If anything, I was guilty of the opposite early on in my watch collecting. I bought, not rare, but “iconic” watches that everyone liked and were easy to get. One each from AP, PP, VC. Speedmaster, Reverso, Rolex, etc, in pursuit of a well-rounded collection of watches and brands.
At this point, I don’t really worry about what others like, or what is rare, or what future values might be. My collection focuses on the activities of my life, and the enjoyment I get from owning and wearing each piece. I’m not on traditional social media, and so very few people in my life would even know the difference between a $100, $1,000, or $100,000 watch. “Flexing” isn’t a part of my motivation.
Humans have always pursued status symbols, so I don’t really fault anyone. However, the pieces I own that are most expensive and rare, are also nearly unrecognizable to almost everyone I encounter.
Enjoy what you have for your own reasons.
Cheers!