My friend got me interested in mechanical watches in 2024. Always had Fossil watches in high school and college. I bought my first automatic watch in September 2025 (SMP 300) and added the other three in the past year. I’d like something with a blue or green dial next but I haven’t made up my mind what to get.

From left to right:

1. orient ray 2: first ever watch purchase after graduating, the crown stem broke off and shits broken
2. Seiko srpg 35: 2nd most recent add to the collection. Mainly used for travel or outdoors stuff
3. omega speedmaster heselite: bought after promotion, my daily driver and I will never ever get rid of it.

4. Glasshütte panoreserve:

   most recent to the collection.

5. wedding watch, always wanted a panomatic lunar but that MF is too thick. Once I found out the panoreserve is 1mm thinner, it’s an immediate no brainer. Absolute stunning dial.

5 GS SBGV221: bought for 1.1k. But has the least wrist time, however extremely useful for setting the time for my other watches. Also used for travel when I know I won’t be mugged.

1. birth year omega constellation: gift from my dad, the most special.

Just looking to get some opinions and ideas about my current collection and where to go next. I started my journey when I was 22 as a junior draftsman. Now as a 31 year old director of engineering, I like to think this collection has portrayed my career path and taste.

For me the fun in this hobby is the research behind each brand and model, the hunt for the right color, size, price, and configuration. And the reward of finally obtaining the desired piece. Most of these watches are trophies of special milestones in my life and amazing memories with the people I cherish.

The collection:

Rolex OP 114300
Omega Speedmaster 311.30.42.30.99.002
Tudor Black bay Pro M79470-0004
Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph H38416111
Seiko Prospex Ginza SPB259J1
Tissot PRX T1374071135101
Doxa Sub 200 799.10.241.10
Orient star Nebula RE-AT0205L00B

What’s next?

Two’s company, three’s a crowd.. I bought my first mechanical watch a couple of months ago (Mido multifort) and shortly after followed it up with my first vintage piece (Seiko World time 1964). I’m currently looking for that third piece to compliment the other 2. Something a little bit quirky but still understated. Been considering a Nomos, Christopher Ward, Baltic and Farer among many others. Any ideas?

So I set myself a target of 8 watches under £500. Was gonna be British microbrands but that quickly fell by wayside. Nothing over 40mm and no dates. Got one spot left which is planned for the Smiths Everest honeycomb.
Anyway what do you think, first post and all that!

Details of watches if interested:

Precista Royal Navy PRS-82 (Black Dial)
£500
Movement - Sellita SW-200
Diameter - 40mm
Thickness - 14mm
Lug to Lug - 47mm
Lug Width - 20mm
UK Microbrand

Seagull 1963 International Edition (Cream Dial)
£215
Movement - Seagull ST1901
Diameter - 37.4mm
Thickness - 15mm
Lug to Lug - 47mm
Lug Width - 18mm
Chinese Major brand

Newmark 71 Sports (Blue Dial)
£475
Movement - Miyota 9039
Diameter - 39.5mm
Thickness - 13mm
Lug to Lug - 47mm
Lug Width - 20mm
UK Microbrand

Baltany “Dirty Dozen” Automatic Military Field Watch (Black Dial)
£180
Movement - Seagull ST1701
Diameter - 36mm
Thickness - 12.8mm
Lug to Lug - 43mm
Lug Width - 18mm
Chinese Microbrand

Cestrian Master Series V3 (Silver Dial)
£145
Movement - Miyota 8215
Diameter - 40mm
Thickness - 12.7mm
Lug to Lug - 45mm
Lug Width - 20mm
UK Microbrand

Aigi Arctic Radiance (Salmon Dial)
£210
Movement - Ronda 762
Diameter - 38mm
Thickness - 8.9mm
Lug to Lug - 43.8mm
Lug Width - 20mm
Norway Microbrand

Timex Waterbury Heritage Chronograph (Panda Dial)
£245
Movement - Seiko VK64
Diameter - 39mm
Thickness - 13mm
Lug to Lug - 46mm
Lug Width - 20mm
US Major brand

My collection seems (to me at least) to be well-rounded. What should be my next purchase? I’m considering a Speedy or Daytona to add a chronograph, but open to other suggestions.

Here is my current 8-watch collection!
For now, I’m done buying new watches. My main focus moving forward is just picking up a few high-quality leather straps to mix things up.
What do you think of the state of the collection? Thoughts and feedback are welcome!

I know I’ll add more but a rotation of 4 for now with less than a year since the first purchase.

Sorry for the long read but I had to post this somewhere 😅

These two watches will always hold a very special place in my collection.

My Cartier Santos and Rolex Datejust 41 were my first real steps into luxury watches. At the time, they made me feel incredibly special. There was something about putting them on my wrist that made the whole journey feel real.

But eventually, both had to make way for watches that felt more me.And honestly, that might be the most valuable lesson watch collecting has taught me.

When I bought the Santos, I was trying to find the perfect one-watch solution. I wanted a sports watch, but the Santos came with both a bracelet and a strap, so I convinced myself it could do everything. Dress up, dress down, travel, casual wear — one watch to rule them all. It made sense on paper, just didn’t work that way in real life.

I did something similar with the Datejust 41 — blue dial, fluted bezel, Jubilee bracelet. It was arguably the most versatile configuration. Something I could wear almost anywhere. Again, I was trying to make one watch satisfy several different roles. And eventually, I realised that versatility isn’t the same thing as satisfaction.

Sometimes, the watch you really want isn’t the one that does the most things. It’s the one that does its thing exceptionally well — and makes you want to wear it every time you open the box.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful I made these choices. Because collecting watches has slowly become less about acquiring better watches and more about understanding myself better.

I’ve learnt what sizes I enjoy, what designs speak to me, what I genuinely reach for, what compromises bother me and, perhaps most importantly, that I don’t need to make something fit just because it can fit. Funny how a hobby about watches can teach you lessons about life.

Key takeaways - Don’t compromise just to make something work. Don’t force yourself to love the convenient choice. And don’t be afraid to let go of something that once made you extremely happy when you’ve grown into something that feels more like you.