Watch collecting can be addictive, but at what point do you say, “That’s enough”? We explore the argument for a smaller watch collection.
Watch collecting is a great hobby. And like many of us in the hobby, you may have been collecting watches now for some time, or you could just be starting and getting into watches. If it is the former, then commiserations, we’re happy to have you. If it’s the latter, then welcome, and you’d better hold on, it is both a rewarding and frustrating pursuit with many rabbit holes to go down. But we love it nonetheless.
Like all collecting hobbies, this usually means amassing items of said collection, and watches are no different. One turns to two watches, then four, then ten, then…you get the gist. I know plenty of collectors who have large collections, some in the hundreds of pieces, and a few with collections of a thousand plus. And this got me thinking. How many watches are too many?
A Collector’s Dilemma
Another way of wording this section’s heading would be “First-World Problems”, but watch collecting as a whole is just that. With any first-world problems, usually, we’ve only ourselves to blame, as we’re the ones who cause the problems for ourselves. If you complain you have too many watches, then sorry, I’m not going to feel sorry for you. However, I’m happy for you that you are in the fortunate situation to be able to enjoy the hobby to its fullest.
But this is exactly the situation that many fellow watch lovers and collectors find themselves in. Years of hard work and dedication have led to large collections, and this is to be applauded. Or is it? Does having an extensive collection make you happy, or could there be an argument for smaller, more manageable collections? Is it better to have 100 watches of all types, or a handful you really connect with?
Talking to many collectors over the years, as well as watch lovers and enthusiasts, I find there is mixed sentiment on this topic. I’ve not taken a poll and tabulated the responses, but I would hazard a guess that it is probably about 50/50 on whether or not to expand the collection or reduce. Ok, maybe it’s 60/40, but who’s counting?
While there are pros and cons for both sides of the argument, I wanted to focus on the side that advocates for a smaller watch collection, mainly as this is where my thoughts are, and have been for a while. One question I get asked without fail when talking to someone new and telling them what I do for a living is, “How many watches do you have?” My answer is always, “Just a handful”. One, because it’s the easy answer without being too specific, but also, because it is also 100% true.
Bigger Isn’t Better
Now, while I currently have a handful of watches in my current lineup, I have had PLENTY of watches over the years, and I’ve lost count of all the pieces I’ve owned. However, the one thing I’ve kept consistent is that I’ve kept a smaller watch collection on rotation at any given time. Why? Because I like to wear all my watches regularly. That, and I don’t have an exhaustive well of funds at my disposal, and also, my tastes have changed over the years. Which brings me to the argument for a smaller collection and why to have one.
Some collectors have rules, such as one in, one out. Others will look at the collection size and not go over a certain number, and others may work towards how many spaces there are in their watch box. No matter what the rationale is, there are many reasons, rational or irrational, for people to have a smaller watch collection.
Obviously, budget and income also factor into this as well. If you are fortunate enough to have a high disposable income, have been left a large sum of money, or managed to pick the winning lotto numbers, then this may not apply to you. If so, congrats! But if you’re a mere mortal, then chances are this is something that you will need to consider. After all, watch collecting can be expensive once you get into certain brands, metals and complications.
These are all arguments and topics that I wanted to explore here, making a case for a smaller watch collection versus a large one. So first, let us start with some common scenarios that can lead to downsizing to a smaller watch collection.
The One In, One Out Rule
This one is fairly straightforward. You buy a new watch, you sell an old one. It seems fairly simple. It is one way to ensure that your collection stays within a certain size. It also means that you keep within a budget as the outgoing watch either fully or partly funds the incoming one.
I know a lot of collectors who adhere to this rule, no matter what. By having a one-in, one-out rule, it forces you to really examine your collection and be very honest about what you want in the current lineup, and what you don’t. This is also a great way of refreshing your collection over the years as your tastes change. It allows you to “spring clean” the rotation and add in pieces that you connect with more now than the pieces you perhaps did two, three, four or five years ago.
The one downside is that it could mean that you end up losing a piece that you regret letting go of in the future. I know I’ve been there. Deciding to let a piece go in place of another, only to think back 12 months later and feel that pang of regret – “I wish I hadn’t”. However, this is where being brutally honest about your collection comes in handy, and if it is the best course of action for you.
The Storage Space Conundrum
This is similar to the above. It may not be one-in, one-out, but you may only have limited storage space for your watch collection. It could be a multi-watch winder, it could be a 10-piece watch box, or it could just be old socks in a drawer. The last one, I don’t advocate you do, but some do. Each to their own.
This reason for a smaller collection makes sense to me. Not all of us can have a massive storage space for a lot of watches. So the space we do have matters, as we don’t want to leave our precious timepieces lying about the house randomly.
One benefit is that if you use a watch box to store your pieces in, normally these are portable, and it means you can travel with them. Close the lid, lock the box, and away you go. Alternatively, it can create a nice way of displaying your watch when at home on your set of drawers, nightstand or wherever it chooses to live. Either way, you know if there are, say, 10 spaces, then you probably have those 10 spaces filled, and one on the wrist.
Being Budget Conscious
Obviously, budget is a big factor for many people. Very few watch collectors I know can keep buying endlessly without hesitation. For most, there are budget limitations on what and how many watches they can buy. For some, it may be one good piece each year, and for others, it could be several lower-priced or mid-level pieces. For some, it is based on special occasions, attaching meaning to each watch bought.
The caveat here is, budget is subjective to each person. What is budget-friendly to you may not be to me, and vice versa. Some people think A$1,000 is expensive for them and at their upper limit, whereas others will and can quite happily dedicate A$50,000 to a piece without hesitation. But the reality remains, normally there is a budget to adhere to – even if it is imposed by your significant other!
Being budget-conscious doesn’t mean you’re tight either. It just means you need to be a little more focused in your collecting. Does watch A fill a need that watch B doesn’t? Is there a substitute for a more expensive piece that allows you to obtain it, and maybe another that ticks a desired box? Or maybe, do you really need a new one in the first place? Ok, that’s silly talk, of course you do! You get my meaning here, though.
But Why Would I Want Less Watches?
A good question, and one that seems nutty to the watch collector. But, there are a few reasons, hear me out. In a nutshell, I break the “Why” down into three areas. There are probably more, but I feel these are maybe the most pertinent. These are: Emotional connection, the paradox of choice, and reducing the chase of novelty over connection and substance. Let’s unpack these.
Emotional Connection
The first, and maybe most important, is connection. We collect what we love, and we love what we connect to. Watches these days are more about the emotional connection with the watch and the brand, than it is about the specs and ability to tell the time. Yes, you want a watch that is functional and has certain functional aspects, but the reason you chose a specific watch over a similar one is the connection you have with it.
Having fewer watches allows you to connect to the watch in a deeper way, wear it more and create more memories with it. I find these days, the pieces I wear now remind me of past events with friends and family, especially when I look back at photos with the watch on. On the reverse of that, I have watches in mind to wear when I go on holidays, or do something meaningful or memorable.
Expanding on this, I do look at watches that I want to buy, but I run the filter in my head – what can I imagine myself doing with this watch on? Will it work if I’m travelling for work or vacation? How will it make me feel on my wrist while watching my daughter’s dance recital? Will it look the part out to dinner with my wife? All these things are emotional, and all help me connect with my watches, which is much easier when I don’t have more than a few to choose from. Which brings me to my next point – Choice.
The Paradox of Choice
The paradox of choice is real. As humans, we can only properly decipher a certain amount of information at a time. When it comes to choosing, the more choices, the harder it is to choose. From my earlier brand strategy days, from memory, the magic number is around 5-7. Any less and we feel we don’t have much of a choice, any more and we struggle. This is why a good restaurant normally only has 5-7 dishes of any course. The same can be said about a watch collection.
Looking at a smaller number means it is easier to pick and choose each day. Obviously, this will be different if you have selected watches in your collection for very specific occasions, such as a nice dress watch for when you go formal, a dive watch for the beach, a weekend warrior for out and about. If this is the case, you probably only have a couple of each to choose from in each category at most, making the choice easier.
With this, combined with one of the downsizing rules I mentioned above, it means that you may have an easier time deciding on what your next watch purchase is as well. Or, if you subscribe to the Go Anywhere, Do Anything (GADA) watch, you may solve many issues!
Looking at the emotional connection, and perhaps the one-in, one-out rule, you can be sure you’re not buying for the sake of it. Which brings me to my last point. Chasing the novelty of a new watch, or a hype watch, over the emotional connection.
Chasing Novelty vs Connection
We all fall into this trap. You get a little bored with your current watches, and you inevitably start looking at new watches. You spend hours scrolling through the social forums, looking at hashtags on Instagram to see wrist shots of the next watch you want to get, and then doing the financial calculations on the affordability of it, which you start to rationalise in your head. Sound familiar?
This is the mind wanting new stimulation, and for the watch lover, the next dopamine hit is the thrill of the chase and the eventual satisfaction of buying the watch in question. But the euphoria subsides quickly if you are looking at a new watch for the sake of it. It never seems to fill the void. This then becomes a perpetual cycle – around and around it goes.
Alternatively, there is chasing the hype. Those watches that everyone “loves” and are hyped up are worth more second hand than at retail, and you just have to have. But again, this is the human psychology at play here. We always want what we can’t have and desire what is rare and exclusive. And if you fall victim to this, I know I have from time to time, you end up chasing dreams that may never come true, or may cost you an arm and a leg.
But chasing the hype or the novelty always seems bittersweet in the end. You finally got that in-demand watch, or the watch you’ve been lusting over for ages, but it seems like a hollow victory as you have been chasing it for the wrong reasons, which is why I refer to my previous points on the emotional connection. Chase this, not the novelty or the hype. This is made easier if you limit yourself to how many in your collection at any given time, which brings me full circle to the argument for a smaller collection.
Some Final Thoughts
I have advocated for a smaller collection for some time. At first, it was just a way to make myself feel better about not having an exhaustive collection, a way to rationalise my budget restraints in my head in my younger days. But as I’ve grown as a watch lover, collector, and now as part of the industry, I’ve come to appreciate the reasons for a smaller collection, and in turn, my small collection.
All the above reasons in some way, shape or form apply to me. I like being able to form a connection with a watch over time and look back at photos of the watch, or with the watch in it, then looking at my wrist, it brings me right back to that moment.
I love that I have the ability to wear each piece at least once a week in rotation with others. Now, some may not get equal wrist time, but that’s ok as I still try to appreciate each when they do. My Panerai 312 is an example of this. I don’t wear it as much these days due to the size, but I still love it and try to put it on at least once a week. It is normally a watch I wear on the weekend when out and about with the kids.
Having a smaller collection also means fewer choices. I’m not umming and ahing each day – I can just pick up one and know I’ll be happy wearing it, and I’ll enjoy it as much as the next watch. The same goes for when I’m travelling for work – I just take one of two watches depending on the occasion, and when I’m going on holiday, then the same thing applies. Just a couple that I can wear each day and night, no matter what adventures we get up to.
The other upside is the storage. I don’t need a large area to store them in. This makes it more accessible to enjoy them each day. On top of that, my insurance premiums are not through the roof either, as I can comfortably insure each one at home and when travelling.
And lastly, it does force me to be ultra-selective on what I buy. In my world, we are always getting watches for reviews, so I have the benefit of being able to sample a lot of watches across the year, and then see and handle hundreds at Watches & Wonders and then again at Geneva Watch Days, so this keeps my appetite in check. But it also means that I have the “paradox of choice” issue, so choosing what I buy is that much harder. So I need to be laser-focused on what I really like.
There are obviously arguments for large collections as well, and this is something that we may tackle in another article. For now, I’m advocating for less is more, but as always, feel free to leave a comment below!