AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
12829
For me it's the journey ...
.... that is by far the most important. This applies to the whole horological hobby, as well as an individual watch. A 'backstory' - whether it be years of study and planning, or a serendipitous discovery - adds to the long term love affair with the watch.
Many people say to themselves, "why didn't I just buy that 'grail' watch first and save a lot of time and money?". Well to me the education, the honing of your own likes and opinions would not have been possible without all those other 'stepping stones' being in place. It would be a sad and boring forum if we all bought our grail watches first and had little place to go - except when those grails turn out to not be as grailish as we thought. 
A wonderful post, Nilo, for both new and experienced collectors.
Thanks so much.
Andrew
A question: “How can I start with mechanical watches?”
Yesterday a friend that is not in watches (he does not wear one), asked this question (followed by many others) that made me think a lot. How we can advise and introduce a newbie on this fantastic hobby? How can a person that is entering on this mysteriou...
Nice post!!
Nilo, That is a good question... How we can advise one on this hobby? If I knew about watches what I know today, I´m sure, I would saved a lot of money...... Well, first of all... read a lot. Start with cheap watches like seiko.... Continuing reading and ...
I know that....
... but Seiko is a good exemple because... 1 - Cheap 2 - in house... 3 - low and easy maintenance cost ... This advices above are just for new watches... the vintages are not included.. Tks
I agree ... in part
Mac, Not all Seikos are cheap and not all Seikos have a low and easy maintenance. Think about GS or even my trusty Marinemaster 300m. Add to this the potential desire of a newcomer to go for "a Swiss watch" for prestige reasons. Cheers, Nilo
If this forum was a college . . .
. . . your post would be a class titled 'Purist 101'. Thanks very, very much for putting together such an excellent primer, Nilo. An article like this was sorely needed. Let me add a few observations of my own regarding vintage watches. Firstly, the impor...
It will be a Purist 101 after we discuss here ...
Art, Your point about watchmakers is very well taken. I'm lucky to have one, with a small but very sharp team, that already put me out of serious bad deals. About vintage, I made an attempt to advise the newcomer to stay away for a long time until she/he ...
Excellent post Nilo!
I would just like to emphasise one thing that always strikes me. Be sure to try the watch you are looking at on yourself. There are so many watches that look great in pictures, but when you hold it in your hand and try it on just don't have the same aura....
Thank you Don ...
For calling our attention to the "on the wrist" final test. When I started I got a watch that was and is beautiful on the wrist of others but not on mine. Cheers, Nilo
I think you said all, but at the contrary of you, I would advice to go to Dealers.
And to " eat " a lot of watches, to feed the culture and tastes. Best, Nicolas
Of course ...
If one has a lot of funds to burn in this process. If the resources are scarce, is better to use the brains and optimize. Cheers, Nilo
Danger ...
See, touch and feel and our novice will be hooked. Better to stay far away. Cheers, Nilo
Some sellers here will take ...
The payment in blood, a good kidney or even a so so eye. Cheers, Nilo
This is one for my
HDD collection of best of PPro Simply great Nilo! Reading thoroughly PPro for few months will suffice for not making cardinal mistakes I suppose but I also think that making mistakes could sometimes also be best possible way to learn Cheers D P.S. To wrap...
I agree but we should ...
Consider that: "Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time." George Bernard Shaw My main intention here is to tap the Purists collective experience in order to help a novice to not make the same mistak...
Mistakes can be part of the fun...
I don't think I've ever made a regrettable mistake. I've certainly made a few, but because of all I learned from them, my hobby was ultimately enhanced.
Maybe ...
But for a newcomer, stretching his purse to buy her/his first one a major mistake can be devastating. I saw, several tines, my watchmaker delivering bad news to a customer. Not good. Cheers, Nilo
Wise words ...
The first "trap" is to target quantity instead of quality. The second is to forget that watches are not unique, like a Mona Lisa. We receive an offer and the seller adds "I work with watches for XX and I never saw one like this one" (usually a watch on a ...
That said.....
I spend a lot of Money in "so called" rarities... :( Now I think 10 times before engage in a purchase a "rare" watch.... Never "go to bed" in a first date, .... wait as long as you need searching for info... That the best "2 cents" I have... Tks...
Wise decision ...
Add to that the "never say never" motto. Exceptions happen. Cheers, Nilo
The word "rare" in watch sale title is always a red flag for me...
a very abused word...
The Big Mistake I Made...
And your post and more time on would have helped to avoid it. I bought too many less expensive watches that don't really do anything for me now. I really wish I had waited, looked at more watches, and then bought only a few that were more special. I like...
I made the same mistake ...
Jon, I believe that this is a very common mistake. Now I'm much more constrained and I have as a personal rule a limit on the number of watches that I can have. To acquire one, another one (less loved) must leave. About your collection, it's a great set! ...
where was this post 13 years ago? some poor moderator. ..
Should extract the salient portions of the responses and the OP and create a sticky.
Agreed on the sticky...
What and excellent post Nilo. I wish I had read this post even just a couple of years ago. A kind of watch collecting for Dummies. I would add though that it is important to ask yourself what type of watch you are looking for. A simple 3 handed dress watc...
Time for the swap forum
By listening to this conversation I have now thought of 30-40 watches that I own which I should no longer keep. Come on you guys, take them from me! Cazalea
That is great ...
Cazalea, To have 30-40 "cats" (a name that a dear friend calls watch that he wants to trade/sell) is wonderful. I'm assuming that there are watch shows in California. Just trade your "cats" and purify your collection. I'm on the opposite position. I have ...
The one question I tend to get
And often see here , is about resale value. My answer is always , a Rolex or a Panerai. That covers the smaller n bigger wrist , and also brands that a "newbie" can identify with ... Started with a GMT IIC myself , and the rest is history ..... Excellent ...
I don't advise about resale values ...
Because those values varies way too much according with the country or region. As a dear friend, and great seller, says "You never knows what the used market wants. Some weeks is brand X, other week is brand Z". Cheers, Nilo
So very true
No logic can be derived of market demand. Does not stop us from trying though! Forgot to mention this, and of course accessibility to a watch repairer , official channel or otherwise ... To that, Singapore and Hong Kong is a haven !
Great post Nilo.
The only problem is if I had seen all of the PuristS forums I would have wanted 20 watches, not just one. My best advise is wrist time, how does it feel and how does it look on YOUR wrist. JerryW
Easier said than done...
Awesome post, but maybe a little easier said then done. If one could really be so disciplined to adhere to ALL these guidelines wouldn't common sense take over when the eventual question we have all asked ourselves at one time or another is, "Do I even re...
Correct statement ...
Of course, if we had applied common sense to all decisions in our life was terrible boring. Cheers, Nilo
One step that should come before all of the above!
Run away now!! This is the last warning. Once you enter, there is no turning back!! :) Great read - thanks!
Or better ...
And more dramatic should be to open with Dante's "Abandon all hope ye who enter here". But we go to miss all that fun? No way. Cheers, Nilo
it's all about the journey...
Who gets to this level of knowledge without making mistakes along the way? Those exact mistakes no doubt contribute to the person you are today. Watches are all about passion. Impossible to be smart 100% of the time. How many of us have made regrettable p...
it's all about the journey ...
Last time I hear this statement was on a failed project that wasted millions and millions from a large corporation. Of course, mistakes will be made but, with a little of planing and with a bit of anxiety management, those mistakes should not be terrible....
Let's not forget
Every choice you make in life carries risks. No such thing as eliminating risk. Nothing is certain, nothing is for sure. Up until recently, many of us believed watches were immune to economic downturns. And then... POP... Watch collecting is a bit like ho...
Agreed with ...
" No such thing as eliminating risk", but there is such a thing as minimize risk. Cheers, Nilo
Well Nilomis, as is the custom...
... another fantastic post with very important information for the would-be newbie. Your points are spot on and I love the part about avoiding any and all boutiques during what I would deem 'the information gathering stage'. I posted something a few weeks...
Very good set of statements ...
Scott, I loved the "mandible hitting the table". This hobby is, for sure, a complex one. We, I'm over generalizing, feel good to be able to wear a deadly expensive watch but sometimes we forgot that what matters is the basic pleasure that is to wear a wat...
(I maintain a strict policy about the number of watches that I own)
My rule is too simple: "under 100" (wristwatches) [that my wife knows about] {not counting those in the safe} ((and those in-coming)) (((and those on the watch repairman's bench))) Cazalea on the positive side, I've sold 4 of my cars in the past couple ye...
I'm much more strict ...
No more than 15 watches. At this point I have two others on the SPA but I need to sell or trade and bring back the number to 15. I believe that my ideal number should be around ten well loved watches. Of course this is my number and I admire those that ca...
My target is 5-6
Am now at 9. I believe in wearing all my watches. Just cant find enough wrist time for so many. I am consolidating my collection to more investment grade pcs. But first must love the watch. Never buy somthing you dont LOVE. Quality over quantity. Best Ice...
I have a "one wife, many watches" policy
Allied with the not too many eggs ($) in any one basket (watch). Cazalea
Very good piece of wisdom ...
I try to do the same, with few eggs. Only one wife, of course. Cheers, Nilo
Great Post
One of the most meaningful post ever. Much appreciate your time and passion to write this. Many will benefit from it. Thk you so much Nilo Best Iceman
You are welcome ...
And thank you for your outstanding pictures of amazing watches. Cheers, Nilo
For me it's the journey ...
.... that is by far the most important. This applies to the whole horological hobby, as well as an individual watch. A 'backstory' - whether it be years of study and planning, or a serendipitous discovery - adds to the long term love affair with the watch...
It's important but as any journey ...
It helps if we are prepared for the "road". The subject of "grail" requires another (I'm sure that it will be very interesting) discussion. Thank you Andrew for your comments. Cheers, Nilo
Don't worry, I'm not advocating ...
... setting off without a roadmap or a lot of research, just that you shouldn't skip to the destination. Side roads, unexpected detours and unplanned experiences are often more memorable than the destination. A
I understand your point perfectly ...
I don't forget that when I started my grail was a ... very shabby watch. The journey can be very nice, in special if one is flying first class using accumulated knowledge. Cheers, Nilo
This is a great read for newbies and seasoned collectors alike.
Even for longtime collectors, I still think the go-slow method of acquisition is a wise one. You may be dazzled by a certain timepiece at first glance, but the initial ardor often cools. I prefer to contemplate purchases over a period of time to determine...