Fine mechanical watches were written off almost thirty years ago with the proliferation of cheap, mass-produced quartz watches. Back then it appeared none of the old Swiss watchmakers could survive the tidal wave of competition coming from Asia—which pretty much meant Japan in those days. Many did not survive, but the hardy ones did and redefined themselves as luxury brands and flourished. Never before have so many ordinary people (meaning people who aren’t wealthy) collected watches. We actually live in the golden age of watch collecting. It wasn’t 100 years ago. It’s today. So what do watch collectors want, besides more watches and perhaps a watch case to display them in?
Books
There is an old adage that applies to a broad range of collecting disciplines: before you buy (fill in the blank with what you’re collecting), buy books. That’s right, we said books. Even in the age of the internet, there is still a treasure trove of specialized information available nowhere else. It’s only to be found between the covers of a book. If you have one Rolex, you may not need a book about them. If you collect Rolex watches, you better have a copy of The Best of Time— Rolex Wristwatches by James M. Dowling and Jeffrey P. Hess. If you simply want a nice read about watches, check out Michael Korda’s splendid little book, Marking Time: Collecting Watches and Thinking about Time.
Going Strapped
Nothing changes up the look and the feel of a watch like a new strap. You’ve been wearing the same Omega Speedmaster Professional on the same factory metal bracelet for five years? Try it on a leather strap. It becomes a new watch again. Try it on a black velcro strap—like the ones NASA astronauts wore their Speedmasters on—and you have yet another totally new look. If it was good enough for Neil Armstrong, it will probably work for you, too.
Watch Cases
We started out by mentioning these, and they do come in handy. Eventually every collector accumulates, well, a collection. You need to store them somewhere. The cases with glass tops are especially nice for display. You get to see all your beauties while you are getting ready in the morning, preparing to solve the true connoisseur’s favorite riddle of the day: which watch to wear.
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I don’t leave the house very often so rarely wear watches any more, but my spouse loves watches and has a nice collection. Another “must-have” item for the watch collector is an automatic winder for self-winding watches. He loves his watch box, because you can only wear one watch at a time but the box lets you enjoy looking at the rest of them.
I dont much use a cellphone and actually still wear a watch. I have a couple of really old ones that have cases and many I need new straps for!
Oh wow – I love that watch case!!! I can’t even imagine myself or my sweetie having that many watches though.
I used to wear a lot of different watches , but now I wear the same one every day. I could easily change the look with a new strap. Perhaps I shall acquire a box to display my watches and then it will be easier to find the watch to match an outfit
I have a ton of watches but the watch box would take up lots of room. My largest expensive watch has it’s own nice box, but still would like a smaller box to put away my other ones. Still looking.
I nver thought about getting a watch case to put my watches in. I do not have that many watches, but I like have different watches to wear with my outfits. I have watches that do not cost a lot of money! I am a watch person! This is a really nice watch case to own.