Worth starting a watch collection if you're not rich?

A decent mechanical watch can cost anywhere from like $50 to a few hundred and will last forever if you take care of it, so you don't need to drop serious cash to start. Most collectors actually begin with budget pieces and gradually pick up nicer ones over time, treating it more like a hobby than an investment. The appeal isn't really about having expensive stuff - it's learning about movements, design, and finding watches you actually like wearing. Totally worth it if you're genuinely interested.