Bark and Jack Been collecting 23 years Adrian, so half my life, started with Tag Heuer, made it to all the major Swiss Brands & in the last few years became very interested in microbrands which I had purchased more than 300. I have also collected vintage watches, Dirty Dozen WWII watches, Swatches, Pocket Watches, Pocket Watch Conversions, Clocks & most things to do with horology including tools/equipment. Buy what you like & wear it. #KeepMovingForward
Founder Timless Capital when I go to watch meet ups it’s collections like yours that are the talking points. No one is interested in Rolex or over hyped nautiluses. It’s the interesting pieces that people want to see. 👍🏻
Bark and Jack thanks 🙏 Adrian, I think it important to share our thoughts with the #watchpeople in the #watchcommunity as you say it’s not all about Rolex or other Swiss Brands. You don’t even need a collection to be an enthusiast, many people that watch your channel are enthusiasts that start collecting after watching you, we all start some where. For me it’s about continuing the love & passion we both have for the next generation so they don’t all migrate to Smart Watches calling the watches we love Dumb Watches. Even if it is a fashion wash that the see as a watch that they want to wear to work or out on a Saturday night then migrate to a Rolex later in life when they start to earn a few bucks. What you do as a content creator is so important to keep this passion alive.
just bought your black leather strap for my $500 black hamilton khaki field. want an alternative to the nato to dress it up a bit. great content keep it up.
Oh no, I've been told because I own a Rolex and unforgivably have bought fake watches (not the Rolex, that's real) then the fact I have multiple watches from other manufacturers both huge and commercial to tiny and all but unknown is irrelevant and despite the fact I've bought and sold well into 6 figures in £ on watches and worn watches for over 50 years and been active on the scene since long before the internet even existed I'm not a "true watch enthusiast". 🙄
@@a97b18b some!? Haha. How about the majority of people. Ever thought why the more successful brands have motto's or why they spend millions in advertisement and endorsement? Too many plebs.
it’s funny, you show the hamilton in the thumbnail as a budget watch yet for me it’s the most expensive watch in my collection by almost double my second most expensive. Really shows the relativity of ‘budget’
Also shows the relativity of the brand hierarchy. If I saw someone wearing a Tag Heuer, I probably wouldn’t say anything to them, but if I saw someone wearing a Hamilton I’d go out of my way to see it up close and to talk to them about it. I think the only people who wear Hamilton are watch people, ESPECIALLY the manual-wound field watches. I love Hamilton 😁
Oh, and as for the budget thing… I don’t really think it’s all that relative, I just think quartz watches sort of distort what people think watches cost. A reliable mechanical movement is going to start around $300, and a reliable and accurate one (+/- 10 s/day) is going to go for around $3000. People see a Rolex and assume it’s a luxury item that’s completely unnecessary in terms of price, but I asked a machinist friend what he thought and he said “honestly they’re pretty appropriately priced, the precision and tolerances they have are ridiculous.”
@@Sk3tchPad bruh my $100 usd seiko gets like +/-5 seconds a day. I obviously would prefer to have a luxury watch but you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot to get a lot.
Too bad I cannot “double like” this video. Finally someone says it right. Thank you B&J for your honest, objective and truthful insight. For a watch enthusiast, the cost of the watch should be meaningless. Buy whatever you like and wear it on your wrist with pride. Whether a Timex, Rolex, Patek Phillipe, etc., this community should be about the passion and love for time pieces. C’mon
I think the more you spend, sometimes you enjoy less as worried about damaging, losing it etc. With my cheaper ones I don’t worry about it, and enjoy them.
So true! If you’re not esthetically attracted to a watch, you won’t enjoy it no matter what the price. I enjoy my Seikos, G-Shock, vintage TagHeuer, Hamilton’s just as I enjoy my Explorer2 and Datejust. There are so many great options at the affordable level. Advice to all: Shop with your heart and not your ego and you’ll enjoy your watches in the long run.
James Ackner Agree. I only have “ affordable “- Seiko, Orient, Bulova, Casio, Timex, Citizen. Find I prefer to wear the less expensive ones so as to preserve the condition of he more expensive. Have a friend who has 30 watches including a Sub, but doesn’t wear the Sub because he wants to keep it pristine!!
A, excellent discussion. Because of my personal accounts, I will never own any of the top tier watches and it seems unlikely that I will ever own a £1000 watch. Still, I have a modest collection of vintage Bulova watches that brings me great pleasure. The hunt for a specific watch becomes part of the fun when it finally goes on wrist. Any discussion on the question “why are you a watch enthusiast?” is always worthwhile. Thank you!
@Motor City Cobra Wise words. Some people spend more on over priced coffee with too much milk in than they do on watches. Consider a large Late is about £2.50. If you buy one of these a day ( many people do), that's £75 a month or £912 a year. On that basis you could buy a £3648 watch over four years Interest free credit and your adrenal glands would thank you for it too :)
Been collecting 23 years Adrian, so half my life, started with Tag Heuer, made it to all the major Swiss Brands & in the last few years became very interested in microbrands which I had purchased more than 300. I have also collected vintage watches, Dirty Dozen WWII watches, Swatches, Pocket Watches, Pocket Watch Conversions, Clocks & most things to do with horology including tools/equipment. Buy what you like & wear it. #KeepMovingForward
Couple of years ago i finally got my dream Mercedes and after just one year i decided to sell it and go back to my regular everyday vw and subaru that i enjoy much better. Just because something is more expensive doesn't mean you gonna it love it that much more. Similar to watches.
I find it quite bemusing, considering how much attention Rolex gets. In my experience, I never found them to be as rare as people often present them to be and quite frankly; pinned against the likes of Grand Seiko, JLC, A. Lange & Sohne, and even Glashutte Original; the AP and Rolex owners are really becoming closer to the likes of "Supreme" hypebeast collectors. Just my humble opinion, Rolex never struck me as a brand that screams wealth.
@@barfymann362 to me, Rolex does not scream wealth, but it says nice watch, not the perfect watch, I don't get why people hate them except the aftermarket price, 12k for the daytona is not the worst deal, but people hyping it up and get it hated is really annoying
Working in retail I can see thousands of people in a week,I like to change my watches around to try and give time to each one because it makes me happy! The point is if I have had one person say nice watch to me it's very very rare so if it's a Rolex or a Casio no one cares but me.. There are no pyramids in my world...
Yeah me too. I now have a six mechanical pieces collection at the moment and my speedmaster alone already pumps up the service costs. I have a cool swatch coming in the mail... and i think my 8th and final exit grail watch will be a grand seiko 9f quartz to keep the service costs of my entire collection at a minimum
I've owned Rolex and omega, but now I'm looking for a EDC and have decided on the Seiko sarb 035. It's a great watch for the price and I will ware it with pride.
I own an 116610 2019 Sub, bought because I love the heritage, and a 2000 Omega Seamaster, my first proper watch bought because of 007...my last purchase? The Timex Q, love that thing! I also like the Brew watches and will continue to buy if I like it!
Jason Kenny makes perfect sense - buy what you like, wear what you like! I was looking at the Tudor GMT recently, but ended up with a 1992 quartz TAG Heuer GMT that I am going to restore, and €3000 still in my bank account!
I love watches for different reasons. I love my Rolex I was lucky enough to buy myself, at the same time I love the watch that was my dad’s and I love the watch my mum bought me on my 21st birthday. Different watches with different memories.
thank you Adrian! please allow me to add: watch < USD 2k costs disproportionally in maintenance. holding many of those invites you to consolidate: a couple of great models per category as opposed to 5 will allow you greater models and cost you less in maintenance. E.g. drop all other chronos, go for the Speedy or El Primero + drop all divers and go for the Sub pre-owned, drop all dress and go for the Calatrava. Pick your dealer wisely in that transition to get waitlisted for the Daytona. That's your start, you can vary material and other features from there any. just maintain 3 (later more) watches as opposed to 15... the savings help finance your next steps.
Alpina Bulova Frederique Constant Orient Oris Seiko Timex Tissot Victorinox Sooo many good brands out there. This is just a few of alternatives to Breitling, Cartier, Omega, Patek and Rolex. I could go on and on with atleast 20 more names on the list. I really don't like the whole Watch Snob thing. Enjoy what you want. My favourite watch is actually a A158WEA-1EF Casio Vintage.
I've kind of mapped out what I hope my collection looks like in the future, and there are watches of every level of value in there, from g-shock and an skx to a speedmaster and a Lange Cabaret!
I'm a watch enthusiast since the 80's and used to work for a jewellery company selling budget to high end so had lots of watches to play with. In fact, i wanted a Rolex perpetual at £1,000, but couldn't never saved that money wages was low. To me it was the love of the history, quality,crafts person skill, brand and style . I had swatch,casio, seiko, tissot,etc, but I'm now in a position to afford high end, but will still buy what ever pleases me first.
Absolutely, I fell in love with watches' design, engineering quality, and stories behind it. I love my Rolex Explorer while aiming A. Lange as the grail. But so often I go back with my Seiko 5 & Alpinist as daily and have my eyes on a citizen eco-drive now.
Edwin Ty Like me. I have a Rolex explorer, but also just got an Promaster Eco Drive Diver - it’s the perfect swimming watch (no worries about doing thousands in damage, diver certified, solar, and always accurate when you pick it up) . I like Citizen a lot (was one of my first watches as a kid, always reliable and good quality).
Wearing my Alpinist now, odd reason I just love it. Have a Seamaster 300m latest version bought pre owned and less then two months old, ordered from a reliable AD a Speedmaster for $1800, Tim M. actually gave it good reviews. Didn't want a special edition or anything high end, maybe slightly larger but ok, didn't want to spend several thousand dollars. I have Longiness, Omega,Oris, Tissot, Seiko, Stowa, Junghans Zodiac (which I caught on sale and cheap) and still enjoy my Orients.
I agree to some extent. However, value is a feature for me. I went from collecting Rolex divers to now collecting Seiko divers because I prefer the style. But also because I find it strange that people are charging £10k for a stainless steel diving watch. The Rolex is in my opinion now too valuable for its intended purpose. To me, this is silly and turned me off the brand. Meanwhile, I can still justify the expense for a Patek or Lange because they have different intended purposes.
Fantastic discussion Adrian...I just love watches and have since I was a kid.This is why I love your channel - no pretension, just a love of watches. Congratulations on reaching 75K you are well on your way 100K! I love the new back drop :)
There are two things about "lower end " watches that make them attractive! 1. You like them ie the SKX following 2. they are unusual or quirky... Chinese pilots 1963 Chrono
I didn't realise there was a "hierarchy" in watch collecting. I suppose I'm a non-league player then in the watch hierarchy. Ah well....... I like and enjoy watches but how much I spend, what I pay for a watch is irrelevant to me. My target watch is an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra but I won't buy new and there is a limit on the budget.
I'm left-handed, and I exclusively wear destro watches on my right wrist, so I really love what I wear just because there are so few companies that make destro watches. I wear cheap watches right now, and I love them, but I know for a fact that if I ever get a Tudor Pelagos LHD or Rolex Sprite, I will probably have them for the rest of my life for my grandchildren to inherit.
Makes sense. My grail was the Speedmaster Professional. After that I wanted a diver I could wear every day so the Breitling Superocean II 42 fit the bill. Rounding off the collection is a Hamilton Khaki King, Tissot T Touch Classic and a Casio Protrek. Point being, your collection, your rules. It should suit how you live.
allinacan; I heartily agree. My current "Grail" is the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. Everything about the watch makes me happy and I know that I would wear it with pride!
I am a person of significant means. One of my favorite watches is my fossil Swiss quartz watch. Fsw4004. I put it on a white leather band and I get tons of compliments. Many from multi-multi millionaires. When I tell them what it is, I have received ridicule, but I don’t care. I love this watch and it was only $495 USD 10 years ago.
I have two Omegas and a Rolex GMTii, but I also collect 80s calculator watches and also have a 'camping' watch that has a barometer/ altimeter/ compass/ etc. I also have my Father's old watches (he passed a few years ago), have pocket watches from my Grandfathers etc. Some watches I love for their quality and heritage, others are retro memories and fun, and some are heirlooms that I'll cherish forever. Whatever you like for whatever reason..
Great video. Me personally i bought a £3000 Tudor Herotage Black Bay and then a month later purchased a £200 Marathon Navigator. My watch box contains a Rotary, Citizen, Seiko, Casio, Tag, Tudor and soon a Rolex. The Rotary was a gift from my daughter and the Citizen a gift from my wife. I will never sell them. Not to mention the Citizen gets so many compliments 🤷♂️
I just bought myself a 18ct Everose Gold Rainbow Daytona to celebrate the end of lockdown in my area. But I still enjoy the lower end cheap watches for everyday use, like my IWC Spitfire Bronze Chronograph.
I agree with you completely! It doesn’t matter the price of the watch as long as you enjoy it personally. I enjoy so many different styles of watches that I can’t afford to do them in the exotic brands, but I do thoroughly enjoy collecting these watches at a lower price point. I think I enjoy my cheaper watches as much as someone who owns the holy trinity. My holy trinity may be Seiko, Citizen, and Nautis, but I get as much joy as anyone from my collection!
I’ve bought low priced watches for years, worn a different watch every 2 or 3 days. Never totally satisfied until my partner bought a superb high end watch which I love. It has everything I want in a watch. SuperLuminova. 30ATM, screw crown. Hi-beat automatic movement. Hardened case, Low profile thickness, Etc. Apart from strap bracelet changes I Never take it off. I Love it. Thank you Adrian for your great channel. All the best for 2020.
This was a great video. It is true that sometimes once we buy a Rolex, we feel like we can’t go back to “ lower “ brands. I completely agreed 100% that if you like the watch, buy it. Regardless of the price or brand. The price of the watch has nothing to do with esthetics. If Timex had designed the nautilus or the royal oak, would we lust over it ???? Would Timex brand be in “the holy trinity”
The biggest problem for me is that, a $300 automatic/mechanic watch costs $250 to service. It's just not worth it. There're so many good sub $500 watches, but none of them are good for long term ownership.
Qin Zhu but a single Rolex service is double the price of that $300 watch. Plus risk of loss and depreciation. Watches are horrible investments and stores of value. I have a $300 Hamilton i bought new 3 years ago from a grey dealer with ETA 2824-2 movement. If I get to 7-8 years of ownership and it starts to run slow, the sentimental value of the piece will make it worth the price of a service
Gone off big brand watches. Sold a rolex 11600 and have brought a precista RN Diver, a seiko 7549-7010 and a sumo. i get much more enjoyment from these and feel way happier wearing them, oh and still have cash left over.
You are right. I have a 2012 Roger Dubuis Easy Diver and a 1984 5513 Rolex Submariner but I love wearing my Steinhart Premium Ocean Blue (Euros 500). It actually keeps better time than other two. I have just ordered a Steinhart Vintage Red which is a homage to the Rolex. My Rolex 5513 is now really just an 'investment' piece because it is so expensive to service.
Yes, I have all the major top brands but I also have a Citizen tough watch that I wear when doing gardening, sailing or rock climbing. I love the Citizen titanium for what it is.
It depends on what your activity is. What you are wearing. I collect vintage Omegas. I own an 18k Omega bumper watch" automatic.". It is in pristine condition. It takes no back seat to any dress watch. But my everyday watch is a 1938 26.5 SC steel Omega Doctors watch. Yes, my everyday watch is 83 years old. I wind it every day. It is a 15 jewel watch. It is very accurate. I may have to reset a minute every 3 to 5 days. Any that may be because of me. I seriously believe it could give a modern watch a run for its money. I switch off wearing other Omega I own. but the youngest was made in 1964. I own two automatics and the rest are manual wind. So I go up and down the ladder of perceived value. But i love them all. So I would answer wear the watch you feel like wearing.
A helpful prompt to consider ‘The Big Picture’! The further I get into watch collecting, the more I find myself thinking about our relationship with material objects in general, the value and meaning we attribute to them, how they make us feel, the purpose of collecting, life, legacy, inheritance... and where I can buy a Nautilus on interest free credit!
Behave of course it’s ok to like cheaper watches. One of my favourite watches is a G-Shock square. It’s cheap cool bomb proof and always spot on time because it’s atomic. Everyone needs one in their collection 👍🏼 get one grail watch and get a few sub grand pieces. Hamilton Certina and Tissot do some great watches.
I spent $7k CAD to buy a new Rolex 116000 4 weeks ago and just a few days ago I bought a $340 CAD Dan Henry 1964 Chrono. I buy watches that excite me based on design, features, history, a company’s vision, etc. Agree with you Adrian, if it brings me joy, that’s all that matters.
I’m sure this thing is depends on there preference... but judging from my point of experience better buy your most wanted brand first then slowly buy some low price alternative
Thanks a lot Dan. I appreciate you noticing. I'm really pushing for 100k. Not many watch channels have made it that far, so I think it's a fun goal to aim for.
I like buying 50s 60s watches but modern I like citizen eco drive very accurate and reliable I have 6 in all my oldest is 8 years old and is still keeping great time as it did when I first bought it!!
This is a subject a friend and myself discuss at great length, I would love to buy a big pricey watch, but I am not in the position (yet) to do so. But this doesn't mean I 'make do' with cheaper watches, my 10 watch collection has a vast array of watches, all under £600. Each one of those watches though has a story behind it, and a reason it's in that box. I see watches the same way I see mountain bikes, you can have just as much fun on a £200 bike as you can on a £10,000 bike!
Awesome question, and even more awesome answers Adrian. I consider myself a watch enthusiast. I have 4 watches that I rotate regularly and my favorite watch is the watch I am wearing at the time. Thanks for your hard work and keep up the good work. Thanks, Brian.
It's great to here that view point from a watch channel I always thought if someone thinks everything under Rolex is trash ,are they really a watch enthusiast? Seems more like a luxury enthusiast ...which is fine but it's a different thing
I have a nice Rolex and Omega , but wore a Casio F91W today. I wear G-Shock for work. I wear a quartz Timefactors Broadarrow PRS-10. They're good watches. There are expensive watches that I wouldn't want to wear - a lot of them on this channel.
To a true watch enthusiast, the answer is in the eye. When the passion is real and respect for watches broad, comparing one to another is like asking which is better; red or blue. It's all about emotion and context. Still loving your work Adrian 😉
I have a counterpoint that I’ve thought about a bit that is relevant to me. Part of the allure of watches for me is that I cannot get all the ones I want. I am definitely a watch enthusiast. However, there is a certain value of a watch below which I have to be very particular about. I could basically buy any watch I wanted below say $1000. It’s an amount of money that for me just isn’t material enough to really worry about. This is a blessing and a curse for the hobby. I have been able to buy a bunch of stuff to try out like micro brands, vintage watches, Japanese, lower end Swiss on a whim. But I accumulated a bunch of watches that I didn’t wear and I ended up selling almost all of these types of watches. Some people are rich enough they could do this with Rolexes. Some could do it with Langes. Some with Richard Milles. For me, it’s not hard to be selective about a Rolex because I can’t afford more than one or two. And for Lange, I can drool over all of them indiscriminately because I can’t buy any of them. Value plays a large role in collecting, because every dollar you put towards one watch is a dollar you can’t spend on another watch. I don’t think there is anything weird about liking a seiko if you can afford a Rolex. However, if you can afford rolexes and you buy every seiko you like, you’ll end up with 50 watches. It ends up being more than you can wear, and in aggregate enough to buy another grail. Not sure if others will relate to my point. I guess to book it down it’s that I tend to focus my enthusiasm for watches on brands that I can afford but have to save for. Much higher and I can’t ever buy them, much lower and I could buy them all. There isn’t much fun or anticipation to either of those options.
Another great video Adrian. Agree with you 100%, once you become a true watch enthusiast the price of the watch doesn’t dictate if the watch speaks to you or not. At the end of the day you work hard for “YOUR” $ therefore spend that $ on what “YOU” like!! Keep it up brother.
Yes you should, there is a time and place for everything, I have a travel watch once which I won't get held up for and I can swim with or not cry if I damage it. I have a cheaper more fun watch when dressing really casual and depending whom i with I do not want to look pretentious or attract necessary attention with an expensive watch.
I have watches from several levels in those pyramids. What watch I wear depends on what I'm doing. Long ride on the Harley needs a more rough and tumble watch.Trips to a high crime city or country calls for a Swatch. I enjoy matching the watch with the activity not only for the aesthetics, but also practicality.
True watch enthusiasts appreciate all types of watches regardless of price, you are missing out on affordable watches like swatch with there interesting funky designs and other brands like Seiko & Hamilton that offer great bang for buck watches 🤙🏻
Marcos McC Or maybe true watch enthusiasts appreciate different levels of quality, but if they prefer to stick within a mid range level, and not own any affordable, that’s ok too.
My Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is on the way but my next 2 purchases will be a $200 Islander ISL-15 and a $500 Glycine Airman. I have to like the watch enough to justify the price and I don't put much stock in resale value because I'm buying them to enjoy.
Adrian, thank you for a GREAT video. I have really nice watches and I have nice watches. I usually wear two watches. Right now I'm wearing my Oris Big Crown Pointer date on my left wrist and my black Casio AE1200 on the other. What is funny to me how many people actually notice I'm wearing two watches. It is VERY rare that anyone notices. When they do they always ask why. Most of the time I tell them because I love them and enjoy them. I have about 60 in my collection since I started in the hobby three years ago and love them.
Many people should look past the price tag as most of the time it's inaccurate. If the watch has history, good movement, you like it - price does not matter. If its 100 pounds or 10k.
I think modding is as big a part of being a watch enthusiast. Otherwise it is just a cycle of buying/selling/consumption. You can only really further your hobby if you keep purchasing which is not sustainable.
I think that this is one of the first time’s I’ve commented so, this being said, mate keep up the great work and I really couldn’t think of a week going by without watching a video from you, ‘something about keeping me level headed’ :)
Great video. I want a Vacheron royal eagle but I question if the hunt has been more fun than the purchase will be. My collection goes from 200 to 20,000, buy what you like and what you will wear. There is just as much elegance In the lower range price bracket as the higher end. The prices go up on the lower end as the brands get discovered, I remember when you could buy Panerai for much less than they go for now, just my humble opinion.
When I got interested in watches years ago one of my favourite forums was the Poor mans watch forum which was dedicated to sub £1000 watches. Unfortunately due to tragic circumstances which befell the forums’ founder it is no longer running, but it serves as a reminder that watches in that price range have deservedly got a loyal following
5:54 is for me the critical point in this topic. As I got up to AP & Co. I now look at more affordable watches in total different way. I bought back my Seiko SNZH53K1 just yesterday. I sold it around two years ago but still kind of love it for what it is.
Good move with the Archie interview....Paul is a gentleman ... most people haven't viewed enough content to realise it. He is however prolific in the RUclips watch world...and highly regarded by many. Hats off...good luck... I reckon it'll be great !
I Own Five luxury models the latest being the Omega seamaster 300 diver and a rolex sea dweller 400. i have just bought a Helm Komodo at £250 and i love it as much as the luxury models. my collection has about 5 citizen eco drives as well. i buy the watch if i like the watch and think it will give presence to my wrist and my collection. great video and i completely agree with you.
I am a Casio watch collector. I find more joy in them than the higher brands. More bang for your bunk in my opinion. I can have a lot of them for everyday than just one expensive watch that’ll get boring
My current most expensive watch is a Panerai that cost around £7k, but most recently have bought a Christopher Ward Trident 600 GMT at less than £1k.. I buy what I like from brands that I am interested in... my next purchase is intended to be my first true “investment” piece, but battling the flippers and established collectors is a real problem for someone like me just starting a collection...
Great, great points and message. Buy what makes you happy! I feel like by default we're all guilty to some degree of hierarchical snobbery. As if it's a constant battle against our very nature.
2 months ago I bought a Tudor Black Bay 58, my grail watch. And then yesterday I bought a $20 Casio World Time because Casios are AMAZING! Buy what you like 👍🏻
I currently own three very nice mechanical watches, and while there are certainly more watches out there that I would love, I think three is enough since you can only wear one at a time. More watches probably won’t add something to my overall pleasure.
Value is justification imho. We all have a watch we really like but cannot justify buying because it doesn’t offer enough value for the money and then we buy cheaper watches that offer more value for the money. I bought my grail watch 5 years ago, a Breitling navitimer 0. Since then I have bought two Seiko cocktailtimes, two skxs, a Stowa, a Hamilton and an Oris Aquis. Watches under or around 1000 bucks are the most justifiable purchases to scratch our watch itch. They don’t make us poor and everyone can find something that’s enjoyable. And that’s great. But I agree that you should ask the question if you’d enjoy a certain higher priced watch more than a couple of watches under 1000... I tend to lie to myself a little bit on this topic. For example I wanted a moonwatch sapphire as my next watch after the navitimer, but couldn’t justify spending another 5k for a watch. But a Seiko here and there? Sure why not? They offer a lot of watch for the money. Same with stowa, Hamilton and oris, but after 5 years these justifiable purchases add up to 4.8k so that’s that... sure I enjoyed wearing many different watches and building a collection but now after honeymooning with them I regret it a bit and am thinking about selling them but in these price ranges they relatively lose more money than a higher priced iconic watch like a navitimer or a moonwatch.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I know what I like and what I would love to have and just because something is expensive does not make it automatically desirable. Its got to be about enjoyment. Lots of watches punch above their weight, quality and value wise. Look at the Seiko Sarb line, alot of watch for the money. Not surprised they pulled it and move the 6r15 movement into more costly pieces. Christopher Ward, another example, using Sellita movements. Is that not the same brand of movement used in the Bell & Ross shown? Loads of good product out their to please eveyone, at all price points!
Buy what you like and can afford. I’ll never be able to afford the watch you bought and so I need to be “happy” with what I like and can afford. Happy is really a state of being, not a collection of goods, anyway. Hang in there!
I agree with you, adding that I reject the idea of "saving for a watch". Saving for a car or saving for a house is ok, but for me paying for a watch more than what is covered by (can be integrated in) my monthly budget is insane.
Wonderful video. I get as much pleasure wearing my Bulova Lunar Pilot moonwatch as I do wearing my Omega Speedmaster Professional. Ditto my Orient Star Classic as my Rolex Datejust from 1968.
I’ve got a quartz Seiko from 1990something, probably completely worthless but I love it. Guilloche dial, applied indices, dauphine hands, it makes a beautiful little dress watch.
I have 2 Rolex’ for a year now and I’ve got a better appreciation for the less costly watches in my collection and have bought some nice, affordable vintage watches that are active and appreciated in my collection. Cost should not have any weight in your decision to like and wear a watch. Good topic Adrian. Nice to remind everyone why we do this. And congrats on 75k!
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Bark and Jack Been collecting 23 years Adrian, so half my life, started with Tag Heuer, made it to all the major Swiss Brands & in the last few years became very interested in microbrands which I had purchased more than 300. I have also collected vintage watches, Dirty Dozen WWII watches, Swatches, Pocket Watches, Pocket Watch Conversions, Clocks & most things to do with horology including tools/equipment. Buy what you like & wear it. #KeepMovingForward
Founder Timless Capital when I go to watch meet ups it’s collections like yours that are the talking points. No one is interested in Rolex or over hyped nautiluses. It’s the interesting pieces that people want to see. 👍🏻
Bark and Jack thanks 🙏 Adrian, I think it important to share our thoughts with the #watchpeople in the #watchcommunity as you say it’s not all about Rolex or other Swiss Brands. You don’t even need a collection to be an enthusiast, many people that watch your channel are enthusiasts that start collecting after watching you, we all start some where. For me it’s about continuing the love & passion we both have for the next generation so they don’t all migrate to Smart Watches calling the watches we love Dumb Watches. Even if it is a fashion wash that the see as a watch that they want to wear to work or out on a Saturday night then migrate to a Rolex later in life when they start to earn a few bucks. What you do as a content creator is so important to keep this passion alive.
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just bought your black leather strap for my $500 black hamilton khaki field. want an alternative to the nato to dress it up a bit. great content keep it up.
If you like watches, you are a watch enthusiast. You don't even need to own any watches.
Same goes for cars you can love Porsche and Ferrari without owning one... But the watch world is more snobbish I guess
The watch world is more approachable. Not sure how you cannot own a watch and be enthusiastic. But I understand the pitch.
@@christianellopm seriously. If you want to be a watch enthusiast just go buy a Casio/gshock if you can't afford anything else.
Oh no, I've been told because I own a Rolex and unforgivably have bought fake watches (not the Rolex, that's real) then the fact I have multiple watches from other manufacturers both huge and commercial to tiny and all but unknown is irrelevant and despite the fact I've bought and sold well into 6 figures in £ on watches and worn watches for over 50 years and been active on the scene since long before the internet even existed I'm not a "true watch enthusiast".
🙄
Cheaper watches provide a function no expensive watch can. You can use it in every situation without worrying about damage or theft.
I have a vintage datejust, a new submariner and a Tudor GMT. But love wearing my £100 Orient II.
Exactly, if you like watches, it doesn't really matter about the value.
True. Your eyes see the beauty and your heart feels it. You’ll know when it’s right. It just feels right.
@@BarkandJack Well, in his mind, the orient has "value", lots of value to him.
Can I buy your Sub then?
I totally agree with you. Of course I like my rolex op36 and omega AT 38 however I always wear my Smith's prs-25 everest....
buy whatever you like
Haha then these videos can't exist.
@@Goldenbaba430 y tho
Can people just buy what they like! I can’t believe some people need others approval on what to buy
GITMO Holliday if you have the money
@@a97b18b some!? Haha. How about the majority of people. Ever thought why the more successful brands have motto's or why they spend millions in advertisement and endorsement? Too many plebs.
it’s funny, you show the hamilton in the thumbnail as a budget watch yet for me it’s the most expensive watch in my collection by almost double my second most expensive. Really shows the relativity of ‘budget’
I get you Buddy !
Def! It's all relative my friend. I have a £100 citizen divers watch I bought 20 years ago which I still wear the most out of my collection.
Also shows the relativity of the brand hierarchy. If I saw someone wearing a Tag Heuer, I probably wouldn’t say anything to them, but if I saw someone wearing a Hamilton I’d go out of my way to see it up close and to talk to them about it. I think the only people who wear Hamilton are watch people, ESPECIALLY the manual-wound field watches. I love Hamilton 😁
Oh, and as for the budget thing… I don’t really think it’s all that relative, I just think quartz watches sort of distort what people think watches cost. A reliable mechanical movement is going to start around $300, and a reliable and accurate one (+/- 10 s/day) is going to go for around $3000. People see a Rolex and assume it’s a luxury item that’s completely unnecessary in terms of price, but I asked a machinist friend what he thought and he said “honestly they’re pretty appropriately priced, the precision and tolerances they have are ridiculous.”
@@Sk3tchPad bruh my $100 usd seiko gets like +/-5 seconds a day. I obviously would prefer to have a luxury watch but you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot to get a lot.
Same with car enthusiasts. You can appreciate a mk1 golf gti if you own an F40. Sign of a true enthusiast.
“The value of the watch is not a feature of the watch”. Very true!
Spot on Adrian. A true watch lover will wear anything they like. I own Rolex, Tudor and Omega etc but today I’m wearing my Q Timex.
Adrian: I think you misused the word “value”. Perhaps the word “price” is more appropriate.
Itching for a find and replace feature for the audio, yes.
The Truth Only if you want to sell you watch. Otherwise, it means nothing. And why should I ever buy a watch I want to sell? I‘m not a dealer.
You may need money !
Too bad I cannot “double like” this video. Finally someone says it right. Thank you B&J for your honest, objective and truthful insight. For a watch enthusiast, the cost of the watch should be meaningless. Buy whatever you like and wear it on your wrist with pride. Whether a Timex, Rolex, Patek Phillipe, etc., this community should be about the passion and love for time pieces. C’mon
Thanks so much for watching mate and I’m glad you agree. 👍🏻
I think the more you spend, sometimes you enjoy less as worried about damaging, losing it etc. With my cheaper ones I don’t worry about it, and enjoy them.
I have 6 invicta automatic and they make me happy I enjoy wearing them!
So true! If you’re not esthetically attracted to a watch, you won’t enjoy it no matter what the price. I enjoy my Seikos, G-Shock, vintage TagHeuer, Hamilton’s just as I enjoy my Explorer2 and Datejust. There are so many great options at the affordable level. Advice to all: Shop with your heart and not your ego and you’ll enjoy your watches in the long run.
James Ackner Agree. I only have “ affordable “- Seiko, Orient, Bulova, Casio, Timex, Citizen. Find I prefer to wear the less expensive ones so as to preserve the condition of he more expensive. Have a friend who has 30 watches including a Sub, but doesn’t wear the Sub because he wants to keep it pristine!!
A, excellent discussion. Because of my personal accounts, I will never own any of the top tier watches and it seems unlikely that I will ever own a £1000 watch. Still, I have a modest collection of vintage Bulova watches that brings me great pleasure. The hunt for a specific watch becomes part of the fun when it finally goes on wrist.
Any discussion on the question “why are you a watch enthusiast?” is always worthwhile. Thank you!
@Motor City Cobra Wise words. Some people spend more on over priced coffee with too much milk in than they do on watches. Consider a large Late is about £2.50. If you buy one of these a day ( many people do), that's £75 a month or £912 a year. On that basis you could buy a £3648 watch over four years Interest free credit and your adrenal glands would thank you for it too :)
Should you buy cheaper watches?
**Archie has left the chat**
haha.
We are doing a podcast together at the end of the month, I'm really looking forward to it.
@@BarkandJack Superb! That will be fun I'm sure..
@@BarkandJack it will be like "Roooolex! buy a Roooolex " :D
@@BarkandJack PM me phor some minotaur handling tips.
Been collecting 23 years Adrian, so half my life, started with Tag Heuer, made it to all the major Swiss Brands & in the last few years became very interested in microbrands which I had purchased more than 300. I have also collected vintage watches, Dirty Dozen WWII watches, Swatches, Pocket Watches, Pocket Watch Conversions, Clocks & most things to do with horology including tools/equipment. Buy what you like & wear it. #KeepMovingForward
Couple of years ago i finally got my dream Mercedes and after just one year i decided to sell it and go back to my regular everyday vw and subaru that i enjoy much better. Just because something is more expensive doesn't mean you gonna it love it that much more. Similar to watches.
I'm after a Cartier, but I'll still wear my Swatch and Timex.
The guy who asked the question just looking to mention he has a Rolex now.
I find it quite bemusing, considering how much attention Rolex gets. In my experience, I never found them to be as rare as people often present them to be and quite frankly; pinned against the likes of Grand Seiko, JLC, A. Lange & Sohne, and even Glashutte Original; the AP and Rolex owners are really becoming closer to the likes of "Supreme" hypebeast collectors. Just my humble opinion, Rolex never struck me as a brand that screams wealth.
@@barfymann362 to me, Rolex does not scream wealth, but it says nice watch, not the perfect watch, I don't get why people hate them except the aftermarket price, 12k for the daytona is not the worst deal, but people hyping it up and get it hated is really annoying
@@barfymann362 ... it's superlative, though.
Working in retail I can see thousands of people in a week,I like to change my watches around to try and give time to each one because it makes me happy! The point is if I have had one person say nice watch to me it's very very rare so if it's a Rolex or a Casio no one cares but me..
There are no pyramids in my world...
I have Steinharts through to a Patek Nautilus and I like them all equally, my fav is actually my Steinhart 39mm Pepsi homage.
What’s the point of having an hommage when you can have the real deal and not a legal fake ?
I've been seriously considering focusing more on quartz watches vs. mech/ auto due to servicing costs.
Yeah me too. I now have a six mechanical pieces collection at the moment and my speedmaster alone already pumps up the service costs. I have a cool swatch coming in the mail... and i think my 8th and final exit grail watch will be a grand seiko 9f quartz to keep the service costs of my entire collection at a minimum
Sane! I like the VK movements
I've owned Rolex and omega, but now I'm looking for a EDC and have decided on the Seiko sarb 035. It's a great watch for the price and I will ware it with pride.
I own an 116610 2019 Sub, bought because I love the heritage, and a 2000 Omega Seamaster, my first proper watch bought because of 007...my last purchase? The Timex Q, love that thing! I also like the Brew watches and will continue to buy if I like it!
Jason Kenny makes perfect sense - buy what you like, wear what you like! I was looking at the Tudor GMT recently, but ended up with a 1992 quartz TAG Heuer GMT that I am going to restore, and €3000 still in my bank account!
I love watches for different reasons. I love my Rolex I was lucky enough to buy myself, at the same time I love the watch that was my dad’s and I love the watch my mum bought me on my 21st birthday. Different watches with different memories.
Buy what makes you happy! Love the video!
That's exactly it.
thank you Adrian! please allow me to add: watch < USD 2k costs disproportionally in maintenance. holding many of those invites you to consolidate: a couple of great models per category as opposed to 5 will allow you greater models and cost you less in maintenance. E.g. drop all other chronos, go for the Speedy or El Primero + drop all divers and go for the Sub pre-owned, drop all dress and go for the Calatrava. Pick your dealer wisely in that transition to get waitlisted for the Daytona. That's your start, you can vary material and other features from there any. just maintain 3 (later more) watches as opposed to 15... the savings help finance your next steps.
Alpina
Bulova
Frederique Constant
Orient
Oris
Seiko
Timex
Tissot
Victorinox
Sooo many good brands out there. This is just a few of alternatives to Breitling, Cartier, Omega, Patek and Rolex.
I could go on and on with atleast 20 more names on the list.
I really don't like the whole Watch Snob thing. Enjoy what you want.
My favourite watch is actually a A158WEA-1EF
Casio Vintage.
Sinn, Marathon, Squale, B&R (kinda), Tudor, Ball, Hamilton...
I've kind of mapped out what I hope my collection looks like in the future, and there are watches of every level of value in there, from g-shock and an skx to a speedmaster and a Lange Cabaret!
I'm a watch enthusiast since the 80's and used to work for a jewellery company selling budget to high end so had lots of watches to play with. In fact, i wanted a Rolex perpetual at £1,000, but couldn't never saved that money wages was low. To me it was the love of the history, quality,crafts person skill, brand and style . I had swatch,casio, seiko, tissot,etc, but I'm now in a position to afford high end, but will still buy what ever pleases me first.
Absolutely, I fell in love with watches' design, engineering quality, and stories behind it. I love my Rolex Explorer while aiming A. Lange as the grail. But so often I go back with my Seiko 5 & Alpinist as daily and have my eyes on a citizen eco-drive now.
Edwin Ty Like me. I have a Rolex explorer, but also just got an Promaster Eco Drive Diver - it’s the perfect swimming watch (no worries about doing thousands in damage, diver certified, solar, and always accurate when you pick it up) . I like Citizen a lot (was one of my first watches as a kid, always reliable and good quality).
Wearing my Alpinist now, odd reason I just love it. Have a Seamaster 300m latest version bought pre owned and less then two months old, ordered from a reliable AD a Speedmaster for $1800, Tim M. actually gave it good reviews. Didn't want a special edition or anything high end, maybe slightly larger but ok, didn't want to spend several thousand dollars. I have Longiness, Omega,Oris, Tissot, Seiko, Stowa, Junghans Zodiac (which I caught on sale and cheap) and still enjoy my Orients.
mky hou solid pick! I always liked the eco-drive technology. I’m picking between a dress chrono model and a diving model haha
Michael Paris 1.8k is defo a great deal for a speedy! Always liked the watch but never sing to me when I tried them on. Congrats man!
I have Seiko alphinist, Oris Aquis clean ocean, Sinn 104. Im aiming for Grand Seiko, A. Lange, Rolex, and Glashutte Original
Loving my Vostok Amphibia scuba dude... 👍
I'm getting myself a couple of Vostoks soon. Amphibia and Komandirskie.
Surprised hoe much I like this vintage Komardirskie. Like a funky Russian field watch I paid 25$
For.
Got two as well, wearing them for dirty work.
Great video. 💯 Agree with your opinion. I have a number of watches ranging from cheap to expensive. I love them all equally as an watch enthusiast.
I agree to some extent. However, value is a feature for me. I went from collecting Rolex divers to now collecting Seiko divers because I prefer the style. But also because I find it strange that people are charging £10k for a stainless steel diving watch. The Rolex is in my opinion now too valuable for its intended purpose. To me, this is silly and turned me off the brand. Meanwhile, I can still justify the expense for a Patek or Lange because they have different intended purposes.
Fantastic discussion Adrian...I just love watches and have since I was a kid.This is why I love your channel - no pretension, just a love of watches. Congratulations on reaching 75K you are well on your way 100K! I love the new back drop :)
There are two things about "lower end " watches that make them attractive!
1. You like them ie the SKX following
2. they are unusual or quirky... Chinese pilots 1963 Chrono
I didn't realise there was a "hierarchy" in watch collecting. I suppose I'm a non-league player then in the watch hierarchy.
Ah well.......
I like and enjoy watches but how much I spend, what I pay for a watch is irrelevant to me. My target watch is an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra but I won't buy new and there is a limit on the budget.
I'm left-handed, and I exclusively wear destro watches on my right wrist, so I really love what I wear just because there are so few companies that make destro watches. I wear cheap watches right now, and I love them, but I know for a fact that if I ever get a Tudor Pelagos LHD or Rolex Sprite, I will probably have them for the rest of my life for my grandchildren to inherit.
My Hamilton khaki field mechanical is getting more wrist time then my Sub, love the patina lume!
Huey Dough Really enjoying that piece now!
I've just ordered one can't wait for it to get here , I bought the brown dial with colored loom and the khaki strap 🤗
Makes sense. My grail was the Speedmaster Professional. After that I wanted a diver I could wear every day so the Breitling Superocean II 42 fit the bill. Rounding off the collection is a Hamilton Khaki King, Tissot T Touch Classic and a Casio Protrek. Point being, your collection, your rules. It should suit how you live.
allinacan; I heartily agree. My current "Grail" is the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. Everything about the watch makes me happy and I know that I would wear it with pride!
I am a person of significant means. One of my favorite watches is my fossil Swiss quartz watch. Fsw4004. I put it on a white leather band and I get tons of compliments. Many from multi-multi millionaires. When I tell them what it is, I have received ridicule, but I don’t care. I love this watch and it was only $495 USD 10 years ago.
Disservice+injustice=disjustice. Bark and Jack word of 2020
lol great question! I definitely think you start looking down the chain after a while
I have two Omegas and a Rolex GMTii, but I also collect 80s calculator watches and also have a 'camping' watch that has a barometer/ altimeter/ compass/ etc. I also have my Father's old watches (he passed a few years ago), have pocket watches from my Grandfathers etc. Some watches I love for their quality and heritage, others are retro memories and fun, and some are heirlooms that I'll cherish forever. Whatever you like for whatever reason..
Great video. Me personally i bought a £3000 Tudor Herotage Black Bay and then a month later purchased a £200 Marathon Navigator.
My watch box contains a Rotary, Citizen, Seiko, Casio, Tag, Tudor and soon a Rolex. The Rotary was a gift from my daughter and the Citizen a gift from my wife. I will never sell them. Not to mention the Citizen gets so many compliments 🤷♂️
bought an skx009 and squale giramondo last yr, bloody love them!
I just bought myself a 18ct Everose Gold Rainbow Daytona to celebrate the end of lockdown in my area. But I still enjoy the lower end cheap watches for everyday use, like my IWC Spitfire Bronze Chronograph.
I agree with you completely! It doesn’t matter the price of the watch as long as you enjoy it personally. I enjoy so many different styles of watches that I can’t afford to do them in the exotic brands, but I do thoroughly enjoy collecting these watches at a lower price point. I think I enjoy my cheaper watches as much as someone who owns the holy trinity. My holy trinity may be Seiko, Citizen, and Nautis, but I get as much joy as anyone from my collection!
I’ve bought low priced watches for years, worn a different watch every 2 or 3 days. Never totally satisfied until my partner bought a superb high end watch which I love. It has everything I want in a watch. SuperLuminova. 30ATM, screw crown. Hi-beat automatic movement. Hardened case, Low profile thickness, Etc. Apart from strap bracelet changes I Never take it off. I Love it. Thank you Adrian for your great channel. All the best for 2020.
This was a great video. It is true that sometimes once we buy a Rolex, we feel like we can’t go back to “ lower “ brands. I completely agreed 100% that if you like the watch, buy it. Regardless of the price or brand. The price of the watch has nothing to do with esthetics. If Timex had designed the nautilus or the royal oak, would we lust over it ???? Would Timex brand be in “the holy trinity”
The biggest problem for me is that, a $300 automatic/mechanic watch costs $250 to service. It's just not worth it.
There're so many good sub $500 watches, but none of them are good for long term ownership.
Qin Zhu but a single Rolex service is double the price of that $300 watch. Plus risk of loss and depreciation. Watches are horrible investments and stores of value. I have a $300 Hamilton i bought new 3 years ago from a grey dealer with ETA 2824-2 movement. If I get to 7-8 years of ownership and it starts to run slow, the sentimental value of the piece will make it worth the price of a service
Gone off big brand watches. Sold a rolex 11600 and have brought a precista RN Diver, a seiko 7549-7010 and a sumo. i get much more enjoyment from these and feel way happier wearing them, oh and still have cash left over.
You are right. I have a 2012 Roger Dubuis Easy Diver and a 1984 5513 Rolex Submariner but I love wearing my Steinhart Premium Ocean Blue (Euros 500). It actually keeps better time than other two. I have just ordered a Steinhart Vintage Red which is a homage to the Rolex. My Rolex 5513 is now really just an 'investment' piece because it is so expensive to service.
Yes, I have all the major top brands but I also have a Citizen tough watch that I wear when doing gardening, sailing or rock climbing. I love the Citizen titanium for what it is.
all the watch snobs should watch this video. Very informative ;)
It depends on what your activity is. What you are wearing. I collect vintage Omegas. I own an 18k Omega bumper watch" automatic.". It is in pristine condition. It takes no back seat to any dress watch. But my everyday watch is a 1938 26.5 SC steel Omega Doctors watch. Yes, my everyday watch is 83 years old. I wind it every day. It is a 15 jewel watch. It is very accurate. I may have to reset a minute every 3 to 5 days. Any that may be because of me. I seriously believe it could give a modern watch a run for its money. I switch off wearing other Omega I own.
but the youngest was made in 1964. I own two automatics and the rest are manual wind. So I go up and down the ladder of perceived value. But i love them all. So I would answer wear the
watch you feel like wearing.
Wth why do you only have 75k subs definitely thought it’d be somewhere around 500k with this impeccable content quality
A helpful prompt to consider ‘The Big Picture’! The further I get into watch collecting, the more I find myself thinking about our relationship with material objects in general, the value and meaning we attribute to them, how they make us feel, the purpose of collecting, life, legacy, inheritance... and where I can buy a Nautilus on interest free credit!
I own Rolex, but wear a Tissot Powermatic 80 Day Date for my daily beater and love it!
Behave of course it’s ok to like cheaper watches. One of my favourite watches is a G-Shock square. It’s cheap cool bomb proof and always spot on time because it’s atomic. Everyone needs one in their collection 👍🏼 get one grail watch and get a few sub grand pieces. Hamilton Certina and Tissot do some great watches.
I spent $7k CAD to buy a new Rolex 116000 4 weeks ago and just a few days ago I bought a $340 CAD Dan Henry 1964 Chrono. I buy watches that excite me based on design, features, history, a company’s vision, etc. Agree with you Adrian, if it brings me joy, that’s all that matters.
I’m sure this thing is depends on there preference... but judging from my point of experience better buy your most wanted brand first then slowly buy some low price alternative
Adrian: you do realise you've reached 75k followers! Congrats
Thanks a lot Dan. I appreciate you noticing. I'm really pushing for 100k. Not many watch channels have made it that far, so I think it's a fun goal to aim for.
@@BarkandJack you've made it to 131k this far! Congrats!
@@robbiecleighmarks3088 Thanks a lot Robbie.
I like buying 50s 60s watches but modern I like citizen eco drive very accurate and reliable I have 6 in all my oldest is 8 years old and is still keeping great time as it did when I first bought it!!
Eco drives are brilliant. 👍🏻
This is a subject a friend and myself discuss at great length, I would love to buy a big pricey watch, but I am not in the position (yet) to do so. But this doesn't mean I 'make do' with cheaper watches, my 10 watch collection has a vast array of watches, all under £600. Each one of those watches though has a story behind it, and a reason it's in that box. I see watches the same way I see mountain bikes, you can have just as much fun on a £200 bike as you can on a £10,000 bike!
Awesome question, and even more awesome answers Adrian. I consider myself a watch enthusiast. I have 4 watches that I rotate regularly and my favorite watch is the watch I am wearing at the time. Thanks for your hard work and keep up the good work. Thanks, Brian.
It's great to here that view point from a watch channel I always thought if someone thinks everything under Rolex is trash ,are they really a watch enthusiast? Seems more like a luxury enthusiast ...which is fine but it's a different thing
I have a nice Rolex and Omega , but wore a Casio F91W today.
I wear G-Shock for work. I wear a quartz Timefactors Broadarrow PRS-10. They're good watches.
There are expensive watches that I wouldn't want to wear - a lot of them on this channel.
To a true watch enthusiast, the answer is in the eye. When the passion is real and respect for watches broad, comparing one to another is like asking which is better; red or blue. It's all about emotion and context. Still loving your work Adrian 😉
I have a counterpoint that I’ve thought about a bit that is relevant to me.
Part of the allure of watches for me is that I cannot get all the ones I want. I am definitely a watch enthusiast. However, there is a certain value of a watch below which I have to be very particular about. I could basically buy any watch I wanted below say $1000. It’s an amount of money that for me just isn’t material enough to really worry about. This is a blessing and a curse for the hobby. I have been able to buy a bunch of stuff to try out like micro brands, vintage watches, Japanese, lower end Swiss on a whim. But I accumulated a bunch of watches that I didn’t wear and I ended up selling almost all of these types of watches.
Some people are rich enough they could do this with Rolexes. Some could do it with Langes. Some with Richard Milles. For me, it’s not hard to be selective about a Rolex because I can’t afford more than one or two. And for Lange, I can drool over all of them indiscriminately because I can’t buy any of them.
Value plays a large role in collecting, because every dollar you put towards one watch is a dollar you can’t spend on another watch.
I don’t think there is anything weird about liking a seiko if you can afford a Rolex. However, if you can afford rolexes and you buy every seiko you like, you’ll end up with 50 watches. It ends up being more than you can wear, and in aggregate enough to buy another grail.
Not sure if others will relate to my point. I guess to book it down it’s that I tend to focus my enthusiasm for watches on brands that I can afford but have to save for. Much higher and I can’t ever buy them, much lower and I could buy them all. There isn’t much fun or anticipation to either of those options.
Another great video Adrian. Agree with you 100%, once you become a true watch enthusiast the price of the watch doesn’t dictate if the watch speaks to you or not. At the end of the day you work hard for “YOUR” $ therefore spend that $ on what “YOU” like!!
Keep it up brother.
Yes you should, there is a time and place for everything, I have a travel watch once which I won't get held up for and I can swim with or not cry if I damage it. I have a cheaper more fun watch when dressing really casual and depending whom i with I do not want to look pretentious or attract necessary attention with an expensive watch.
I have watches from several levels in those pyramids. What watch I wear
depends on what I'm doing. Long ride on the Harley needs a more rough
and tumble watch.Trips to a high crime city or country calls for a Swatch.
I enjoy matching the watch with the activity not only for the aesthetics,
but also practicality.
True watch enthusiasts appreciate all types of watches regardless of price, you are missing out on affordable watches like swatch with there interesting funky designs and other brands like Seiko & Hamilton that offer great bang for buck watches 🤙🏻
Marcos McC Or maybe true watch enthusiasts appreciate different levels of quality, but if they prefer to stick within a mid range level, and not own any affordable, that’s ok too.
My Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is on the way but my next 2 purchases will be a $200 Islander ISL-15 and a $500 Glycine Airman. I have to like the watch enough to justify the price and I don't put much stock in resale value because I'm buying them to enjoy.
Rolex fan for sure but have always had a sweet spot for Fortis. Own many and get just as much joy wearing them as any of my more expensive pieces.
Adrian, thank you for a GREAT video. I have really nice watches and I have nice watches. I usually wear two watches. Right now I'm wearing my Oris Big Crown Pointer date on my left wrist and my black Casio AE1200 on the other. What is funny to me how many people actually notice I'm wearing two watches. It is VERY rare that anyone notices. When they do they always ask why. Most of the time I tell them because I love them and enjoy them. I have about 60 in my collection since I started in the hobby three years ago and love them.
I know it was just to share a point but the watch heirarchy pyramid at 4:21 was a much needed laugh today so thank you for that 😂
Many people should look past the price tag as most of the time it's inaccurate.
If the watch has history, good movement, you like it - price does not matter. If its 100 pounds or 10k.
I think modding is as big a part of being a watch enthusiast. Otherwise it is just a cycle of buying/selling/consumption. You can only really further your hobby if you keep purchasing which is not sustainable.
I think that this is one of the first time’s I’ve commented so, this being said, mate keep up the great work and I really couldn’t think of a week going by without watching a video from you, ‘something about keeping me level headed’ :)
Monetary Value vs Sentimental Value.
I love JLC but I'm also loving a $15 Casio because of the warm memories it brings back when I was growing up.
Great video. I want a Vacheron royal eagle but I question if the hunt has been more fun than the purchase will be. My collection goes from 200 to 20,000, buy what you like and what you will wear. There is just as much elegance In the lower range price bracket as the higher end. The prices go up on the lower end as the brands get discovered, I remember when you could buy Panerai for much less than they go for now, just my humble opinion.
When I got interested in watches years ago one of my favourite forums was the Poor mans watch forum which was dedicated to sub £1000 watches. Unfortunately due to tragic circumstances which befell the forums’ founder it is no longer running, but it serves as a reminder that watches in that price range have deservedly got a loyal following
5:54 is for me the critical point in this topic. As I got up to AP & Co. I now look at more affordable watches in total different way. I bought back my Seiko SNZH53K1 just yesterday. I sold it around two years ago but still kind of love it for what it is.
Good move with the Archie interview....Paul is a gentleman ... most people haven't viewed enough content to realise it. He is however prolific in the RUclips watch world...and highly regarded by many.
Hats off...good luck... I reckon it'll be great !
It's a shitter!!
I Own Five luxury models the latest being the Omega seamaster 300 diver and a rolex sea dweller 400. i have just bought a Helm Komodo at £250 and i love it as much as the luxury models. my collection has about 5 citizen eco drives as well.
i buy the watch if i like the watch and think it will give presence to my wrist and my collection. great video and i completely agree with you.
Tissot Gentleman Automatic Silicium Blue Dial is a great watch with a very affordable price range. It is value for money.
I have a Tudor GMT, Breitling Oceanmaster & a Rolex Datejust 41.. But I also have a Hugo Boss, Rotary etc it’s how the watch makes you feel..
I am a Casio watch collector. I find more joy in them than the higher brands. More bang for your bunk in my opinion. I can have a lot of them for everyday than just one expensive watch that’ll get boring
My current most expensive watch is a Panerai that cost around £7k, but most recently have bought a Christopher Ward Trident 600 GMT at less than £1k.. I buy what I like from brands that I am interested in... my next purchase is intended to be my first true “investment” piece, but battling the flippers and established collectors is a real problem for someone like me just starting a collection...
Great, great points and message. Buy what makes you happy! I feel like by default we're all guilty to some degree of hierarchical snobbery. As if it's a constant battle against our very nature.
Yes. Why not buy a Hamilton Khaki, Seiko Skx or something. Great addition to any collection
2 months ago I bought a Tudor Black Bay 58, my grail watch. And then yesterday I bought a $20 Casio World Time because Casios are AMAZING! Buy what you like 👍🏻
I currently own three very nice mechanical watches, and while there are certainly more watches out there that I would love, I think three is enough since you can only wear one at a time. More watches probably won’t add something to my overall pleasure.
E. Hart I wear 2 at a time!
Value is justification imho. We all have a watch we really like but cannot justify buying because it doesn’t offer enough value for the money and then we buy cheaper watches that offer more value for the money.
I bought my grail watch 5 years ago, a Breitling navitimer 0. Since then I have bought two Seiko cocktailtimes, two skxs, a Stowa, a Hamilton and an Oris Aquis.
Watches under or around 1000 bucks are the most justifiable purchases to scratch our watch itch. They don’t make us poor and everyone can find something that’s enjoyable.
And that’s great.
But I agree that you should ask the question if you’d enjoy a certain higher priced watch more than a couple of watches under 1000... I tend to lie to myself a little bit on this topic.
For example I wanted a moonwatch sapphire as my next watch after the navitimer, but couldn’t justify spending another 5k for a watch. But a Seiko here and there? Sure why not? They offer a lot of watch for the money. Same with stowa, Hamilton and oris, but after 5 years these justifiable purchases add up to 4.8k so that’s that... sure I enjoyed wearing many different watches and building a collection but now after honeymooning with them I regret it a bit and am thinking about selling them but in these price ranges they relatively lose more money than a higher priced iconic watch like a navitimer or a moonwatch.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I know what I like and what I would love to have and just because something is expensive does not make it automatically desirable. Its got to be about enjoyment.
Lots of watches punch above their weight, quality and value wise. Look at the Seiko Sarb line, alot of watch for the money. Not surprised they pulled it and move the 6r15 movement into more costly pieces. Christopher Ward, another example, using Sellita movements. Is that not the same brand of movement used in the Bell & Ross shown?
Loads of good product out their to please eveyone, at all price points!
Buy what you like and can afford. I’ll never be able to afford the watch you bought and so I need to be “happy” with what I like and can afford. Happy is really a state of being, not a collection of goods, anyway. Hang in there!
I agree with you, adding that I reject the idea of "saving for a watch". Saving for a car or saving for a house is ok, but for me paying for a watch more than what is covered by (can be integrated in) my monthly budget is insane.
Wonderful video. I get as much pleasure wearing my Bulova Lunar Pilot moonwatch as I do wearing my Omega Speedmaster Professional. Ditto my Orient Star Classic as my Rolex Datejust from 1968.
I’ve got a quartz Seiko from 1990something, probably completely worthless but I love it. Guilloche dial, applied indices, dauphine hands, it makes a beautiful little dress watch.
I have 2 Rolex’ for a year now and I’ve got a better appreciation for the less costly watches in my collection and have bought some nice, affordable vintage watches that are active and appreciated in my collection. Cost should not have any weight in your decision to like and wear a watch.
Good topic Adrian. Nice to remind everyone why we do this. And congrats on 75k!