Definite rules for personal buying.
-Personally I can only buy 6 watches in my life max so Im forced to make my decisions count, I have bought 2 so far with a third coming along the way for my 25th Birthday.
-all have to be different brands and face colours. Only buy watches on special or memorable occasions. (Overseas holidays or birthdays). 3 swiss and 3 Japanese.
-If a watch is given as a gift, it voids all the rules.
Some other considerations I take into account but not set in stone rules:
-If a watch is worth more than 20% of what my car is worth, evaluate if it's more worthwhile to use the money to save for a better car.
-I need to actually be able to wear the watch. Dont want to get a grail piece yet if I feel I cant wear it on a daily basis.
-Dont see the watch as an investment, more as a hallmark of memories. I believe having memories associated with a watch increases its sentimental value and talking points, being able to point to a watch in your collection and go, 'I got this from my wife' or ' I got this during my overseas trip in Japan' etc. is more precious and valuable than saying 'I saved 10k for this Rolex'. But that's just me.
The car rule is mainly put in place to keep my priorities straight.
I'd much rather own a nicer car. If the value of the watch can contribute to a dream car or something to upgrade from what I currently have.