{"id":18,"date":"2026-09-12T02:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T02:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/12\/ten-years-collecting-lessons\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T02:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T02:48:11","slug":"ten-years-collecting-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/12\/ten-years-collecting-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons from Ten Years of Collecting"},"content":{"rendered":"

A decade of collecting watches teaches lessons that no book or forum can convey. Here is what I have learned through purchases both wise and foolish.<\/p>\n

Buy What You Will Wear<\/h2>\n

The watches that bring me the most satisfaction are the ones I actually wear. That limited edition in the safe? It sparks less joy than the beaten-up Seiko I wear while gardening. If you will not wear it, reconsider the purchase.<\/p>\n

Condition Matters More Than You Think<\/h2>\n

Early on, I bought watches with “minor” issues \u2014 a slightly refinished dial, aftermarket hands, a polished case. I regretted each purchase. Original, unrestored pieces command premiums for good reason. The premium is almost always worth paying.<\/p>\n

Service Costs Are Part of the Price<\/h2>\n

That vintage chronograph needs service every five years. A full service runs $500-1500 for complex movements. Factor this into your purchase decision. A “deal” on a neglected watch often isnt.<\/p>\n

The Best Deals Require Patience<\/h2>\n

I waited three years for the right Heuer Carrera. When it appeared \u2014 correct dial, unpolished case, documented service history \u2014 I paid market price happily. Rushing leads to compromises you will regret.<\/p>\n

Your Taste Will Evolve<\/h2>\n

My early purchases reflected what forums told me I should like. My current collection reflects what I actually enjoy wearing. Do not fight your evolving taste \u2014 embrace it. Sell what no longer resonates. Buy what does.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A decade of collecting watches teaches lessons that no book or forum can convey. Here is what I have learned through purchases both wise and foolish. Buy What You Will Wear The watches that bring me the most satisfaction are the ones I actually wear. That limited edition in the safe? It sparks less joy […]\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arandolph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}