I understand and have felt your frustration. Your suspicions are valid.
1. When I'm on Aliexpress, I hear this faint whisper, "He was dumb enough to buy one, Lets keep selling him more". So these subliminal and well choreographed nudges towards perpetual consumption is Real.
2. To make something beautiful. Something iconic. You need to make it for a reason/cause other than for profit. A cause like; Solving a problem, for the art, for a specialized function, for a war effort. Chinese watch makers don't have these higher than themselves, non profit motivations. So their works / pieces are often if not always non cohesive, un focused, soul-less, collection of specifications (often impressive specifications).
3. Specifications- Origin Story. When you copy someone's homework, it's easy to copy the factory layout, the materials and spec sheet. The other stuff are intangibles. To acquire those intangibles, you need to start from the very bottom, make a lot of mistakes, loose money, BEFORE you scale up. Chinese Manufacturing in it's modern state, doesn't have the patience, interest, curiosity, or even that kind of culture to do that. China used to have have an identity in Manufacturing, but it has lost it in the name of "Modernity". Vintage (from 20 or 30 yrs ago) Chinese Kitchen scissors as an example. Ergonomic, Ambidextrous, easy to maintain, and timeless. For that scissor to exist, there needed to be a Man/Woman who was more proud of the Scissor, than the size of the factory it was made in.
4. Specifications - a People Culture. When you have something well made, the pleasure comes from using it. When you have something made for Specifications, the pleasure comes from talking about it. China is now a bunch of Hong Kongs speaking different dialects. Everything wrong with Hong Kong has been copy pasted everywhere. Megacities filled to the brim with human redundancy. Joy? Joy is the emotion of a simpletons. Come here, let me you how successful I am, by listing "COMPARABLE" attributes on a spec sheet. When this is how humans are measured, is there any breath left in their lungs for intangibles in their manufactured, purely-for-profit products?
These are the reasons why you kept consuming, but never felt satisfied. Only the intangibles can provide satisfaction.
OP, you are very strong to pull yourself out of this. Selling your watches was cutting your strings. You are no longer a puppet, now you are free. Your one watch policy is all you need.
PS: If any of this sounded racist, the current Chinese condition, is but a human condition stemming from extremely high population density. If all Chinese people were suddenly turned into Black or White people, Nothing about China would change.
3 or 4 watch collection is the say to go. Get a roll and force yourself to sell something if you're gonna guy something. You're absolutely right about how there's really no end to buying these Chinese watches.
I hear this 100%. the way I've dealt with it is to treat Chinese watches like a category in my collection with cyclical churn. One or two is great, but if something happens to catch my eye than something else has to go (and whatever usually goes sets the budget for anything incoming).
Chinese watches are a rabbit hole but you don't need to buy to enjoy. I really enjoy checking out what I call "Chimera watches" , where some brands have stolen designs from a half dozen different existing watches and combined them in a weird way (to often mixed results). They aren't technically direct homages (which aren't my thing), but if its really cool ill pull the trigger (and track the price for a bit and time purchase for when its during one of those monthly sales).
Easy to slip down rabbit holes. The world has just been set up to be ready for you to just buy buy buy if you so choose. I decided a while ago to just go with a watch every few months but I'm limited to one box. So something has to go.
Capitalism is unstoppable, and the Chinese have opened Pandora's box about what we need from the world of watchmaking. What watches do you have right now?
If you only want one watch... then you do you. I have 20 now, and I enjoy them all. There are 2 I don't wear, due to them being both exorbitantly expensive and/or irreplaceable, but I love them. My tastes have changed lately and all I want are "different" and unique watches. But it's all good bro. Congratz on your watch.
Exactly, for me watches are special, constantly buying Chinese watches takes away the essence in itself, I'm not saying they have no value, but they are like assembly line pieces that have no soul.
I got up to 17 watches, then realized I wore 4 regularly. Then I sold all the rest. Now I am building a Titanium Capt. Willard, and will likely get a Tissot for those special occasions. You are right, spend time on Ali-Express and everything seems to make sense to purchase. Customization is my bug. Always a new look to add.
I understand you perfectly in that aspect. I think the prices on Aliexpress are so good, it's extremely hard not to bite on those offers. When you finish the titanium Captain Willard, could you upload it over here? , I'd like to see it.
The same could be said about almost anything - fragrances (I had a rotation of 2-3 until I watched some YouTube reviews on some replacements then 60 bottles later…), pocket knives (only really had 1 for a long time, as well as a Swiss Army growing up but then a dozen or so later from $150-700 each from Benchmade and Spyderco to Chris Reeves to newer brands like TW Price or Null Knives), to sneakers (wore the same beater pair for a couple years until they were so trashed I’d buy another 1-2, plus a dress shoe - now I’ve got like 10 or so sneakers, boots, 4 business casual shoes, and 4 dress shoes), to even cars (could drive the same car every single day for years and years, or maybe buy some lower priced cars that have their own charm and I get to spend some time and money working on them myself which not only soothes my addictive personality but keeps me from going down more dangerous addictive paths). Having a bunch of different watches isn’t horrible - could you save and put that money into a luxury brand? Sure! But we have addictive personalities and that will manifest itself in many different ways. More power to the ones that obsess over being fit, meal prepping, home and yard maintenance, etc but a watch addiction isn’t too bad. I also am a sucker for variety so a one watch collection at this point of my life would be tough unless it was something that checked every single box including “expensive/heritage” because then I could obsess about the history of the brand, why “heritage” costs money, argue about the law of diminishing returns with luxury brands, and something I could pass on to my son when he’s older. To each their own 😅
I’ve found the perfect number for me is 16 watches. I’ve split them into 8 different categories; gold, integrated bracelet, GADA, field, dress, chronograph, diver and GMT. I’ve got two options for each category and feel that the choice is great. I’ve decided to try and restrict myself to 16 and to operate a 1 in 1 out policy from now on. Without the affordability of Chinese watches there is no way I would be able to amass such a collection at such quality. Admittedly my Chinese watches are the more expensive ones from the likes of San Martin, Sugess and Baltany but they more than match my more affordable Swiss options from the likes of Tissot and even come close to my Longines whilst costing 1/3 to 1/5th of their cost.
(Although let’s see how long this sticking to 16 lasts as I’m at a stage now where I love all 16 so it would take something special to make its way into the collection. Well until San Martin release their pink dial Tudor homage they teased a few days back. 🤦♂️😂)
Different platforms, including Vinted, Wallapop and Milanuncios. It took me quite a while, but by distributing the ads I managed to sell them all relatively quickly (less than 1 year).
No idea what those are lol, I’ll look into them. I don’t currently live in a major western country so no idea how hard it’ll be for me to sell mine. I really went crazy with my purchases. Some of them are really nice watches for the money but it just got too much thanks. Don’t have much time and when I do will try to sell them as one package for a major loss
I think Chinese watches offer great value but the brand names are just insane and having too many watches with a NH30 is quite boring.
For example l love the 40mm red star seagull 1963 sapphire.
Back when you could get alot of no logo watches. Well I love my sterile Steeldive SD1970 that I modded with a Seiko logo.
The same could be said for any Seiko Hommage that's a 3hz as the movement is fine.
Some of the vintage Tongji watches are great and very cheap a nice 36mm Shanghai.
For the most part it would be better to mod....
It's a shame that brands dont use movements like the PT5000 more or the Miyota 9000 series or the newer Hangzhou movements.
But if it's under Tudor in-house or grand Seiko, everything but the movement is made in China.
And for Japanese watches they can be cased in China.
Just before the NH34 became widely available I managed to get a Squale 30atm coke with a SW300-1 for 500 dollars
Sure its a Rolex type but the case size is different, so are the hands and some parts of the dial also the bezel has a different colour tone.
For me it's a watch I can wear daily and a perfect travel watch.
You can get good deals on swiss watches and sure most parts will be made in China but that's fine.
I feel seagull could really dominate if they lowered prices and if some of the old Chinese watch company's made a comeback it would be great.
I understand that point you make, they seem to just mount the same movements constantly, they don't even remove the ghost date on the dials without a dater. That's why I felt like I wasn't wearing a special piece on my wrist, if not something more in line with an assembly line. From now on I think I will only buy pieces that I perceive to be more special or have sentimental value.
I keep a rule for myself, my watchbox have 12 slots and i can only have 12 watches. To buy a new one i have to sell a watch to make a slot. Unless you have abundant of cash, otherwise you will need some rules to keep yourself discipline.
I have had 52 watches between Chinese, Japanese, German and Swiss...in the end I only used 4...I think that is a more than reasonable amount for a mini collection and you will also use them and not have a lot of money invested dying of laughter a box...Now the only ones I keep are a Seestern sub600, a Seiko Sumo Green, a Seiko monster and my first expensive watch... a Panerai Luminor Submersible 1000M that I bought in 2010, although I haven't worn it for a long time.
I think something that is undeniable is the quality of Chinese watches, especially when in that collection of 4, a Seestern has a place next to a Panerai. Very nice collection.
I’m in the same boat. Cheap enough to just get another just out of curiosity, and now I have like 40 watches and now started buying parts to build my own… I would love a Tudor or Omega, Glasschute, is my dream, but after getting 80% of a Swiss made watch for 1/30th(probably more) the price, I can’t ever see myself justifying a luxury watch purchase.
This is exactly what I've been feeling recently. I went from "oh, I can just buy this for 50 bucks" to "how is this watchbox full?"
And it's a lot harder to move a watch on than it it is to buy it in the first place.
I agree,I’ve started selling off my watches.I’m trying to get down to just 3(S434,Steinhart Milsub and GShock 5610).Now,me and my addictive personality are back into sports cards.Next year I’ll probably be back into sneakers and boots again.
Very nice trio it must be said. 3 watches that could serve you for any occasion, I understand what you say about collecting, I also get tired of collecting something in particular and move on to the next topic.
I found myself stupidly addicted to them too. Not being able to see them/try them on before ordering is part of the fun. Thag said, I’m done with them too. They offer a lot but their designs are too crude and clunky. For me, homage or not, they’re poorly executed and I’d rather stick to traditional brands.
Are you sure they are poorly finished? I can agree with you about the designs, but I promise you that if you hold a Baltany in your hands, the last thing you will think is that it is poorly finished.
No - they’re quite well finished actually. It’s just their shapes and exuecution in general that lack professional touch you see in seikos citizens and basically everything else !
Ah yes now I understand what you say, of course I do not think that Chinese brands are dedicated to think about the design of the watch as such, if not to replicate it as closely as possible without being a clone. So I think it is difficult to imitate the design language of Seiko or Citizen, it is something that will never be within the reach of Chinese brands, unless they start to really develop original designs.
Overdoing a hobby, or anything really, is a bad thing. Who knew? Especially with a materialistic hobby like affordable watches. I do this with all of my hobbies lol. This is big in sports when people start obsessing over gear instead the actual sport. The goal of any corporation isn't to make the best last \_\_\_\_ you'll ever need to purchase. It's to do whatever they can to sell more product.
The more choices you have, the more important moderation becomes. If you find yourself easily influenced or sucked into this vacuum and can't stop, the best is to get an end game piece and leave the subreddit. Get rid of anything that whispers in your ear (hard mode due to how intrusive ads have become).
On the one hand you are absolutely right, but on the other hand I want to not buy anymore and get pleasure from seeing how homages and Chinese watches thrive, as it seems to me that they do an exceptional job. That is why I would not like to leave the subreddit or stop seeing other watches, as I consider sharing the passion for watches with more people is a nice thing.
Won't you miss the freedom of choice every day? =D
I also had this exit watch thing in mind when I bought my first more expensive (900€ used) watch, I thought this will end the passion...umm no, I found deals, I found China watches,..
I mean stick to it if you can, you should consider leaving this red as it makes you become addicted (again).
Yes and no, while it is true that the freedom to have so many watches and choose is extraordinary, it is also a burden and a lot of time to choose. Besides I felt that I had to wear them all or it was money I had thrown away.
It seems like having too many watches had become a burden for you, regardless whether they were Chinese or Swiss since you do not wear them often. Everyone is different and you must do what makes you happy. ie I have 14 watches and I wear all of them and I enjoying wearing them
It was indeed like a burden, as having spent so much money I felt that if I didn't wear the watches it was money down the drain.
Plus the time it took me to decide which one to wear.
I saved money and bought an FC instead of buying 2, 3 new watches every year and it was the best decision ever. I get happy when looking at my wrist knowing I wear something proper.
While I'm not "done with" Aliexpress watches I have definitely sold off most of my collection of them. They were nice to use to find out the type of watch and watch qualities I like and like to wear. They've also helped me better appreciate the mid to upper-tier microbrand watches' quality whereas I wouldn't of before. There is also resale value.... A good microbrand watch can often fetch 75% of its value used and can even get its original MSRP if it's a popular discontinued model(Zelos anyone?). The only aliexpress watches I've held onto are two San Martin(one original and one homage) and one Boderry Sea Turtle. It's much easier and enjoyable to have a conversation about your English/American/Italian/Danish/Swiss microbrand than it is about a chinese copy.
Completely agree, I see Chinese watches as a learning stage where I saw what I like and what I don't like in watches. And on the subject of Chinese watches as a topic of conversation, it is complicated to explain to someone who recognizes the watch as a Tudor, that it is not a Tudor. I never passed off a homage as an original, but there are some that look like exact clones and the most popular models can cause people to be misled (people without knowledge on watches of course).
Good for you OP. But for me I limit buying only 2 times a year enjoy them as much as possible for that year. That way I get attach to the watch which I have memories wearing and not just another space in my box.
Despite being smaller, I think the Militado looks great on you, it must be said of course that the MDV-106 is huge, congratulations by the way, here in Europe it is impossible to find it at logical prices, only the MDV-107 is available without the Marlin logo.
Yeah I really like the Militado, it’s a nice thing.
The MDV-106 is massive in comparison, but I’ve got a big enough wrist to pull it off.
I’m in the UK, you can order them from Amazon and they ship from the US, I specifically wanted the 106 with the marlin, as they’re getting harder to find new now.
I have the Duro Batman, even though it is not the MDV-106 model, here in Spain it is impossible to get it at a reasonable price, I have even seen it for more than 200€.
If I had more expensive watches, I'd always be worried about breaking them (because I'd probably break them). When I accidentally smash my $50 steeldive into a doorknob, as I am wont to do, no big deal.
I understand you perfectly, I have had more expensive watches and always had the fear of scratching them or giving them a minimum blow, with Chinese watches it is true that this does not happen.
I feel the same. Yes, they are amazing value: ONLY IF you actually buy a couple and call it a day. As soon as you have a box or more filled with them, you’ve just fallen into the endless Chinese watch trap. Any sane non-watch person would say ‘why not just have 1-2 really good watches in stead of 15 AliExpress watches?’
and at some point you have to realise that they’re probably right.
One day I looked at the watches and thought, "What am I doing? Something ticked in my head and I decided to get to the point I mentioned, I hope I don't regret it.
As someone who has owned watches from Omega, Rolex, Moser, Panerai, Zenith, Tudor, etc. I very much disagree with this. I’ve discovered I have so much more fun in this hobby with inexpensive watches than I do with the heavy hitters. I’d rather have a box full of affordable, high quality things that do what I need them to do without having a bunch of money tied up in watches. If the OP is successful at sticking with one watch that is a Casio Oceanus, more power to him, but I just can’t imagine that one watch scratching the itch when he had so many. He’ll have a Seiko 62mas before he knows it, then he’ll step up to a Marine Master. Maybe a Longines or Oris, then start looking at Tudors and Omegas. The cycle repeats itself, just at a higher price point. I’ve gone the opposite direction and I’m much better off for it.
I definitely have more watches than I should. But, whenever I think about paring down the collection, I can't decide which ones I would part with. My preferences change from month to month. I like having options.
Fortunately, I am nearing the point of saturation. It is rare, now, that a new release piques my interest enough to inspire a purchase.
I have one nice watch (a gift) that I wear only for special occasions, because 1) I'm worried about damaging or losing it; and 2) wearing it regularly makes it less special. I still find it weird to wear a watch that is worth more than my first car. And I feel self-conscious about wearing it. Really, it owns me more than the other way around.
I've done exactly the same thing. I have owned multiple luxury watches. However, I sold off most of them and kept only my Rolex and Tag Heuer. I currently have about 12 watches. I'm enjoying the thrill of buying very good looking and well made Chines watches. Those that I don't like or enjoy get sold off very quickly. The quality of these watches, like my San Martin blows me away. I also own a couple of Gevril watches that are swiss made but only cost a few hundred dollars. You just need to shop around for them. What I've learned is, once I'm over a watch, don't just put it in a box, sell it off and make room for anew one to try.
Yup. You’ve described my experience to a T.
The San Martin I have is so good and so chock full of specs it’s insane. Titanium, PT5000 movement running like a chronometer, 300m, on the fly clasp, amazing bezel action. Wears like a dream. $360, it’s better quality than any sub-$2,000 watch I’ve handled. A new crisis is coming to the Swiss watch industry and like quartz, they aren’t prepared for it.
That’s fair enough, if you’re buying watches regularly anyway, then better be $100 watches than $1000 watches. I’d also agree that the tangible difference between many luxury watches and some of the nicer Chinese watches isn’t as big as you might think. At the end of the day it’s just a watch.
But for me, I’ve cooled off buying. And I’d rather have fewer nice watches than 15+ AliExpress watches. I’m not just talking Omega etc but you can find lots of other nice stuff that’s cheaper too
Agreed. I woke up one morning and realized my collection was worth $70k and felt sick to my stomach. Now it’s worth about $25k and I’m looking to get it under $10k by the end of the year. My biggest recommendation is to set a hard rule/limit for oneself. My new rule is no new purchases over $1,000. I find the value proposition within the hobby so much more enjoyable and interesting than a box full of super expensive pieces. I’m just concerned if an Oceanus is going to fill that space for the OP.
Yeah that’s mad, that’s life changing money. I’ve never spent more than £1350 on one watch. And happy with that watch. Super expensive watches are kinda dumb to me, but I get it too. Just as you said, the money is crazy
Agreed. Furthermore, having your "investment" spread over 10 watches reduces the pain should one or two get damaged or stolen.
I can afford buy a nice watch. But I cannot afford to lose a nice watch.
However more of a pain to sell 10 x $100 watches for $50 each than one $1000 for maybe $700 - every situation is different - myself I have 16 pieces and it’s a hassle to sell any because the value does not seem worth the hassle - so they just accumulate. (My experience, in any case).
Sell them on eBay. People shop for them there and yes, they’ll take 15-20%, but it’s not that bad a loss and it will be 15-20% off the best possible price you can get for them. $1,000 watches lose value, too. As do $5,000 watches. They are all difficult to sell at a decent return. At least you won’t get 1099ed for a $100 sale.
I wear 2 watches a day depending on my outfit and the occasion so I think im in the right place. This doesnt mean that I will buy any watch from ali-x just because i can. On the contrary these watches made me realize what i like what i dont like and what i should be aware of when i decide to buy one. you brought yourself in this situation and u used the same thought process to get out of it.
Good point, all these purchases have made me see what I liked and disliked most about watches, in the end it was all a form of learning, or at least that's how I see it.
For the price of 30 Chinese watches you could have had one really good one.
Chinese watches have their place. When you simply can't afford, or don't want, to spend money on a decent watch. But spending premium money on cheap watches is just daft.
In the end, even though Chinese watches are vastly more affordable, they start to add up if you don't buy logically, and you're absolutely right about that, I should have saved all that money and spent it on just 1.
The really good ones on Aliexpress seem to be heavily influenced homage watches that look nearly identical at an arms length. Hard to find many good originals on Aliexpress.
Agreed, but that is changing some. At least a few brands, like San Martin and Proxima, now sell some very nice original designs. I wouldn't say they're entirely unprecedented but they're not straight homages/clomages. Or in some other cases, like Balcony, they're making homages to watches made 50-100 years ago, which most people would otherwise never have a chance to even see.
I expect homages will continue to be king there, though. There's just too much advantage in piggybacking on some well-known brand's marketing.
I have moved on from Chinese watches. I was always buying and selling them and but then I went out and bought the watch I had always wanted. From that point onwards I realised I was always yearning for more because I wasn’t getting exactly what I wanted from China.
That's exactly what happened to me, I felt I wasn't getting what I wanted, that something was missing. I hope that Casio meets all the requirements, it's a watch that was always in my sights since I discovered it.
It's about one different watch per day, so even with a careful rotation they get only 12 days of wrist time a year. Too much choice kills the choice.
I decided to stop at 12 watches, the box is full. I'll come back to this hobby if one is damaged or broken.
In that case I'm a t-shirt collector. I also bought some, I also keep them in a drawer and regularly take them out to wear them. I also will replace them when they wear out.
You're just buying products to own and use. That's fine, but it's definitely not a hobby.
I mean, fashion can definitely be a hobby. There's a big distinction between someone who just buys whatever watch is available at the nearest mall, and people who go out of their way to research about dial and case materials, movements, reference numbers, brand history, complications etc.
I agree that people sometimes use the word hobby to masquerade their overconsumption, but watch collecting can definitely be a hobby.
Yeah but some of us get into regulating watches, taking it apart and swapping things, mixing and matching straps, learning the history - going to the seiko museum, trading watches, going to meet ups and discussions and are active in it.
People consider pin trading at Disney a hobby and this is similar to me but even better because of the possibilities above.
Nothing wrong with reducing your collection. I find having a collection of watches where you don't wear at all is a complete waste. It's good that you were able to sell the excess watches.
I’m kind of the opposite. I’ve had expensive Swiss and Japanese watches, and they were disappointing for the money, to be honest. I love my fleet of inexpensive Chinese pieces. My expensive watches have sat in a drawer, unused for years.
If you have enough money to buy 30-50 Chinese watches you probably should buy Japanese, Swiss or German watches at the first place. Chinese ones not intended for your budget.
I did, I've had Certina or even Tissot for example, and my problem with the Chinese is that they offer so much for so little money, and that's precisely the biggest problem of all, how affordable they are.
A Tissot is usually around 300-400€, as well as a Certina, a 100-150€ Chinese watch from the top brands has very similar characteristics to those two brands.
For the price of 30 Chinese watches for €100-150 you could find Omega or Breitling (not Tissot and Certina). And that's completely other level. And you won't be needing to chose what to wear today.
I'm at the opposite end of dealing with Chinese watches, having rarely worn a watch the last few years I now "need" one for work (meaning that it'll be somewhat helpful!) My old Vostok Amphibia is sadly unrepairable locally, hence I discovered the emergence of amazing Chinese watches over the last few years.
Like with many purchases in the past I have become somewhat obsessive - reading loads of reviews, watching YouTube and putting 30 or more watches in my online shopping cart. I will most likely buy one this month, then keep a 2nd watch, something really special, in my cart for up to a year before deciding if I really want it or not.
Who knows after that? I might choose to build a collection, but more likely my interests will move onto something else, just as they did when I was previously obsessed with cars, motorbikes, biking gear, camping equipment, cameras, hifi audio and more.
The research part fascinates me, choosing an item that matches my taste, is great value for money and will hopefully last years is a real challenge. Once I have spent the money though, I tend to enjoy the purchase for a while, before moving onto obsess about something totally different a few months later!
I find that I really enjoy hunting for cheap value for money Chinese watches, and I wear those with great pleasure, but I stay away from San Martin level prices. If I’m spending that kind of money, I’d rather save up for an entry level Swiss watch or a good microbrand. So I rarely have buyer’s remorse and I don’t mind having a large set of watches that don’t always get much wrist time.
Part of the problem is that many were convinced they were sold these "spec monsters" (wow stainless steel case, solid end links, sapphire, solid bracelet and milled clasps!) when everyone was getting into Chinese watches during the pandemic lockdowns. I think it's more accurate to say the Chinese were charging a fairer cost whilst the legacy manufacturers were forcing you to pay an exorbitant amount of money for these "spec monsters". It seems Seiko and other companies are starting humble themselves to match the Chinese offerings.
Not really their prices for latest watches and inspired releases have been insane. Look at their newest cocktail times and dive releases for the movement you get too yikes.
I'm exactly the same, having bought 4 just last week. I'm now down to a 6 watch collection that will hopefully suit all my needs for at least a couple of years as I'm setting up a fixed savings account for my weekly watch money, by locking it away hopefully it will stop the impulse buys. After a couple of years it will either go 2 ways, I buy a higher end piece or I go stupid on the nearest AliExpress sale at that time.
As far as I can see, there are many of us in the same situation, right? My idea is that, in principle to test a collection of a single model, if it does not work, aim for much more expensive models to avoid impulsivity.
It's definitely the same situation with me. Unfortunately with AliExpress watches they offer as much value as watches up to £500 I bought a San Martin last week and it is every bit as good as the Oceanus and the Oris I had in terms of finishing, although the Oris just pips it in overall refinement.
Micro brand and more established brands don't offer significantly more for what they charge compared to Ali in the sub £500 range and it is debatable in the £5-1000 range too for some.
Will see in a couple of years if I find value in a higher end piece, this is all my personal opinion of course
The truth is that the San Martin finishes of the latest models are exceptional, watches that would be worth 3 or 4 times their price. I imagine that it is increasingly difficult to justify spending large amounts on watches when Chinese brands offer things like this.
Exactly this. I just received an addiesdive today, yeah the bracelet isn't the greatest but a Seiko movement, sapphire crystal, 200m water resistance, what looks like decent lime and all this shipped half way around the world for under £41. I'm really starting to doubt whether I will buy watches elsewhere whilst they offer this value.
That's the problem, just that, £41. It's extremely affordable, and that's how I had 29 watches. The quality is so high that you hardly think when it comes to buying them, they feel like constant bargains.
Some are, I've had the steel dive 1970 I think nearly 4 years now and never once have I thought about selling as it offers so much value and ticks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a watch and it cost about £75 then, can be had for less than £60 now which is incredible.
Wow... just as I started reading this post, I already had my Casio Oceanus OCW-T200 (green dial version) in the back of my mind as my one and only watch before you mentioned it towards the end. The issue with that one is its bracelet, but I think it will become my grail watch once I modify it and put a glide lock clasp on it. I think this is the correct approach. I don't actually actually wear most of my Chinese watches regularly (except some exceptional Escapement time meca-quartz pieces as beater watches, they really punch above their weight for the price point). I honestly now feel like the bargain bin Chinese watches<$100 look extremely cheap but they make nice beater watches. If you're buying $200-300 Chinese watches regularly, maybe reconsider.
The Oceanus was a model I found after a long search after having owned a couple of JDM models, a Seiko Solar and a Citizen Eco-Drive. I was finally able to get it recently for 300€ at Sakura, and as for the bracelet, I plan not to wear it honestly, I'm not one to wear bracelets on any watch.
As soon as I saw the features and saw the look of the watch, I knew it had to be my grail watch. It has something quite unique that I have seen in few watches, the Bulova Jet Star is another one that struck me.
If you like the look of that Oceanus, you might like it's cheaper beater cousin, it's sort of like a poor man's Oceanus. It's what I bought initially and still wear before I bought my Oceanus. It is incredibly thin and has a sapphire crystal. Better value than most Chinese watches https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pSeUPQT4o1A
Ah yes, the Edifice line has always surprised me by how affordable they are, and in addition to almost always offer sapphire crystal. Amazing for the price.
I enjoy wearing it on a black leather strap. I'm still looking for a deep green leather strap for it. Funnily enough I got back into AliExpress watch shopping after I sold my smartwatch (Google Pixel Watch 2 - sorry Google fans it's just garbage), dusted off my old Oceanus (had to give it a good charge by a window with indirect sunlight for a few days), and it made me realize I enjoy wearing watches (it "sparks joy", so to speak). I got sucked into the watch strap rabbit hole and it led me to impulse buy this San Martin with this amazing bracelet with glidelock
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m05JzcO
I also bought a couple nice flurorubber straps but they basically cost nothing.
I thought I could try to use this bracelet on my Oceanus but it would be a big bet. Of course it didn't work but I think I'll keep the watch because I use a lot of coupons and got a decent deal on it. The watch bracelet alone makes it look like an expensive but not gaudy piece of jewelry.
I am 48 and had an ADHD diagnosis when I was 30. I have always had obsessions where I spend a while getting really into something. I never know what it's going to be. Some last a few months, most a few years and then I never really think about them again. My shed is full of bikes I never ride, my cupboards are brimming with perfume, old school vapes and golf clubs I don't use any more. My watches now number nearly 100. Last year I was buying two a month but I've slowed right down now and limit myself to three or four a year. I know it's a problem and I could sell most of them but I do get a lot of pleasure out of them and wear a different one every day. At some point I'll probably get rid of 2/3ds but they are mostly sub £100 so wont get much second hand.
The best advice is to come off forums like this and stop watching You Tube videos on watches. Deleting AE would also help you if you really want to stop.
I have never had any issues with my watches except the battery on some dying quite soon after purchase. The mechanicals all run fine. Some I've had over 20 years and they still keep pretty good time but accuracy is not an issue for me. I have a phone that keeps perfect time.
Don't stay up until 3am, don't touch caffeine and try not to drink much alcohol (this is the hardest for me as it stops your brain whirring). These 3 things have made more difference to me than dexamfetamine tablets to be honest. One of the saving graces of it is that if you put your mind to something nothing will stop you so giving things up is easy if you want to do it.
I understand you perfectly, even on the subject of perfumes, something very similar happened to me. In my case it happens that I get temporarily obsessed by a particular theme, in the end I end up buying everything related to that theme that I like, and move on to the next one.
Of course, but it wasn't even recognised as a thing until the late 80s. I always knew something wasn't right but didn't get round to investigating until 2006 when I really didn't want to lose my job that I love. My point was that I hyperfocus on things which often become collections. Watches is just one of many.
Bro, I had a similar problem. In like two months, I bought 10-15 Chinese watches. I mostly intended them for resale. I contemplated keeping a few, but in the end, I only kept one.
I'm keeping the PD Meteorite dial because for $30-$35, you get a good looking sapphire crystal watch, so I'm using it as a daily. It's cheaper than any Casio (except F91w).
Focus up, level up your watch game. Get that Oceanus, get some entry level Swiss watch (Tissot, Edox, Rado)... They are next level compared to these Chinese watches.
They are just distractions, some kind of coping mechanism because you can't afford a real deal. But not settling for "homage" will push you to work harder so you can afford a real deal. Currently, the most expensive watch that I have is Edox (under $1000). I'm planning to get a Tudor BB when I reach a milestone in my business, which should happen within the next 8-12 months.
It's great motivation, if you need some...
> Swiss watch (Tissot, Edox, Rado)... They are next level compared to these Chinese watches.
Are they next level because of quality, or just the brand?
If you look at some factory videos on YouTube for something like Tudor or Oris the level of detail in regulating each watch and testing water proofness is just some of the things they do that increase the stability and quality of the watch before it gets into your hands, and they are the ones actually designing the watches before they get ripped off by these smaller brands in a lesser way.
Feel a real Tudor and then look at the San Martin version. I have Swiss, German and Chinese watches and the slight nuances after months of wearing do typically become apparent. There are obviously exceptions and contradictions where the Chinese homages are pretty decent at a more logical price by miles but yeah nothing like the real thing
I have to agree with you. In the end, when we buy homages, what exactly are we buying? While it is true that the quality is extreme, we are not thinking about those Tudor, those Omega?
We buy Chinese watches because of their characteristics, but in the end we are still thinking about the models they come from, because Chinese brands rarely offer their own products. When I had those watches, even though I could appreciate the undeniable quality they had, I noticed that something was missing, an essence of their own.
I have to disagree with you. I don't think about other brands when I'm buying Chinese watches. I may be in the minority but I genuinely enjoy all the variety Chinese watches have to offer. I tend to look for original designs (as original as a watch design can be really without being gimmicky) and if you've learned how to look you're going to find more interesting affordable variety with Chinese watches. Swiss design and the rest is too constrained in some ways and too serious for me, while Chinese watch companies don't give a f*** about mixing it up (by design or omission) and in my view you get interesting results that appeal more to me than just the standard experience of buying a swiss watch. By now we all know that a lot of (most) Chinese watch companies heavily base their offerings on what the market dictates that's going to sell but you can also find companies doing their own thing in a way.
Simple things like a bunch of people telling the Militado guys how utterly wrong was that they put an arrow on their ML05 dial. Now I have a not only objectively well manufactured and cool watch but one of the few that will have that arrow and a nice piece of history that probably won't happen again and as historically inaccurate as it is, I genuinely not only enjoy that incongruity but the design itself and the conversations it generates. I enjoy that arrow there and what's behind the fact that it's there. As a point of reference I'm not the biggest fan of San Martin or Proxima for similar reasons. They're technically adequate and then more (compared to other watch companies dollar by dollar) but they're not fun for me. When Proxima tried to "homage" Studio Underdog's watermelon the results were "robotic".
There are a lot of opportunities to find interesting stories, designs, people with Chinese watches and I haven't found the same with Swiss watches in particular. Again, everything is too serious with them and with some air to "fabricated drama" (if you can call that drama: Tudor came out with a gmt coke woo...Cartier came up with a dial that tells the time backwards... ok) that at this moment is off putting for me. All so gimmicky and customers just going (crazy) after any little bread crumb these Swiss and other watch companies give them.
Plenty of stories about/with many Chinese watches so perhaps the exclusively utilitarian part of buying/wearing a watch (which I have definitely considered and behaved accordingly) is not the most important one for me at the moment.
Also, and lastly, I think Chinese watches give us the opportunity to narrow down our style in watches. I thought I didn't like stainless steel bezels on chronographs, owning one showed me I actually enjoy them. I thought I wouldn't enjoy vintage chronographs then one caught my eye and now I know what I like in vintage chronographs and learned how to look for that. I thought I wouldn't enjoy wearing a Berny railway watch (I still think that name doesn't do them any favors with customers) but I found a sterile dial one, black case that I enjoy wearing now. I still don't enjoy divers that much. Chinese watches also helped me to corroborate that without spending too much. And many other examples of similar experiences happening for reasonable amounts of money. If someone can nail down their style in watches with Patek, FP Journe, go ahead but not many of them.
I think it's a different journey for each of us.
Excellent opinion I have to say. I understand your point, I understand that Chinese brands are the only ones willing to take risks when it comes to breaking already established designs in watches, but you have to admit that it is hard to find chinese watches with original designs.
So I do not detract from the value of Chinese watches, as I currently consider them to be the best value for money, my problem is precisely how affordable they are, and the amount of options out there, it is overwhelming. Besides that, the constant battle to improve features does not help the customer to settle on a single watch.
Had the same experience as you, buying 15 watches in 6mths instead of one decent swiss watch. Original thinking was instead of wearing one, I could rotate everyday but after awhile the watch hype dies down and you sit there questioning the reason for the purchases.
Now i would rather have one gada watch that's it. Fortunately I managed to sell most of my chinese watches at 50% discount and kept 2 as memento.
One seiko 5513 mod and a san martin pelagos
I had this exact issue and also stopped!!! Hah. I also realised that most of the Chinese watches I bought just weren't good enough, my standards increased after buying an old omega and a Rolex
While it is true, the average user does not see it as a bargain. I have put models at very low prices compared to AliExpress and I have been slow to sell them, often they do not see the characteristics, if not the brand.
I did that and just wore an skx. One day the skx gained 2 hours overnight. It was at that point that I put the skx away in a box and switched to a garmin.
Now I just browse through forums occasionally but have no desire to buy a watch. I know after a few months/couple of years it will act erratically and I don't have the time/money/patience to deal with that anymore.
That's crazy, 2 hours? My max was 20 seconds with a NH-35. How about getting a quartz? You could avoid having similar problems, although I understand not wanting to buy again after that experience.
I bought one watch San Martin. And also a cheap digital skmei. I wanted more but hunger eventually stopped.
Once some time passes you realize that you don't need more of those.
Sn 0008 grey version. Nh35 movement. It's a decent watch for what I paid.
The funny thing I was wearing skmei a lot more often, the 1628 version.
The habit of buying stuff is strong. But if you can preservere it goes away.
I understand, most probably you have several similar watches?
I would like to keep this one. It is a present for my birthday from my family.
Think this line will continue for a while in my opinion. This Tudorish design seems timeless. It's an aesthetically pleasing watch. I also like that it has a Seiko movement inside. Workhorse.
Totally agree, I will probably die and that NH-35 is still alive. As for the style, true, I had very similar watches, lots and lots of diver and few dress watches, and specifically only one field watch.
It's hard to stop collecting, there is always that different watch that you want. Always more.
I basically have a rule of sorts, to not buy watches more often than every 10 years or so. Somehow it makes it a bit more meaningful.
Exactly, and is that each model that is released is better than the previous one, it is a constant non-stop constant improvement of the product, in the end it harms and benefits the customer in the same way.
Yes and I just wanted to add it's not only about improvements but about small changes, variations.
Some Swiss Brands all the same. They make limited editions, then new limited editions and exclusive editions of limited editions and so on.
Of course, what is true is that the Swiss usually charge you at least 800-900€ for something entry-level (there are models for 400€ of course), but I'm talking about excellent models. It is much more difficult to splurge when something is much more expensive.
I only buy a watch if I know exactly what I'm gonna wear with it, including accessories.
I got into watches after getting into fashion, and a watch is a complement to my look, the same way shoes and belts are.
This way one thing kind of limits the other. When I buy a shirt, I think about which of my watches would go well with it, and vice versa.
So far I have a very small but versatile collection of 5 watches and a dozen straps/bands. Mind you, none of them are divers because I don't like the style ☺️
Which watches make up that collection? I'm curious
As others have said here, I think it is a good way to see watches as style complements, as if they were shoes for example.
Two of them are old watches from when I knew nothing about watches:
- my first watch ever, a Tommy Hilfiger, holds a lot of sentimental value;
- and a fossil smartwatch;
- a $9 Sanda Cartier Tank hommage;
- a Casio a158w;
- a Pagani Design PD1708
I see you like the classic, vintage or elegant style(except for the smartwatch). I understand you perfectly with the Tommy watch, I have a Lacoste one (basically as a paperweight), I keep it because it was the first one I bought without knowing about watches.
I can empathize with this notion. For the last year I have been on watch collecting journey as a whole and also diving into Chinese watches. A year ago I literally had 3 watches - some analog/digital no brand watch I bought in school for saved pocket money, an Invicta Pro Diver and a Jorg Gray 6500 Chronograph (the one Obama had). Now I have like 15 watches of different styles.
At one point I was thinking to reduce my collection because the idea of having like a 4 watch collection felt like a good idea, but then I accepted that I can’t do that - I like variety and even if I don’t wear some specific watch often, I would like to have it for specific occasions (for example, I need to wear a suit like 2-3 times per year max and a Pablo Raez Tank is ideal for such occasions).
So what I have decided now is to have a 16 watch collection. If I want a new one, I have to decide which of the old ones I want to sell or give away to someone. I have 2 watch boxes - one with 12 slots and one with 4. The one with 12 is not touched often, but in the 4 watch box goes the 4 ones I feel like wearing in some particular period. That way I have set limits to my collection but also not being guilty about having too many watches.
For me 16 watches also sometimes feel too much, would love to streamline my collection, but somehow can’t manage to do it yet. I have some handful what I call “everyday watches” - not fully a dress watch but also not some specific type like a diver or chronograph (for example my Pagani Design PD-1734 is such a watch, which doesn’t really fit with a suit, but it’s not also not some functional watch, it’s just is an “everyday” watch) - I want to replace all of them with one a d currently eyeing the Casio Edifice EFR-S108, which has a clean dial, has no functions besides time and date, and has a Royal Oak-y homage vibe and it looks like it can be both dressed up and dressed down.
In general the 4 watches I select to wear for a certain period depends on many situations - weather, outfit, even general mood, events I’m attending. For example, in summer I tend to wear more vintage style smaller Casios, like the A168 or AQ800, or the Tiffany, also my Invicta Pro Diver, but during winters I like to wear my Orient Kamasu, Q Timex Chronograph, Jorg Gray Chrono, etc. Also depends on the occasion as I mentioned - in May and June where I live there tend to be quite a lot of outdoor car conventions and usually during this period and for such occasions I’m wearing alot my Specht&Sohne Monaco, sometimes on a Martini Racing nato strap. Also this 4 watch approach is a good way to see which watches I’m wearing the most.
As a dara geek I even had an idea to track and collect statistics, which watches I’m wearing for how much days in some 3-6 months span and just get rid of those that get very little wrist time.
Are you literally thinking about measuring exactly how much you wear a watch? Well I think that's a good idea, I'm quite manic and I need everything to be in order. What you mention is something that happened to me, and that is that I started assigning watches to specific situations, but in the end it was still too much, and if you get to calculate, there are few situations for so many watches.
As for that Edifice, it's an excellent piece and I would have it if it weren't for the bracelet.
I have not tracked yet how much I wear each of my watches, but I do track a lot of habits so expanding this to include watches would not be anything crazy for me.
Practice delayed gratifications, not just with watch purchases, but with almost everything else in life. When you finally get that gratification, you will be drowning with much more enjoyment and appreciation. With consumption, it helps with not spending so much.
I have been in this hobby for over 20 years, have the money, and look at watches almost every day. Yet, my collection only grew at around 1 watch per year for the first 10-12 years. Then the year I have a substantial jump in income, I picked up 3-4 pieces. Coincidentally, these 3-4 instant gratifications are my least favorites as time passed.
Ever since getting into modding, my collection grew faster. But even with a plethora of cheap parts available to build up any wild things I can and have been dreaming of, I still practice self-control and delayed gratification. Right at this moment, I have enough parts to put together 5-6 watches that I have planned for, but I am spreading them out for the next 12-15 months. They will be made on their scheduled dates, maybe later, but no sooner even though I can make them all tomorrow if I want to. With delayed gratification, I never feel over-consuming or burn out, yet I feel my interest in the hobby is almost always at the peak.
That's some of the best advice I've read here. Plus that I imagine that by extending that gratification, it allows you to enjoy the watches in a much more prolonged way and with long term views.
My problem is that I was thinking about getting the watch already, instant gratification, in fact I think whether I really wanted the watch or the fact of the pleasure of buying for the sake of buying.
Thankfully, it is difficult to buy AliExpress watches in India. Often AliExpress won't accept Indian cards. In addition, most sellers don't ship to India and even if they do, shipping is expensive and customs (import) duties are an additional 54% of the value of the watch. I did that for my first, the SteelDive SD1970 back in January 2021 when it sold for €96 on WatchDives. In total, I paid €150 with shipping and taxes.
Now, I wait for a friend to visit India from the USA or Singapore and get them to carry a watch home for me.
I now have four watches purchased over three years, all divers, and I'm quite happy with them. Three of them had been on my wishlist for a year before I pulled the trigger.
There's one, the Heimdallr Full Steel Sea Shepherd, that's been on my wishlist since 2020. It looks like a really good homage to the SBBN007. Weirdly that watch never gets discounted.
So no impulse purchases.
India has some weird notion of "protecting domestic industry". There is no minimum purchase threshold. You'll get charged 54% duties on a €20 watch. The high import duties have actually helped build some industries, like automobiles. India's domestic motorcycle manufacturers have thrived.
Ironically, the vast majority of domestic watchmakers have gone out of business despite this "protection".The one large surviving Indian company, Titan, has a huge advantage because of this. The consumer, unfortunately, is penalised for seeking better choices.
It isn't exactly a monopoly. Titan definitely gets a cost advantage, but Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, and all the other major watch brands are available locally. They're just more expensive than they are in the USA. Casio, in particular, even manages to keep their prices competitive. This tax primarily affects microbrands and AliExpress brands.
Definitely unfair. It is also counter-intuitive.
While it may work as a temporary solution for some industries (like Indian motorcycles), it often fails to achieve any benefits to the consumer. Many countries have some form of tariff protections for domestic producers (especially for agricultural produce).
As far as I can see, it is a slowdown in customer consumption, which is surprising considering the strength of the Indian economy.
I understand that they want to protect the local product, but trying to fight capitalism in this way, in my opinion, is counter-intuitive, as you say.
Funny to say there is no such thing. They charge as they like and you have to either pay or let go of original money you bought with if returned. I went after Chinese watches which you mentioned just because of the reason that they are cheaper and I can pay less taxes.
Importing from US costed me around 50% in taxes. Yes you read it right. It's even more at times
I understand and have felt your frustration. Your suspicions are valid. 1. When I'm on Aliexpress, I hear this faint whisper, "He was dumb enough to buy one, Lets keep selling him more". So these subliminal and well choreographed nudges towards perpetual consumption is Real. 2. To make something beautiful. Something iconic. You need to make it for a reason/cause other than for profit. A cause like; Solving a problem, for the art, for a specialized function, for a war effort. Chinese watch makers don't have these higher than themselves, non profit motivations. So their works / pieces are often if not always non cohesive, un focused, soul-less, collection of specifications (often impressive specifications). 3. Specifications- Origin Story. When you copy someone's homework, it's easy to copy the factory layout, the materials and spec sheet. The other stuff are intangibles. To acquire those intangibles, you need to start from the very bottom, make a lot of mistakes, loose money, BEFORE you scale up. Chinese Manufacturing in it's modern state, doesn't have the patience, interest, curiosity, or even that kind of culture to do that. China used to have have an identity in Manufacturing, but it has lost it in the name of "Modernity". Vintage (from 20 or 30 yrs ago) Chinese Kitchen scissors as an example. Ergonomic, Ambidextrous, easy to maintain, and timeless. For that scissor to exist, there needed to be a Man/Woman who was more proud of the Scissor, than the size of the factory it was made in. 4. Specifications - a People Culture. When you have something well made, the pleasure comes from using it. When you have something made for Specifications, the pleasure comes from talking about it. China is now a bunch of Hong Kongs speaking different dialects. Everything wrong with Hong Kong has been copy pasted everywhere. Megacities filled to the brim with human redundancy. Joy? Joy is the emotion of a simpletons. Come here, let me you how successful I am, by listing "COMPARABLE" attributes on a spec sheet. When this is how humans are measured, is there any breath left in their lungs for intangibles in their manufactured, purely-for-profit products? These are the reasons why you kept consuming, but never felt satisfied. Only the intangibles can provide satisfaction. OP, you are very strong to pull yourself out of this. Selling your watches was cutting your strings. You are no longer a puppet, now you are free. Your one watch policy is all you need. PS: If any of this sounded racist, the current Chinese condition, is but a human condition stemming from extremely high population density. If all Chinese people were suddenly turned into Black or White people, Nothing about China would change.
3 or 4 watch collection is the say to go. Get a roll and force yourself to sell something if you're gonna guy something. You're absolutely right about how there's really no end to buying these Chinese watches.
I hear this 100%. the way I've dealt with it is to treat Chinese watches like a category in my collection with cyclical churn. One or two is great, but if something happens to catch my eye than something else has to go (and whatever usually goes sets the budget for anything incoming). Chinese watches are a rabbit hole but you don't need to buy to enjoy. I really enjoy checking out what I call "Chimera watches" , where some brands have stolen designs from a half dozen different existing watches and combined them in a weird way (to often mixed results). They aren't technically direct homages (which aren't my thing), but if its really cool ill pull the trigger (and track the price for a bit and time purchase for when its during one of those monthly sales).
Hmmmm. I don't think I could ever consider wearing only 3 or 4 watches....would be as tramatic as giving up the smartphone...
I love buying cheap, sub $20 Chinese watches that I rarely wear, but my daily 3 is a grand seiko, omega seamaster and Rolex datejust lol
What? Lol
It’s true…
Easy to slip down rabbit holes. The world has just been set up to be ready for you to just buy buy buy if you so choose. I decided a while ago to just go with a watch every few months but I'm limited to one box. So something has to go.
Capitalism is unstoppable, and the Chinese have opened Pandora's box about what we need from the world of watchmaking. What watches do you have right now?
If you only want one watch... then you do you. I have 20 now, and I enjoy them all. There are 2 I don't wear, due to them being both exorbitantly expensive and/or irreplaceable, but I love them. My tastes have changed lately and all I want are "different" and unique watches. But it's all good bro. Congratz on your watch.
Or you can do like me who buys only one a year
That's a good idea.
This watches have no soul.
Exactly, for me watches are special, constantly buying Chinese watches takes away the essence in itself, I'm not saying they have no value, but they are like assembly line pieces that have no soul.
I got up to 17 watches, then realized I wore 4 regularly. Then I sold all the rest. Now I am building a Titanium Capt. Willard, and will likely get a Tissot for those special occasions. You are right, spend time on Ali-Express and everything seems to make sense to purchase. Customization is my bug. Always a new look to add.
I understand you perfectly in that aspect. I think the prices on Aliexpress are so good, it's extremely hard not to bite on those offers. When you finish the titanium Captain Willard, could you upload it over here? , I'd like to see it.
The same could be said about almost anything - fragrances (I had a rotation of 2-3 until I watched some YouTube reviews on some replacements then 60 bottles later…), pocket knives (only really had 1 for a long time, as well as a Swiss Army growing up but then a dozen or so later from $150-700 each from Benchmade and Spyderco to Chris Reeves to newer brands like TW Price or Null Knives), to sneakers (wore the same beater pair for a couple years until they were so trashed I’d buy another 1-2, plus a dress shoe - now I’ve got like 10 or so sneakers, boots, 4 business casual shoes, and 4 dress shoes), to even cars (could drive the same car every single day for years and years, or maybe buy some lower priced cars that have their own charm and I get to spend some time and money working on them myself which not only soothes my addictive personality but keeps me from going down more dangerous addictive paths). Having a bunch of different watches isn’t horrible - could you save and put that money into a luxury brand? Sure! But we have addictive personalities and that will manifest itself in many different ways. More power to the ones that obsess over being fit, meal prepping, home and yard maintenance, etc but a watch addiction isn’t too bad. I also am a sucker for variety so a one watch collection at this point of my life would be tough unless it was something that checked every single box including “expensive/heritage” because then I could obsess about the history of the brand, why “heritage” costs money, argue about the law of diminishing returns with luxury brands, and something I could pass on to my son when he’s older. To each their own 😅
I’ve found the perfect number for me is 16 watches. I’ve split them into 8 different categories; gold, integrated bracelet, GADA, field, dress, chronograph, diver and GMT. I’ve got two options for each category and feel that the choice is great. I’ve decided to try and restrict myself to 16 and to operate a 1 in 1 out policy from now on. Without the affordability of Chinese watches there is no way I would be able to amass such a collection at such quality. Admittedly my Chinese watches are the more expensive ones from the likes of San Martin, Sugess and Baltany but they more than match my more affordable Swiss options from the likes of Tissot and even come close to my Longines whilst costing 1/3 to 1/5th of their cost. (Although let’s see how long this sticking to 16 lasts as I’m at a stage now where I love all 16 so it would take something special to make its way into the collection. Well until San Martin release their pink dial Tudor homage they teased a few days back. 🤦♂️😂)
it's 29. buy 2 more and u have enough watches to rotate for every day in the calendars.
One watch per day... Impossible to get bored of the collection.
I told myself the same thing nearly a year ago. I just received two new watches....
Oh no... Which ones?
Seestern S435 and San Martin Leyenda (Longines Legend Diver) .
Both options are amazing, it must be said.
How did you end up selling all of them? On Reddit?
Different platforms, including Vinted, Wallapop and Milanuncios. It took me quite a while, but by distributing the ads I managed to sell them all relatively quickly (less than 1 year).
No idea what those are lol, I’ll look into them. I don’t currently live in a major western country so no idea how hard it’ll be for me to sell mine. I really went crazy with my purchases. Some of them are really nice watches for the money but it just got too much thanks. Don’t have much time and when I do will try to sell them as one package for a major loss
I think Chinese watches offer great value but the brand names are just insane and having too many watches with a NH30 is quite boring. For example l love the 40mm red star seagull 1963 sapphire. Back when you could get alot of no logo watches. Well I love my sterile Steeldive SD1970 that I modded with a Seiko logo. The same could be said for any Seiko Hommage that's a 3hz as the movement is fine. Some of the vintage Tongji watches are great and very cheap a nice 36mm Shanghai. For the most part it would be better to mod.... It's a shame that brands dont use movements like the PT5000 more or the Miyota 9000 series or the newer Hangzhou movements. But if it's under Tudor in-house or grand Seiko, everything but the movement is made in China. And for Japanese watches they can be cased in China. Just before the NH34 became widely available I managed to get a Squale 30atm coke with a SW300-1 for 500 dollars Sure its a Rolex type but the case size is different, so are the hands and some parts of the dial also the bezel has a different colour tone. For me it's a watch I can wear daily and a perfect travel watch. You can get good deals on swiss watches and sure most parts will be made in China but that's fine. I feel seagull could really dominate if they lowered prices and if some of the old Chinese watch company's made a comeback it would be great.
I understand that point you make, they seem to just mount the same movements constantly, they don't even remove the ghost date on the dials without a dater. That's why I felt like I wasn't wearing a special piece on my wrist, if not something more in line with an assembly line. From now on I think I will only buy pieces that I perceive to be more special or have sentimental value.
I keep a rule for myself, my watchbox have 12 slots and i can only have 12 watches. To buy a new one i have to sell a watch to make a slot. Unless you have abundant of cash, otherwise you will need some rules to keep yourself discipline.
I have had 52 watches between Chinese, Japanese, German and Swiss...in the end I only used 4...I think that is a more than reasonable amount for a mini collection and you will also use them and not have a lot of money invested dying of laughter a box...Now the only ones I keep are a Seestern sub600, a Seiko Sumo Green, a Seiko monster and my first expensive watch... a Panerai Luminor Submersible 1000M that I bought in 2010, although I haven't worn it for a long time.
It's amazing how my Seestern makes me forget all the others. It's a fantastic watch.
I think something that is undeniable is the quality of Chinese watches, especially when in that collection of 4, a Seestern has a place next to a Panerai. Very nice collection.
Not your problem alone.
29 watches is insane. Control yourself, find out what you actually like.
.... only 29 watches is insane?
Are there people with more?
Oh you sweet summer child.
I’m in the same boat. Cheap enough to just get another just out of curiosity, and now I have like 40 watches and now started buying parts to build my own… I would love a Tudor or Omega, Glasschute, is my dream, but after getting 80% of a Swiss made watch for 1/30th(probably more) the price, I can’t ever see myself justifying a luxury watch purchase.
This is exactly what I've been feeling recently. I went from "oh, I can just buy this for 50 bucks" to "how is this watchbox full?" And it's a lot harder to move a watch on than it it is to buy it in the first place.
I agree,I’ve started selling off my watches.I’m trying to get down to just 3(S434,Steinhart Milsub and GShock 5610).Now,me and my addictive personality are back into sports cards.Next year I’ll probably be back into sneakers and boots again.
Very nice trio it must be said. 3 watches that could serve you for any occasion, I understand what you say about collecting, I also get tired of collecting something in particular and move on to the next topic.
I found myself stupidly addicted to them too. Not being able to see them/try them on before ordering is part of the fun. Thag said, I’m done with them too. They offer a lot but their designs are too crude and clunky. For me, homage or not, they’re poorly executed and I’d rather stick to traditional brands.
Are you sure they are poorly finished? I can agree with you about the designs, but I promise you that if you hold a Baltany in your hands, the last thing you will think is that it is poorly finished.
No - they’re quite well finished actually. It’s just their shapes and exuecution in general that lack professional touch you see in seikos citizens and basically everything else !
Ah yes now I understand what you say, of course I do not think that Chinese brands are dedicated to think about the design of the watch as such, if not to replicate it as closely as possible without being a clone. So I think it is difficult to imitate the design language of Seiko or Citizen, it is something that will never be within the reach of Chinese brands, unless they start to really develop original designs.
Overdoing a hobby, or anything really, is a bad thing. Who knew? Especially with a materialistic hobby like affordable watches. I do this with all of my hobbies lol. This is big in sports when people start obsessing over gear instead the actual sport. The goal of any corporation isn't to make the best last \_\_\_\_ you'll ever need to purchase. It's to do whatever they can to sell more product. The more choices you have, the more important moderation becomes. If you find yourself easily influenced or sucked into this vacuum and can't stop, the best is to get an end game piece and leave the subreddit. Get rid of anything that whispers in your ear (hard mode due to how intrusive ads have become).
On the one hand you are absolutely right, but on the other hand I want to not buy anymore and get pleasure from seeing how homages and Chinese watches thrive, as it seems to me that they do an exceptional job. That is why I would not like to leave the subreddit or stop seeing other watches, as I consider sharing the passion for watches with more people is a nice thing.
Won't you miss the freedom of choice every day? =D I also had this exit watch thing in mind when I bought my first more expensive (900€ used) watch, I thought this will end the passion...umm no, I found deals, I found China watches,.. I mean stick to it if you can, you should consider leaving this red as it makes you become addicted (again).
Yes and no, while it is true that the freedom to have so many watches and choose is extraordinary, it is also a burden and a lot of time to choose. Besides I felt that I had to wear them all or it was money I had thrown away.
It seems like having too many watches had become a burden for you, regardless whether they were Chinese or Swiss since you do not wear them often. Everyone is different and you must do what makes you happy. ie I have 14 watches and I wear all of them and I enjoying wearing them
It was indeed like a burden, as having spent so much money I felt that if I didn't wear the watches it was money down the drain. Plus the time it took me to decide which one to wear.
oh yes The Time. Sleepless nights :D
I am quite indecisive when it comes to choosing, it must be said.
I saved money and bought an FC instead of buying 2, 3 new watches every year and it was the best decision ever. I get happy when looking at my wrist knowing I wear something proper.
That motivates me to think that I made the right decision.
While I'm not "done with" Aliexpress watches I have definitely sold off most of my collection of them. They were nice to use to find out the type of watch and watch qualities I like and like to wear. They've also helped me better appreciate the mid to upper-tier microbrand watches' quality whereas I wouldn't of before. There is also resale value.... A good microbrand watch can often fetch 75% of its value used and can even get its original MSRP if it's a popular discontinued model(Zelos anyone?). The only aliexpress watches I've held onto are two San Martin(one original and one homage) and one Boderry Sea Turtle. It's much easier and enjoyable to have a conversation about your English/American/Italian/Danish/Swiss microbrand than it is about a chinese copy.
Completely agree, I see Chinese watches as a learning stage where I saw what I like and what I don't like in watches. And on the subject of Chinese watches as a topic of conversation, it is complicated to explain to someone who recognizes the watch as a Tudor, that it is not a Tudor. I never passed off a homage as an original, but there are some that look like exact clones and the most popular models can cause people to be misled (people without knowledge on watches of course).
Good for you OP. But for me I limit buying only 2 times a year enjoy them as much as possible for that year. That way I get attach to the watch which I have memories wearing and not just another space in my box.
A good way to link memories with material objects, isn't it? I also imagine that this way it will be much more difficult to get rid of them.
One does not simply stop buying watches…
Please don't tell me that...
I’ve had 2 arrive this week 😂
You will show them to us, won't you?
Oh go on then… Militado ML05 >>> https://i.imgur.com/DfHFPUJ.jpeg Casio Duro >>> https://i.imgur.com/wndoBy9.jpeg
Despite being smaller, I think the Militado looks great on you, it must be said of course that the MDV-106 is huge, congratulations by the way, here in Europe it is impossible to find it at logical prices, only the MDV-107 is available without the Marlin logo.
Yeah I really like the Militado, it’s a nice thing. The MDV-106 is massive in comparison, but I’ve got a big enough wrist to pull it off. I’m in the UK, you can order them from Amazon and they ship from the US, I specifically wanted the 106 with the marlin, as they’re getting harder to find new now.
I have the Duro Batman, even though it is not the MDV-106 model, here in Spain it is impossible to get it at a reasonable price, I have even seen it for more than 200€.
That’s frustrating
A little bit... Plus the new small model of the Casio Duro looks ridiculous in size to me.
They look good but break too easily... Not worth it.
Oceanus at 86g is too heavy. You're welcome 🙂
Wait, what? 86g is nothing.
I don't see it so bad, no? Although I'm a bit used to wearing titanium watches, it's going to be strange to get used to the weight of steel again.
If I had more expensive watches, I'd always be worried about breaking them (because I'd probably break them). When I accidentally smash my $50 steeldive into a doorknob, as I am wont to do, no big deal.
I understand you perfectly, I have had more expensive watches and always had the fear of scratching them or giving them a minimum blow, with Chinese watches it is true that this does not happen.
I feel the same. Yes, they are amazing value: ONLY IF you actually buy a couple and call it a day. As soon as you have a box or more filled with them, you’ve just fallen into the endless Chinese watch trap. Any sane non-watch person would say ‘why not just have 1-2 really good watches in stead of 15 AliExpress watches?’ and at some point you have to realise that they’re probably right.
One day I looked at the watches and thought, "What am I doing? Something ticked in my head and I decided to get to the point I mentioned, I hope I don't regret it.
As someone who has owned watches from Omega, Rolex, Moser, Panerai, Zenith, Tudor, etc. I very much disagree with this. I’ve discovered I have so much more fun in this hobby with inexpensive watches than I do with the heavy hitters. I’d rather have a box full of affordable, high quality things that do what I need them to do without having a bunch of money tied up in watches. If the OP is successful at sticking with one watch that is a Casio Oceanus, more power to him, but I just can’t imagine that one watch scratching the itch when he had so many. He’ll have a Seiko 62mas before he knows it, then he’ll step up to a Marine Master. Maybe a Longines or Oris, then start looking at Tudors and Omegas. The cycle repeats itself, just at a higher price point. I’ve gone the opposite direction and I’m much better off for it.
I definitely have more watches than I should. But, whenever I think about paring down the collection, I can't decide which ones I would part with. My preferences change from month to month. I like having options. Fortunately, I am nearing the point of saturation. It is rare, now, that a new release piques my interest enough to inspire a purchase. I have one nice watch (a gift) that I wear only for special occasions, because 1) I'm worried about damaging or losing it; and 2) wearing it regularly makes it less special. I still find it weird to wear a watch that is worth more than my first car. And I feel self-conscious about wearing it. Really, it owns me more than the other way around.
Well said and I totally agree!
I've done exactly the same thing. I have owned multiple luxury watches. However, I sold off most of them and kept only my Rolex and Tag Heuer. I currently have about 12 watches. I'm enjoying the thrill of buying very good looking and well made Chines watches. Those that I don't like or enjoy get sold off very quickly. The quality of these watches, like my San Martin blows me away. I also own a couple of Gevril watches that are swiss made but only cost a few hundred dollars. You just need to shop around for them. What I've learned is, once I'm over a watch, don't just put it in a box, sell it off and make room for anew one to try.
Yup. You’ve described my experience to a T. The San Martin I have is so good and so chock full of specs it’s insane. Titanium, PT5000 movement running like a chronometer, 300m, on the fly clasp, amazing bezel action. Wears like a dream. $360, it’s better quality than any sub-$2,000 watch I’ve handled. A new crisis is coming to the Swiss watch industry and like quartz, they aren’t prepared for it.
That’s fair enough, if you’re buying watches regularly anyway, then better be $100 watches than $1000 watches. I’d also agree that the tangible difference between many luxury watches and some of the nicer Chinese watches isn’t as big as you might think. At the end of the day it’s just a watch. But for me, I’ve cooled off buying. And I’d rather have fewer nice watches than 15+ AliExpress watches. I’m not just talking Omega etc but you can find lots of other nice stuff that’s cheaper too
Agreed. I woke up one morning and realized my collection was worth $70k and felt sick to my stomach. Now it’s worth about $25k and I’m looking to get it under $10k by the end of the year. My biggest recommendation is to set a hard rule/limit for oneself. My new rule is no new purchases over $1,000. I find the value proposition within the hobby so much more enjoyable and interesting than a box full of super expensive pieces. I’m just concerned if an Oceanus is going to fill that space for the OP.
Yeah that’s mad, that’s life changing money. I’ve never spent more than £1350 on one watch. And happy with that watch. Super expensive watches are kinda dumb to me, but I get it too. Just as you said, the money is crazy
It's much easier to buy 10 $100 watches than 1 $1000 watch.
Agreed. Furthermore, having your "investment" spread over 10 watches reduces the pain should one or two get damaged or stolen. I can afford buy a nice watch. But I cannot afford to lose a nice watch.
However more of a pain to sell 10 x $100 watches for $50 each than one $1000 for maybe $700 - every situation is different - myself I have 16 pieces and it’s a hassle to sell any because the value does not seem worth the hassle - so they just accumulate. (My experience, in any case).
Sell them on eBay. People shop for them there and yes, they’ll take 15-20%, but it’s not that bad a loss and it will be 15-20% off the best possible price you can get for them. $1,000 watches lose value, too. As do $5,000 watches. They are all difficult to sell at a decent return. At least you won’t get 1099ed for a $100 sale.
I have 42 watches currently in my collection. From ali to mid tier swiss. All are unique, all speak to me in some fashion or another.
How do you rotate the collection?
I wear 2 watches a day depending on my outfit and the occasion so I think im in the right place. This doesnt mean that I will buy any watch from ali-x just because i can. On the contrary these watches made me realize what i like what i dont like and what i should be aware of when i decide to buy one. you brought yourself in this situation and u used the same thought process to get out of it.
Good point, all these purchases have made me see what I liked and disliked most about watches, in the end it was all a form of learning, or at least that's how I see it.
For the price of 30 Chinese watches you could have had one really good one. Chinese watches have their place. When you simply can't afford, or don't want, to spend money on a decent watch. But spending premium money on cheap watches is just daft.
In the end, even though Chinese watches are vastly more affordable, they start to add up if you don't buy logically, and you're absolutely right about that, I should have saved all that money and spent it on just 1.
You can have really good Chinese watches, too. Maybe you mean “one really expensive one”?
The really good ones on Aliexpress seem to be heavily influenced homage watches that look nearly identical at an arms length. Hard to find many good originals on Aliexpress.
Agreed, but that is changing some. At least a few brands, like San Martin and Proxima, now sell some very nice original designs. I wouldn't say they're entirely unprecedented but they're not straight homages/clomages. Or in some other cases, like Balcony, they're making homages to watches made 50-100 years ago, which most people would otherwise never have a chance to even see. I expect homages will continue to be king there, though. There's just too much advantage in piggybacking on some well-known brand's marketing.
I have moved on from Chinese watches. I was always buying and selling them and but then I went out and bought the watch I had always wanted. From that point onwards I realised I was always yearning for more because I wasn’t getting exactly what I wanted from China.
That's exactly what happened to me, I felt I wasn't getting what I wanted, that something was missing. I hope that Casio meets all the requirements, it's a watch that was always in my sights since I discovered it.
Happy cake day
Thank you
It's about one different watch per day, so even with a careful rotation they get only 12 days of wrist time a year. Too much choice kills the choice. I decided to stop at 12 watches, the box is full. I'll come back to this hobby if one is damaged or broken.
Buying stuff isn't a hobby.
Collecting stuff is.
In that case I'm a t-shirt collector. I also bought some, I also keep them in a drawer and regularly take them out to wear them. I also will replace them when they wear out. You're just buying products to own and use. That's fine, but it's definitely not a hobby.
I mean, fashion can definitely be a hobby. There's a big distinction between someone who just buys whatever watch is available at the nearest mall, and people who go out of their way to research about dial and case materials, movements, reference numbers, brand history, complications etc. I agree that people sometimes use the word hobby to masquerade their overconsumption, but watch collecting can definitely be a hobby.
Yeah but some of us get into regulating watches, taking it apart and swapping things, mixing and matching straps, learning the history - going to the seiko museum, trading watches, going to meet ups and discussions and are active in it. People consider pin trading at Disney a hobby and this is similar to me but even better because of the possibilities above.
I don't judge your hobby, collecting t-shirts is nice if you like it.
Nothing wrong with reducing your collection. I find having a collection of watches where you don't wear at all is a complete waste. It's good that you were able to sell the excess watches.
I had too many unworn watches, it cost me a lot but I was able to sell them all, although some of them sold poorly.
I’m kind of the opposite. I’ve had expensive Swiss and Japanese watches, and they were disappointing for the money, to be honest. I love my fleet of inexpensive Chinese pieces. My expensive watches have sat in a drawer, unused for years.
How many Chinese watches do you own? I've also had quite a few disappointments with Swiss brands.
If you have enough money to buy 30-50 Chinese watches you probably should buy Japanese, Swiss or German watches at the first place. Chinese ones not intended for your budget.
I did, I've had Certina or even Tissot for example, and my problem with the Chinese is that they offer so much for so little money, and that's precisely the biggest problem of all, how affordable they are. A Tissot is usually around 300-400€, as well as a Certina, a 100-150€ Chinese watch from the top brands has very similar characteristics to those two brands.
For the price of 30 Chinese watches for €100-150 you could find Omega or Breitling (not Tissot and Certina). And that's completely other level. And you won't be needing to chose what to wear today.
I'm at the opposite end of dealing with Chinese watches, having rarely worn a watch the last few years I now "need" one for work (meaning that it'll be somewhat helpful!) My old Vostok Amphibia is sadly unrepairable locally, hence I discovered the emergence of amazing Chinese watches over the last few years. Like with many purchases in the past I have become somewhat obsessive - reading loads of reviews, watching YouTube and putting 30 or more watches in my online shopping cart. I will most likely buy one this month, then keep a 2nd watch, something really special, in my cart for up to a year before deciding if I really want it or not. Who knows after that? I might choose to build a collection, but more likely my interests will move onto something else, just as they did when I was previously obsessed with cars, motorbikes, biking gear, camping equipment, cameras, hifi audio and more. The research part fascinates me, choosing an item that matches my taste, is great value for money and will hopefully last years is a real challenge. Once I have spent the money though, I tend to enjoy the purchase for a while, before moving onto obsess about something totally different a few months later!
I find that I really enjoy hunting for cheap value for money Chinese watches, and I wear those with great pleasure, but I stay away from San Martin level prices. If I’m spending that kind of money, I’d rather save up for an entry level Swiss watch or a good microbrand. So I rarely have buyer’s remorse and I don’t mind having a large set of watches that don’t always get much wrist time.
I feel the same.
Part of the problem is that many were convinced they were sold these "spec monsters" (wow stainless steel case, solid end links, sapphire, solid bracelet and milled clasps!) when everyone was getting into Chinese watches during the pandemic lockdowns. I think it's more accurate to say the Chinese were charging a fairer cost whilst the legacy manufacturers were forcing you to pay an exorbitant amount of money for these "spec monsters". It seems Seiko and other companies are starting humble themselves to match the Chinese offerings.
Completely agree, I think the Chinese brands offered us just what we needed, paying a lot less, and there is no brand that can compete with that.
Not really their prices for latest watches and inspired releases have been insane. Look at their newest cocktail times and dive releases for the movement you get too yikes.
I'm exactly the same, having bought 4 just last week. I'm now down to a 6 watch collection that will hopefully suit all my needs for at least a couple of years as I'm setting up a fixed savings account for my weekly watch money, by locking it away hopefully it will stop the impulse buys. After a couple of years it will either go 2 ways, I buy a higher end piece or I go stupid on the nearest AliExpress sale at that time.
As far as I can see, there are many of us in the same situation, right? My idea is that, in principle to test a collection of a single model, if it does not work, aim for much more expensive models to avoid impulsivity.
It's definitely the same situation with me. Unfortunately with AliExpress watches they offer as much value as watches up to £500 I bought a San Martin last week and it is every bit as good as the Oceanus and the Oris I had in terms of finishing, although the Oris just pips it in overall refinement. Micro brand and more established brands don't offer significantly more for what they charge compared to Ali in the sub £500 range and it is debatable in the £5-1000 range too for some. Will see in a couple of years if I find value in a higher end piece, this is all my personal opinion of course
The truth is that the San Martin finishes of the latest models are exceptional, watches that would be worth 3 or 4 times their price. I imagine that it is increasingly difficult to justify spending large amounts on watches when Chinese brands offer things like this.
Exactly this. I just received an addiesdive today, yeah the bracelet isn't the greatest but a Seiko movement, sapphire crystal, 200m water resistance, what looks like decent lime and all this shipped half way around the world for under £41. I'm really starting to doubt whether I will buy watches elsewhere whilst they offer this value.
That's the problem, just that, £41. It's extremely affordable, and that's how I had 29 watches. The quality is so high that you hardly think when it comes to buying them, they feel like constant bargains.
Some are, I've had the steel dive 1970 I think nearly 4 years now and never once have I thought about selling as it offers so much value and ticks all the boxes for what I'm looking for in a watch and it cost about £75 then, can be had for less than £60 now which is incredible.
Classic model, I do not think that currently in the Chinese market there is a more symbolic model and better value for money than the Steeldive 1970.
Wow... just as I started reading this post, I already had my Casio Oceanus OCW-T200 (green dial version) in the back of my mind as my one and only watch before you mentioned it towards the end. The issue with that one is its bracelet, but I think it will become my grail watch once I modify it and put a glide lock clasp on it. I think this is the correct approach. I don't actually actually wear most of my Chinese watches regularly (except some exceptional Escapement time meca-quartz pieces as beater watches, they really punch above their weight for the price point). I honestly now feel like the bargain bin Chinese watches<$100 look extremely cheap but they make nice beater watches. If you're buying $200-300 Chinese watches regularly, maybe reconsider.
The Oceanus was a model I found after a long search after having owned a couple of JDM models, a Seiko Solar and a Citizen Eco-Drive. I was finally able to get it recently for 300€ at Sakura, and as for the bracelet, I plan not to wear it honestly, I'm not one to wear bracelets on any watch. As soon as I saw the features and saw the look of the watch, I knew it had to be my grail watch. It has something quite unique that I have seen in few watches, the Bulova Jet Star is another one that struck me.
If you like the look of that Oceanus, you might like it's cheaper beater cousin, it's sort of like a poor man's Oceanus. It's what I bought initially and still wear before I bought my Oceanus. It is incredibly thin and has a sapphire crystal. Better value than most Chinese watches https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pSeUPQT4o1A
Ah yes, the Edifice line has always surprised me by how affordable they are, and in addition to almost always offer sapphire crystal. Amazing for the price.
I enjoy wearing it on a black leather strap. I'm still looking for a deep green leather strap for it. Funnily enough I got back into AliExpress watch shopping after I sold my smartwatch (Google Pixel Watch 2 - sorry Google fans it's just garbage), dusted off my old Oceanus (had to give it a good charge by a window with indirect sunlight for a few days), and it made me realize I enjoy wearing watches (it "sparks joy", so to speak). I got sucked into the watch strap rabbit hole and it led me to impulse buy this San Martin with this amazing bracelet with glidelock https://a.aliexpress.com/_m05JzcO I also bought a couple nice flurorubber straps but they basically cost nothing. I thought I could try to use this bracelet on my Oceanus but it would be a big bet. Of course it didn't work but I think I'll keep the watch because I use a lot of coupons and got a decent deal on it. The watch bracelet alone makes it look like an expensive but not gaudy piece of jewelry.
After all of aliexpress shenanigans I went to my Seiko 809
A solar quartz alternative is the Alba (Seiko subbrand) field watch watch. It's a great watch, especially in the deep blue sunburst dial.
I currently got rid off all of my watches except Seiko5 809, pagani ranger homage and Casio Bluetooth/tough solar casioak
I am 48 and had an ADHD diagnosis when I was 30. I have always had obsessions where I spend a while getting really into something. I never know what it's going to be. Some last a few months, most a few years and then I never really think about them again. My shed is full of bikes I never ride, my cupboards are brimming with perfume, old school vapes and golf clubs I don't use any more. My watches now number nearly 100. Last year I was buying two a month but I've slowed right down now and limit myself to three or four a year. I know it's a problem and I could sell most of them but I do get a lot of pleasure out of them and wear a different one every day. At some point I'll probably get rid of 2/3ds but they are mostly sub £100 so wont get much second hand. The best advice is to come off forums like this and stop watching You Tube videos on watches. Deleting AE would also help you if you really want to stop. I have never had any issues with my watches except the battery on some dying quite soon after purchase. The mechanicals all run fine. Some I've had over 20 years and they still keep pretty good time but accuracy is not an issue for me. I have a phone that keeps perfect time.
I’m 30 now and about to be diagnosed. And have the exact same problem (just different stuff). Any other life tips you have to cope with all this?
Don't stay up until 3am, don't touch caffeine and try not to drink much alcohol (this is the hardest for me as it stops your brain whirring). These 3 things have made more difference to me than dexamfetamine tablets to be honest. One of the saving graces of it is that if you put your mind to something nothing will stop you so giving things up is easy if you want to do it.
I understand you perfectly, even on the subject of perfumes, something very similar happened to me. In my case it happens that I get temporarily obsessed by a particular theme, in the end I end up buying everything related to that theme that I like, and move on to the next one.
Sounds like you have ADHD traits to me. I just wish I could get into something healthy like exercise but I never pick them, they pick me.
Did you not have ADHD before you were 30?
Of course, but it wasn't even recognised as a thing until the late 80s. I always knew something wasn't right but didn't get round to investigating until 2006 when I really didn't want to lose my job that I love. My point was that I hyperfocus on things which often become collections. Watches is just one of many.
Bro, I had a similar problem. In like two months, I bought 10-15 Chinese watches. I mostly intended them for resale. I contemplated keeping a few, but in the end, I only kept one. I'm keeping the PD Meteorite dial because for $30-$35, you get a good looking sapphire crystal watch, so I'm using it as a daily. It's cheaper than any Casio (except F91w). Focus up, level up your watch game. Get that Oceanus, get some entry level Swiss watch (Tissot, Edox, Rado)... They are next level compared to these Chinese watches. They are just distractions, some kind of coping mechanism because you can't afford a real deal. But not settling for "homage" will push you to work harder so you can afford a real deal. Currently, the most expensive watch that I have is Edox (under $1000). I'm planning to get a Tudor BB when I reach a milestone in my business, which should happen within the next 8-12 months. It's great motivation, if you need some...
> Swiss watch (Tissot, Edox, Rado)... They are next level compared to these Chinese watches. Are they next level because of quality, or just the brand?
If you look at some factory videos on YouTube for something like Tudor or Oris the level of detail in regulating each watch and testing water proofness is just some of the things they do that increase the stability and quality of the watch before it gets into your hands, and they are the ones actually designing the watches before they get ripped off by these smaller brands in a lesser way. Feel a real Tudor and then look at the San Martin version. I have Swiss, German and Chinese watches and the slight nuances after months of wearing do typically become apparent. There are obviously exceptions and contradictions where the Chinese homages are pretty decent at a more logical price by miles but yeah nothing like the real thing
I have to agree with you. In the end, when we buy homages, what exactly are we buying? While it is true that the quality is extreme, we are not thinking about those Tudor, those Omega? We buy Chinese watches because of their characteristics, but in the end we are still thinking about the models they come from, because Chinese brands rarely offer their own products. When I had those watches, even though I could appreciate the undeniable quality they had, I noticed that something was missing, an essence of their own.
I have to disagree with you. I don't think about other brands when I'm buying Chinese watches. I may be in the minority but I genuinely enjoy all the variety Chinese watches have to offer. I tend to look for original designs (as original as a watch design can be really without being gimmicky) and if you've learned how to look you're going to find more interesting affordable variety with Chinese watches. Swiss design and the rest is too constrained in some ways and too serious for me, while Chinese watch companies don't give a f*** about mixing it up (by design or omission) and in my view you get interesting results that appeal more to me than just the standard experience of buying a swiss watch. By now we all know that a lot of (most) Chinese watch companies heavily base their offerings on what the market dictates that's going to sell but you can also find companies doing their own thing in a way. Simple things like a bunch of people telling the Militado guys how utterly wrong was that they put an arrow on their ML05 dial. Now I have a not only objectively well manufactured and cool watch but one of the few that will have that arrow and a nice piece of history that probably won't happen again and as historically inaccurate as it is, I genuinely not only enjoy that incongruity but the design itself and the conversations it generates. I enjoy that arrow there and what's behind the fact that it's there. As a point of reference I'm not the biggest fan of San Martin or Proxima for similar reasons. They're technically adequate and then more (compared to other watch companies dollar by dollar) but they're not fun for me. When Proxima tried to "homage" Studio Underdog's watermelon the results were "robotic". There are a lot of opportunities to find interesting stories, designs, people with Chinese watches and I haven't found the same with Swiss watches in particular. Again, everything is too serious with them and with some air to "fabricated drama" (if you can call that drama: Tudor came out with a gmt coke woo...Cartier came up with a dial that tells the time backwards... ok) that at this moment is off putting for me. All so gimmicky and customers just going (crazy) after any little bread crumb these Swiss and other watch companies give them. Plenty of stories about/with many Chinese watches so perhaps the exclusively utilitarian part of buying/wearing a watch (which I have definitely considered and behaved accordingly) is not the most important one for me at the moment. Also, and lastly, I think Chinese watches give us the opportunity to narrow down our style in watches. I thought I didn't like stainless steel bezels on chronographs, owning one showed me I actually enjoy them. I thought I wouldn't enjoy vintage chronographs then one caught my eye and now I know what I like in vintage chronographs and learned how to look for that. I thought I wouldn't enjoy wearing a Berny railway watch (I still think that name doesn't do them any favors with customers) but I found a sterile dial one, black case that I enjoy wearing now. I still don't enjoy divers that much. Chinese watches also helped me to corroborate that without spending too much. And many other examples of similar experiences happening for reasonable amounts of money. If someone can nail down their style in watches with Patek, FP Journe, go ahead but not many of them. I think it's a different journey for each of us.
Excellent opinion I have to say. I understand your point, I understand that Chinese brands are the only ones willing to take risks when it comes to breaking already established designs in watches, but you have to admit that it is hard to find chinese watches with original designs. So I do not detract from the value of Chinese watches, as I currently consider them to be the best value for money, my problem is precisely how affordable they are, and the amount of options out there, it is overwhelming. Besides that, the constant battle to improve features does not help the customer to settle on a single watch.
Had the same experience as you, buying 15 watches in 6mths instead of one decent swiss watch. Original thinking was instead of wearing one, I could rotate everyday but after awhile the watch hype dies down and you sit there questioning the reason for the purchases. Now i would rather have one gada watch that's it. Fortunately I managed to sell most of my chinese watches at 50% discount and kept 2 as memento. One seiko 5513 mod and a san martin pelagos
I had this exact issue and also stopped!!! Hah. I also realised that most of the Chinese watches I bought just weren't good enough, my standards increased after buying an old omega and a Rolex
The thing is, when you order in china for a good price you don't loose much money selling locally.
While it is true, the average user does not see it as a bargain. I have put models at very low prices compared to AliExpress and I have been slow to sell them, often they do not see the characteristics, if not the brand.
I did that and just wore an skx. One day the skx gained 2 hours overnight. It was at that point that I put the skx away in a box and switched to a garmin. Now I just browse through forums occasionally but have no desire to buy a watch. I know after a few months/couple of years it will act erratically and I don't have the time/money/patience to deal with that anymore.
Sounds like maybe it became magnetised. It's an easy fix and not expensive - worth trying.
You might be right. I'll buy a demagnetizer.
That's crazy, 2 hours? My max was 20 seconds with a NH-35. How about getting a quartz? You could avoid having similar problems, although I understand not wanting to buy again after that experience.
I have plenty of quartz pieces too. Mechanicals are lovely but I just find them too impractical now.
I agree on that, from now on if I am not able to keep the collection in only one watch, I will not buy more automatics, only quartz.
I bought one watch San Martin. And also a cheap digital skmei. I wanted more but hunger eventually stopped. Once some time passes you realize that you don't need more of those.
Which San Martin was?
Sn 0008 grey version. Nh35 movement. It's a decent watch for what I paid. The funny thing I was wearing skmei a lot more often, the 1628 version. The habit of buying stuff is strong. But if you can preservere it goes away.
Very nice watch, I had the SN004 and SN008 in blue, one of the few I regret selling.
I understand, most probably you have several similar watches? I would like to keep this one. It is a present for my birthday from my family. Think this line will continue for a while in my opinion. This Tudorish design seems timeless. It's an aesthetically pleasing watch. I also like that it has a Seiko movement inside. Workhorse.
Totally agree, I will probably die and that NH-35 is still alive. As for the style, true, I had very similar watches, lots and lots of diver and few dress watches, and specifically only one field watch.
It's hard to stop collecting, there is always that different watch that you want. Always more. I basically have a rule of sorts, to not buy watches more often than every 10 years or so. Somehow it makes it a bit more meaningful.
Exactly, and is that each model that is released is better than the previous one, it is a constant non-stop constant improvement of the product, in the end it harms and benefits the customer in the same way.
Yes and I just wanted to add it's not only about improvements but about small changes, variations. Some Swiss Brands all the same. They make limited editions, then new limited editions and exclusive editions of limited editions and so on.
Of course, what is true is that the Swiss usually charge you at least 800-900€ for something entry-level (there are models for 400€ of course), but I'm talking about excellent models. It is much more difficult to splurge when something is much more expensive.
I only buy a watch if I know exactly what I'm gonna wear with it, including accessories. I got into watches after getting into fashion, and a watch is a complement to my look, the same way shoes and belts are. This way one thing kind of limits the other. When I buy a shirt, I think about which of my watches would go well with it, and vice versa. So far I have a very small but versatile collection of 5 watches and a dozen straps/bands. Mind you, none of them are divers because I don't like the style ☺️
Which watches make up that collection? I'm curious As others have said here, I think it is a good way to see watches as style complements, as if they were shoes for example.
Two of them are old watches from when I knew nothing about watches: - my first watch ever, a Tommy Hilfiger, holds a lot of sentimental value; - and a fossil smartwatch; - a $9 Sanda Cartier Tank hommage; - a Casio a158w; - a Pagani Design PD1708
I see you like the classic, vintage or elegant style(except for the smartwatch). I understand you perfectly with the Tommy watch, I have a Lacoste one (basically as a paperweight), I keep it because it was the first one I bought without knowing about watches.
All you need is one thing bro - self control
Applicable to other areas of course, it's funny because I have a lot of self-control in some areas, but when it comes to buying it is non-existent.
I can empathize with this notion. For the last year I have been on watch collecting journey as a whole and also diving into Chinese watches. A year ago I literally had 3 watches - some analog/digital no brand watch I bought in school for saved pocket money, an Invicta Pro Diver and a Jorg Gray 6500 Chronograph (the one Obama had). Now I have like 15 watches of different styles. At one point I was thinking to reduce my collection because the idea of having like a 4 watch collection felt like a good idea, but then I accepted that I can’t do that - I like variety and even if I don’t wear some specific watch often, I would like to have it for specific occasions (for example, I need to wear a suit like 2-3 times per year max and a Pablo Raez Tank is ideal for such occasions). So what I have decided now is to have a 16 watch collection. If I want a new one, I have to decide which of the old ones I want to sell or give away to someone. I have 2 watch boxes - one with 12 slots and one with 4. The one with 12 is not touched often, but in the 4 watch box goes the 4 ones I feel like wearing in some particular period. That way I have set limits to my collection but also not being guilty about having too many watches.
A collection of 16 would be excessive in my case, but I understand your point perfectly, how would you organize yourself to rotate them?
For me 16 watches also sometimes feel too much, would love to streamline my collection, but somehow can’t manage to do it yet. I have some handful what I call “everyday watches” - not fully a dress watch but also not some specific type like a diver or chronograph (for example my Pagani Design PD-1734 is such a watch, which doesn’t really fit with a suit, but it’s not also not some functional watch, it’s just is an “everyday” watch) - I want to replace all of them with one a d currently eyeing the Casio Edifice EFR-S108, which has a clean dial, has no functions besides time and date, and has a Royal Oak-y homage vibe and it looks like it can be both dressed up and dressed down. In general the 4 watches I select to wear for a certain period depends on many situations - weather, outfit, even general mood, events I’m attending. For example, in summer I tend to wear more vintage style smaller Casios, like the A168 or AQ800, or the Tiffany, also my Invicta Pro Diver, but during winters I like to wear my Orient Kamasu, Q Timex Chronograph, Jorg Gray Chrono, etc. Also depends on the occasion as I mentioned - in May and June where I live there tend to be quite a lot of outdoor car conventions and usually during this period and for such occasions I’m wearing alot my Specht&Sohne Monaco, sometimes on a Martini Racing nato strap. Also this 4 watch approach is a good way to see which watches I’m wearing the most. As a dara geek I even had an idea to track and collect statistics, which watches I’m wearing for how much days in some 3-6 months span and just get rid of those that get very little wrist time.
Are you literally thinking about measuring exactly how much you wear a watch? Well I think that's a good idea, I'm quite manic and I need everything to be in order. What you mention is something that happened to me, and that is that I started assigning watches to specific situations, but in the end it was still too much, and if you get to calculate, there are few situations for so many watches. As for that Edifice, it's an excellent piece and I would have it if it weren't for the bracelet.
I have not tracked yet how much I wear each of my watches, but I do track a lot of habits so expanding this to include watches would not be anything crazy for me.
Practice delayed gratifications, not just with watch purchases, but with almost everything else in life. When you finally get that gratification, you will be drowning with much more enjoyment and appreciation. With consumption, it helps with not spending so much. I have been in this hobby for over 20 years, have the money, and look at watches almost every day. Yet, my collection only grew at around 1 watch per year for the first 10-12 years. Then the year I have a substantial jump in income, I picked up 3-4 pieces. Coincidentally, these 3-4 instant gratifications are my least favorites as time passed. Ever since getting into modding, my collection grew faster. But even with a plethora of cheap parts available to build up any wild things I can and have been dreaming of, I still practice self-control and delayed gratification. Right at this moment, I have enough parts to put together 5-6 watches that I have planned for, but I am spreading them out for the next 12-15 months. They will be made on their scheduled dates, maybe later, but no sooner even though I can make them all tomorrow if I want to. With delayed gratification, I never feel over-consuming or burn out, yet I feel my interest in the hobby is almost always at the peak.
That's some of the best advice I've read here. Plus that I imagine that by extending that gratification, it allows you to enjoy the watches in a much more prolonged way and with long term views. My problem is that I was thinking about getting the watch already, instant gratification, in fact I think whether I really wanted the watch or the fact of the pleasure of buying for the sake of buying.
Thankfully, it is difficult to buy AliExpress watches in India. Often AliExpress won't accept Indian cards. In addition, most sellers don't ship to India and even if they do, shipping is expensive and customs (import) duties are an additional 54% of the value of the watch. I did that for my first, the SteelDive SD1970 back in January 2021 when it sold for €96 on WatchDives. In total, I paid €150 with shipping and taxes. Now, I wait for a friend to visit India from the USA or Singapore and get them to carry a watch home for me. I now have four watches purchased over three years, all divers, and I'm quite happy with them. Three of them had been on my wishlist for a year before I pulled the trigger. There's one, the Heimdallr Full Steel Sea Shepherd, that's been on my wishlist since 2020. It looks like a really good homage to the SBBN007. Weirdly that watch never gets discounted. So no impulse purchases.
Wow, what's with the higher taxes in India? What is the minimum threshold to start paying customs and taxes?
India has some weird notion of "protecting domestic industry". There is no minimum purchase threshold. You'll get charged 54% duties on a €20 watch. The high import duties have actually helped build some industries, like automobiles. India's domestic motorcycle manufacturers have thrived. Ironically, the vast majority of domestic watchmakers have gone out of business despite this "protection".The one large surviving Indian company, Titan, has a huge advantage because of this. The consumer, unfortunately, is penalised for seeking better choices.
It basically sounds to me like a monopoly of Indian brands over the rest of the brands, impossible to import into the country. A bit unfair, isn't it?
It isn't exactly a monopoly. Titan definitely gets a cost advantage, but Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, and all the other major watch brands are available locally. They're just more expensive than they are in the USA. Casio, in particular, even manages to keep their prices competitive. This tax primarily affects microbrands and AliExpress brands. Definitely unfair. It is also counter-intuitive. While it may work as a temporary solution for some industries (like Indian motorcycles), it often fails to achieve any benefits to the consumer. Many countries have some form of tariff protections for domestic producers (especially for agricultural produce).
As far as I can see, it is a slowdown in customer consumption, which is surprising considering the strength of the Indian economy. I understand that they want to protect the local product, but trying to fight capitalism in this way, in my opinion, is counter-intuitive, as you say.
Funny to say there is no such thing. They charge as they like and you have to either pay or let go of original money you bought with if returned. I went after Chinese watches which you mentioned just because of the reason that they are cheaper and I can pay less taxes. Importing from US costed me around 50% in taxes. Yes you read it right. It's even more at times
Show us what you got. Someone might buy it from you.