How to get cool watches for cheap?

Well first and foremost, you have to define what you like, what's important to you, and what looks good on you. If you're always looking at what everyone else has, you won't be happy. You'll never be content if you keep looking at what your neighbor has. It's so easy to get swept away with what's popular right now or what's hyped right now.

So this is not gonna be about tricks on how to get a Rolex for cheap. Sorry, there's no magic trick for that. 

What I'll be sharing is more of a mindset. I guess you could call this "My Watch Buying Philosophy". I'm not saying it's the ultimate right one, as other people have different philosophies according to their goals. What I'm about to share with you is just what works for me.

#1 Do not chase hype!

If you're familiar with the concept of supply and demand and how it affects prices, hype is just stoking the fires of demand. And with higher demand, given a fixed supply, comes higher prices. I'm not one to chase something just because of the hyped resale price. I buy what I like at a price that I'm happy with. And let the resale price be a happy secondary benefit.

One example of how that has paid off for me is with my Furlan Marri purchase. I bought it because I really liked the design and it was just at $330 during the Kickstarter phase. A few months later, it was getting so much hype that the secondary market price is about three times or more... not that I was planning to sell. It's just to illustrate buying what you like before the hype pays off. 



Related: Furlan Marri: Is the Hype Deserved?

#2 Go for underrated brands.

The truth is most of the people in your everyday life would not notice the brand name of what's on your wrist. They're going to notice your energy and your confidence. And if you're wearing something that makes you happy, it translates to your outward energy and confidence.

Maybe there will be a few people who would turn their noses up and would judge you. Well, I think you shouldn't be hanging out with these people anyway. There may be some people on the internet, like Facebook groups who would judge you for what you wear, but who cares what they think!



#3 Choose what suits you even if it's not trendy.

If what's popular right now are big watches, the smaller ones are not going to be as in-demand. I've been able to take advantage of that by buying pieces that are overlooked because of their size. A few decades ago, men's watches were smaller like around 33 millimeters to 38 millimeters in case diameter. Lucky for me, those are the sizes that I liked! And since they were overlooked, the prices were quite reasonable.

For example, I was able to get a 33 millimeter Credor men's watch for $300 on ebay. It's still in beautiful condition! 



Related: Why You Should Get a Vintage Credor now

#4 Buy with the mindset of not reselling your watch, or expect to sell it at a loss.

Buying with the mindset of making a profit makes me not as careful with my purchases. And while I don't plan on selling, I can't help but look at some items being worth more in the future, which I guess makes me a little more loose with my wallet. Like "oh buy them now! You won't be able to buy them in the future for the same price!". I guess that's how I ended up having a collection of over 30 watches that I can't maximize.

Now, when I go window-shopping online, I remind myself that I'm not buying to resell. It prevents me from buying more watches and it makes me more motivated to get the best deal possible.

#5 Learn how to change straps by yourself!

One of the aspects I consider very fun in this hobby is changing up the straps of my watches. By changing out the straps, it looks like a completely brand new watch! I've also had fun tinkering and learning how to resize bracelets. I think it gives me extra pride in my watch when I know I've put it together. Also, if you have hand-me-down watches from your grandparents or parents and the straps are worn and ratty, you can breathe new life into it by just simply getting new straps!



Related: Where to Buy Watch Straps in the Philippines

#6 Before buying pre-owned, do your research.

You should be wary when prices are too good to be true. However, there are times when the price is so good, it's so hard to turn away from it! If you find a really good deal, be sure to double-check. You can search for comparison photos on Instagram, Chrono24 and eBay. 

If you're lucky you can also find photos on the website of the watch brand like Omega. I almost bought a vintage Omega a few years ago, until I found a photo in the Omega website and saw that the hands were not the same. 

I also recommend asking people in the Instagram watch community (search for #watchfam) or in the watch forums (like Watchcrunch.com). 

#7 Be patient!

Don't be in a hurry to buy something. For example, I've always wanted a vintage art deco watch but everything I've seen so far were too expensive or the condition was really bad. There were times I also got outbid when I saw something nice.

After two years of misses, I finally found a vintage art deco watch, which ticked all the boxes. The condition was great, it was recently serviced, and the price was reasonable. And bonus: it came with a box! So just keep your eyes peeled and be patient. It might take years to get the watch you want but it's okay, it's worth it!