Patience. It helps to be in your seventies, when having experiences becomes more valuable than acquiring costly stuff. Moreover, quartz has become far more horologically acceptable than it was, say, 20 years ago when I was actively collecting (mostly gold) mechanical watches.
That said, enjoy the "auto bug." The aesthetics, engineering and craftsmanship are marvellous. Do consider the cost of maintaining your collection, though. Really good watchmakers are few and far between, and the cost factory service is often extortionate.
Oh, and one more thing. Having good taste (and the means to indulge it) is a definite asset in collecting. Check out the auction houses. Cheap watches rarely appreciate. My net cost of ownership of two Rolexes over the years was less than zero.
