Building a Fun and Stylish Watch Collection

One thing watch aficionados never tire of discussing is their watch collections. For many though, a better topic might be how do you go about starting a watch collection in the first place? After all, there are collections and then there are mere accumulations—how does one assemble a thoughtful, balanced group of watches that “cover the bases” of wear from work and play all the way up to formal dress? Let’s take a look at one way to get started and how to assemble a fun, stylish watch collection—and one that will leave you something interesting to wear when your old, reliable Rolex is out for rolex repair or service.

The All-Purpose Watch

These days, many get by with one good watch. Big watches are in and you see many well-dressed men and women wearing watches with suits that would once have been considered laughably large. Still, there is no denying that in the opinion of many traditionalists, a smaller watch is better for business wear under a shirt cuff than a large sport watch. Therefore, we recommend the first watch be an all-purpose number. Make it one that can be worn at work under a shirt cuff, but can still take a beating at the gym if need be. The all-time greatest example may be the classic Rolex Datejust. The older 36mm cased models were perfect for this job: well-sized for business wear, but with an honest 100-meter water resistance thanks to the sturdy Oyster case.

The Sport Watch

The second watch is the fun one—the sports model. As previously mentioned, today many get by with only a sports watch and nothing else. Anything from Omega’s Seamaster line is appropriate here as is the classic Rolex Submariner. The Omega Speedmaster Professional is a timeless, classic chronograph that serves the sport purpose well and also gives you a complication (the chronograph) for a pittance compared to its NASA history and first watch on the Moon pedigree. If money is no object, the Patek Philippe Nautilus is an impeccable choice here.

The Dress Watch

The dress watch is the fancy watch you wear to black tie dinners, your wedding, that sort of thing. Some purists will insist the dress watch is at its best on a leather strap, others will disagree. If you are on a budget, here’s a tip: go vintage. Vintage Rolex, Omega, and Vacheron Constantin can be picked up for a fraction of what their new counterparts sell for and will always look chic. A Rolex Day-Date is a great dress watch, either on its signature “President” bracelet or on a strap. The elegant Patek Philippe Calatrava is a fine dress watch. For truly swanky black or white tie affairs, remember that thinner is always better in a dress watch—and no date or other complications, please. A Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin in platinum would be an unassailable choice. The initial cost—and later service—for the JLC will be more than the cost of your Submariner or its rolex service, but the watch is a rare beauty and worth every penny asked.

So if you're looking for some pieces to add into your collection or just starting out, head over to The Watch Buyers Group. Not only do they buy and sell some of the world's most exclusive luxury timepieces but they also have state of the art in-house service centers. 

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Take care everyone!