My New Year's Watch Resolution: No Watch Purchases in 2025
Photo by Chris Antzoulis - Ciga Design Blue Planet Titanium
I understand this is quite unusual, but I view this as a sequel to my very first article in the watch community for Time + Tide about my Tudor Black Bay 58 Bronze: My Mental Milestone Watch. I encourage you to read that after this.
I became deeply invested in this hobby in 2021. After receiving my Timex M79 as a gift, my collection has grown tremendously. In 2024 alone, I added 12 watches to my collection (though I might have sold more than that). I’ve always been the type of person who quickly absorbs information about new hobbies, and I can be a bit impulsive about the time and money I dedicate to them. The fact that I write about the hobby and have essentially branded myself serves as evidence of this. Today, I’m writing a piece that serves as both a vow to myself and a resolution of sorts — I plan not to buy any watches in 2025.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis - Tudor Black Bay 58 Bronze
How did I get here?
Before that Timex, I might have owned five or six watches in my lifetime. Usually, I would get a new Fossil or a “mall watch” to commemorate new milestones; however, I never paid much attention to specifications or brands, and I certainly didn’t know the difference between quartz and mechanical watches. In fact, I believe I thought all watches operated on a battery. Over the span of three years, I went from being clueless to reading books on how mechanical watches function, taking apart old pocket watches, exploring micro and independent brands, and justifying multi-thousand dollar purchases on watches that I admire, even though they are ultimately unnecessary.
That’s the funny thing, isn’t it? We all know, deep down, that our lives wouldn't be any worse if we didn’t own our watches. Yet, we’re attached. For me, I recognize that my ADHD significantly influences what captures my attention. To put it simply, people with ADHD often hyper-fixate on hobbies due to a dopamine deficiency in our brains, leading us to pursue activities that stimulate our minds and release dopamine. While this may seem like a solution, it often creates an entirely new problem by making it difficult for us to shift our attention away from the hobby as we continuously seek that dopamine rush. I also realize that, at least in the past, my hyper-focus doesn’t last forever. I’ve had several hobbies and collections that have faded over time when I inevitably got bored.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis - Studio Underd0g Watermel0n
Right now, you might be thinking, "So, you’re quitting?” Let me reassure you that I’m making this decision for exactly the opposite reason. I want to stay involved and engaged in this hobby more than ever. It has become a lifestyle for me. This hobby has allowed me to make new best friends, travel, and even earn money at times. I aim to deepen my understanding of this community, the industry, and my role within it. Additionally, when it comes to purchasing watches, I want to do so with greater intention and break the habit of succumbing to manufactured urgency and buying into hype. There will always be new and amazing watches, and for now, I want to focus on enjoying what I have.
In 2025, I will strive not to buy any new watches. However, I have a couple on the way that I purchased in 2024. And I’m allowing myself ONE caveat: if I get “the call” from my AD regarding the one watch I’m on the list for, I will definitely buy it, but that will be it. If I break these rules, you can all throw your heads back, laugh, and say that you knew I couldn’t do it. Or you can choose not to be an asshole and gently encourage me to make a return. Either way, I adore you all, this community, and you can expect me to be as present as ever.
What are your 2025 Watch Resolutions?
