How many watches do I "need"?

[nmadd]

When I get into a hobby, I really get into a hobby. I read about it voraciously (fine), think about it often (fine) and spend all of my money on it (not fine). I'm very new to the watch world but after reading about watches for the last couple of weeks, I can already feel that familiar addiction coming on. This time, I'm going to try something different and nip it in the bud before it starts. I'm hoping to help myself by coming up with different categories of watches that I "need," adhere to those categories and purchase one watch in each. Is this going to work? Probably not. I know me. I'm going to want more, but I'm going to try.

Here are my categories that attempt to fit all occasions and a watch or two that I'm thinking will fit.

#1 The Beater
-A watch that I can work in the yard with, let the dog play with and let my son smash it with his Tonka trucks.
-Some sort of G-Shock.


#2 The Daily
-I'll wear this to work. I'll wear it on those rare occasions that the wife and I get to go out without the little man, I'll wear it when I meet some buddies for a drink. It's good looking, hip, but fancy enough to wear to work. This would be the nicest one I have as I'll probably be wearing it the most often.
-Hamilton Jazzmaster Chrono


#3 The Weekender
-A sportier watch that I can wear on the weekend, take to the pool, wear to a ballgame. Something not quite the Beater and something not quite the Daily. This is probably the category that could be eliminated the easiest with perhaps just a nicer Beater.
- Orient Mako


#4 The Dress
-The watch I'll put on when we go to a wedding, when I head upstairs to give a presentation to the CEO or when that presentation bombs and I need to look for a new job.
-Seiko SGG480



My choices fall into the affordable category so your Beater may cost $300 and your Daily $5,000 but what do you think of the categories in general? Could you get away with having one watch in each? Do you think I need to eliminate or add a category? Does this give me a watch for every occasion? Are these all the watches that I "need"?

Thanks for any comments. I'm hoping I can stick to my plan so I'm not buying every watch in sight like I'm already becoming tempted to do.

[lvt]

I think you'd need a "heirloom" watch for your son, kind of Grand Seiko, Rolex, Omega...

[Metlin]

In this day and age? Not one.

[lotsofstufftogo]

Ideally you need a dressy watch then you need a casual watch then lastly you need a sporty watch. But then again I have thirty watches so who am I to give advice lol.

[nmadd]

I think you'd need a "heirloom" watch for your son, kind of Grand Seiko, Rolex, Omega...

That's going to take awhile to save up for that, but wonderful idea.

Ideally you need a dressy watch then you need a casual watch then lastly you need a sporty watch. But then again I have thirty watches so who am I to give advice lol.

If I don't go in with a plan, I'll end up with 30 too. I - and my wife :) - would like to avoid that if possible.

[TylerDurden]

I agree, you certainly do not need a watch in the literal sense. Now, if you are going to wear them and want to coordinate appropriately with the conditions of wear, then more or less watches may be nice to have depending on the diversity of situations with which you will be wearing them.

I think at least one nice dress watch and a beater should be on hand; if you are trying to be minimal, the beater could also be your semi-sporty watch and the dress your daily. Of course, I advocate for a reasonable number more...

[Coffeeshopman]

A Kabillion.

[cottontop]

In this day and age? Not one.

This statement is absolutely correct. I meet with about five other retired old f_ _ ts for coffee every morning. Only one other guy and me wears a watch, and the other guy wears a $9 "mart" quartz. They all carry their cell phones for the time. Funny, but I always seem to leave my cell phone at home. Of course they don't understand my watch collecting habit, and I no longer try to explain it.
The choices the OP made are fine if he wants to stop there. But if he goes on, there is no limit.
cottontop

[paulie485]

Dude. It's hopeless. You are gone. I used to say "I can stop after two". Hah!!! There is an intervention in your future. Category shmategory. You need some watches. Ride it as long as you can.

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[ColinW]

You have a plan and, I assume, a budget. Good for you!

Oh, and good luck with that.


Your daily, is that quartz? I have my share quartz... but for daily wear?
Also, no matter how many straps and bracelets you have, I think you'll quickly see the need for more dailies depending on the day.