Why I Collect Watches and You Should Too
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona / Credit: Tide and Tide
When it comes to collecting wristwatches, there is a particular aspect that a vast majority of the population doesn’t understand. The assumptions are usually along the line of, "Why do you need a watch? You have the time on your phone." Or, "How could you spend so much on something that just tells time?" And, "Watches just show off how much money you make." In reality, it's so much more than that.
Collecting timepieces can come off as a very materialistic and elitist hobby or interest for a person on the outside looking in. Watches mean so much more than just telling us what time it is. For a vast majority of us, they represent a milestone or a memory that creates a level of sentimentality. These pieces of engineering excellence can be a consistent reminder of a particular moment when we have a specific timepiece on our wrist. Through the eyes of a collector, a watch can be something so much more beautiful than a materialistic object used to signal wealth or status. Though a technically inanimate object, being a carrier of such emotion seems completely arbitrary, it is astonishing to be able to own something that is a physical representation of a memory or significant moment in one’s life.
If a person takes the time to see how a timepiece comes to life, there is a clear understanding of why watches are such an addiction, but also a proper art form. Heart and passion go into these creations, the components are hand-chosen and put together with excellent attention to detail. The men and women who build the watch are the beginning of a timepiece’s life and put great love and care into making a watch’s concept of creativity a reality.
King Seiko Superior Hi-Beat Chronometer 4502-8010 caseback, for sale on Toronto Vintage Watches.
However, the most amazing part about being a collector is the community. Many people share this extraordinary passion and enjoy talking about watch-related topics and other interests that coincide with the love of mechanical creations or other art forms. There is a particular joy shown when talking about watches, and when you find someone who shares the same emotion or excitement for collecting, the passion grows. It doesn't matter how much your piece costs, what's on your wrist, how you wear them, wear all your pieces with pride and have fun. When people ask why we collect watches, why we obsess about watches, long story short – they're stunning.
By: Tyler Frederick
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