Horological Meandering

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...  

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 ... 

But I choose to be brand agnostic. Thanks, Nilo

... 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

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

. . . 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... 

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 ... 

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.... 

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

And to " eat " a lot of watches, to feed the culture and tastes. Best, Nicolas

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

See, touch and feel and our novice will be hooked. Better to stay far away. Cheers, Nilo

The payment in blood, a good kidney or even a so so eye. Cheers, Nilo

Will make Vlad look like a saint. Cheers, Nilo

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... 

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... 

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.

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

...best way to get your feet wet.

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 ... 

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...

Add to that the "never say never" motto. Exceptions happen. Cheers, Nilo

a very abused word...

"Limited Edition". Cheers, Nilo

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... 

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! ... 

Should extract the salient portions of the responses and the OP and create a 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... 

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

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 ... 

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 ... 

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

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 !

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

Just like a "test drive". Cheers, Nilo

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... 

Of course, if we had applied common sense to all decisions in our life was terrible boring. Cheers, Nilo

Run away now!! This is the last warning. Once you enter, there is no turning back!! :) Great read - thanks!

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

Advise for new people in this hobby..... ...  

A tad of exaggeration. Cheers, Nilo

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... 

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.... 

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... 

" No such thing as eliminating risk", but there is such a thing as minimize risk. Cheers, Nilo

... 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... 

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... 

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...  

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... 

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... 

Allied with the not too many eggs ($) in any one basket (watch). Cazalea

I try to do the same, with few eggs. Only one wife, of course. Cheers, Nilo

Watch Buying 101 Course, with Professor Nilomis!

In any case, thank you very much. Cheers, Nilo

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

And thank you for your outstanding pictures of amazing watches. Cheers, Nilo

.... 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 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

... 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 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

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...