Inside the Minds of Luxury Watch Enthusiasts

Maybe you are a luxury watch enthusiast in your own right, or maybe you simply know and respect one of these horological heavyweights. We are not talking about people who walk around wearing a Bill Clinton-style Casio or your one aunt who is obsessed with tracking her steps on her Apple Watch. No, we are talking about the people who appreciate the craftsmanship of true luxury watches: Think heritage brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex or new-age trendsetters like Richard Mille.

There are people who dabble in watch collecting, picking up a Rolex or two along the way. And then there are people who are hardcore collectors, making an effort to build a well-rounded set of iconic timepieces that showcase the best of horological innovation, evoke classic looks, and symbolize important milestones in watch world history. No matter which one sounds like you, our team at Avi & Co. is here to help you build the watch collection of your dreams.

Today, we are going to take a behind-the-scenes look at the minds of luxury watch enthusiasts, walking you through how they choose their holy grail pieces, how they research key brands, and how they select the best watches to invest in. There is no time like the present to get started!

If you have yet to purchase your first luxury watch, you are at an important stage in your life! This is the time to research, prepare, and decide which timepiece best suits your lifestyle, budget, and functionality needs. Maybe you have been crushing on a particular piece, or maybe you have an open mind about how to start your collection. Some clients come to us with a certain brand in mind and remain committed to that creator. Others walk into one of our three boutiques thinking they want one thing and end up walking out with a new discovery that is everything they did not know they needed. There is no such thing as the “right” first watch to add to your collection, but here are a few factors to consider.

Price Point: For some people, their first luxury watch is one of the more inexpensive pieces in their collection. Some first-time buyers are younger shoppers who are still building wealth. Others are simply dipping a toe into the world of high-end timepieces. Either way, it is important to set a budget that you feel you can appropriately afford without breaking the bank. There is no one-size-fits-all answer here; it depends on your financial portrait and how much you feel comfortable spending. Better yet, come in with a range that you would be comfortable with!

Preferences: The most important factor in choosing the first watch for your collection is your personal preferences. For instance, do you prefer gold or stainless steel for the watch’s construction? What size dial are you looking for? If you are not sure about any of these factors, that is a great reason to try on some watches in person at one of our luxe boutiques (you can find us in Aspen, New York City, and Miami).

Performance: Are there certain lifestyle factors that you need to consider when shopping for a watch? For instance, are you an avid boater who needs a water-resistant timepiece? Are you a doctor or other professional who wants a durable and versatile watch with a rubber strap? No matter your criteria, we will work with you to pinpoint the ideal selection.

Brand: If you do not have a certain brand in mind, that is completely fine. Many clients, however, come to our stores shopping with a particular watchmaker at the forefront of their search. It is worth doing some research in advance to compare the big four watchmakers and see which might be the best fit for you.

Purchasing your first luxury watch can feel daunting, but remember that this is an exciting milestone in your life! More often than not, you are starting your journey with a hobby that you will enjoy for a lifetime. Our team at Avi & Co. is here to support you every step of the way.

So, you have purchased your first luxury watch, and maybe you have added another one or two to your collection. But what comes next? Building out your collection comes with many different considerations. Here is how some premier collectors think about their inventory and the different types of watch boxes you can have.

Some people fall in love with one particular brand over all others. They choose to build a collection based exclusively on this brand, accumulating a variety of different makes, models, and years of manufacture. For example, you could collect only Rolex watches (or, if you wanted to be even more specific, only Rolex GMT-Master II watches).

Other collectors choose to prioritize a certain compilation or feature when they are selecting which watches to invest in. For example, you could create a collection exclusively based around pilots’ watches or diving watches. Alternatively, you might collect moon phase watches, perpetual calendar watches, or even chronograph timepieces.

Another option is to collect watches that hail from a particular time period. This may also be called vintage watch collecting, although there are many different perspectives on what vintage really means in the horological world. For instance, you could collect watches created in the 1960s, or you could collect first generation Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepieces from 1972 through 1980. As you can see, there are plenty of different ways to customize your collection to your needs.

Perhaps the most popular option is building out a generalized luxury watch collection. This allows you to enjoy and explore numerous different brands, models, complications, and more. You will end up with a more well-rounded watch collection that ranges from sporty to fancy and everything in between. With this setup, you will be sure to have a watch for every occasion that comes up in your life. Collecting from a more general perspective is our personal favorite option, but there is a method for everyone out there.

As you build a collection and begin communicating with other watch aficionados, you will quickly notice something: Almost everyone has a so-called “holy grail” watch. This is a timepiece that a collector looks out for constantly, waiting months or even years to get their hands on the watch of their dreams. Maybe it is a limited-edition run, maybe it is a discontinued piece you are seeking on the secondary market, or maybe it is simply a piece that you have been saving up for over time. Whatever makes a certain watch your holy grail, we will help you track it down.

For example, we love this exquisite rainbow Rolex Daytona, which is a favorite of A-listers and celebrities around the world. From John Mayer to Patrick Mahomes, anyone who is anyone seems to have gotten their hands on this watch. Celebrity favorites are another prime qualification for finding your bucket list watch, as interest from big names like these helps drive demand on the secondary market. You can feel confident that you are making a strong investment.

Another holy grail piece? Virtually any reference from the Patek Philippe Grand Complications collection. One of the oldest watchmakers still around, Patek Philippe piles all kinds of incredible functionality and artistry into these elite timepieces. This watch, for instance, features a perpetual calendar and a sophisticated dial that exudes elegance and class from every angle. You simply cannot beat a Grand Complications watch for your collection.

Adding a Richard Mille watch to your inventory is also a strong choice. These new-age, sporty watches have been dubbed “ugly luxury,” but their success on the market proves that haters are always going to hate. With iconic tonneau-shaped cases, skeletonized dials, and oversize silhouettes, Richard Mille watches speak to the future of the horological world. They show that avant garde is always cool, and you can never go wrong being a trendsetter.

When it comes to watch collecting, there are many different paths to take and countless brands to explore. At Avi & Co., we are proud to present our elite collection of renowned timepieces from a vast selection of high-end brands. From timeless classics to unique and innovative designs, our inventory is diverse and broad, allowing us to serve each and every client that walks through our doors with the utmost care and elevated service. We even have our very own lines of Avi & Co. watches and fine diamond jewelry that up the ante on glitz and glamour. No matter what you are looking for, we are here to help you find the timepiece of your dreams.

Are you ready to build an unrivaled watch collection? Make an appointment today to lock in your personalized shopping experience.