7 Watch Experts Share Their 2026 Collecting Resolutions
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Hi friends: It’s me, Cam. For the next couple of months, I’m going to be back out on parental leave. Out of your inbox, but hopefully never gone from your hearts. Thankfully, we are sending one of our top minds into the Box + Papers laboratory. Jeremy Freed, a very sharp writer and longtime contributor to GQ.com’s watch coverage, is going to be your trusty guide through the horological world until I return in mid-March. See you soon. —Cam Wolf
I once heard a story about a tech entrepreneur who, at the start of each year, puts 12 slips of paper, each with a different new skill or area of study written on it, into a container. At the start of every month, he draws one out and spends the next four weeks learning everything he can about juggling, thermodynamics, marsupials, or whatever. While I’d love to be the kind of person who is capable of something like this, experience has taught me that I am not. And I’m OK with that! But I don’t let it stop me from setting intentions around things I’d like to do (or do differently in the new year).
What suits me best, I have found, is setting small, vague goals that can be achieved without too much effort, and not writing them down. This has two main benefits: First, if I do accomplish something on my list, I get to feel good about that. And second, if I don’t make good on a goal, I’ll likely have forgotten all about it by the time next January rolls around.
It’s a system that I’ve found works as well for watch-related resolutions as anything else. Watches, after all, are supposed to be a source of joy, and nothing puts a damper on fun faster than feeling like you’re letting yourself down. So, while I have made a few watch-related resolutions, I’m not going to share them here lest I be held accountable to them by my future self. Instead, I asked a few of the most dedicated watch enthusiasts I know to share theirs.
“Having trained in clothing and fine art, I’ve developed a keen eye for understanding and appreciating case shapes and polishing, but I’ve recently grown to appreciate movements and mechanical details even more. This year, I’m particularly interested in learning about watches with dual escapements like the Philippe Dufour Duality and the F.P. Journe Resonance. I also plan to continue expanding my collection beyond just time-only watches. While I had a brief fascination with chronographs and tourbillons in my youth, my wrist size and industry preferences led me to fall in love with time-only watches like Patek Philippe’s Ellipse and Calatrava, and Cartier pieces like Tank Normale and Ceinture. This year, I’m looking forward to exploring different genres and mechanisms, including jump hour, annual calendars, and perpetual calendars—which is a lot to study. Aside from these, I want to be more adventurous with my choice of watch straps. Historically, I’ve stuck to classic brown and black, but I’m increasingly keen to experiment with materials like ostrich, peccary, and pigskin in shades like taupe, olive, and even some funky colors.”
“My 2026 New Year’s watch resolution is to buy pieces I’ll want to give to my child one day. I just had my first baby! It’s not totally different than before because I’ve always collected pieces I know are keepers, but there’s just more meaning in the watches now. Knowing one day I can hand it down is a special feeling.”
“My watch resolution for 2026 is to be less precious about my own collection. I tend to hold on to things longer than I need to, and I want to be a little looser with it this year. That means more selling, which will enable more buying and more exploration. I also want to get outside my comfort zone and try some new things. In particular, I’d love to experience more of the incredible independent watchmaking that’s happening these days from brands like MING, Anoma, and Naoya Hida. I’m not sure exactly what’s going to make it into the collection, but it definitely won’t be something boring. That said, a vintage yellow gold Rolex Day-Date has been calling my name for some time now…”
