What was the first watch that truly shaped your collection?

I’ve been thinking lately about how different “starting a collection” looks once you’ve been in the hobby for a while. Early on, I thought building a collection meant checking boxes: diver, field watch, dress watch, chronograph. And to be fair, that approach teaches you a lot. But the watches that ended up mattering most to me weren’t always the ones that looked best on paper. A simple field watch taught me more about proportion and comfort than a much more expensive piece ever did. A microbrand I bought out of curiosity ended up staying longer than a heritage model I assumed would be a forever watch. That’s part of the fun, I think. The collection starts to reflect your actual taste, not just the version of yourself that was trying to be a “serious collector.” These days, I’m much more interested in whether a watch has a point of view. I still care about movements, finishing, and value, of course. But I care even more about whether a watch earns wrist time and whether it adds something distinct to the box. That’s one of the things I love about this club: seeing how differently thoughtful collectors arrive at pieces they genuinely connect with. So I’d love to hear from you: what was the first watch that really shaped your collection, and what did it teach you about your taste?