What Type Of People Collect Watches?

When you think of a typical watch collector, it can be hard to visualise what this sort of person actulaly looks like.

This is because really any one can become a watch collector and it is a hobby that is really open to everyone from anywhere.

I will go through some of the sorts of people who like to collect watches and you will see there is no one thing that defines a watch collector, apart from the love of watches.  

Anyone Can Be A Watch Collector

When it comes to collecting watches there is no one type of person that will spring to mind to define a watch collector.

Some people may wrongly assume that watch collectors are just rich people, which of course will be true but the reality is that watch collectors come from every walk of life, all with different levels of income and opinions on what makes a watch good.

The watch market is huge, there are millions of different watches in different styles, designs and price points and there are millions of different collectors all with different tastes who enjoy collecting watches.

Watch Collecting Is Open To Everyone

When it comes to watch collecting there is no barrier to entry. Anyone, from anywhere can collect watches of any sort and any price.

This really is a hobby any one can be a part of and why there is no one type of stereotypical person who comes to mind when you think of a watch collector.

Of course certain types of watches are going to be unattainable for many people. We can’t all have a collection of multiple Richard Milles or similar. Some watches are just too expensive and will price a lot of us out.

That doesn’t mean watch collecting is reserved for the superrich, it just means collecting that type of watch is. There are still an unbelievable amount of watches that are more budget friendly and open to anyone.

You Don’t Need To Own Watches To Enjoy Them

You also do not need to actually own the watches to take part in this hobby. Just think about all the 13 year old boys who can’t even drive yet, but are obsessed with supercars, you can basically do the same thing with watches.

You can spend your time learning about and enjoying everything to do with really expensive watches while never actually owning one, so it really is a hobby that any one in any financial situation or location can take part in.

Collecting Watches Is The Same As Collecting Anything Else

Watch collecting is also just like any other hobby where you collect things, meaning we are all capable of doing it. As humans we just seem to like collecting things and we like and we also enjoy the chase of trying to find the perfect item to add to our collection.

You just need to have an interest in watches, it is the exact same as collecting anything else. People who collect sports cards, coins or whatever, they just do it because they like the thing they are collecting.

There are no other special requirements, you do not need to be a genius, a super athlete or extremely rich. You just need to have an interest in watches and that’s it.

(You can read more about – Is Watch Collecting Actually A Hobby?)

What Do Watch Collectors Have In Common?

Maybe if I go through the common traits that most watch collectors have we might be able to build a picture of what the typical watch collector is like, although you will see that this is going to be pretty broad and can really be anyone.

Most Collectors Are Men

So, I may have spent most of this article saying watch collecting is for anyone, which it is, but the reality is that the vast majority of collectors are men.

There are still plenty of woman in the hobby, but I would really like to see more.

I am not fully sure why the demographics are split this way. You could argue that when it comes to jewellery, watches are all men have, whereas woman can be more interested in other types of jewellery.

You will also notice that most watch brands catalogues are aimed at men. They are often classed as “unisex” and they will look good on woman, but really they are more “mens” watches and usually in sizes that are more suitable for a man’s larger wrist.

(You can read more about – Can Woman Wear Men’s Watches?)

People Who Just Love The Look Of Watches

I would honestly say this is at the core of all watch collectors. If you really want to know the type of people who collect watches, it really just boils down to people who like the look of them.

We just see a watch and fall in love with the design and beauty of it. There is just something magical about them that we enjoy and it makes us want to have them.

The problem is that there are so many watches that are all so slightly different, which makes us want more than one and we end up with a collection of them.  

People Love Everything Around The Watch

While being interested in the watch itself is what usually draws most people into collecting, there are a lot of people who just love everything else around the watches, which could really be anyone.

This is the sort of person who likes the brand heritage, has a general interest in horology or just enjoys the craftsmanship and the technology that goes in to the watches (such as how the movements are made).

There is also the social side to collecting watches where collectors discuss everything about a watch and these types of communities are huge online and you can find people from all over the world with all sorts of different backgrounds in these groups.

Emotional Watch Collectors

Some types of watch collectors are the sort of people who like to encapsulate a physical memory into a watch.

This is when you buy a watch for your wedding, or a big job promotion, so that every time you look at the watch you are reminded of your achievement or milestone.

This again could be anyone, we all reach goals or celebrate things in life and there is nothing stopping any of us from celebrating these milestones by adding a watch to our collection.

People Looking Status

I think we have to be honest and say that some people who collect watches do it as they want the status and prestige that comes with owning certain watches.

There is nothing wrong with this, but it can come off as quite unclassy and can make people think watch collectors are just show offs.

I think there is always going to be people like this in all areas of life and in all hobbies. There is always going to be people who are just chasing the clout and that’s cool, it’s just all part of it. 

Investors

Some people will get into watch collecting for the investment. Some watches are extremely high value and the second hand market is also very strong. If you know what you are doing there is money to be made.

The vast majority of watch collectors couldn’t care less about the price or the resell value, but there will be a small portion of people in the hobby who actually turn this side of things into their business.

Again there is nothing wrong with these sorts of people; it’s just the reality of the watch collecting world.

Conclusion

As you can see watch collecting really can be done by anyone, there is no one specific person who fits the characteristics of a “typical watch collector”

While the majority of watch collectors are men, I do think that this balance will change over the next few years. I think watch brands have realised this and are starting to position their watches towards woman and with time I think it will be more balanced and then it really will be a hobby enjoyed  by “anyone”.

(You can read more about – Why Are People Obsessed With Watches?)