Are you a watch enthusiast, who is in a tight budget? Collecting luxurious watches can be hard to watch lovers. Because they usually come at a much higher price. There are large volumes of watches in the market but some of them are isn’t of good quality.
It could be frustrating not to be able to have the watch that you have been eyeing for. But fret not because here are some things that you can do to help fulfill your passion for watches .
Change Straps
Wearing the same watch and seeing the same design every day could get boring in time. Some may resort to buying a new one. But if you keep on spending on a new watch, this could hurt your wallet.
So instead of changing your watch over a new one, you can change the strap that will make your watch look as new. First, you need to check if the straps are replaceable. You can even make your watch more fashionable by replacing the strap into a bracelet.
Before buying new straps, you should know the exact measure of it. Choose the colors that will complement your watch like IWC big pilot. It will be nice if you do the research ahead.
Pre-Owned Watches
You can spend less when you look and buy old or pre-owned watches. They might have lost their value compared to a brand-new watch, but they can still function as good as the new ones.
There is a wide market for pre-owned watches. You can buy them from individual sellers or dealers where the price offers can perfectly suit your budget.
Speaking of old or pre-owned watches, be extra careful with vintage watches. They can be cool and has a historic story behind them, but they can be costly. Some may even cost higher than the new ones.
Remember that you are buying pre-owned watches to spend lesser. So, do not be lured with luxurious or interesting vintage watches.
Trade Watches
Doing a barter system for the watch is another way to save money on your watch journey. Many watch collectors resort to trade. By doing so, they can afford many more watches at lower prices.
There are some watch enthusiasts who spend lesser by doing selling and trading. They just exchange their own watch or money with something that they want. Some watch lovers can even earn from doing selling and trading watches.
There are watches in the market that retains their value, so if you invest in them, you can get desirable results. All you need to do is to master the skills in watch trading. You can even enjoy luxurious watches without spending too much compared to buying brand new ones.
Indie Watch Makers
If you want to get the best deals, you can look for small indie watchmakers in the market. They are watch lovers just like you who create watches that are of high-quality and are affordable. They usually create watches that go with your preference since they are watch enthusiasts as well.
The only problem that you may encounter with some indie watchmakers is that they can be working with third-party suppliers. So some materials they put on the watch may not be pleasing for your preference.
This is why you might be required to do some research to help you find the best watchmakers and watch parts stores. You can look for them on forums or blogs, and social media.
Forums and eBay
One of the most convenient ways to find watches is to go on eBay and Forums. But beware that buying watches from eBay and Forums can be disappointing sometimes. Especially when you get a watch that is far from how it looks online.
If you are searching on eBay, you can use the ‘saved search’ function to give you ease on what you are searching for. eBay will also send you emails when there are new watches that you might be interested in.
Until now, eBay is still the best place for online watch auctions since most watches come from dealers.
Another way to get the best watches that will satisfy your passion is through forums. You can join in watch forum communities online. This is the best place if you are looking for pre-owned watches. Most sellers offer their watch at a lower price since they need the payment in real-time.
Japanese Watch Makers
Japanese watchmakers like Seiko, Orient, and Citizen produce the best quality mechanical watches. Most of them are sold at cheaper prices. Most watch lovers nowadays end up buying watches from Japanese companies because of their good quality.
If you really want to spend less but still be satisfied with your watch, choose them according to their quality and not the country in which things are manufactured.