My original idea when I was asked to contribute to this series was to focus on my favorite watch acquisitions of the year, explain why they’re noteworthy, and describe my thought process behind purchasing or trading for each. While I was writing about my Universal Geneve Ref. 842116 Tank and Seiko 6139-6002 Pogue, I couldn’t help but notice how far my collection has come over the last year or so. Since the purchase of my first wristwatch in 2012, it’s always been my goal to cultivate watch boxes filled with both timeless classics and rare oddities. Looking at my collection as this year concludes, I’m proud to say I’ve never changed this philosophy. It was with this realization that my plans for this article began to transform into a conversation about watch collecting identity. While 2024 has been quite the successful year for my collection and I, it’s also the year that I went from being an affordable watch collector to being …an affordable watch collector. 

You see, the watch collecting hobby is filled with subjective terminology. Words and phrases like “rare,” “new old stock,” “like-new old stock,” “budget-friendly,” and of course “affordable” frequently see usage on online auction platforms, social media, forums, and advertisements. While these are often used as buzzwords for sellers wanting their post to be boosted in search algorithms or by collectors wanting to flaunt their new purchase, I’ve always been fascinated by how pliable a term like “affordable” truly is. What for one collector may be an inexpensive wristwatch may be another’s “grail,” yet another subjective word used in the watch community. 

When I first began collecting, I owned three Timexes. Being in grade school with no job meant it was hard to grow my collection anywhere past those three pieces, and it would be years until I could purchase a watch that hadn’t been sourced through a thrift or antique store, flea market, or yard sale. Throughout high school and undergrad, I began buying more and more watches, all typically acquired for $150 or less. While I would find the occasional screaming deal and purchase a watch for well under its value, my collection contained mainly watches made by Timex, Casio, Seiko, and other affordable pieces. I was incredibly appreciative of every watch I owned regardless of the price tag attached. The functionality offered by these mostly digital pieces was hard to beat, but I knew there was a plethora of watches out there that just weren’t attainable for me and my budget at that time. 

For those who don’t know, I’m currently a full-time graduate student. This largely means three things: my schedule is constantly shifting, the amount of sleep I get each night is minimal, and––most applicable to our discussion here––I have just enough money in my bank account to afford a McDonald’s Big Mac meal (small-sized, unfortunately). Even without a steady income, I’ve amassed a collection of pieces I never thought I’d be able to own. From my Seiko 6139 chronographs to my T-case Accutron Spaceview, the watches I’ve obtained through deals and trades have helped my collection evolve far beyond the imaginable (at least to me). It’s a rewarding experience to scroll through my Instagram page that I created in June of 2022 and look at where my collection was even two short years ago. This was the year when many of those “unobtainable” watches somehow became obtainable to me––it’s something I will forever be grateful for. 

Now, all this begs the question: am I still an affordable watch collector? To some, yes. To others, no. It’s all about perspective. Having my collecting roots in the world of Casio and Timex, I’ve watched my collection expand from watches worth $5 to watches still worth $5 and watches worth over $1,000. While there are a few Omegas and Universal Geneves sprinkled through my collection, you’ll not see any mention of an Audemars Piguet or Vacheron Constantin. I still get significantly more excited over the release of a new Bulova than I do the announcement of a new Rolex. I frequent thrift stores and yard sales far more than I do authorized dealers and Heritage Auctions. Until the day I can afford at least the large-sized Big Mac meal, I think my identification as an affordable watch collector is here to stay.