What is your spending limit on a watch?

Haven't found one yet.

These days of retirement I won't look at anything over a grand and most more recent purchases have been well under 500.

Been there ,done that with the expensive stuff but never went over 3 grand.

5 digits is and always has been out of the question,even when I had the money to blow.

I may have spent over $2k on a certain repair, but my purchase limit is more like $200.

So far, a bit over $4,100 is the most I've spent. But I'm looking at a new Planet Ocean at $5,400 or so. Just have to persuade myself to spend that much on a watch.

$750 is my Rolex price, anything over that just isn't in my means.

When I started this hobby, I said I would only spend over 10k on a watch once, if ever. On my last watch purchase, I did that...and it's likely my last watch.

I've bought two watches that were $3000 apiece, and one of those I've done an extra $1000 work on. But that was more recently. In the past, if something was around $1000 I would think, OK, pull on the brakes, that's $1000. Then I bought a Yema which was over $1000 and suddenly all bets were off.

$5k seems about right, 5-digits seems a bridge too far.

Buy what you can comfortably afford. I'm also retired and debt free. I feel comfortable at a spend point of 1500 per year. It's one watch a year for me now as I have more than enough.

Enjoy your watches!

Cheers!

How about a 15 year-old bourbon? Careful, it's slippery slope.

Also depends on what your income is, for some 10k is not a big deal. Not me though.

Even if 10k wasn't a big deal for me it wouldn't be spent on a watch.

All very much personal taste. On one hand, you have folks who make a lot of money and buying a $10,000 watch is as relative to their income as someone else buying a $1000 watch. And that makes sense for them. No problem. Then there are folks like Bill Gates who'll wear a $50 Casio Duro.

I voted only 500 which definitely seems to be a minority. But that will change. This coming year I'm going 1000. It will rise again over time.

This is because I'm learning what I like and what I don't over time and with experience so aim to make any mistakes at the more budget driven end.

I'm only a recent collector and don't feel confident spending 10k yet on a watch.

Having said that I'm not sure I could ever justify that anyway although I have the means?

So far and from my expanding knowledge I reckon once you get to the 5k odd mark anything further is probably just paying for the name.

I’ve only bought one luxury piece: Speedmaster Moonwatch. I love it, but I will never spend that much on a watch ever again.

It doesn’t feel ethical or moral for me to pay more than $1000 on a time bracelet. It just reminds me how miserly I can be and how it would be better for the world if I donated money to charities. And I have way more fun just buying a watch I find exciting for a couple hundred bucks every now and then. I don’t care about brand name anymore. But that Rolex silver OP is so choice! (No Horatio, No!)

Lower.

Some people on here are paying thousands of pounds on a watch. A watch. In the UK, cases of malnutrition are on the rise because there are people who cannot afford food. Why not forgo that next toy and help a few people to eat?

Bankaccount balance divided by peak interest in watch = my watch budget

This discussion really illustrates the income disparity around the world. There would be less contention on the topic if you just asked how much money members make. You’re right…the answer to the topic is directly related to the wealth of the member. Yes, watches are a luxury item so I guess this disparity would show up vividly in a watch forum.

I answered $1K although I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $300 on a watch. And I’ve recently bought some thrift store secondhand watches…

I voted $5k though I haven't gone that high yet. I know I could swing the $10k with some planning but I don't think I'd want to spend that much.

I generally agree. The luxury yacht tax debacle from 30 years ago is instructive.

If I go down this road anymore it will stray too far from watches into something where reasonable people could, and do, disagree. Suffice it to say that there is no direct correlation between the consumption of any luxury good and rates of poverty or malnutrition, for good or ill. A Corvette purchase may have economic effects in many states and countries. If you buy an Invicta you contribute to the economies of at least three countries, probably more. The same is true for any Swiss luxury brand.

I've bought watches over $5k, but have yet to hit $10k. $10k is at the very edge of my comfort zone, and is in true grail territory.

I do enjoy and appreciate a good watch. But I personally can’t imagine spending more than 300 euros in a watch. And so far I limit myself to 12 watches because that’s how much I can fit in my watch box.

Probably one of the most subjective topics to discuss. However I voted $5k simply because of vastly diminishing returns between there and $10k. Unless you're into precious metals or absurd complications, I personally don't see the justification past that $5-$10k mark.

exactly my point

All subjective and relative to personal income/wealth. Of all the luxury / discretionary items with large depreciation curves, watches are comparably cheap relative to a car or other goods.

The better question is not what is the max on a watch but rather on a collection. I have several friends and business associates who own one or two nice watches, let's say a Rolex Sub type watch which has held value relatively well and is their daily driver for all occasions.

Then there are those I see on these watch forums who clearly can afford at least one $10k watch but have chosen to spread their collection budget across numerous $500‐$2,000 watches.... well guess what, there's no right answer here but I personally favor quality over quantity. Spend 80% of collection value on watches that get 80% of wrist time is a good rule of thumb.

As for collection value as a % of income... I'll throw out a seemingly reasonable # (of course this is in reference to watch enthusiasts) = 1 to 2% of income per year of watch collecting... can someone making $100k a year get to a $10k watch? Sure. Save for 5 years.

$250 is my limit because at the end of the day they are just tools to me.

Most of my watches are well under $1000,-. And it's sometimes the most cheap watch i like more! The expensive ones i don't wear often, because i'm carefull with them.

But then again a can't restrain myself of bying more watches!

As much as I have in my account 😂