Wheels & Hands: Why Car Enthusiasts Love Watches and Watch Fanatics Love Cars

Well, the truth is that car culture and watch culture share a lot of similarities and the common denominator is always the same – a need to standout via items that best represent us in terms of status and personality. We also tend to like things that are beautiful and not necessarily practical. Sometimes the two collide (happy accidents), but oftentimes they do not.

To clarify, I’m not talking about smartwatches, the type you can check your EV’s battery status on or do clever tech stuff on as it relates to your car. Those are gadgets that people choose to wear for the sake of convenience.

What I’m talking about is good old-fashioned wristwatches – timepieces. The type you get compliments on from women that look like Eva Green because they appreciate the beauty and tradition behind what it is that you’re wearing. And yes, you remember that scene from Casino Royale. Don’t pretend like you don’t.

For afficionados, there’s a deep emotional and mechanical fascination with both industries. We love to know exactly how our cars work, what architecture was used, what type of tech, engine specs, efficiency and so on. Same with watches. You want to know what type of movement it’s got and whether it was built in-house or somewhere else, and you also want to know about its power source and limitations.

Then there’s the story behind it. Most quality wristwatches come with great stories and brand traditions – and some of those traditions involve the automotive industry, seeing as how there’s so much overlap there. But that’s just one aspect. I’m not looking to do a deep dive on direct watch-automotive collaborations, because that’s not what this op-ed is about.

Our fascination with watches has more basic depth to it. Your watch doesn’t have to be a special edition model designed to mix and match with some Porsche 911 variant. The people who buy those types of watches are mostly people who are genuine fans of those specific car brands – and they usually have a lot of money to spend, unable to envision themselves missing out on that limited edition piece.

I think what it comes down to in the end is a sort of “soul” which these objects possess, in our eyes. It transcends their basic purposes (to tell time or to drive us from point A to point B). It’s about meaning, which is why both cars and watches represent gateways into what can easily become a lifelong hobby, evoking powerful memories every time they’re gazed upon.

To be fair, historically speaking, many enthusiasts find themselves drawn to both worlds because of the natural aspect of this “crossover” - we’ve had so many watchmakers design vehicle instruments, or iconic motorsport figures embracing watches as their passion.

I’d also like to point out that you don’t need to be rich to entertain this hobby. This is another argument that’s often overlooked. People think that materialism is the main driving force behind hobbies like collecting watches or buying the types of cars that best represent who you are.

You don’t need to be Elon Musk to purchase an entry-level Breitling or even a Tudor, and you certainly don’t need to have lots of money to buy a Seiko or a Tissot.

Wait, don’t I need a TAG Heuer or something?

If you want one, sure. But as a car enthusiast, you should be able to buy any type of watch you like (and can afford), without feeling the need to focus on it having a strong connection to motorsport, like a TAG Heuer or a Tissot, for example.

A nice watch goes with just about any type of car as long as the latter is either a premium product or particularly good-looking, or both, of course. So, in essence, you can buy a $600 Tissot and drive a BMW 3 Series and you can call yourself an enthusiast. It doesn’t have to be a TAG Heuer Monaco and a Pagani.

Can you recommend a few more watch brands?

I’m so glad I asked myself that question. But in case you really are interested in starting a collection that nobody’s going to frown upon, let me give you a few basic pointers.

Sure, if money is no issue, go ahead and buy “God Tier” timepieces from Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Richard Mille and so on. You can’t go wrong with those. But if you’re “forced” to show a little more restraint and you can’t go higher than say $5,000, I recommend that you look at the likes of Panerai, Tudor, Breitling, Omega and Grand Seiko, in no particular order.

Then you’ve got your entry-level watches, although nice, nonetheless. Buying a nice entry-level timepiece can be tricky, and a lot of people will often look at fashion brands for the answer. Never look at fashion brands for anything when it comes to watches! They are absolute garbage and watch enthusiasts will laugh at you behind your back. Buying a fashion watch is the equivalent of buying a BMW 320i and installing a custom exhaust to go with a giant rear wing. Tacky.

So instead of spending a few hundred bucks on a Diesel or an Armani, or whatever it is they’re selling over there at your local watch store, opt instead for a Seiko or a Tissot, where you can find all sorts of beautiful models from $400 to $2,000.

I would also suggest Hamilton and Longines higher up on that spectrum, because the craftsmanship is tremendous and so is the value for money. Edox too. Add them to the list.

When can I call myself a collector?

When it comes to cars, you probably need at least three that you genuinely bought out of passion. For watches, I’d say a minimum of 4-5 pieces are required, preferably each with its own unique story and purpose.

The best part is that you don’t need to be a collector of both. You can own just one car and a whole bunch of watches, which is what most people tend to do anyway.

Tell you what. I’d love to hear from you guys in the comments section. What type of watch are you wearing right now and what would you like to get for yourself in the future?