Should I?

Speedmasters are timeless. Wives come and go. Unless she is sewing watch pillows for your collection like that other lucky Cruncher's wife, just buy the Omega and tell her you bought something worthy of being photographed by her.

If you don’t end up getting that watch, can you lend me the money to get that watch?

On one hand you have to weigh the ramification, on the other hand you should just buy what yo want. Perhaps you can find a clean preowned and save a few bucks for the compromise win!

I had a Speedmaster some time ago, I bought it because I listened to the opinions of others. It was in my collection for almost 2 years before I realized that it bored me to tears.

Since you already told your wife of your windfall, spend the $$ on something you can both enjoy.

I like your thinking, but it’s not about the money for my wife. It’s something else…I don’t NEED it, so it’s wasteful in some way. She’s not wrong, but we don’t need the money for something else.

Vacations, camera equipment, a hot tub, new car, RV, all in the last year. Id buy her jewelry if she wanted it, but she doesn’t.

I know this make my wife seem like a bad person, but she’s not, she’s wonderful and her and our children mean everything to me. It’s just this ONE thing (maybe two).

We have had a recent windfall, and while it isn’t life changing money, it is lifestyle changing money. I haven’t quite gotten her there yet.

Sounds like a follow on conversation…maybe explain the importance of the watch to you and find out what’s important to her…work towards both 👍

Another compromise could be to sell the watches you rarely wear and show her this one means more to you than they do.

This is a terrible way to live life. I should know - I've lived nearly 5 decades on this earth in this terrible way.

Beyond enough caloric intake to keep us alive, clean water, warmth, and a subscription to HBO Max, there isn't anything else that we NEED. For nearly 50 years, I scrimped and saved every single godd*mn penny, only spending on necessities, thinking that I would need to support my mom and my aunt in their old age, as well as provide for my children. It's been a hellish existence composed of self-abnegation and self-denial. And for what?

Turns out my mom has amassed 4 rental properties, along with the house she lives in, all in San Diego where the average price of a home is $852k. My aunt? She drives a nice Lexus, and lives in a giant McMansion. My children? They're the 2 beings into whom the entire family tree on both sides funnel! Based on some simple Excel modeling that takes into account compounding returns, my guess is that when my wife and I die, our kids will inherit something like ~$25-50M if family members all bequeath their legacies to those 2 snot-nosed brats.

EVERYTHING we buy is wasteful in some way. If you got the funds, who gives a f*ck about wasteful?

Life is short do more of what you love.

I feel you...Like they say, are only worry is when we die that our wife doesnt sell are stuff for what she thinks we paid for it ...LOL

That watch might cost you if it comes with a divorce. So I've written this equation to help you.

FUN FACTOR - (SM PRICE + (prob of divorce) x total net worth)) = X.

Now solve for X.

One wise man would say, "buy what you need, not what you want". While another wise man would say, "you only pass this way once". I believe there is no absolute right or wrong in your situation. A third wise man might say, "sometimes you have to go with your heart". Oh well, I guess no help here mate. 😂

good strategy

Already suing for the full vacations and the Speedy seed money is in the bank.

She has a job. Makes good money.

Wow, this thread is really long. I'm sure this cliche has already been said somewhere above but "Happy wife, happy life." I wouldn't spend family money without spousal approval. I know it's "your" bonus, BUT that's a big losing argument as I know from almost 30 years of marriage (crap, big anniversary coming up/ need to start thinking of a gift/ vacation).

I really get your Speedy love. It was my dream watch since I was a kid in the 70s but I only picked one up a few years ago. Long way of saying the Speedy will always be there and ready for you and I'm sure you will figure a way to get it with a considerably shorter wait than I endured (lot of suggestions above).

It was sort of a joke, but I added that last part in to try and relate to the story a bit. You do you, sir.

Things that are well made are getting more and more expensive, and it's not just the hype watches. The cost of the speedy you want is likely to rise faster than the value of the money sitting in a svaings account. If your wife knows this is a grail watch,not some flash in the pan wish, why not talk it through. My wife bought me my first Omega as an engagement gift, and she has known that I have always hankered after a Speedy since then. I got a work bonus in 2022 for Covid related work and bought one.

I'd say buy the Omega. Ditch a few of the other 5 that you don't wear much. That way you can reduce the number count of your watches as that seems to be the main concern here, not the cash.

It never ceases to amaze me how people on forums like this are always so willing to spend other peoples money. You're the one that has to live with the consequences, so it's up to you to determine where your priorities lie and how much having a Speedy on your wrist really means to you. I have the 3861 sapphire sandwich, and as nice of a watch as it is, it makes much less difference to my overall enjoyment of life than my relationship with my wife.

I would say go for life’s short

Watches (especially speedy) can be liquidated fairly easily with great recovery value versus photography (low to no recovery?).

But what you should realize is that this is a forum for watch enthusiasts and not for personal finance. The people giving you advice on this forum (many uber wealthy / different stage of life / unmarried) are pushing you on to make decisions from afar with no consequences. You should discuss this with your close family/friends and not be seeking affirmation from strangers on what is really a life rather than watch feedback.

Even if you have no debt, own a home, and have no other immediate liabilities then I would still strongly suggest getting your wife on board before making a large purchase. If you don't give a care about what your wife thinks and decide to pursue the speedmaster, then perhaps it's time to get a new wife too.

Not trading in the wife.

I would buy it!

I wouldn't buy it at the moment I'm sure another opportunity will present itself in the future,go on your holiday and enjoy it

Being a spectator at lonely bars on the odd weekday after gym and listening in on some of my father's friends' problems makes me feel qualified to answer this. Things like this crop up in marriages a lot. My opinion is, you're living what many in South Africa call "the soft life." You've worked hard to earn enough to live comfortably, so I think that not spending money on what you love is a mistake. It's your hobby, your money, and your life. We only have a finite amount of time on this silly little marble, so spend that time and any of that money you make on whatever your heart desires.

My grandmother (father's mother) was sitting on top of quite a bit of money and slowly developed dementia. One sibling (uncle of mine) decided to take advantage of this and fought over every last bit of my grandfather's belongings after he passed, taking many things that weren't even left for him as well as borrowing money from her knowing full well she wouldn't remember to ask for it back. I remember what my dad told her a few years ago. He told her to blow that money on a cruise or something similar, because, when she goes, a whole new can of worms is bound to be opened by that sibling, and fighting over money and furniture isn't something one wants to leave for one's children.

There's an Arab saying I keep in my mind almost every day: "Your coffin doesn't have pockets."

Buy that Speedy, but try and look for a better opportunity to do so. Right now might not be the best time, but time has a way of ironing most things out. If such a time doesn't present itself, maybe have a discussion with her about it and speak from the heart.

A healthy marriage keeps you from venting your emotions to your friends in bars on Wednesday evenings. This is a double edged sword with consequences regardless of which choice you make. For now, be patient.

Really appreciate your sentiments (and many others in this thread). My wife and children are the most important thing to me, and really the only things that matter. I’ve given them a good life and they’ve given me a great life! The funny thing is that if I buy this watch or any other, from $200 to $20000, the response from my wife will be the same. She will roll her eyes and give me some shit. I get a little as is for owning more than 1 watch, more than 1 pair of boots, more than 1 knife or pen. It’s the idea of having more than one needs that bothers her. She was raised dirt poor and I was raised middle class. Her parents still bathe in the sink and wash aluminum foil for reuse.

Whether I buy this watch or not, I know I will still have a loving wife and family that will stay with me through good times or bad.

Buy the bleeding watch already.

It's not going to break you, put you in financial peril or anything. I don't even think your wife will mind, you might get a shrug on the eyebrows at most. Stop overthinking, it's a great watch, you will have it for life and pass it down to your kids.