A Beginner’s Guide to Building a Watch Collection

Watch collecting has become quite the trendy pastime, drawing a variety of fans who consider timepieces an alternative hobby, a luxe status symbol, or a new investment opportunity. If you’re keen to start your own collection, here are the five key points to seriously consider and guide your decision of which watches you should invest in specifically.

Ask yourself why.
Why has watch collecting piqued your interest? Are you drawn to a wristwatch’s overall style? Or are you fascinated by a watch’s technical inner-workings, components, and movements? Or do you consider timepieces to be a long-term investment? All are viable (and, it should be noted, not necessarily mutually exclusive) motivations for starting a personal watch collection. But your core driver will influence which watches you ultimately choose to bring into your collection.

Shop pre-owned.
It is not worth breaking the bank to purchase a watch at full-retail price. Instead, opt for a pre-owned watch. Shopping pre-owned styles will stretch your budget further and the watch will retain its resale value better than a new one. Think of the watch like a brand new car: the second you take it off the lot, it’s worth a fraction of what you paid. Purchasing a pre-owned style means you won’t suffer the same initial—and staggering—price drop.

Invest wisely.
If you are buying up watches as capital, the most investment-worthy brands are Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, A. Lange & Sohne, Rolex, and TAG Heuer. Within these brands, certain watches retain their value better than others. You’ll want to thoroughly research which watches are most regularly in demand and therefore have a more consistent resale cost. As a general rule of thumb, look for models with a medium-sized dial, in a modest and classic style.

Factor in wearability.
The benefit of investing in a timepiece is that you can actually wear and enjoy it; it doesn’t need to be stashed away in a safety deposit box or hidden away like a bottle in a wine cellar. With that in mind, consider how frequently you want to wear your wristwatch out and about.

For instance, if you’re anticipating wearing it every day to your suit-wearing office, a durable Rolex with a metal bracelet is a smart option. Alternatively if this is a very special-occasion timepiece, maybe for your wedding or black-tie events, an elegant Patek Philippe evening watch with a leather band would suit your needs.

Properly care for your watch.
The best way to ensure your watch retains its resale value is to store and clean it safely. This includes bringing it to a jeweler for regular servicing. If your watch has a mechanical movement, you’ll need to routinely wind and set it properly. Learn more with our fundamental guide to watch care and storage.

Ready to start your watch collection? Check out our post on the “5 Watches Every Beginning Collector Must Own.”