When do you buy a watch?

I... have never tried on a watch before I have purchased it which I know is crazy buy im 4-4 so I figure I just know what I like , I do have a sort of list for my next 2-3 watches ahead but that can change and if something catches my eye ill go for it :) 

If it helps, I’ve decided to use ‘maths’ sort it out with the following equation:

If f(unds) is > c(ost) and t(ime) spent lusting after the watch is not less than a second. Not forgetting to factor in the n(agging) constant from friends/family that you’ve bought another watch. Also subtract o(verall) wrist time from the other watches affected in the collection.

Simple, really - thought everyone did this 😉

I'm always buying a new watch in a different universe.

Dreams are free. For anything else, MasterCard. 

Only on special occasions. Tomorrow is the hamsters birthday.

Whenever I feel sad 😢 and I’m depressed everyday 🥹…

I tend to buy major luxury watch purchases to commemorate major life events.  For instance, my JLC Master Control was gifted to me on my law school graduation.  My wife got me my Longines to celebrate my engagement to her.  My Tudor BB GMT was my 35th birthday gift to myself.   

That doesn’t mean that I haven’t picked up other watches just “because”.  My TAG was purchased to use up cruise on board credit. My Cronos was picked up as a Hanukkah gift to myself.  My Glycine Combat Sub was picked out because I needed a water resistant watch to help out with my daughter’s swim lessons.  I picked up my Airman because I liked they way it looked and was afraid it was going out of production (I was right).  My Tandorio pickup was because it happened to be on sale and it was cheap as chips.

My next pickup will probably be another use of cruise on board credit at the end of the month, though I am not anticipating a major pickup.  My next major pickup will probably be to celebrate my 40th.

I usually justify large purchases with big life events/changes. Usually. Most of the time, I mean… yeah, they’re events. 
 

I can understand wanting to link a watch to a specific life event as it will make it all the more special. However, I think my watch buying habits are best summed up by the wise words of Ariana Grande:

(Or, more often: I want it. I check the price. I put it back.)

There’s no rhyme or reason why I buy a watch. BUT the watch really has to move me to make a purchase. 

I try to TELL myself that it's a special occasion but who am I kidding? I just buy one when I see something I fancy and I know it's not going to bankrupt me :)

I will buy a watch next time something i like come up. Right now i have the money to buy a watch within my budget, but there is nothing i REALLY want and i don't want to go over a certaij budget (around 1.5k) because i prefer to invest most of my money (while still allowing myself to buy a watch now and then).

I buy my watches when there is a sale/discount on something I have been wanting for a long time. 

I don't buy luxury watches, so I feel no need to link a watch to an occasion. 

With that said, I am considering buying a "retirement" watch when I finish my time in the navy, but I'm not 100% sure I'll do it. 

Smart thinking! Admire the willpower!

How about you and your brothers/sisters-at-sea, in your retirement class getting watches to celebrate your time together? Doesn’t have to be ‘expensive’

There are only two of us still "in", the others have all moved on over the course of the last 21 years. 

I was/am leaning toward a Reverso, so I will be the best dressed Walmart greeter wherever I end up setteling down.  🤣🤣

Its Friday...Isn’t that special? 😂😂

The last few purchases have been linked to one event one way or another. But I found that linking a watch to a person (i.e. Cartier to my spouse, Hamilton to my baby) is a much better way for me than attaching the memory to a specific event.

Agree. And I’m wearing SevenFriday. So everyday is special for me…

I agree! But, are you like me? I ask again and again until she says it's OK :p

I call that begging, but it is effective! YES, I beg....  lol

I might need to get myself a grail watch when I graduate from law school in a couple years! Or give a hint to my parents :)

Simple: when money and the wife allow. 👍😀

Something else that just occurred to me that is a “special occasion”. Namely it is that day you get a call from your Rolex AD, you know the one that that says, “come on down, we have a watch for you.“ That is a special occasion these days! 😁

PS: This also applies to Tudor, Patek, Grand Seiko (to a lesser degree), Omega novelties, the list goes on and on. 😆

I don't do special occasions, and I don't do spontaneous purchases either. The way it works with my AliExpress purchases is this:

• I regular browse their website to see if anything new and interesting has come up.
• These watches go on my so-called wishlist. Typically there are between 10 and 30 watches on that list.
• I revisit that list regularly and knock off watches that could not hold my interest.
• At some point I feel like I might want some new watches and then commit to a few long-term survivors on the list, typically 3 or 4 at a time.

The idea of holding a wishlist for a while before buying a watch seems like a good idea to control spending/ spontaneous purchases!

That's even an extremely rare occasion!😆

Honestly as for the most people it totally depends on the price. 

For my Casio A500 I just saw it, needed it and got it.

But for most my watches I set really clear rules of when I can get them which can be hard when for example Zelos comes around with a really cool flinger dress watch :( 

Anyways. I have a bank account for this where I save some money on the side. The watch I buy can just be 10 % of that account. So lets say I want to buy a watch for 500$ then I will save up 5000$. Buy that Watch and Invest the remaining 4500 for retirement. If you stick to this you will not spend to much and get a really nice sense of accomplishment from buying watches even if you didn't get a raise :)

Ah yes, a list. I maintain a list on my phone for watches. It is subdivided into categories such as Absolute Priority, Current Desires, Long Range Desires (for all those watches you want an example of eventually, like a Navitimer in my case), etc. Recently I also started keeping those watches that didn’t work out (too short straps, the color just ain’t right in person, etc.) just so I don’t forget that on second thought no. The really frustrating part though is the “Never Came In” portion for items like a Rolex 41mm OP in Red Coral or the Seiko Ginza Tile watches, watches that are now dropped from production. 🥲

Me buying a watch IS the event 😅🤭

For me if I'm Infatuation mood about a certain watch. And then I pull the trigger!