Everyone collects something: whether it’s cars, motorbikes, art, or Rick Owens clothes. Maybe even memories, or experiences.
For me, I collect watches.
Why watches? Watches are portable, and in Singapore / SEA / NYC, it can be a relatively popular hobby.
Collecting Watches Can Be Fun for Several Reasons
- Aesthetics: They look pretty cool.
- Thrill of the Hunt: Some watches are kind of difficult to get. For example, trying to get a Rolex Submariner at retail is pretty hard. You need a buy history with the sales team to get the desirable pieces (like stainless steel sports). One time, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a GMT BLNR 116710 in Macau for retail price. Unfortunately, I sold it too early 😭 before the price shot up.
- Diversifying Assets: Some watch brands tend to hold value quite well, e.g., Rolex, Patek Philippe. You could even make money on them if you hold them long enough. In contrast, cars tend to depreciate faster and require more maintenance (storage, upkeep). Mechanical watches are relatively reliable and low upkeep in comparison.
- Mechanical and Fun to Play With: Maybe it’s a guy thing. Like, guys like gears, tech, and stuff like that 🤣.
- Networking: You can go to fun watch events if you want. I went to a few of these in Singapore and even got to see some crazy watches like the Nautilus and a Zeitwerk Minute Repeater.
- Fun to Read About: Some of my favorite watch blogs are Hodinkee and ABTW.
- Portable: You can bring them around the world. You can’t bring your Porsche 911 to, e.g., Tokyo or London.
Some Cons of ⌚️ Hobby
- Security: Be careful with them. They can get dings and so on.
- Expense: Can be bad for your wallet (or neutral).
State of the Collection (SOTC) 2024
My collection has been pretty stable so far, comprising:
- Omega Swatch (fun)
- Apple Watch SE (for running, iPhone | Apple Fitness integration)
The collection used to be quite extensive, going up to 8-10 watches, but they’ve mostly been sold by now in favor of keeping it simple.
I don’t think there’s any one watch that can do it all; the closest would be the Apple watch, but sometimes it’s fun to wear a fancy watch for a fancy dinner 🍽️.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed reading about my watch hobby.
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