Secret Watches?

I’m significantly taller than the wife and work from home. Watches come to the front door while she’s at work and then go into the watchbox (out of reach) on the top shelf of the closet. Some are seen, some are unknown. It’s all part of my master plan.

My wife cares not what I buy. Same for me with what she buys.

We are older, have significant disposable income and an allowance we share equally each paycheck. While she has a few thousand $ in the safe, my "allowance envelope" stays empty.

That's a very sweet arrangement--love it!

My wife doesn't care about my various hobbies and collections, and doesn't seem to notice what watch I wear or whether it's different from any other. So I'm actually not sure what she knows about. I guess they're all secret, and not secret at the same time.

I buy watches, wife plans trips & I occasionally get to go with.

You've hit on my long-term strategy. Though my wife is, under many circumstances, almost preternaturally observant, my collection is already approaching a size at which deliberate scrutiny would be required to identify an addition; most people will notice a difference between 1 and 2, but the jump from 11 to 12 is less obvious. And since she doesn't particularly care about the watches, she's unlikely to bother. Until a whole new watch box appears, that is...

My wife enjoys watches as a pseudo-hobby as much as I do. In fact, she is probably responsible for getting me started in the first place.

She gets right of first refusal on any watch I bring into the house. If she finds it comfortable and wants to wear it, I’m just as happy as if I wore it myself.

All of our watches are only a strap change or bracelet sizing away from being worn by either of us. There are also some watches we can share without a strap change. If I want to wear a particular watch, I can do so at any time. So can she.

It’s a system that works extremely well for both of us.

A most laudable arrangement!

My wife doesn't mind anything I buy but after being married so long, there really are no secrets. Though my wife makes me think I have dementia every time I ask if a bag or something else she is wearing is new because according to her, I was either with her when she bought it or she can't believe I don't remember because I told her it looked great on her (very possible/ safest answer for anything she has already bought).

This sounds frighteningly familiar.

I don't hide but I don't always disclose (largely because of absentmindedness). With big buys, I discuss.

She does roughly the same with purses/shoes etc. It works out ok.

My SO has no interest in what I wear on my wrist, so basically every purchase is 'secret'. She really doesn't care.

Honestly, Dishonesty will get you nowhere! Better to be proud and take the heat! Or sometimes surprisingly praise! Share the fun.

They call it nude I call it light pink. 😂

I think any drama about watches (or anything really) can be largely diffused by creating different accounts . . . . joint for house stuff and individual accounts for respective personal/discretionary funds. If you only have a joint account/cards then there is always going to be the potential for more drama (and transforming your spouse into a judging parent) b/c you don't have "your money" and there is no freedom for either party . . .

I voted occasionally because I have two now that she doesn't know about (I think). Not expensive pieces but I purchased them both without mentioning the purchase. Since I'm really laid back about her spending habits (I'm not $$ motivated at all, she's the accountant in the family), she doesn't seem to mind when I spend money now and then. If it's not watches, it's car parts, ammo, guns, or range time. She gets more upset if I go to the range without her.

She sounds like a gal with an excellent sense of priorities!

Sigh. You're being so logical about all this. 😜

Wait--I thought it was "coral"...

And remember, is easier to get forgiveness than permission.

Wouldn't even think about doing that. Thankfully I don't have to. She actively supports my hobbies, she bought me three of my watches, and as long as I'm not putting us in financial peril, I get what I want. Of course, for the first 17 years of us together, I NEVER got anything for myself that wasn't necessary except for an occasional baseball trip.

She's a keeper! And as long as you stay peril-free, so are you! :)

When I was a bit to younger and was dating who is now my wife I bought my first real luxury watch a Longines Hydroconquest before I got her an engaging and she was a little upset

I trust she has since come to better appreciate the value of watches and to see how ridiculous it was for her to have gotten upset. 😜

Of course

Yelp, at least there’s a plan 🤣

My wife and I each transfer the same amount of money every month to one joint account for the common expenses (mortgage, water, electricity, home insurance, etc....).

Then each does what he wants with his money....I go overboard with spending money on watches and expensive top quality shoes and boots and she with trousers, dresses and sports items....and so we laugh at each other in a loving way every time we show each other our latest purchase....but nothing is hidden, eventually each does what he wants with his own money.

An excellent arrangement! 🍻