Even when you own the watch that you have always wanted, you’re never too far away from wanting the watch you don’t yet have. So, if you want to be a one watch guy or gal with the best of them, I’m here to help you overcome that want, need it, gotta have it habit. After my life as a One Watch Guy article, I received a lot of feedback that you fine folks out there wish that you could own just one watch, one that is truly yours. But you’re not sure you could bite the bullet and see it through.
Whether you’ve just got your first watch, are tempted by all the noise to add something more expensive, or already have a lovely collection. If you are looking to tame that desire to keep buying, I hope this one watch survival guide helps you appreciate the watch(es) you own.
Just remember … the best watch is the one that’s already on your wrist.
1) Remember what made you love the watch(es) you already own.
This first step requires a little reflection. One of the most important things you can do to break that buying habit is to take a moment to remember what made you fall in love with the watch that’s already on your wrist. You bought it for a reason. Remember how you pictured yourself scaling mountains or spelunking with that tool watch on your wrist? How do you imagine yourself with a plate of wood-smoked salmon and scrambled eggs at the local deli on a Saturday morning, oozing coolness with your sports watch on leather? We all do it, right? Think back to the day you walked proudly out of the dealer or (more likely) placed that order with great excitement and anticipation, eagerly awaiting the FedEx delivery to turn up at your door. Then you unboxed it, slowly unpeeled the plastic, and fawned over that excellent dial and well-executed finishing. Even your old watch was new once.
You may even take out that original box; have a read of the warranty card that makes the watch yours.
Finally, reflect on all the great experiences you’ve had and how – if it’s sitting in a watch box – it’s not where it’s supposed to be—on your wrist, experiencing life.
2) All. The. Straps.
Straps are the secret sauce to being a one watch guy or gal. I’m all about the humble NATO. Whether it’s a silky-smooth seatbelt strap, an uncompromising and straightforward military single pass, or a stretch-tastic parachute band, for just $20 or $30 (sometimes even less), one watch can take on plenty of looks. A strap makes a well-loved watch feel like a new wearing experience.
My preference for a NATO boils down to a few key points:
- Firstly, they’re available in almost any color, in various patterns and materials.
- Secondly, a NATO’s no-fuss, quick-change nature makes them versatile.
- Finally, they last forever, which makes them ideal for you frugal folks out there when you consider that a similarly priced leather might be on its last legs after a warm spring or a hot summer.
Nevertheless, strap choices don’t have to start and end with NATOs. Stock up on some rugged leather, vanilla-scented rubber, or slinky mesh for the spice of life, and turn your one watch into so much more.
3) Stop scrolling!
One of the biggest pitfalls to owning just one watch is the pre-owned market, where it’s easy to pour over these ticking little trinkets for hours. What I find so tempting is that feeling of discovery. Whenever I find myself scrolling through eBay, Chrono24, or (my favorite) Topper’s pre-owned section, I feel as though I’m rummaging through a bustling bazaar, uncovering once forgotten gems.
My best advice: Just. Stop. Scrolling. It is easy with so many preowned watches out there to find watches you didn’t even know you wanted (or needed).
I referenced this in my previous article where an Oris Pointer Date I discovered on Watchfinder momentarily got me in its grips. I’ll apply similar logic to Instagram and the new watch space. By the time you’re done scrolling, a piece will be calling your name. So, put down that phone, and live your life in ignorant bliss, with just one watch ready to adorn your wrist.
If the temptation gets a hold of you, try the following: add that must-have watch to your cart, then walk away. Chances are that within a couple of hours, you would have forgotten all about that must-have watch.
4) All That Cash!
This can be a somewhat sensitive and controversial topic, but I think it’s hard to talk about watch culture without talking about the cost of entry. While this might seem obvious, watches weren’t always priced so high. We can all see that watch prices have reached dizzying heights over the last few years, to the point where I struggle to suggest to wannabe-watch owners which watch they should go for. Several years back, $250 was the ceiling by which affordability was measured. It could get you a lot of watch, and the choices were endless. Almost every YouTube channel, podcast, and watch blog had a ‘best watches under $250’ post.
I loved those posts; it made watches feel thoroughly accessible, but this is simply becoming rarer and rarer. I’ve preached the virtues of independent brands like Lorier and Nodus. They are making solid watches you can wear every day, lasting a lifetime in both their aesthetics and the materials used – and selling them at an attainable yet aspirational price for the everyday person.$500 is a price you could work up to with a bit of saving, even if you cannot spend the money immediately. I can see $500 around the corner; it’s still a lot of money – make no mistake – and it might be quite a stretch down the road given the general cost of living, but I know it’s there if I keep driving on ahead.
Then we get into the thousands, $3000/$4000/$5000 watches being branded as affordable. On a personal level, I find this bewildering. If you’re lucky enough to own a $500 watch or an $8000 watch, a piece of equipment we don’t need, then enjoy it, love it, and be thankful it’s yours. Make enough memories in it to pass it down someday, and for that to mean something to the loved one who receives it. The great thing about watches is that this isn’t tech. It doesn’t expire, buy one now and wear it for years; keep it for years and enjoy it. The good ones are made tough.
5) There will always be something new, so collect knowledge, not objects.
My next step to being a one watch guru is all about how we interact with the hobby and watch media in general. You don’t have to view every review as an advertisement persuading you to buy. Some reviews can be good journalism, there to enjoy. You don’t have to buy a watch to understand it, and you don’t have to own a watch to love it.
With the rapid pace of watch releases, there is always something new around the corner, and there will always be something to lust after. Because it just isn’t conducive to own them all, take the researcher’s route. Read about it, watch the videos, and gawk over the photographs. In doing this, you can collect knowledge; enjoy them without springing out the cash. Like a museum of the mind, you can enjoy this hobby academically, appreciating these new releases without crossing that boundary into ownership.
I will not be shelling out $4000 on a Tudor Black Bay Pro, but that doesn’t mean I can’t read and watch all the reviews. The steel bezel looks fantastic, and the burnt yellow GMT hand is lovely. The same goes for the MB&F Aquapod. I can’t even fathom spending that amount of money on something without walls and a roof. Still, I can appreciate that the Aquapod is one heck of a cool watch, and I love to think that there is somehow a technical and philosophical connection between that watch and the one on my wrist. With the vast resources out there, it’s easy to learn about watches today. Enjoy doing it without the pressure of a purchase weighing you down.
6. Buy the watch that you can wear whenever, wherever.
Brands have shifted in their approach to watch design, and more frequently, we see color palettes that would not have been so readily available five or six years ago. This originated decades ago, when brands such as Doxa introduced orange dialed divers, and Rolex adorned their Oyster Perpetuals with ‘Stella’ dials. Then more recently, forward-thinking brands such as Jason Lim’s Halios began to produce pastel dial colors tastefully. It wasn’t long before many big and small watch houses began to follow in their footsteps.
This creates diversity within the watch space and allows designers to employ creativity in their products. We should celebrate this. For my money, however, if we’re talking about how to best arm ourselves to survive with one watch, the safe bet is to opt for something simple and trustworthy. Something to stand the test of time and trends. I concede that this is purely down to preference, but if you’re only buying one watch, I’d make it a watch that, despite the season, your mood, or your outfit, it’s a watch that can be strapped on and look right at home regardless of the occasion.
I will tease the counter-point here; that may be a watch with a vivid dial color would make for a more interesting piece to own, creating an individual and unique connection between the watch and the wearer. My response? While if that’s your preference, then all the power to you. I’m not sure I could always entertain wearing a busy or bright dial; it just feels a little niche. Plus, when I’m in the mood for something vibrant, I can always rely on a trusty NATO … (see Step 2).
In Summary
So, that’s it. Those are my top tips for survival as a one watch guy or gal. I understand that much of this is prefaced with the plan that one wishes to be a one watch guy. I love it. And I hear many of you who yearn to own just the one. Hopefully, this discussion will continue – and I’d love to hear from more of you who might be considering the one watch lifestyle. If you want to dip your toe in the water, give it a go. Don’t rashly sell off your whole collection but pick the watch out of your quiver which speaks to you the most, and try wearing it for a week, a month, or a whole season.
Consider what you have enjoyed about wearing just one watch and what you have missed about your other watches. If it turns out that you, too, are ready for watch monogamy, be sure to share the watch and your reasons why.
I want to leave you with a parting thought. One of the aspects of this hobby that I enjoy is the history behind the products—delving deep into archives, film footage, and historical images and speculating on what watches were worn in some of the ‘big’ moments in history and pop culture. I think about Robert Redford and his Red Submariner in Three Days of The Condor, Cary Grant and his Cartier Tank, or Sylvia Earle and her gold Datejust. These are necessarily the only watches of these individuals, but this is the watch that they’re known for. In many ways, their watch defines them, and they define their watch. There is a special connection between a person and their watch, an identity, a fusion. By over-consuming in the watch space, we lose some of that romanticism that we all fall for when we see weathered old adverts which were aimed at somebody buying their one great watch. We’re not all going to be ocean explorers or legendary film stars, but we can all own just one watch.
Andrea, Great article. You put in writing something that few can describe within the watch collecting community. I think it is still tough to select one watch and be happy with it for long. I think it is a matter of taste, luck (when finding the right piece to buy just before another one greater or nicer is released) and of course money. I prefer the affordable section of watches (<500euro/$) as I think that more expensive watches do not neceserrily have more to offer. Also spending 5k on watch and then be afraid to damage it or have it stolen is something that I would prefer to avoid. One thing that I have to point is that the"one watch" collection really depends on the watch you select. Lorier has put some realy versatile pieces in the market. SEIKO, Certina, TISSOT, Orient and other brands have similar options. The safe option would be a dive watch (or desk dive watch) that would fit all uses. The specs would have to be those fiting the everyday use. At least 100m water resistant would be best. But the most important to me is the maintenance and repair. Having a 4R36 or NH35 engine in your piece make it so easy to repair or maintain. Similarly with some ETA equivalents. You shouldn't spend the cost of another watch just to maintain your one and only piece. But even if you do, you would have spent only around 500$ which is better than 1000-5000.