It's High Time You Stop Making These Common Watch Mistakes
No dude, Vacheron Constantin is not your "niche little watch brand"
So, you're into watches. The fine world of perpetual calendars, split seconds, and dive watches appeals to you. You're probably saving up for your first Rolex or scouring the internet for that F. P. Journe that has caught your eye. Wherever you are in your watch collecting journey, it's safe to say that it's an immensely fascinating rabbit hole. An even better one if you actually collect watches because you like them (if you're only doing it for investment, just why? The stock market is a better place for you).
The Most Common Mistakes Beginner Watch Collectors And Enthusiasts Make
Across the board, there are some rules, assumptions and general practices that you would do well to dispel from your mind once and for all. Some will save you face, others a whole wad of cash.
Research, Research, Research
Whether you’re a collector or saving up for your favourite timepiece, it’s never too little to learn more about your next buy. Know about your watch movement, its specifications and how to take care of it. Your dream watch might turn into a burden if, say, it turns out to be a self-winding watch, and you’re too much of a low-maintenance man to do it yourself.
Give Brands Their Due Respect
Many newer watch enthusiasts tend to make this mistake. Once they’re introduced to an IWC or a Richard Mille, they start looking down on a Rolex as being too accessible. That’s not the case (a Rolex is one of the most reliable and value-for-money luxury watches you can get out there), nor is a Lange Perpetual Calendar a groundbreaking watch just because they don’t have stores in India. Whether you like them or not, every brand has contributed something to watchmaking, and it’s best to respect that.
Service Costs Add Up
Forget mechanical ones; no watch is a one-time purchase. They need maintenance, and that maintenance can get expensive depending on the brand and kind of watch you have. There’s repair/replacements of parts, oiling, cleaning and whatnot involved. So if you’re saving up, the amount you need is the buying price, plus the amount spent on servicing it periodically.
Take Care Of Your Watch, Please!
Even a vintage Rolex that sells for millions got there because it was maintained well. Quartz or mechanical, every watch wears down. Clean your watch from time to time, wipe it after every use, and take it for servicing as and when needed.
The Investment Myth
Listen, most watches are more like cars than real estate. Most lose value as soon as you buy them. So buying on the hope that your timepiece will be your retirement plan a few years down the alley is a terrible financial move. If you do not actually enjoy wearing it, the ownership experience is practically pointless. Buy what you like. If it appreciates, that’s a nice bonus.
Higher Price Or More Complications Don’t Equal Better Watch
More expensive does not always mean better, and more complicated definitely does not mean more enjoyable. Complications add cost, servicing complexity, and often unnecessary bulk. Many seasoned collectors prefer simpler watches that execute one idea well. Chasing features for the sake of bragging rights only ends with you being tired, because no one wants to know how much your Patek costs.
The Movement Is Not Everything
Yes, movements matter. It’s great that you refer to watches by them. But no, they are not the end-all be-all of watches. The same base movements appear across different brands and price points. What separates watches is how everything comes together: case finishing, dial design, proportions, and wearability. A Datejust and a Submariner, for example, have the same movement, but they’re two completely different Rolex watches.
The Dress Watch Faux Pas
Yes, people are experimenting more with fashion, but a bulky sports watch has no place with formal wear. A slim, simple dress watch with a leather strap is all it takes for a tuxedo, and wearing your stone dial dress watch to your beach volleyball party is overkill.
Wearing Leather in the Heat
Leather straps and summer do not get along. Heat, sweat, and humidity wear them out faster and make them uncomfortable (not to forget the smell). Switch to NATO, rubber, or silicone straps as temperatures rise. Bonus point: swapping straps can completely refresh a watch you've grown bored with.