Thinking of buying my first good watch...pro's and cons?

[pne]

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Originally Posted by Computerpro3 I'll respond to some other posts later, but would like to point out: A $200 car can get you to where your going just as well as a $100,000 car thanks to speed limits. Since half the world lives on less than a dollar a day, it is insane for you to own a car with a value of more than $200. You could argue that the $100,000 car does it in luxury and style - same goes for the watch. Functionality is functionality, and a $200 car has it in spades. Interesting how your own logic only applies to certain aspects of your life, isn't it. Those same people who live on a dollar a day you mention would likely think you are going to hell for living where you do, or for eating as you do. However, people who live on zero dollars a day envy those who live on a dollar. Perspective is everything. edit: As a previous poster said, it's not about bling. I would get a fake rolex if that were the case. I just enjoy owning nice things which I have worked for. Am I wrong to do this?

again it is very different. What can a $20k car offer you over a $200 car? Safety, reliablitiy, comfort, better protection of your life, more enjoyable driving, more storage space, more efficient gas burning, lower insurance costs, theft prevention, durability.

what can a $20k watch offer you over a $200 one? Looks (which you can also get in a $200 watch), comfort? (maybe if italian leather feels better to your skin), reliablity (not an issue with a $200 watch), materials.


comparing a $200 watch to a $2000 watch is much more like comparing a $20,000 car to a $200,000 dollar car. The point is you're already stepping into the territory of diminishing returns. Personally I feel very privelaged to own a $200 watch. I've never spent over $70 on one before. And I wasn't making just pocket change over the summer either. Be careful, money doesn't buy happiness as the saying goes. Think long and hard what a very luxurious watch will give you that a expensive (yes $200 is expensive!) watch won't. Think about what else you might want to do with that money.

I fell into this trap last year with audio equipment. I had to have NICE stuff, I couldn't make due with a good system. I would go to an audioshop and demo equipment, and not even consider it unless it was over a certain price mark. I built up a system that cost around $10k and felt so elite doing so. Looking back now I just shake my head in shame. What the hell did an 18yo kid like myself need a 10000 dollar speaker system for? I should have been grateful for a modest $2000 setup.

 

[Kirosia]

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Originally Posted by warpdriver The only reason to buy a nice watch is vanity? Give me a break. Just because you don't understand the appeal of owning a fine timepiece doesn't mean the motives for buying them are completely hollow.

I said the "main" reason for buying an "overly" expensive watch. How many of those who do actually care about the intricacies and appreciate it's blah blah? You said yourself you can attach sentimental value to pretty anything. So why, in such cases, would an $10,000 object be inherently better than a $100 object that does same exact thing? Does sentimentality have rich tastes?

People keep trying to defend spending way more than necessary on watches, but it's not gonna get anywhere. A watch tells time, you can get good one for a fair price. Chances are you want to drop major bling on that crazy expensive or "only-us-watch-people-know" timepiece for some vain-ish reason. (Even if it's just to make yourself feel good) It's normal, we all do it some way, so just own up to it.

 

[pne]

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Originally Posted by Computerpro3 Generally, wearing it.

so you're telling me that every time you wear that watch your wrist will experience some form of pleasure from it's presence that a cheaper watch will simply not bring? All my rolex makes me feel is a irritating bump where the crown digs into my hand.

 

[Coltrane]

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Originally Posted by Computerpro3 I'll respond to some other posts later, but would like to point out: A $200 car can get you to where your going just as well as a $100,000 car thanks to speed limits. Since half the world lives on less than a dollar a day, it is insane for you to own a car with a value of more than $200. You could argue that the $100,000 car does it in luxury and style - same goes for the watch. Functionality is functionality, and a $200 car has it in spades. Interesting how your own logic only applies to certain aspects of your life, isn't it. Those same people who live on a dollar a day you mention would likely think you are going to hell for living where you do, or for eating as you do. However, people who live on zero dollars a day envy those who live on a dollar.

A two hundred dollar car will get you absolutely no where. It will break down almost immediately and be worthless. A 100k car is obscene. I drive a 95 Buick. Runs great and works for me.

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It's easy to criticize people with the moral high ground statements like the one you wrote, but I'd really like to see how people like you, who criticize others for having wasteful hobbies, spend their own money. Everybody's a hypocrite to some degree.

Total headphone expenditure: $95

and you know my car. any other questions about how is spend my money?

Yes, I probably do spend too much on cds, or other stuff. But it is about moderation. I dont think there is anything moderate about spending a months rent on a watch.

 

[kyrie]

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please explain. to me a lot of expensive watches look exactly like $2-300 ones. Sure there are exceptions but when I look all I see is stainless band, clicker ring thingy, very similar faces, etc.

It's all in the details. Small design details, finishing, etc. Most people wouldn't be able to recognize them...that's why luxury watches are considered jewelry. It's the same for clothes as well. There's recently been posts about clothes, and some people seem to think that $20 jeans are the same as $200 jeans, which is incredibly untrue.

But as far as functionality is concerned, whether you think such items are worth the price depends on how you view them. If you think of the functionality of watches as giving an accurate representation of time, you could buy a $20 casio quartz watch and be perfectly happy. But people who buy expensive watches don't think of watches just as something to look at and think "it's 3:15." They appreciate the subtleties of their craftsmanship, design, fabrication.

But as I said, that's no different from headphones. Many, many people I know don't care about so-called "details" or "realism" in music. They don't care if cymbals sound like real cymbals, whether or not you can hear above 15000 Hz. They don't care if an MP3 is 128 or 320 kbps. You can just as easily claim that the functionality of headphones is being able to "listen" to music on a very basic level, and not about hearing whatever fine details that most people wouldn't even recognize, much less care about.

 

[warpdriver]

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Originally Posted by Kirosia It's normal, we all do it some way, so just own up to it.

I already owned up to the reason I like watches. I've had a fascination with keeping time and wearing watches since I was 4. Now that I make a decent income, I can afford some of the timepieces that are considered fine examples and I choose to buy some of those. If you choose to label me vain for my ability and desire to own lots of a few luxury timepieces, ok, I'm vain. But again, my love of timepieces is rooted back with my first $10 Timex I had when I was young.

 

[warpdriver]

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Originally Posted by Coltrane A 100k car is obscene. I drive a 95 Buick. Runs great and works for me. Total headphone expenditure: $95 and you know my car. any other questions about how is spend my money? Yes, I probably do spend too much on cds, or other stuff. But it is about moderation. I dont think there is anything moderate about spending a months rent on a watch.

If you don't find any joy in spending large amounts on cars, headphones, or watches, good for you. Well, if you get a very high paying job in the future, or win a lottery, you will likely donate all that extra income to charities and keep your current car, headphones, and modest apartment. I'm glad there's people like you in this world who are willing to live with just the basic necessities, and never slurge on expensive luxuries even if they have lots of disposable income.

 

[Coltrane]

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Originally Posted by warpdriver If you don't find any joy in spending a large amount on cars, headphones, or watches, good for you. Well, if you get a very high paying job, or win a lottery, you will likely donate all that extra cash to charities and keep your current car, headphones, and modest apartment. I'm glad there's people like you in this world who are willing to live with just the basic necessities, and never slurge on expensive luxuries even if they have lots of disposable income.

Thanks!

But seriously, I do spend too much money on some unneccesary items. But everyone has to draw a line somewhere, and Im just expressing where I draw that line. The idea that people should spend money lavishly just because they 'earned' it, is repugnant to me. But I am also pretty much a socialist, so maybe Im not the one to ask in these matters.

 

[warpdriver]

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Originally Posted by Coltrane But I am also pretty much a socialist, so maybe Im not the one to ask in these matters.

There's at least few of your kind in every crowd

As long as one is not being overly hypocritical, I hold no anger in anybody stating that they think watch collecting is wasteful.

By definition, luxury items are ALL wasteful, whether it be cars, watches, fine wine, rare art, designer clothes. But as human, to be human is to be able to enjoy and choose being pampered by luxury.

 

[Kirosia]

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Originally Posted by warpdriver I already owned up to the reason I like expensive watches. I've had a fascination with keeping time and wearing watches since I was 4. If you choose to label me vain for my desire to own well crafted instruments, ok, I'm vain.

Can you say the same for all the others who buy overly expensive watches? They're the ones I've been targeting, not you. Don't step in front of a gun and get angry when it goes off.

People buy fancy cars, clothes, watches, etc., but do you think all of them do it out of love and appreciation? Nope, it's most often self-serving, they (we) do it to feel special; different; accepted. There's no care over future sentimental ties and such, no noble rhyme or reason.

 

[kugino]

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Originally Posted by Coltrane Thanks! But seriously, I do spend too much money on some unneccesary items. But everyone has to draw a line somewhere, and Im just expressing where I draw that line. The idea that people should spend money lavishly just because they 'earned' it, is repugnant to me. But I am also pretty much a socialist, so maybe Im not the one to ask in these matters.

i think this thread has degraded...too bad. watches are cool.

anyway, i would like to point out that no one said one "should" spend money lavishly, etc...i think the point is that some enjoy spending money they have worked hard for. i do not think they were making a moral statement about how people who have money ought to act, just a reason why they themselves enjoy spending money on watches. nothing to get upset over, really.

 

[warpdriver]

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Originally Posted by Kirosia People buy fancy cars, clothes, watches, etc., but do you think all of them do it out of love and appreciation? Nope, it's most often self-serving, they (we) do it to feel special; different; accepted. There's no care over future sentimental ties and such, no noble rhyme or reason.

I agree.

 

[warpdriver]

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Originally Posted by kugino i think this thread has degraded...too bad. watches are cool. anyway, i would like to point out that no one said one "should" spend money lavishly, etc...i think the point is that some enjoy spending money they have worked hard for. i do not think they were making a moral statement about how people who have money ought to act, just a reason why they themselves enjoy spending money on watches. nothing to get upset over, really.

thank you.

I love watches. Let's get back to talking about them.

 

[plainsong]

So am I wasteful and repugnant because I'm wearing my "purple monster" at the moment (not a monster in the Seiko sense), a $70.00 watch, but an automatic with it's own in-house movement?

I think it's wasteful to buy any high ticket item and not really know what you have, but if you appreciate what you've got, then any aggro against you is pure and simple jealousy.

Shouldn't have used flash, but what can ya do? I didn't have enough light to make up for it.

 

[chadbang]

Get and good watch but don't go overkiller. A Rolex is too big for you. Find something less ostentatious (and every Rolex owner I know whines about needing $500 servicing all the time). But a good quality watch is worth it. My Baum and Mercier divers watch is still ticking along after 9 years (I had the water seal changed, that's it). Just find a model you think is cool. And if that's a seamaster, then so be it. Enjoy it! A watch is my one concession to jewelry/fashion.