Funnily enough, the watches I’ve regretted buying have been the ones I bought brand new. Maybe it’s the bargain hunter in me, but setting an alert on auction sites to find a watch I’m interested in and then pulling the trigger once it comes up for sale or winning an auction are the best ways to get them for me.

I especially love the ones that I’ve snagged that are no longer available new, or ones that have simple issues that I need to rectify (install new crystals, replace seals or bezels, polish cases, replace straps). There’s something great about breathing new life into neglected watches that makes them feel special to me afterwards, no matter the original price point.

Of my current rotation, I’d say 80% are watches I’ve restored just with a basic set of tools, some spare parts and elbow grease. It’s really worth looking into for any watch collector.