that I preferred the more luxury items and at that point needed to liquidate a bunch of relatively worthless watches mostly giving them away. I'd prefer to periodically add a nice luxury watch and build a collection that way which is what I have now.
@@arbiterofreason2068 I can give you a reverse example and your argument is not valid because you think people will spend the same amount of money, but for many people, they will buy a small collection of 5 watches for $750 rather than spend buying watches until they hit the price of a $2000 watch. Anyway, People say fashion watches are a waste of money. If I bought a vincero watch, I would have wasted $120 after 5 years because their $150 is only worth $30 on ebay. Oh no! However recently I bought an omega speedmaster triple for $1200, which cost $3000. This 8 year old watch was in great condition,but whoever bought this wasted $2400 in depreciation. So who got a bigger burn, the guy who bought a vincero or the guy who bought the omega?
I have done it before you said it was OK to do it. Sea-gull 1963 column wheel chronograph. Sea-gull Ocean Star diver. Rodina R005 bauhaus Sea-gull flying wheel day date Parnis 44mm flieger with the Seagull st36 handwind movement. Total cost £750
I think your theory makes perfect sense, however to each his own. Watch collecting can be for numerous reasons depending on the person and their motives.
I can relate. In 2019 I started to having interest in watch collection. For starter , this year (2020) I bought my first watch. It’s a casio and it is worth USD 15$.
$15 becomes $50 turns into $100 then $250 and $500. I remember when $50 seemed like an expensive watch. I’m pushing the $1000 mark now and I hope it doesn’t go up. It’s easy to justify the next purchase if you can afford it. I wear mostly automatics now and most are around $2-300. That’s a good range for new/used pieces.
Someone told me a long time ago, "collect things that you enjoy and appreciate." Watches, Knives, sneakers, are only worth what they are worth to you. Collecting something valuable, is fleeting, because value is different to different people.
Just discovered your channel and it's awesome! I am just starting out and don't have much money for a watch and my tastes keep changing so it's been great to see someone who talks about affordable watches. I am a little behind on discovering your channel but thanks for doing this!
I`m a watchcollector myself, well not a collector per se, but with a strong interest in watches. My budget for watches lies around 2 to 4k every 6 months.So I feel, I`m at mid - tier. I was drawn to the hobby by getting fixed on a status symbol for others, so I wanted to raise among my peers and show off, what I`ve achieved in my life. The years following, I worked my ass off and gained some kind of success. I`m a seniormanager with a decent income. For around 350 people, I`m the source of security, leadership and culture and my wife and daughter are happy that I`m the head of the family. So my longing for social status shifted as I achieved real progress. In fact, I was thinking about buying myself a watch this christmas and I was in front of the jewelers window. I could take right at that second a Breitling Navitimer or Colt or any Omega around the 10k mark. I was standing in front of the window for some minutes and a whole film went down my imagination. I could buy anything luxury, but I went with a Seiko Astron in the end and do you wanna know why? Because they flipped the middle finger towards the Swiss in the late 60s and I thought the same in that particular moment: I flipped the finger to consumerism and the "approval of others". I`m Flo Brantner and like you, I go my own way and buy, what I find beautiful and has meaning to me. I admire your independence and be sure, there are more like us, than these, who are looking down on us.
Real world. I enjoy watches. Enjoy learning more about them and my requirements. As I go a long. I have many. None are high end. But they all are to me. None of mine need a safe. They just need my wrist.
I bought 4 affordable watches before buying my first luxury watch. definitely my taste have changed but I've limited my self to buy 1 watch per year so i have the time to research and save up money rather than buying with an impulse buy. currently i wear only two watches from my collection
Yes, I love different design watches. It's a ton of fun for me. Cheap vs affordable? well my rule of thumb is this. should the watch I buy run well and last 10-15 years if I wore it every day? A 10 usd watch probably will not, I have found that the tipping point is about 70-100 usd. A ton of watches fall right in that range. Most watches with a nh35 will do this, in fact a lot of newer sea-gull movements can get that far. BUT remember that if you have a 10 watch set, all in this range you will be on a rotation and NOW just how long will these watches last? I find it funny that if you ask someone if they buy a set of affordable watches they go nuts insisting that its all a waist of money. just buy a rolex and be done with it< but the exact people that say all this admit to owning a few beater watches as if saying its a beater watch is better than an affordable watch. What is wrong with owning a set of affordable watches and if I end up buying a rolex one day due to a windfall, does anybody think I am going to ware my rolex when I go to work in the company coal mine or the construction job site? NO I will ware a beater ( affordable watch) Now if I am so rich that I dont work at all, I read the stock market everyday to see how many more rolex watches I can buy today, more power to me.
Thank you for this a thoughtful and interesting discussion. I too prefer a collection but I am interested in luxury watches as well. I wouldn't sell everything for one watch. :)
You have a very sound and no-nonsense way of dealing with and presenting watches. That's why I appreciate your videos. Personally, I don't need decadent over-priced bling even if I can allow myself to buy it. Good design, quality, functionality and, why not, some charming quirkyness mustn't necessarily be expensive. You do a great job. Take care.
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It's nice to see the channel of a regular guy, with a regular income, and the watch collection collection he is able to obtain. This channel is where I feel at home.
Yeah, as much as I love the luxury segment and I aspire to have a luxury timepiece soon. I have a hard time watching people talk, with a straight face, about the "$5000 entry level watch"
Glad to hear it! I'm having a lot of fun, so I've got no plans to stop. Make yourself at home!
Just wait for commercials :D
Bravo! Well said! My thoughts exactly...
Well said man...
I have don't consider myself a serious watch collector, but I found that buying a variety of straps is a great way to breath life and excitement into my collection without buying multiple hundred dollar watches every so often and keep my watch count low.
Totally agree. I've got a serious affordable watch strap addiction...
Absolutely, spot on comment 👍🏻
Agree. I now have a Vostok Amphibian with a blue dial, a Casio F91, a white-dialed Bentime dresswatch, a black G-Shock GA100, and an assortment of straps. I'm wearing a different look every day.
@@JusttheWatch Where is a good place to buy straps?
A new band/strap/bracelet breaths new life for sure- more than once I’ve decided to sell, only to change up and the combo become my favorite!
As a watchmaker I give the same advice almost weekly. Collect what you like, regardless of price.
YES!
I have a 10 watch collection ranging from $20 to $500 and I enjoy not worrying about what could happen to them. The best part is that about it is, a year ago I gave access to my 16 year old son and every day we go together to choose our watch for the day. Sometimes we want to wear the same watch and it’s fun sacrificing my self so he wears the one he wants, and 10 times better and more rewarding when he notices I have an important day and he sacrifices himself so I can wear the one I want. Anyway, I would not trade my collection and those experiences for any Rolex.
Yea this is cool
I’m a dad too. This is awesome!
I sold both my Rolexes (2010 Submariner date and 2016 Explorer II), put the money into my pension and now I have a modest "affordable" watch collection that I'm enjoying enough that I don't regret the decision at all. I no longer face £500 service bills, insurance, fear for my personal safety walking the streets, lack of accuracy (oh the joy of radio controlled quartz!) and fears of costly repair bills. I feel a lot less stressed!
I totally agree with you and many of the comments of your subscribers. The joy I get from changing my watches both buying and selling and just as importantly wearing is the reason I am a watch collector. The thing is just because you collection is affordable doesn't mean you can't appreciate the top end watches and enjoy watching the TH-cam videos that promote them.
I have 2 Omegas, and I have often considered "selling up" on the basis of the maintenance costs which are getting close to outstripping the original purchase cost of the Omegas. I have 4 Citizens one of, is a new PCAT model, brilliant watch, none of them make me feel I'm missing out. The service cost of my Planet Ocean could get me a Seiko Samurai AND a Seiko Core Titanium in the current sales and leave me with change! Food for thought....
That was a small fortune!
Thank you
The joy of radio controlled quartz indeed!
This video is eye opening. Im just on my first 2 watches and im hooked. Watching youtubers saying" $1000 is an entry level affordable, everyday watch" had me rethinking this hobbie.
Meanwhile we can be laughing with a shiny little Casio A158-W, cost less than 25 bucks and has some cool retro style, or a Timex Expedition Acadia Solar that's a neat little sun powered Analog watch that will run indefinitely as long as it gets out and about with you.
And affordable watches can have all kinds of wacky styles that are too "fun" for luxury watches to dare try
Part of the hobby is finding bargains. Most of my watches I bought them at 40 to 50% off. The thrill of the Hunt.
I definitely understand. The watch you like is the watch that deserves to be in your collection. Honestly, the quality of watches now compared, say from the 80s, it's pretty much the same on a "visual" level. Enjoy your watches!
One shouldn't forget that watches at his point are to a big part actually jewelry. A 300-400 €/$ watch or even one for 150 is still a pretty expensive piece of jewelry.
There is no real entry price point in my opinion. I own 6 watches. 5 of which cost less than 100 bucks a piece and the 6th cost me about 700 because it was a fathers day present to myself. Watch collecting, as a hobby, is supposed to be fun for the individual regardless of income bracket. Just do what you love and to hell with the naysayers.
Well, its a hell of a lot better than collecting watches you can't afford.
just looks at Archie - he's in thousands of dollars of debt because he wants Pateks and not Seikos.
Precisely!
Agreed.
@@callum5733 who?
@@ARod3 Archie luxury on TH-cam
Always refreshing to see TH-camrs who are affordable collectors. I have a Seamaster and several affordable watches. I get the same enjoyment out of wearing my Casio A168 as I do the Omega. I will most likely stay in the affordable watch realm as there are so many great watches out there for tremendous value. Seamaster was my dream watch, but I really can't justify spending that much again on a single watch. Great video as always
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is going to be my retirement watch. I'm saving for it now. In the meantime I also enjoy the variety affordable watches offer.
Thanks for the first hand info on your experience with a luxury piece! As the TH-cam channel has grown a bit, I'm getting curious to actually get my hand on a luxury watch and wear it for a bit to see if how they really compare to affordable watches. But that's not in the cards anytime soon.
I love my A168 as well as the recently released A700
I've got the a168 sitting here ready to go for night duty (electro luminescence) next to my a500 world time, G-Shock square5610, Seiko 007skx, Seiko5 snk355, Citizen etc etc.. so many choices in the under $300 mark. Too much fun buying all these.. 😁🍻💙🇺🇸
@@NotoriousK_I_T picked one of those Casio "slim shady" a700 for and one for me dad✔️😁🍻
Just found this channel, and it's a breath of fresh air in a crowded market.
I started watch collecting around ten years ago. I continually traded up to the point where I owned 5 luxury pieces. I’ve recently gotten back into affordables and I’m discovering great brands and pieces that I overlooked the first time around. What I’ve learned is that in this hobby, the relationship between cost and happiness isn’t linear. There are diminishing returns with the more you spend. Having experienced luxury watches has helped me appreciate the value offered by something like an Orient Kamasu, which I’m wearing on my wrist today.
NICE watch! I was thinking of getting one... :)
My Dad brought me a Timex Weekender when I was 13.
I'm 24 now and it's still ticking. One of the most timeless watches around.
I own a Weekender too, and the only problem I have with it, is that it ticks too loud.
I have a Timex Originals Camper that's still going strong after 10 years
The irony of a timeless watch. LOL
I laugh when I hear those hipster watch collectors boo-hooing cheap, affordable quartz watches that keep better and more consistent time than any automatic or manual watch. Like buying a bespoke suit for pajamas; just wear pajamas, dude.
I have a nice citizen, a beater g-shock, and a weekender…I wear the weekender the most. Love that cheap watch
I love affordable watches: My favorite: Casio, Victorianox swiss army, Seiko, Hamilton, Citizen, Swatch, Timex, Marathon, Tissot, etc ( no order) these watches are Quality, durable, etc. No need to spend thousands of dollars
Marathon great because they offer sterile dials on two of their most basic modals.
Some seikos, victorinox and hamiltons go quite up the 1000€
Seiko5 -37mm cases😍
@@arnauvizcarramiserachs6318 I got a Hamilton automatic for about 300 on Amazon. Victorianox has quite a few for 300 and under. Marathon has about 2 watches for under 300
@@batgiant3535 yes sure, that's the Khaki Field 1, the lowest mechanic watch in the brand which it is still good quality for the money, I'd say quality/price the Khaki Field 1 is one of the best watches abailable.
For me who live in Malaysia, even 200usd is already expensive, almost close to rm1000, ...better buy car or house or go travel than omega or rolex...
Watch Cheapo only buy if you know you can get at least what you spent on it.
Same here in Indonesia, as our purchasing power is only around 1/10 than most American so 200usd watch would feel like spending 2000 dollar for a watch
I can imagine! I live in Japan, but I still feel basically the same way. But it seems like the lower end of the market has gotten so much better recently, there's a ton of great watches coming out of China that are just insanely affordable.
Well said. I'd rather be sitting in jazz club in NYC than be sitting at home with a Vintage Jazzmaster on my wrist!
Just the Watch : Yeah, I know right? I think the Chinese market is where the Japanese market was post WWII. Even growing up in the '70's the (typically mildly racist) term for Japanese goods - from cars to toasters - was "Jap-Crap". Chinese goods are being viewed similarly now, often for good reason. But dollars to dimes that will change as more money is put into QC practices. Come 2040 the watch market will most probably look very different....
I'm 62 and here are some guidelines I've set for myself over the years, though I sometimes break them:
Decide if you're going to try and keep every watch you buy or try to just have say 5, 10, 20 or whatever and sell off a piece every now and then to help finance the next.
Unless you're going to keep them all, the secondhand value is crucial, so buying a pre-owned watch that has minimum 6 months warranty left and has the box, papers etc. can mean that you avoid the big price drop from new to used (even if the warranty is out of date, it tells you something about the previous owner if he/she kept all the stuff).
When window shopping on the web you can then make a list of watches that are up to maybe twice your budget.
If possible buy a watch that has a popular caliber that a watchsmith won't refuse to touch if it ever needs attention, especially with chronographs!
Buy a selection of watches that reflect your different moods: 'serious business', 'funky-fun', 'traditional reliable', 'wacky', 'vintage', 'exotic'...
If you're a bit OCD (many watch geeks are) avoid quartz, unless it's one with a sweep second hand, no second hand or even a sub-second (watches that hit the marker every time are not usually cheap).
Make a budget for straps to refresh your collection. If you can't afford a watch one month or quarter, an inexpensive strap that fits a number of watches can bring a lot of fun. Try some weird combinations, it's often surprising. A steel mesh can be interesting.
If you're going to buy a vintage watch try looking online at local watch vintage enthusiast forums. You're usually not allowed to sell watches there until
you've been a member for a while.
Longstanding members can give advice, sell at the market rate for a particular watch and condition, and have a reputation to protect.
It's not a foolproof method but better than most.
Anyway......
Solid tips, thank you for taking the time to write them down! :-)
:-)
"If you can't afford to buy a luxury watch, you probably can't afford to own one"...well said. I would add:
- If you are afraid of wearing a luxury watch (as not to scratch it or break it) then you probably should not get one
- If you can not afford to replace a luxury watch right away (as in..buy another one) then you probably should not get one
- If you're thinking what sort of other things you could do with the money that you would spend on a luxury watch then you probably should not get one
- If you're trying to justify to yourself that you need a luxury watch then you probably should not get one
I love seeing people take pride in affordable collections. Watch collecting is a different journey and experience for every person. Why would the journey of luxury watch collecting be more valuable than the journey of more-affordable watch collecting? It's still about the search, the thrill, the excitement, the fun, and the passion for horology !
The irony of affordable watch collecting is that it's both fun and agonizing because it never ends.
>Once you own about, I dunno 6 watches, and 8-10 straps or so, there's Zero point in adding more to your collection.
I agree with this. Once you build a rotation of watches you like you're kind of done. Doesn't matter if they're cheap/entry level, mid priced or luxury watches, these are now _your_ watches and that's really all that matters.
I'm having the same issue, want a collection of a variety of different watches, my mistake was starting with a Gshock and now I can't stop buying Gshocks.
a watch a month
Exactly, I just started and it took me a month to make my first purchase (Tissot Ballad) and I am going to send it back since I can't read the dial well enough. The search continues...
Right? Every time I look at Casio, low end Citizen, or even Timex watches I find more I like.
Do have my sights on getting a Bulova Lunar Pilot though, My Space nerd side can't resist having at least one moon watch
“Experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes.” ~ Oscar Wilde
Fit OutPost so true Oscar
My collection is NOT A MISTAKE, anymore... I've given away and thrown ant recognized mistake in my collection. 😁🍻💙🇺🇸
Id rather have no experience then lol
I have so much experiences!
mistakes is the name you give to your experience, oscar wilde was nothing smart no need to listen to him you can have your own opinions.
I feel like for me $500 is sort of a threshold where you run pretty hard into the law of diminishing returns when it comes to watches. So I see that as a limit when looking for the next watch. I like Rolexes and Langes but I can't imagine spending that much money on a watch. I'd rather use that kind of money to travel somewhere. One thing that bugs me about my newfound watch addiction is it detracts from my travel budget.
Since when you grew that addiction?
@@jackdaniels8030 I've been buying and collecting watches for the last year and a half or so.
There's a lot of Hamiton watches that are a tad over $500 that I'm really interested in checking out, and maybe some Seiko pressage watches, but above that, yeah, there's not a lot that seems like I would really enjoy any more than some of the $500 or less watches I have or am eyeing.
Yup: the old 80/20 rule! Of course it's...*sublime* to experience the 20 part of that equation, but that big fat world in the 80% is rich with varied and quirky and austere and downright pedigreed wonders!
@@JusttheWatch I actually just started dipping my feet into basic Swiss. I just bought a pre-owned Hamilton Khaki Field Auto for $300. Pre-owned was a requirement anyway because I wanted the 2824 movement and not the new H-10 thing you can't regulate. And I have a Tissot Le Locle Chronometre on the way. They won't replace my Timex and Seiko's. I am getting rid of the Invicta to make room in the box, though.
Love this down to earth content.The problem with people these days is they buy a watch to impress others.I own several affordable watches with different prices but the Casio duro(Marlin) is my favorite.
Your affordable watch collection is much classier and more tasteful than some of the really expensive collections I've seen on TH-cam. It's really inspiring.Thank you.
Words of wisdom! I did own Omega Moonwatch for about 10 years. Bought it new as a 30th birthday present for myself. It was my only watch. Then I had to get it serviced which was 800€. At that point I realised that I can´t aford to or don´t want to own a luxury watch and sold it. Now I own several affordable watches (Seiko, Citizen, Casio etc.) and enjoy them greatly. Newer again will I put all my eggs in one basket.
Reminds me of the BMW I bought.
Mikko Qvist I 100% agree.
Great video, Dave. I agree with you on every point, I think you really hit the nail on the head.
My budget is even more limited than that, and for me to buy a watch for $250 is very expensive.
Thanks for making this video, In a world dominated by social media and a culture of lifestyle and luxury, I think it is very important to highlight the value of good value.
I hear you! When I started this channel, the Nighthawk was my "grail" watch. Some of my other pricier watches I bought after selling off other things from a previous hobby, and now the only reason I can afford to purchase watches in that price range is because the TH-cam channel has taken off. But if it weren't for that, I think I'd be in pretty much the same boat!
With me running the channel and the Podcast I come across a lot of snobs. I love this hobby, but it feels very segregated at times!
SoCal Watch Reviews I like watches but not “watch guys”
Most of the collection world is driven by the high end collectors. Am glad to connect with people with more realistic goals having the same if not more enjoyment out of collecting, discussing and learning more about watches.
I agree. Most of us can't afford a luxury watch.
I agree.
I was able to buy a vintage-Seamaster with a 2 year service warranty for less than the price of two middle-range Citizens. That Omega fits my proportions way better and it has some timeless charm on it. And it's also cheaper to service one vintage-Omega than two mechanical Citizens. :) Some people might consider Omega as a luxury watch, some people don't.
Usually with vintage watches you can lay your hands on pretty interesting (luxury) watches with small money, if you dig the old styling and sizes and even the service costs aren't that huge, if the movement was "popular" back in the day. Personally for me with my small wrists the older watches fit me better than modern bigger ones and because of the way I usually dress those are also more of my style.
If they were affordable, they would not be considered luxury!
I completely agree with everything you said. An affordable and varied watch collection is much more satisfying for me to own.
When he said he lives in Japan I knew he knows what he's talking about.
Thanks for keeping it Real. It is truly nauseating to watch those snobby pretentious watch collectors on TH-cam. Just because they own a luxury watch does not make them an expert in watches.
They usually have a phony British accent to "enhance" their credibility.
Knowledge and passion takes you a long way in most things.
Calvin Handley or hate shitters.
;)
I am a middle income young man. I am a watch enthusiast. The enjoyment of luxury pieces is the enjoyment of the art form at its peak. That is my view. I saved for years to buy my Datejust and I am proud of that. Snobbery has nothing to do with it in my experience.
@@calvinhandley2373 and great grandfathers that rode horses in the army 200 years ago which automatically gives all their 2019 field watches "authentic" military cred.
You know what man I agree and relate. I also appreciate the genuineness that comes across so u earned yourself a sub
Thanks, George I'm a big fan!
One of your last statements was the most important! " I like what I am doing " That goes for expensive timepieces and the affordable ones. It all comes down to your personal budget, but remember, you might enjoy your affordable pieces more than someone that can buy everything in th blink of an eye.
@lolroflkartoffel123 I am not sure if you are trolling or just didn't pay attention to the OP's comment.
@lolroflkartoffel123 He says, "That goes for expensive timepieces and the affordable ones." He didn't say that he only loved cheap watches. Pay attention next time. Also, owning expensive shit that you don't like is the dumbest thing one could ever do.
@@OmegaF77 i think Kartoffel was only trying to emphasize how good and important that point that he made is.
I own 14 Citizen watches, (including one XC atomic radio ) , several Fossils ,several Swatches and one Tag Heuer Carrera. I love all of them and feel a time piece is an accessory. I personally think Citizens are a great option for people who want a dependable watch for a low-mid range price! Even though I am a lady, I still enjoy your channel.
Watches are a source of fun. It is more fun when you can afford them. You're on the right path.
Excellent philosophy on watches. The fourteen watches I have in my collection might equal the cost of a single Rolex. It has been said that the best watch is the one that makes you smile. Never mind the cost.
Thank you for staying strong to your mission on a affordable collection! This is important info, and there is already more than enough channels that cater to the high end watches & enthusiasts (nothing wrong with them, just setting the baseline here). It seems to me that what you are doing can help introduce the wonderful world of watches to the next generation! Where to start, what to look for, how to not waste your money while at university, or even high school. This video got me to click the Subscribe button & bell. Look forward to watching more of your content!
Thanks man, I'll try my best to deliver!
Guy, I agree with you 100%. I feel the exact same way. There are a lot of good quality affordable watches out there and honestly I don't see the need to have a 5 thousand dollar watch. I like to wear watches according to my mood, dress and activity, and having a variety of watches that don't put you in debt allows me to do this with much ease and satisfaction.
Thank you for giving a voice to the majority of watch enthusiasts out there. You validate my passion in the hobby.
Affordable (budget) watches definitely have their place. They are a great way to explore the world of watches without a second mortgage. And they are good every day watches you don't have to spend a lot of money to fix or worry about if they get banged around.
However, mid-tier watches ($700-1500) to me are the sweet spot. The watches I have in this price range are of measurably better quality and you can see it. Once you get over the $2k mark though there just isn't enough difference in quality for me to justify that kind of money. I doubt I'll ever own a luxury watch.
I am on the same boat as you, after 2k....the quality or what you pay for is not necessarily better. I float around in the Mid Tier price points also...the quality is great at that price point.
Really enjoyed this video. This issue really resonated with me. I have spent quite a bit of time recently dwelling over this dilemma: sell off and upgrade or continue with more affordable pieces. All of this questioning has really just stopped me enjoying and appreciating what I have already. Time to let go of the NEXT watch and just enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
I was unable to wear wrist watches or jewelry at my job for various reasons, so I never considered spending money on those things. After I retired I decided that I needed a watch, which would also double as jewelry for me. Rather than blowing a pile of money on THE ONE WATCH that would last me for the rest of my life, I decided to try different styles of inexpensive watches. Am I a chronograph kinda guy? Do I want a GMT watch? Do I really need a Tachometer bezel? What color dial suits me best? What color case suits me best: Silver, gold, rose gold, gun metal grey, black? Am I ever going to swim with a watch on? Do I want DAY and DATE? or just DATE? Ooh, look, a watch with a compass dial, I need one of those. I am enjoying trying out different styles, and types of watches. This would not be possible if I blew thousands on one watch. Collecting a variety of inexpensive watches is fun, and will help me figure out what is the ultimate watch for me. When I find out what that is, I may decide to spend a lot more on the ultimate watch. But for now, trying different inexpensive watches is fun. When women question me owning several watches, I just ask them how many shoes they own, or how much jewelry they have. That ends that conversation. I have a feeling my 6 space watch box may be too small.
Long may you enjoy the experience!
just buy a richard mille
I'm glad to see your Channel Growing. I remember when you first got started.
Hey man yeah! Haven't heard from you in awhile. How's it going?
@@JusttheWatch Not too bad thanks for asking. Hope all is well with you and your family.
I've come full circle. Started with affordable watch collection; moved into having multiple luxury watches now I'm going back to more affordable watches. You're spot on about fun.
I feel the same way. Watch collecting is all about the research, the hunt, the find, the anticipation, the acquisition, and the feeling you get when put it on. Many times I find myself circling back to older watches in my collection, and those feelings come flooding back. As long as you don't expect to get your money back out of your collection, affordable watch collecting is where it's at for all the reasons you mentioned.
Hi... great vid, great topic. And definitely not one discussed often enough. Everyone's definition of "affordable" will differ, but I'm pretty much on the same page as you are, and I am certainly enjoying the hobby the way it is unrolling for me. I love the high end watches and love learning about timepieces that I know I will never afford, but prefer to buy watches that make sense given my own lifestyle and life's (non-watch) obligations. I love the variety of watches, and love the excitement of searching for one, then waiting for a watch to arrive...plus, I have too many grail watches to be beholden to just one! Maybe one day things will change for me, but right now I am enjoying the hobby as it is! Keep up the good work!
Thanks! I really enjoy learning about luxury watches too, even though I don't have any real aspirations to ever own one. But I find it really interesting to see what goes into a luxury watch in terms of design and then look for similar design elements in affordable watches.
Great Video: No.5 *says it all* : Watch Collecting is Fun. I appreciate luxury watches as much as any "watch guy" however it seems to me that if you were to translate many watch enthusiasts view over into other areas of life, such as cars, what they are saying is 'don't buy that 2020 Mazda MX5! Wait and save your pennies (and catch the bus...) until you can afford an Audi R8! There is always a *benchmark* of engineering and styling. That does not make other less costly examples of *precise* engineering and styling an undesirable piece of rubbish.
The youtube watch cosmos has nothing to do with the real world anymore. TH-camrs will show you a 500$ watch and title it as „the perfect beater watch“ but for someone it is the dream time piece they have to work and save up for. Its just gone crazy, and the price of some Rolex Models on the grey market is the perfect evidence.
Being a Casio fan I've had a watch gifted from a friend, colleagues and family. Having 3 completely different watches gives me a lot of versatility and I feel the love from each of them every time I wear them.
Great video. I totally agree. Having a variety that is on the less expensive scale is more fun than having 2-4 expensive watches. And I say that knowing I could be in that latter group. I still get a kick out of my $30 Snoopy Timex my girls gave me last year.
I started collecting when I was 14 with a Casio and my collection has over 70 watches and I have now been collecting for 35 years. My watches range from $9 to 15k in value, I enjoy them all equally. I especially now collect in the $500 to $2k range and add about 5 new watches a year and sell a few each year as well. Your advise is excellent.
For me it comes down to a value equation. I'm by no means a smart man, but once we're talking thousands of dollars, that's the price of a used car. People can discuss the complex milling of a clasp, but I'd argue that the complex milling of cylinders and rotors is greater. Granted, the watch will hold its value long after the car is gone, but still... car.
The higher the price of the watch, the greater the value equation. Soon we're talking the price of a nice piece of land, or a house. The watch may be stunning, and its delicate moving parts crafted in the greatest of care... vs. nice house.
I enjoy your channel, just subbed :)
The "don't buy shitters" and jUsT sAvE uP "argument" never really ends. Why buy five $10,000 Rolex watches when you could have just bought _one_ Audimar Peakgay or Patek Phillipe watch? Get a "really good watch" instead of "wasting your money" on affordable watches. Why buy five $50,000 APs or PPs when you could have just bought _one_ "really good" Richard Mille or something equally astronomical?
@@Mister_Phafanapolis "Peakgay" lmao🤣🤣🤣
@@Mister_Phafanapolis That's the most eloquent way I've heard that argument be debunked. Very well put.
Also Audemars Peakgay lol
I agree with your take on this. I actually own my 'grail watch', which is a Rolex Submariner.
While I was saving up for the Sub, I wore an homage (Invicta 8926OB), and continued to wear the Invicta as a 'beater' watch even after I got the Sub.
At the time, my Submariner cost about £2,000. It was a lot of money, but it was worth it to me, because it was (and still is) my dream watch. I wore it daily. I would have been gutted if I had lost or damaged it, but £2,000, while very significant, wasn't an insurmountable amount of money to save up if I had had to replace it.
Fast forward nearly 20 years though, and my Sub is now worth more than my car. If I lost or damaged it, I would never be able to afford to replace it, even if they were available to buy.
So, my Sub stays safely locked away except on special occasions, and I now mostly wear one of a number of Sub homages that I own.
I do like a bit of variety occasionally though, so I sometimes buy an inexpensive watch to scratch the itch. I still get that 'Christmas morning' feeling that comes with a new watch, but I don't have to feel guilty about spending loads of money or be scared to wear it.
I did the same as you. I bought a rolex sub 10 years ago. I like the look of dive watches and they are a great everyday watch. Long story short, my rolex stays in my safe locked up to pass along to my kids. So, I wear one of my sub homages or seikos everyday. I will also say this, the only compliment I ever got on a watch I was wearing was a $150 seiko chronograph.
Interesting and refreshing point of view. I did the contrary, I own a Seamaster that I bought for my son’s birth and hopefully will transmit to him one day. I don’t wear other watches. I see it as a dependable piece that will be able to survive generations. I don’t mind it getting used, Omega will polish it back during maintenance. Owning an insurance is also an inexpensive way to give piece of mind. I also don’t mind not getting variety, I feel like the piece is a part of me now. I just change straps to match the occasion.
When you first start collecting there are so many different styles/sizes of watches with a myriad of strap options - start by collecting some affordable watches, and experience each watch.
Once you have found the watches you gravitate towards, then you can start to up the amount you spend on each piece, reducing the risk of purchasing a watch you regret.
Great video as always!
To me, the most important reason I do the same with you, is the fact that afforable watches offer more than the luxury ones for the money that they cost: made of steel or titanium, with sapphire, with very decent mechanisms, automatic or quartz, I do not need anything more.
I agree with you.
I have a small collection of 10 watches, worth 150€ - 400€ each, and I am enjoying as anything else!
Just found this channel, and it's exactly what i'm looking for!
You hit the nail on the head with #3. It is a process getting to know your own personal preferences... takes time and handling of many pieces to learn this. After a couple of years and 40 watches later I think I’m finally getting there. In 2020 I will be selling off at least half of them. I will NOT be replacing them with higher end pieces either. For me, the $300-$600 range is the sweet spot!
BTW, I’m really digging the more refined, yet rugged pieces as well (think Explorer, Alpinist, SARBs, Ball Watch, or even smaller vintage inspired basic diver(ish) pieces such as the Maen Hudson).
Thank you for sharing that affordable watches collection idea, I have a small watches collection that exactly as affordable purchase, most of them are Japanese and Chinese made from entry to middle range grade, but they have all the styles I love : 2 dress watches; a full two tone one, and a silver dial one with black leather strap, a all black pilot watch, a chronograph sport, 2 field watches , and a diver watch.😀
I just watched this video, wisely proposed by TH-cam. I am stunned by your honesty and authenticity. I can easily identify my passion for watches to yours. I am very into affordable watch and was actually wondering if I shouldn't go for more expansive/luxurious watches. I got here a very nice answer. Thanks!
Exactly.
One of the main points for me is understanding which watches you like and the only way you can do this by variety which the affordable market allows me.
I like variety and I'm starting my collection with sub $200 pieces. I'm getting used to wearing watches and handling them. I'd rather learn with easy to replace pieces instead of anything $4000 plus. I'll buy those when I'm more comfortable with watches.
That's exactly how I started, and I think it's a great way to ease into the hobby. And honestly, there's a ton of great watches in that price range, there's not even a huge need to go much higher unless you start getting more interested in collecting.
Just the Watch
It’s also the way that we justify our decisions to spend more and more on watches that are less accurate than a $10 Casio. ;) lol
@lolroflkartoffel123
Not necessarily,
Firstly never buy on a loan, that is just sad and pathetic.
servicing (without them actually doing anything can cost you more than some decent entry level Swiss watches and repairing/replacing parts can often only be done by certified dealers/in the headquaters as nobody else can even get the necessary parts) I know exactly how much it can cost as I needed to have a mainspring replaced.....
Secondly some people can simply appreciate horology and quality, not only branding and prestige. Some don't need a brand to feel good about a watch, they simply enjoy it and it is mostly irrelevant and only matters as some brands stand for good quality (don't confuse that with luxury).
As rolex ist the most faked Brand of all the question "is is a real Rolex" is asked all the time and they don't tend to believe you anyways unless you are rich/50 years old, which let's face it isn't the case for most people who have to think about getting a freaking loan to buy a watch.
Real watch enthusiast I know own several fun watches while having other watches, each watch worth more than 10 times the price of their fun watch collection....and now guess which ones get the Most wrist presence.....nobody likes watch snobbery. It's about the Hobby/feeling not the resell price/Stock market
They're only watches bro, not bombs.
@@gickojerke1262 Buying on a loan is sad and pathetic? What was that you were saying about snobbery?
I’m into watches for last 4-5 years when I started college. Honestly its the best video I’ve ever seen regarding watch collecting. Best perspective. Thumbs up immediate ❤️
Writing from Bangladesh where $200 is a lot of money for a watch. As a regular guy and a watch lover, couldn’t agree more
Price is subjective. I love my citizen eco drives and I have a recent one.. a blue eco-drive AR on a rubber bracelet and I love it.. dial is beautiful and all I want to do is put on a NATO bracelet.. I do have some seiko 5's and even a swatch.. of course a g-shock and an F91w like all collectors need.. saying that I think build a collection to match what you wear and find something you enjoy and like aesthetically.. a rolex does not tell time better than a timex
It just tells the time for longer
the best watch is one you like . i dont understand someone telling me this is what you need to have or like . this channel and "just one more watch" are great channels
This is great video that brings up a very good point. I've owned a Rolex, Tudor, and a few other, "high end" watches but I am currently rocking Vostok, Casio and Traska micro brand watches that I absolutely LOVE! I have a great time with them, they are fun, tough, durable and if I lose one or break it... I'll go buy another one! Low stress and a lot of fun!
Nice video. There is a thin line between affordable and cheap. I think as long as you're collecting affordable watches with some history / heritage behind them, then you're most likely not going to regret it, once you can afford the more expensive ones. Imagine being stuck with a box of Daniel Wellingtons, and then finding out after you've wasted all your money 😆 I have a Seiko 5 which I absolutely love and will never sell, no matter how big my budget gets, so as long as you love what you buy and you enjoy this hobby, that's all that matters.
Who wastes more money, the guy who bought 3 daniel wellingtons for 600 and sells them on ebay for $100 5 years later? Or the guy who buys a $4000 omega speedmaster triple and sells it (to me) for $1200 8 years later?
@@casualsuede What speedmaster is that cheap? I'll buy them all
I think you'll find that most real people would agree with you that an affordable collection is fun, flexible, versatile, and a smart way to go. I've recently gotten back into watches after not wearing one for a decade because my pseudo-luxury Seiko Kinetic stopped running - yes. the dreaded capacitor issue. So about a year ago I started a collection with the goal of not spending more than $100 on any watch. I am amazed at how many bold and dressy styles are available for affordable prices. With half a dozen purchases in the year, I've got a very nice little collection and don't really worry if any one time piece fails. It can be replaced, if it requires anything more than a battery. Rummaging through the junk drawers I've also found some of my childhood watches and they are now also proudly displayed in the watch box as nostalgia.
As a now "Rolex-owner" (read-bait) let me tell you my story about my journey into watches and how I started with affordable watches.
I started out 5 years ago getting into watches, first watch I bought was a $500 Tissot Mechanical (Automatic) and I loved it.. for about 2 days.. Ended up returning it as I couldn't connect with it and felt it was overpriced for what it was. I tried maybe 10-15 different brands and models, mostly automatic watches between $150 > $400. Today I have exactly 1 of those left in my collection > The Seiko SKX013 (Small wrist).
There is no doubt that the Seiko SKX is the BEST value for money you can possibly get in a watch. It just FEELS like quality. Sure the movement is basic and you can't even manual wind it. BUT! it's dive-proof, it has a rotating bezel (that is solid and doesn't feel cheap to turn - feels better than an Omega Seamaster), it has GREAT lume (as good as a Rolex Sub) and a Day+Date display. This is my holiday/water-activity watch and I absolutely love putting this on my wrist when splashing around in water. Diving down and seeing the lume light up under water. It's FANTASTIC.
Next to that I purchased myself a Rolex Oyster Perpetual because I really wanted to celebrate a time in my life with a special watch that I could keep for the rest of my life, and yes of course, also for the status because 'it's a rolex'. It's what you consider an Entry-level Rolex at around $5k but it ticked all the boxes for what I wanted in terms of size and look. I didn't want polished mid-links, I didn't want a date and didn't want something too big. IMO It's the PERFECT watch that you fits any occasion. You can wear it with a suit, you can wear at casually, you could even swim with it (Water resistance rating at 100m) and most importantly when I look at this watch I know the special reason why I bought it (celebrating a milestone in my life).
Now the OP isn't going to make me any money by selling it (unlike other sportsmodel from rolex that go up in price), but it will probably keep it's value close to what I paid. I was considerate of this when selecting the dial (black sunburst) colour, just because I don't like purposely spending money on something that isn't "worth it". How do you define the value of something? Well in my opinion it's by looking at the 2nd hand market.
I lost around 50% of the purchase cost on all my "affordable watches" I tried when starting out, because no one wants to buy a used watch (from non-high-end brands) close to retail. If we say 13 watches at around $250 each that's a $1625 loss.. :O Was it worth it for me? Yes and no. It allowed me to try and wear a bunch of different designs to really figure out what I wanted in a watch. Would I recommend people to get an "affordable watch collection"? No, definitely not. Because in the end, you have purchased something that doesn't hold it's value and financially that can never be recommended. Watches are certainly an emotional investment, but I can't help to also see it from a financial standpoint. If you're scarce with money, then I wouldn't recommend getting into a "collection" in the first place. Buy a single watch that ticks most boxes (waterproof, can be worn as a dresser, daily, etc.) and just enjoy that.
Now I have what I believe is my perfect collection of just 2 pieces. The OP works as a dresswatch, even if it's on a steel bracelet. Ideally I would want to have a "proper" dresswatch at some time and I will most likely purchase a Lange & Söhne to take care of that. But that again will be at a special time in my life (When I get married or have a baby) and that will be a box queen only to be worn on special occassions.
2-piece collection - out.
This.
Makes sense!
get a nice strap to switch out on your OP, dress watch problem solved
I'm with you on the 'affordable collection' but I'd say 3 watch collection.1 Steel sports (Rolex?), 2 18k gold dress watch with some complications (JLC), 3 Something cool (Spring drive?)
I own a G Shock that cost a fraction of that, it's tough, requires almost no maintenance has tons of features. I suppose it depends on what you want from a watch. As an antisocial type who needs something that can be whacked against boulders and dragged through mud it's perfect. Probably would look out of place in a boardroom or in high social circles though.
A Citizen Nighthawk is one of my favorite watches. My son gifted it to me 15 years ago. The capacitor died so it started doing the two second jerk. I decided to change it myself. It is as easy as changing any quartz battery. At the same time I replaced the scratched mineral crystal with double domed AR coated sapphire crystal. Changes the appearance of the watch entirely. I enjoy your channel.
My main concern that I don’t hear talked about is if you don’t live in the best part of town if you should even bother getting into collecting watches that are a constant risk just to wear out and about.
I think buying and wearing a good amount of different watches in different sizes and styles is essential to figuring out what you really like to wear. You have to live with something on your wrist to know if that style/size/color of watch really resonates with you. The visual appeal of a watch and whether that watch works on your wrist are two very different things. Personally, I think you can have the best of both worlds...Build a reasonable collection of affordable watches, and that will point you toward your grail. Once that vision is clear, I say save up and go for it. I'm going through this process now, but I can tell you the grail for me is a Cartier Tank Louis (I feel lucky because it is barely 5 figures)...But no matter what watches the future may bring, I'll always love and appreciate my good ole Timex Marlin, and the Tank doesn't diminish that at all. There are great watches at every price level. Just like guitars, a cheapy Danelectro can have a magic a high end custom American made Gibson could never have, and the converse is also true. One doesn't take away from the other in my view. Great video.
Deminishing return and cost per wear, is a factor on soo many levels.
Understatement is the best statement 😀
The watches you actually wear and take care of is the best watch.
Agreed.
Cost per wear is why I jumped into the luxury pool.
I still enjoy my old Seikos, new Tissots, and new Lunar Pilot.
Agree with you
Totally valid points. Makes perfect sense, but some times there’s emotions attached to these expensive pieces, and that’s the appeal. Collecting affordable pieces is more fun btw👌🏽
totally agree. I get bored quickly wearing the same watch. always like to change things around and modify watches. it's a hobby for me, not an investment project.
Separated at birth we were, Elton!
I love this channel so much! I am dude who loves watches,but with true spirit and not just to say that i own some silly "10000£" watch,like many people love to do...So,i really feel like...at home on this channel.Thank you for that! ☺️❤️
Interesting video. As an owner on two luxury watches (seamaster and tudor Pelagos) I also own two g shocks, a cheap seiko automatic pilots and an old citizen dress watch. I think the term affordable is a very subjective matter which is solely dependant on the collector... all watches are great and a very personal thin especially for men who tend not to have a jewellery collection.
As one of my family members once said to me, "you can also tell what kind of a man you are by the shoes on his feet and the watch on his wrist".
Thanks again for an interesting video 👍
I have 32 watches in my collection. Mostly higher end watches, but also Swatches for fun and a $60 Seiko 5 that I probably wear the most. Don't have to worry about it.
Great vid. I guess I really haven't thought of myself as having a collection, but I do have over a dozen nice watches and a mini vintage Citizen collection (80's autos).
I picked watches based on 1) Category ; diver, pilot, chrono, etc. 2) Affordability; I've never spent more than $275 on any watch and 3) Uniqueness; Does it have a look or a function that isn't duplicated by my other watches.
That said, I haven't bought a watch in 6 months, so I'm at the stage of, 'to get one, I have to sell one'.
Finally a, realistic collection for someone like me :]
In this exact predicament of trying to decide if I want to invest heavily in one big piece instead of my small collection. . Thank you for posting this, it really helped to hear your insight.
It is a bit of an obsession really. I have a collection of very expensive watches, and a collection of affordable watches many of which I have purchased after being inspired by your videos. I wear them all proudly in sort of a random rotation. I enjoy the beauty and precision of watches of all kinds. Keep up the good work you do here on the channel.
Hi Dave, i totally agree with you. For me having a one expensive timepiece collection is boring. Yes it is nice to have one good time piece, but its even better to have an affordable watch collection together with your expensive timepiece. Thank you for sharing your watch collection. I would naver have learned about these brands if it wasn’t for you. Thanks again. Continue making these videos for regular income guys like me who want to have an affordable watch collection
Dude, you’re a cool humble guy. Thanks for the inspiration 👍🏽
Hi Dave, can I ask what make is your watch box, it looks like one I have seen on Amazon?
Enjoyed the video, Dave. You make some good points. I'm enjoying trying out different pieces and wearing a different watch each day. As much as I'd love some higher end pieces I think I'd really miss the variety. Most of my favorite watches are more mid-range anyway strangely enough.
There's just so many great watches under $1,000, which makes it even harder for me to see the reasoning in buying a luxury piece on my income. That and I'm terrified of getting featured on the @prophetnwatches Instagram feed.
I agree with every point you made. I have one watch, a Hamilton which I just had to have, that cost over £500. I have Sekonda, Rotary, Tissot, Seiko, Orient, Vostok, Raketa, Raymond Weil, Bulova, Christopher Ward, T W Steel and Casio in my collection. All varieties Chronograph, Dive, Field, Dress, brand new, pre-owned, Mechanical, Automatic and quartz. I vary my look every day and I vary my watch as well. It works for me.
Thanks man. I just start my enthusiast in watch, and start collecting several budget watch that I like. As I am now entering into "watch world", I have been watching a lot of watch enthusiasts/experts in youtube, but somehow I dont feel really connected. As if it is totally different world from mine. Watching this video, I feel like, finally, a watch enthusiast has the same feeling and understand about the way of thinking of 99.99% people. And therefore, now I am subscribing you, and you are the only watch enthusiast channel that I subscribe.
My low priced collection has depended to a large part on heavily discounted discontinued models or big sales. Also, although I have 2 automatic watches (one somewhat expensive) I kind of prefer the quartz watches that I own. Especially the ones with the screw backs so I can easily change the batteries myself. I agree with all he is saying, even though his collection is far and away more impressive than mine!
It’s great to hear the mindset of a 2 year collector, wait till you get to 10 years! You’ll look back and laugh.
Nothing wrong with affordable watches ( I have many ) but you’ve just begun down the rabbit hole.
Cheers
It's a process that we all go through.
That was my thought as well while I was watching this, this is the right way to start.figure out what you like, what’s your ideal size and complications but after collecting for over a decade you will start to really notice the difference at each price threshold. It’s a slippery slope
I built a collection of affordable watches over the years and it taught me that I preferred the more luxury items and at that point needed to liquidate a bunch of relatively worthless watches mostly giving them away. I'd prefer to periodically add a nice luxury watch and build a collection that way which is what I have now.
Yer... 10 £200 watches are £2000 of poor investment unless you're never going to sell them and be happy with your costume jewelry collection.
@@arbiterofreason2068 I can give you a reverse example and your argument is not valid because you think people will spend the same amount of money, but for many people, they will buy a small collection of 5 watches for $750 rather than spend buying watches until they hit the price of a $2000 watch.
Anyway, People say fashion watches are a waste of money. If I bought a vincero watch, I would have wasted $120 after 5 years because their $150 is only worth $30 on ebay. Oh no!
However recently I bought an omega speedmaster triple for $1200, which cost $3000. This 8 year old watch was in great condition,but whoever bought this wasted $2400 in depreciation.
So who got a bigger burn, the guy who bought a vincero or the guy who bought the omega?
I have done it before you said it was OK to do it.
Sea-gull 1963 column wheel chronograph.
Sea-gull Ocean Star diver.
Rodina R005 bauhaus
Sea-gull flying wheel day date
Parnis 44mm flieger with the Seagull st36 handwind movement.
Total cost £750
I just bought an W-217H (Big brother of F91) and instantly becomes my go-to watch. I feel good everytime im wearing it.
I think your theory makes perfect sense, however to each his own. Watch collecting can be for numerous reasons depending on the person and their motives.
I can relate. In 2019 I started to having interest in watch collection. For starter , this year (2020) I bought my first watch. It’s a casio and it is worth USD 15$.
John Tround that’s how it all starts. Now you’re in trouble!
Chris Con I hope not. Hahhahahaha
$15 becomes $50 turns into $100 then $250 and $500. I remember when $50 seemed like an expensive watch. I’m pushing the $1000 mark now and I hope it doesn’t go up. It’s easy to justify the next purchase if you can afford it. I wear mostly automatics now and most are around $2-300. That’s a good range for new/used pieces.
Tony Parrott Noted. Thanks
Someone told me a long time ago, "collect things that you enjoy and appreciate." Watches, Knives, sneakers, are only worth what they are worth to you. Collecting something valuable, is fleeting, because value is different to different people.
Exactly the 3 things I collect watches, knives and sneakers 👍🏼
@@jondalarpv2029 Me Too. I like them, so they have value. :)
Hello. Nice content. I love your collection
One question about your bulova. Which strap and are you using? I really liked the color
Just discovered your channel and it's awesome! I am just starting out and don't have much money for a watch and my tastes keep changing so it's been great to see someone who talks about affordable watches. I am a little behind on discovering your channel but thanks for doing this!
I`m a watchcollector myself, well not a collector per se, but with a strong interest in watches. My budget for watches lies around 2 to 4k every 6 months.So I feel, I`m at mid - tier. I was drawn to the hobby by getting fixed on a status symbol for others, so I wanted to raise among my peers and show off, what I`ve achieved in my life. The years following, I worked my ass off and gained some kind of success. I`m a seniormanager with a decent income. For around 350 people, I`m the source of security, leadership and culture and my wife and daughter are happy that I`m the head of the family. So my longing for social status shifted as I achieved real progress. In fact, I was thinking about buying myself a watch this christmas and I was in front of the jewelers window. I could take right at that second a Breitling Navitimer or Colt or any Omega around the 10k mark. I was standing in front of the window for some minutes and a whole film went down my imagination. I could buy anything luxury, but I went with a Seiko Astron in the end and do you wanna know why? Because they flipped the middle finger towards the Swiss in the late 60s and I thought the same in that particular moment: I flipped the finger to consumerism and the "approval of others". I`m Flo Brantner and like you, I go my own way and buy, what I find beautiful and has meaning to me. I admire your independence and be sure, there are more like us, than these, who are looking down on us.
Real world. I enjoy watches. Enjoy learning more about them and my requirements. As I go a long. I have many. None are high end. But they all are to me. None of mine need a safe. They just need my wrist.
I bought 4 affordable watches before buying my first luxury watch. definitely my taste have changed but I've limited my self to buy 1 watch per year so i have the time to research and save up money rather than buying with an impulse buy. currently i wear only two watches from my collection
Fouad AL-Hatlan great point
Fouad AL-Hatlan A very sensible decision indeed!
All valid real life points, can’t argue with that. You’ve made me feel much better about my collection
I agree with u. I've just started collecting watches and spent $440 on four different watches and really have fun buying, reparing and wearing them.
Wow,you showed a Timex my friend,you are my kind of guy 👌 now I subscribed 🙏🤙✌️🇺🇸
Yes, I love different design watches. It's a ton of fun for me. Cheap vs affordable? well my rule of thumb is this. should the watch I buy run well and last 10-15 years if I wore it every day?
A 10 usd watch probably will not, I have found that the tipping point is about 70-100 usd. A ton of watches fall right in that range. Most watches with a nh35 will do this, in fact a lot of newer sea-gull movements can get that far. BUT remember that if you have a 10 watch set, all in this range you will be on a rotation and NOW just how long will these watches last?
I find it funny that if you ask someone if they buy a set of affordable watches they go nuts insisting that its all a waist of money. just buy a rolex and be done with it< but the exact people that say all this admit to owning a few beater watches as if saying its a beater watch is better than an affordable watch. What is wrong with owning a set of affordable watches and if I end up buying a rolex one day due to a windfall, does anybody think I am going to ware my rolex when I go to work in the company coal mine or the construction job site? NO I will ware a beater ( affordable watch) Now if I am so rich that I dont work at all, I read the stock market everyday to see how many more rolex watches I can buy today, more power to me.
I'm pretty confident most of the F91Ws from the early 2000s are still very much alive. If they haven't been blown up at least.
Thank you for this a thoughtful and interesting discussion. I too prefer a collection but I am interested in luxury watches as well. I wouldn't sell everything for one watch. :)
You have a very sound and no-nonsense way of dealing with and presenting watches. That's why I appreciate your videos. Personally, I don't need decadent over-priced bling even if I can allow myself to buy it. Good design, quality, functionality and, why not, some charming quirkyness mustn't necessarily be expensive. You do a great job. Take care.
I just subscribed to your channel for all these reasons, I can enjoy the fun of budget quality watches without feeling cheap.