Random watch collecting thoughts...
... from building relationships to sharing perspectives and making connections.
I sometimes get snarky remarks about long essays, so this time it’s a short one. Happy, Chris? Anyway, if you’re reading this I have no doubt you will agree this hobby brings joy and frustration in a ratio which, over the years, is as volatile as a Bitcoin ETF. Since it has been a while since my last listicle, I figured it was time for another. Please don’t forget to add your own in the comments section, I’m sure others will appreciate that (as will I!).
Estimated reading time: ~8 minutes
Fundamentals
The state of your collection represents a direction, not a destination. How you collect and with whom you share the journey, will always matter more than what you own or used to own.
Never trade authenticity for attention; this will always be a fool’s errand. Being genuine about your collecting journey brings more lasting satisfaction than chasing external validation (on social media, or elsewhere).
It’s worth documenting your collecting journey. Take photos, write notes about major purchases, and somehow record the stories behind each watch. These memories (records) will become priceless over time.
Express your honest opinions about watches. If you can’t say what you mean, you can never truly mean what you say, right? Start by being honest with yourself; if you genuinely like something, admit it. You may not want to tell anyone at the beginning, but at least be honest with yourself to start… The rest might follow.
Relationships
Appreciate watch dealers and boutique staff who serve you well. A genuine “thank you” can strengthen relationships more than any purchase you make. When you speak to these people, treat them as human beings, not ‘marks’ to exploit. Yes, they are there to sell, and you may just be a number to them - but not all of them. When you find the good people, treat them with the respect they deserve.
All collecting disagreements are simply learning opportunities. Differing opinions about watches usually stem from different experiences and perspectives; stop trying to conclude with someone being ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ - these labels are stupid and honestly mean nothing. Listen to understand, rather than to respond.
Think long-term with watch (and all other!) relationships. Just frame it like this: “How would I interact with this person if I knew we would be forced to cross paths or deal with them exclusively for the next 20 years?”
Or, in short: don’t be a cvnt.