Have you ever thought of building a watch collection? Most people own 2-3 timepieces for daily wear and maybe 1-2 for some special occasions. However, there are crazy watch lovers continuously adding watches to their collections just to “feed” their passion for horology. The point of a watch collection is not to have as many watches as possible, but rather to own as valuable pieces as possible.
Either way, the very first “brick” always begins with the first timepiece. All of us can easily place an order for the most beautiful (whatever it means for each of us) watch. But, the art of collecting watches involves further research, effort, and “gut feeling” for the next watches to be added to your collection, following your very first piece.
Many of you would think that a watch collection can only include genuine luxury timepieces. Well, that’s actually only partially true. I, being in the replica watch hobby, can openly declare that correctly-chosen watch imitations can bring the same satisfaction as genuine timepieces.
I think it wouldn’t be reasonable to enumerate models from my replica watch collection. It doesn’t make much sense considering that every one of us has his own taste and preferences. In contrast, I find it appropriate to share some secrets with you about how to build a valuable watch collection, be it a replica one. It turns out that the collection must not necessarily include expensive luxury models. Affordable replica swatches will perfectly do, whenever each of the pieces means something to you.
With that being said, I invite you to get familiar with some key factors that will help you build a phenomenal and enviable watch collection.
Consider the QUALITY standards
The quality standard in the replica hobby is directly proportional to the budget ranges, like in any other industry. The replica industry offers diverse price segments, and subsequently, diverse quality standards. All of us might have different design preferences and styles tastes, so all of us can opt for absolutely different watches in our collections. Still, all of us should be on the same page in thinking that our watch collection (in its true sense) must comprise the best-quality watches.
The collecting philosophy suggests that a collection of goods is synonymous with a heritage close to our hearts. As a general rule, collections have a long lifespan and are frequently passed to the next generations. So, speaking about watch collections, you need him-quality timepieces to “live” long in your collection. Therefore, you need high-quality imitations.
In such a context, you have to “financially” prepare when intending to build a valuable watch collection. Therefore, your focus should automatically fall on high-quality imitations.
Luckily…
The replica industry is not as painful in terms of prices, as genuine watches are. A premium-quality imitation can be around 600$-1,000$, compared to tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for genuine models. In addition, the great thing is that you don’t need to spend the money at once. You can buy about 1-2 high-quality imitations a year if you want, and the overall expense won’t be as remarkable.
Of course, the “shorter way” is to get cheaper watches, as it is far more budget-tempting. Still, you have to know that cheaper watches serve about a couple of years. And what value would they bring to your collection if their aesthetic look gets compromised by fading every year?!
So, to conclude the main idea, you should start building your watch collection by setting quality standards. Don’t allow the temptation for a cheaper watch to affect your main goal. Cheaper imitations are good options for customers who need a watch for 1-2 years. There are a lot of customers chasing their timepieces every other year and they don’t find it reasonable to pay extra cash for a watch they plan to wear and tear for a short period of time. When it’s about a collection, the priorities change significantly.
Know WHEN to start
I know that the desire of building a satisfying replica watch collection creates a strong sense of urgency. You already see yourself enjoying one over another Rolex or Patek Philippe imitation, contemplating their beauty. Still, you need to have patience about it, especially in the replica hobby. Even with genuine watches, collectors silently and patiently wait until a certain model becomes available in the preowned market. So, being a “collector” actually implies observation, research, ambition, and patience, of course.
What does it exactly mean in the replica hobby?
This actually means giving yourself time to find a trusted dealer. It might not happen with the very first imitation you buy on the internet. It takes time until you find a trusted dealer to offer you the watches you are satisfied with. Some stores can sell you watches in great physical condition but with a “so-so” technical reliability. Others might send you technically reliable watches, but physically much different from the genuine ones. And the list goes on.
In the same context, don’t rush in trusting every seller offering you great (fake!!!) pictures of the watches you want to buy. Do your research about the seller. Join replica watch forums where real people talk about real buying experiences and find the most reliable source you can. In addition, follow the watches’ blogs. Independent watch bloggers share opinions and reviews about factories making the best and worst imitations. That’s a valuable “piece of cake” you should grab for yourself to find a good supplier. Only when you find it, you can begin collecting from it.
You want your watch collection to include the best watches. So, these “the best” ones aren’t available at every corner. You have to make some effort to find them. I’m sorry for showing you the difficult side of the subject, but that’s what it takes to make things right.
Further on gets SIMPLER
The previous two steps are the most difficult, at least they were for me. Further on, things are getting significantly simpler and you just have to “tidy up” and bring some order to your ambition of collecting watches. What does this particularly mean?
You can begin by deciding whether you prefer to generalize or specialize. Still sounds complicated? It’s not. From the whole watch realm, you need to center your focus on a certain segment. Some collect military watches exclusively, others prefer collecting diving timepieces only. Similarly, some watch fans love a certain brand to such an extent that they are crazy about having any single piece from the whole brand’s portfolio.
Another example of how people build their watch collections refers to the focus on a certain watch industry segment. To make it clearer, some old collect Richemont brands’ timepieces, others only buy Swatch models, and the third group only adds independent brands’ accessories.
In such a context, think of what segment would satisfy you better. What styles attract you the most? What watches would delight you more when you open your watch collection? There is no right or wrong way here. So, you can juggle your preferences the way you please. What matters here is to KNOW what you are collecting and what it means for you. The only “Nota Bene” to consider is to avoid mixing genuine with replica watches in your collection.
Stay true to your beliefs
It’s not excluded that, along the way, you will tend to lose your focus and drop the collection idea down. Different reasons can influence that. One of them is the others’ opinions about your watch collections. People tend to criticize the ambitions and goals of determined persons around them. They can not embrace the models you find spectacular, telling you that “divers are more popular than formal watches, so, you better collect them”. Another possible scenario is for people to judge your REPLICA collection in favor of genuine watches. Many people think that watch collectors buy timepieces just for investment purposes. And collecting imitations makes no sense in this regard. Few of them know that it requires a lot of luck to hit the jackpot in the investment realm, even with the most luxurious genuine timepieces.
Don’t forget to stay true to your decisions and ambitions, no matter what people around suggest. You buy your watches for love and passion, and not for others’ satisfaction.
One, three, seven? How many of them?
I’ll end my post with some thoughts about the “size” of a watch collection. That’s a common question from watch lovers who decide to take the big step forward. Mainly the size of the collection is what separates a watch enthusiast from a seasoned watch collector. And every time I meet this question, the answer is always the same: an “entry-level” watch collection starts with 5 watches. And you won’t find any dictionary telling you the “right” amount, as it doesn’t exist (believe me, I searched for it).
The “5” number is the most comforting to me and here is why. There are enough watches to compare from different perspectives. If you can “explain” and tell a lot about these 5 pieces, it makes you a collector. A beginner one, but still a collector. In addition, 5 pieces are enough to show your determination and discipline regarding your collecting ambition. It takes effort to find 5 good watches. And with them in your collection, you are eager to increase their amount.
On this subjective note, I just want to congratulate you on your decision to build a watch collection. That’s an amazing hobby and hope you enjoy it the way I do.