The global watch industry is worth around $50,475 million USD. Between 2021 and 2025, that figure is expected to grow at a rate of 6.3% annually.
Collecting watches is an awesome investment, but that isn’t all that it is. It’s a fun hobby that can help you learn more about what makes luxury timepieces unique and interesting.
When you choose to wear your investments, you also show the world that you’re a tasteful, classy, and engaging person. Read on to learn how you can start and grow a luxury watch collection!
Define Yourself as a Collector
Some collectors choose to specialize in collecting a single category of watches. Watch types can be defined in many ways such as the type of movement, the color of the face, the material it’s made from, or the designer that you purchase from.
Do you want to have a large collection of Rolexes? Do you prefer authentic Swiss watches? Are you into only getting mechanical watches that you need to wind up manually?
Specializing narrows the number of watches you’ll need to choose from. It makes creating a comprehensive collection easier. You don’t need to choose from millions of different styles and can feasibly complete a collection over time.
However, specializing in a single type of watch also has its downsides. You’re severely narrowing your possibilities and may miss out on some beautiful pieces. To avoid this, you can determine multiple types of watches that you want and purchase one of each.
This is a great way to form a diverse watch collection. You can gather all the best luxury watches and their many features in one place. This means that you can analyze and compare various watches, which is awesome for any timepiece enthusiast.
Do Your Research (But Don’t Trust Blindly)
Before making any investments, you’ll need to do some research on the watch that you plan to purchase. Don’t blindly believe anything that a seller tells you. Don’t randomly buy watches off sketchy third-party websites.
One wrong move could lose you thousands of dollars on a fake piece. Make sure that you know what to look for in an authentic watch. Analyze the piece thoroughly before purchasing.
If you’re shopping online, this may not be possible, but you can ask the seller questions and get close-up pictures from all angles. This is to be expected for watches under $1000. However, if you’re dropping a thousand or more dollars on a watch, you shouldn’t invest if you can’t see it.
Don’t buy a watch if it has any of the following issues:
- Mistakes and defects (such as missing letters and poorly centered crown stamps/logos)
- Low-quality lettering or serial numbers (blurred, illegible, uneven lettering, etc)
- Lighter metal than expected (genuine watches are heavy)
- A price that’s too good to be true
- A seller that won’t communicate clearly
These are surefire signs of a fake.
Respect the Big-Name Brands
Many watch collectors scoff at brands like Rolex or Patek. They deem them as either too basic or overrated. Passing these pieces up in favor of smaller up-and-coming brands has become more and more common.
However, this isn’t a good idea for enthusiastic watch collectors. These models are classics because they’re extremely high-quality and never go out of style. They’re household names and everyone who sees one around your wrist will instantly recognize them as classy and high-end.
Brands like Rolex and Patek are constantly working to create new types of wristwatches with unique and interesting features. This means that you don’t need to sacrifice individualistic appeal when you choose these brands. They also are made to last a lifetime regardless of how often you choose to wear them.
Find Discounts on Quality Pieces
As a collector, there’s a fine line between purchasing expensive pieces and purchasing more pieces. If you’re dropping $20,000 every time you want to invest in a timepiece, you’ll likely grow your collection slowly. This isn’t a bad thing, but it also inhibits your ability to develop a comprehensive assortment.
If you want to diversify fast, look for discounts on luxury watches. There are a lot of sites that you can find inexpensive and high-quality timepieces on. A site like H2Hub offers free shipping and has a large selection of the best wristwatches on the market.
You can choose from a plethora of styles, movements, and colors here. Whether you want watches for $300 or those worth over $5,000, this reputable provider will sell you authentic watches from multiple big-name brands.
Store and Maintain Your Timepieces
No matter how diverse your assortment is, maintenance is key to having the best collection in the watch industry. You need to keep all of the pieces in top shape so that they don’t lose their high-end aesthetic or their value.
Some pieces are going to be investment-only and primarily remain in their boxes at home. Wipe them down of dust regularly and use specialized watch polish when necessary. This probably won’t happen a lot since unused watches get no regular wear and tear.