Here’s why people get into collecting watches.

1. The Origin Story

Most collectors start with one meaningful watch—often linked to nostalgia, status, or personal identity—and quickly slide into collecting more.

2. The Thrill of the Hunt

The excitement often lies more in researching, chasing, and acquiring than in owning. Dopamine spikes in the anticipation phase.

3. The Hedonic Treadmill

What was supposed to be “the last watch” rarely is. We quickly adapt and crave the next thrill or variation.

4. Evolution of Taste

Collecting reflects personal growth. Tastes shift—from divers to chronographs to vintage—driven by curiosity and deeper knowledge.

5. Watches as Memory Capsules

Each piece holds stories, milestones, and emotional significance. Even wear and tear becomes meaningful.

6. Passion vs. Obsession

The line blurs—late-night searches, justifying near-duplicates—but that obsessive drive is often what fuels deep appreciation and community.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

If I ever get into watches, this reply would have probably been the trigger. Thanks man

Also the artisanry. Time pieces are some of the most beautiful objects of craftsmanship out there. In one sense incredibly complex, in another, remarkably simple.

And there is the novelty of having a device that does a single task.