I’m having a dilemma. I bought the 2 watches I always wanted…but I don’t feel good about it.

I grew up with a similar upbringing and have been working for almost 30 years and still can’t see myself drop that type of cash on luxury goods. There are certain items like boots and jackets that I’m ok spending a little more on since they should last a lifetime. To your point, it’s no way to live if you’re not enjoying the watch and just scared of damaging them when you’re wearing them.

You sound like a reasonable and thoughtful person so trust your own judgment. It’s served you well thus far. Ultimately you’re the only one who can make this decision.

I give no advice, but I can say what i would do:

I'd keep both in a safe place in my home, away from my other watches (in case of theft).

I'd wear them only for special occasions where damage risk was low.

And I'd love looking at them any time I wanted

This guilt goes away eventually. If you keep them you will satisfied and you will not keep spending like a rat on a wheel.

You have the watches that you want. Now you can concentrate on your portfolio, investments, etc.

Life's about balance. As long as it's not irresponsible, I don't see any problem with you allowing yourself the pleasure of a couple of good watches. It sounds like you've earned them.

Sometimes people have a hard time allowing themselves happiness, for a variety of reasons.

You'll eventually come to the correct decision.

I can relate whole-heartedly.

• Grew up poor... check

• Made good money... check

• Bought nice watches... check

• Had second thoughts, because they're "unnecessary"... check

The difference, though, is that it sounds like you're relatively young. I'm old. And because I'm old, the returns on my investments have had time to compound. To the point where even many, many ridiculous and unnecessary watches don't / can't affect my financial situation.

If you're still early on in your career and the money from the sale of a couple of unnecessary watches can pay off debts or help to build up capital that will compound over time, why keep them?

from the little I’ve read about you, I don’t believe that selling the watches will rid you of this anxiety. If I’m wrong, please ignore the remainder of this post and just sell them.

Keep these grail watches. Cherish them and love them. Let them grow with you. Do not buy more watches. Be frugal going forward and just have these two special pieces. Look at them and understand what they mean and as your portfolio grows you can smile and know what you went through to get to the next point in your life.

I would just say to really think about what you want to do. People often sell watches, miss them, and end up re-buying them. To me this is a much bigger waste of money than an expensive watch you don’t really need. Maybe put them away for a few weeks or months and see if you miss them.

My advice is to be as sure as possible that you won’t waste money by rebuying watches you sell, you’ll really feel guilty about that.

Good luck.

I came to this country 40 years ago with $800 in my pocket. I worked my ass off. Working nights and sometimes 2 and 3 jobs just to get ahead. After going to school and finishing school, I saved enough money to start my own business. Fortunately the hardwork paid off. Every time I look at my wrist, It reminds me of my humble beginning, and where hard work can get you. Enjoy them, wear them.

🤔 I've been where you are at. First Off: congratulations on your accomplishments and success! Way to hit some goals! Now let's address your buyers remorse. Full Disclosure: I purchased my first luxury watch on layaway in high-school = Rolex Black Dial Datejust Fluted Bezel and Jubile Bracelet. I worked in a lawnmower factory and also part time deliveries at a bakery making Rolex payments. When I brought my watch home my entire family told me how stupid I was. I owned that watch 20 plus years and wish I still did... like a few other Rolex long gone. I digress. The experience taught me 2 things about a luxury purchase 1) buy luxury items cash only or otherwise I can't afford the item 2) There is a right time and place to buy luxury items. I would say you are right to want to pay off debt and save for a house. You have to decide to keep the watches and not take a bath on them OR sell and wait until there is no car payment & you are in a house. Honesty, these two pieces will be around if you sell and buy again some day. Can't guarantee you will pay the same price. If you sell I recommend wearing that $800.00 you like and feel comfortable owning with confidence. You have already proven you can obtain your grails. Being confusing here... if you keep the watches love them and enjoy with a caveat...the next sexy watch that comes along you look up what you owe on your car and/or check your account for that house down-payment . You have some damned fine watches. You have chosen wisely. You don't need another until these other items are knocked off the to do list. IMO if you don't get those items handled you will always have buyers remorse. Pick a plan : Keep the watches and conquer the other money goals or sell and conquer those goals. Pick one and don't waste time 2nd guessing it.

I understand what you’re going through. It’s hard not to think about what else you could invest your money in vs buying a luxury watch.

My advice is to keep thinking it over. The last thing you want to do is act irrationally and regret your decision later.

Everything you commented about are good character traits. Congratulations at what you’ve accomplished.

I didn’t buy anything the wasn’t going to make or help me money until I felt comfortable with where I was at. I believe coming from humble beginnings and having hard working parents installled good character and solid work work ethic.

Sound similar. If your being responsible and the only issue is you feel guilty for thinking you’re spending recklessly. That’s a decision only you can make.

However, I doubt your love watches will go away. So if it were me I would think outside the box maybe split the difference. Sell one, buy one. There will be more watches in your future. Best of luck. Hoping the very best for you.

Watches are just mass produced mechanical objects that we assign value and significance to, I am most certainly older than you are but I am not going to pretend that I can offer even a scintilla of advice worth following. Your post is honest, revealing but the mere fact that you debate constantly the purchases might indicate that there is a little more to the issue, you know best your situation. My fast rude suggestion is to sell the twin annoyances and just live your life until spending a sum of money even an amount that society might consider reckless on stuff you love does not cause anxious thoughts.

Thanks all! Very encouraging words and advice. I appreciate all the feedback, and that you all understand where I'm coming from. I will give it some more thought, make sure I don't make a regretful decision.

I think one thing that will put you at ease is eliminating debt…as long as you have car payments etc you’ll wrestle the decision you made to purchase…everyone has their own approach and many of us here are older and at a different stage of life so our perspective is different…for me anything I consider purchasing if I lost it or drove it off a cliff I think would I be devastated, or upset but unaffected financially (my preferred)? Just my approach 😄

Can't take them with you so enjoy them now.

We all have buyers remorse from time to time. My advice is to set a date in the future, say 90 days away, that you will commit to selling them if you still feel uneasy about what you spent on them. Then you can be sure.

You knew what you wanted, you worked for it, you spent some money on yourself. That to me seems pretty successful regardless of your overall economic status overall. You'll make similar decisions all through your life. Even if you eventually move on from those pieces, feeling bad about how much you spent should be the very last reason you do.

Luxury goods == unnecessary by definition. If we humans only spent money on what's necessary, the world economy would be in shambles. Look past the cost of acquisition to what those watches symbolize: your hard work. The true value you put on things is, more often than not, largely intangible. Words of advice that I was offered years ago: Never feel guilty about being successful.

Enjoy life and your watches!

I don't know your situation but if it is just a bad "feeling" and not a real sacrifice and you can afford your normal expenses (i.e. not falling behind on payments, building up credit card debt, or giving up or not meeting family expectations), it sounds like you are doing a good job and congrats on getting your grails so early.

We all enjoy and value different things. I have friends who love to travel and spend all their free time and money traveling. I have another friend who loves old sports and muscle cars and now that he's old, he has about 10 of them (talk about an expensive hobby).

TLDR version: as long as you can afford it and are responsible with respect to your other obligations, keep them especially since they are your grails.

I grew up pretty poor too and now on a few luxury watches as well. Stop thinking about it and just wear them. Even with dings and scratches these will outlast your lifetime and be given down to your kids or grandkids. They are ment to be wore so enjoy them and make some memories in them.

Keep in mind that nobody who is providing advice by responding to this post (including myself) has to live with the consequences. If you end up selling the watches, you're the one who will suffer the loss, and if you decide to keep them, you're still the one having to come up with the money for the car payments you mentioned. The decision has to be yours alone, but hopefully some of the responses will have helped you draw your own conclusion.

The two watches you mention are both great watches, but I don't think that either would be expected to appreciate hugely in value. I have both in my collection, both purchased new from the AD with a small discount, but both are currently worth less than what I paid. Unless you were able to negotiate a super deal, I suspect that you'd be in the same situation, and would take a small loss if you were to try to sell them today. Nobody knows what the future holds, but based solely on the sheer number of those watches available in the market, I suspect that the best they will do is hold their current value (adjusted for inflation).

It's really easy to be swayed by the chorus of fellow enthusiasts cheering you on, but you need to keep in mind that you know nothing about the background or financial position of anyone offering advice. An "I would keep them" response coming from someone who can easily afford a collection of Patek's, or an "I would sell them" response coming from someone struggling to make ends meet may not be appropriate for your own situation.

Each dollar can only be spent once. You have to decide for yourself, based on your own financial situation whether those watches bring you enough joy to justify any financial sacrifices that you may need to make to own them. If they are bringing more stress than joy, it's probably a good idea to sell them, but if they bring more joy than stress, and you can truly afford them, keeping and enjoying them may be the better option. Best of luck in your decision.

Hold onto them for a couple of months at least. You earned those, I think once the guilt and doubt resides you’ll be very glad you have them

Same background, parents immigrated, grew up dirt poor. What put my mind at ease is when I make a WANT purchase I put away equal amount towards my children future.

What I've found as I've collected watches is that my tastes have changed. What I loved then left me cold after a while. Be gentle with yourself, my friend. I too grew up in trying financial circumstances. It helps me to remember that I'm an adult now with a good job and as long as I'm not spending the mortgage, it's all good.

Good idea.

Nothing wrong with being frugal at all. However there’s a very important part to this question. You’re not who you were and so let it go and wear these watches with pride.

Such good advice from so many of your WC family members, but ultimately you have to make the decision.

What do you work for in life if not to savaour it’s offerings?!

I’d say if you bought them irresponsibly then yes sell them if you need the cash.

Just remember that they will only get more expensive if you end up

rebuying them after you regret selling them!

Welcome to the Club! Keep the Speedy if you're considering letting go of any of the two.

I can relate. I had a decent childhood and was not poor, but the last 5-10 years have been financially and emotionally very difficult. I got my bonus this month and have decided to buy one really nice watch (Omega, my current high tide watches are an Oris and a CW, so this will be 2-3 times the price). I know what I want. I really want that watch.... but there is a guilt associated with spending that amount of money on something that is not really necessary, which is a reflection of the experience of knowing really how valuable money can be.

You worked to become successful so you deserve to treat yourself. From a value for money perspective all luxury brands are over priced, but anyone with an ounce of sense knows that. Watches aren't about being practical, after all we all have mobile phones that tell us the time If it makes you feel better just give a few dollars/pounds to charity. It's a capitalist world, and capitalism is the only system that works. Don't fight it, enjoy it, but don't lose your humanity

Haha, it sounds like you're hooked. See, I want to sell all of my unworn 120 watches , and get a white gold Patek Calatrava, A rose gold JLC reverse with moon phase and power monitor, and SOMEHOW, a super clone of a Lange, or FP Journe. (now thats dreaming) If I have not bought 120 watches in the last year and a half, I could easily bought the first two,, I can resist everything but temptation. Good Luck, I keep wondering why isn't there a watch "Trading Post" , part of the fun for me is that it is like matchbox cars , and baseball cards were when I was small. I think guys/gals would have a ball having a swap set up ??? what do you think