elfish_lad wrote:I’ve thought about starting to collect watches recently. Back to my childhood and my first Timex I’ve been enthralled. Have a bit of funds pending from my mom’s estate and was thinking maybe a cool analogue watch in her honour. Where should I start looking for less than a couple grand USD?
what type of watch are you looking for? something fancy to wear on special ocasions, something you'd wear every day, even in the shower and even swimming?
you could as well think about buying 2 or 3 for different ocasions.
I would recommend you to start watching the channel of a guy called the urban gentry. this guy's passion is fantastic, and you'll learn a lot. Don't get fooled by his looks though, he seems like a real nice and interesting guy.
I think you should see watches as entering these categories:
-quartz movement : cheaper, more reliable watches running on batery or solar power
-automatic movement: more classy and rewarding pieces, need to be worn so that they keep working. they are the ones with the fascinating engineering, and with the smooth hands running on the dial
then you can take these categoriesinto account:
-a diver watch: very tough watches that can be worn everywhere
-chronograph racing or pilot watches: they have a bit more features and are very cool looking. less water resistant because of their multiple buttons, even if some have screw ins to make them more water resistant.
-a classic watch: the type of watch you'd wear to work or on weddings or anything dressy... something that adds a class detail. they are generally the type of watches you can't even wear under the shower though
-a beater. A watch that you're comfortable to wear while doing anything. Very tough, reliable... I'd recommend it to be quartz and not too expensive, but from a recognized brand that you can trust.
Let's say that with 2k, you could get some entry level Omegas or Tudor, or higher end Oris, Tissot, Hamilton, Tag Heuer, Rado.... (a bit shy for a rolex)..... stuff like that, really depends on your tastes. It's important to see a brand's history, style etc...
I don't know,maybe start from here. You can get a very nice swiss watch for that price... you can also buy 2-3 to serve multiple purposes for that same budget.... first get informed, it's a very interesting and important part, then start looking at watches on amazon for example where you will find a huge amount of choice.
If you are willing to spend 2k just tke your time, it's an important decision, mostly if it's something honouring your mother. Go to shops and try them on, make sure you don't get something too big that wouldn't fit your wrist; feel them, inspect the high quality of some models... and just wait till you fall in love.
Don't buy a watch to impress anybody, or to try to make a profit (well you can... but if your goal is another watch you can't afford yet), it's something you buy strictly for yourself and that you should genuinely like.