My 12 months in Watches: Defining “Cheap Watch Collector”

My distinctive thought as soon as I used to be requested to contribute to this sequence was to focus on my favorite watch acquisitions of the yr, make clear why they’re noteworthy, and describe my thought course of behind shopping for or shopping for and promoting for each. Whereas I was writing about my Frequent Geneve Ref. 842116 Tank and Seiko 6139-6002 Pogue, I couldn’t help nonetheless uncover how far my assortment has come over the past yr or so. As a result of the purchase of my first wristwatch in 2012, it’s on a regular basis been my goal to cultivate watch packing containers full of every timeless classics and unusual oddities. Having a look at my assortment as this yr concludes, I’m proud to say I’ve certainly not modified this philosophy. It was with this realization that my plans for this textual content began to transform proper right into a dialog about watch accumulating id. Whereas 2024 has been pretty the worthwhile yr for my assortment and I, it’s moreover the yr that I went from being a cheap watch collector to being …a cheap watch collector.

You see, the watch accumulating ardour is stuffed with subjective terminology. Phrases and phrases like “unusual,” “new outdated stock,” “like-new outdated stock,” “budget-friendly,” and naturally “cheap” frequently see utilization on on-line public sale platforms, social media, boards, and commercials. Whereas these are generally used as buzzwords for sellers wanting their undergo be boosted in search algorithms or by collectors desperate to flaunt their new purchase, I’ve on a regular basis been fascinated by how pliable a time interval like “cheap” actually is. What for one collector is also an inexpensive wristwatch is also one different’s “grail,” but yet another subjective phrase used inside the watch group.

As soon as I first began accumulating, I owned three Timexes. Being in grade college with no job meant it was laborious to develop my assortment anyplace earlier these three gadgets, and it may be years until I’d purchase a watch that hadn’t been sourced via a thrift or classic retailer, flea market, or yard sale. All by way of highschool and undergrad, I began looking for more and more extra watches, all often acquired for $150 or a lot much less. Whereas I’d uncover the occasional screaming deal and purchase a sit up for successfully beneath its value, my assortment contained primarily watches made by Timex, Casio, Seiko, and completely different cheap gadgets. I was extraordinarily appreciative of every watch I owned regardless of the ticket related. The efficiency provided by these largely digital gadgets was laborious to beat, nonetheless I knew there was a plethora of watches in the marketplace that merely weren’t attainable for me and my funds in the intervening time.

For a lot of who don’t know, I’m at current a full-time graduate scholar. This largely means three points: my schedule is frequently shifting, the amount of sleep I get each evening time is minimal, and––most related to our dialogue proper right here––I’ve merely enough money in my checking account to afford a McDonald’s Massive Mac meal (small-sized, sadly). Even and never utilizing a daily income, I’ve amassed a set of things I certainly not thought I’d have the flexibility to private. From my Seiko 6139 chronographs to my T-case Accutron Spaceview, the watches I’ve obtained via provides and trades have helped my assortment evolve far previous the attainable (not lower than to me). It’s a rewarding experience to scroll via my Instagram net web page that I created in June of 2022 and check out the place my assortment was even two fast years previously. This was the yr when a lot of these “unobtainable” watches come what may grew to develop into obtainable to me––it’s one factor I am going to ceaselessly be grateful for.

Now, all this begs the question: am I nonetheless a cheap watch collector? To some, certain. To others, no. It’s all about perspective. Having my accumulating roots on the planet of Casio and Timex, I’ve watched my assortment broaden from watches value $5 to watches nonetheless value $5 and watches value over $1,000. Whereas there are a variety of Omegas and Frequent Geneves sprinkled via my assortment, you’ll not see any level out of an Audemars Piguet or Vacheron Constantin. I nonetheless get significantly further excited over the discharge of a model new Bulova than I do the announcement of a model new Rolex. I frequent thrift outlets and yard product sales means over I do accredited sellers and Heritage Auctions. Until the day I can afford not lower than the large-sized Massive Mac meal, I really feel my identification as a cheap watch collector is true right here to stay.