How soon is too soon?

I was 62 when I bought my first expensive watch, a Submariner. 

I had been fortunate to receive a gold Rolex Date in the 80s and a gold Omega Seamaster in the 70s, and that made it easier to wait. However, I had wanted a Sub for decades, and finally pulled the trigger on one when the prices were better and availability excellent.

It’s fantastic. have no regrets. I’m keeping it.

It didn’t stop my itch for a GMT. I’m happy with the Longines Zulu Time I bought last year. It will be a while before I spent that kind of money again.

I did it backwards. Started my collection with a Maurice Lacroix and then a TAG Heuer Monaco and went down from there. Been very happy playing with relatively inexpensive watches ever since. 

Been collecting for about 10+ years now. The first 4 years I stayed under $1,000. However as I bought, saved money, sold watches, I slowly climbed. It took me 5 years to spend 2K on a watch. I firmly believe that taking time to garner taste and subjective enjoyment rather than throwing money at a what you may not like would be a better use of time and funds. This is the advice I wish I had at times, I made my fair share of mistakes as well.

My first automatic watch was a couple thousand, a Tag Heuer Carrera due to not being able to buy a Blue Rolex 36mm OP out of the gate due to availability. I now have the Rolex which is my daily driver most of the time but I still love my Tag and still wear it from time to time and it's the only watch I wear when traveling 

On my first year i have stayed under $1500. but i have been buying based on what i like and nothing else. As much as i would love an expensive piece i simply do not feel like i have earned it yet. Is that feeling normal? 

It took me 5 years to go multi thousands range. I do appreciate the quality and love the final selection. However its only marginal gain compare to the 500-1000 seikos i have before. it varies person to person though. I dont think anyone should feel missing out without spending multi thousands.

I've been collecting for about 8-10 years, I only got my first multi thousand watch last year, and that was for an engagement gift from my soon to be wife. I'll never sell it and I intend for it to be on my wrist at many important moments in my life. 

You should ALWAYS buy what you like. Don't feel pressured into expensive pieces. 

I’ve had buyers remorse with my first expensive watch as it was a big decision to spend 4k on an absolutely unnecessary thing. But knowing it holds value should I ever need the money back (with a small net loss) helps to ease the worries or stress 

I remember crying to my parents at the mall begging for a f91 (my first serious watch) when I was a kid. But my first expensive watch was Tag Heuer Aquaracer (I was in my mid-20), spent all my saving on it. 10ish years, still spending most of my savings on watches (Poor wife). Regret every moment but super happy. 

Like my life, my collecting is bordering between madness, anarchy and pure chance. My first impulse buy was a metal G-Shock. After that I bought a Omega Railmaster Trilogy 1957 a few months later. So no consistency, no plan, just pure lust. And hours and hours of internet deepdiving. Like I said, madness…

Like a few others here I started with my most expensive watch (to date): I paid £2500 for a new Tudor North Flag in 2016 after about a year of research and time biding. For my first 'nice watch' I knew I wanted a Swiss-made, braceleted piece with an in-house movement, display case back, 40mm diameter max and tough enough that I wouldn't be scared to wear it. I looked hard for competition but the North Flag was the clear winner. I've come close with a few purchases but yet to spend as much again. Definitely not something I ever plan on selling as I love it and value what it represents for me.

Got into watches in like 2013. Bought a 2541 Seamaster in 2018 from eBay. The crown broke a month into wearing it, so it was a stressful experience as it needed a service/repair which added 30% to the cost of what I paid but it was nice to get a 20-year-old watch back looking brand new. It was my daily until I bought my Tudor Black Bay 41 in 2022.

I was 52 back in 2006 when I took the first “plunge” into the high end pool. That was a Rolex two tone Datejust on jubilee bracelet with markers. I originally thought Sub but my wife thought it better to get something more formal. While beautiful, the accuracy was a bit disappointing, off by some 4 seconds or so, in other words within COSC but to a newbie.... My second watch was an Omega Planet Ocean, first generation with coax movement. For time keeping it blew away the Rolex. And it has been “down hill”ever since! 😂👍

And yes, I still have both.

I love the idea of watches being engagement gifts 

Jumped in at the deep end with a 9k ish Navitimer(with 15%) discount. I second guessed myself a lot but basically a year later still love it and wear it as often as possible. Everyone that's seen it in person likes the look as well, the only downside is the water resist.

I have since bought a longines legend diver and a grand seiko dress watch.

I think I'm done now (at least my significant other hopes so) as I'm happy with all my watches and will never sell any of them. I will usually spend a month or two waiting even after I've decided to buy a watch, just to be sure so no impulse decisions on my side.

I was deep into vintage when I decided I should have one nice, modern watch. I went to my local dealer expecting to spend $1-2k. I couldn’t find something I really wanted. I was looking at a Baume & Mercier but couldn’t pull the trigger for whatever reason.

My salesman brought out a watch that I instantly fell in love with. I didn’t know it but I fell for the Rolex Explorer. I had never looked at a Rolex display before and didn’t know the models.

They offered a deal, my credit card company accepted the transaction and I had my first Rolex.

I was 37 when I bought my first omega limited edition and then the same year bought a Montblanc. Did a side gig made a good amount of money and blew it all in watches last year. I might have a budget for 2 more watches and one has to be Rolex (I will wait as long as it takes)