Unconscious/accidental Substitutions?

More power to you though, spending less and being satisfied is always a win.

I'm finding the opposite. The cheaper watches I bought on a whim are just sitting or getting sold off, but my nicer watches seem to be staying in the rotation. This has made me much less likely to impulse buy lately.

For the first 20 years of my watch obsession I bought, and loved, only inexpensive. The next few years ,with school behind me an a career ahead of me, I started to acquire more expensive watches. For the past few years I have come to realize that I get equal enjoyment out of ,what some refer to as "entry level" watches and microbrands. Most of the high end watches are gone now and I'm happier with my collection than I've ever been.

It ain't about the money,it's about the love.

Oh-and referring to your thread title-did you mean "subconscious"?

I've never bought a watch while unconscious. However I have bought many ,late at night, in a semi-conscious state.

I didn’t know when I would ever wear the Tissot PRX, but after acquiring for next to nothing out of pocket, I do long to wear it when it is not on my list.

Also, the Tudor Pelagos got bumped off my “must have” list after getting the Oris Aquis Caliber 400.

Absolutely, I've done it, a lot of times trading watches.

It is almost like a rite of passage.

I made the conscious decision to substitute, after doing a bit of an honest assessment of my priorities. Expensive watches are cool, but cool watches don't need to be expensive.

Rather than try to replicate the look of an expensive watch, I instead went with watches that serve the same purpose.

eg. Rather than buy a BB58 as a toolish everyday diver, I bought a GSAR. Very different look, but it serves in the same role I had been intending to fill with the BB58.

I bought a Bulova Lunar Pilot after I sold my Omega Speedmaster Pro to buy other watches. Bulova Lunar Pilot sort of scratched that itch. I haven't really wanted a new Speedy Pro, yet, but I really want that new smaller Lunar Pilot.

I'm not sure about watches, but I have had watch bands show up in my mailbox, and I haven't the foggiest clue on how and when I ordered them. I blame my sleep shopping habits while I'm unconscious.

Doesn't work for me, unfortunately. Buying a watch in a whim, or buying in in lieu of something else, are usually good indicators that I'm not buying the watch for what it actually is.

This has happened for me very recently. I've had the pleasure of owning a couple Grand Seiko's, a Tudor BB58, a couple of Sinn's and more recently a Seiko SLA057 (incredible watch), but at the end of last year I wanted to get a cheap, little "beater" watch that gave me similar vibes to a Rolex Explorer or Tudor BB36 that I've tried on in the past. I picked up a Seiko SRPE67 (DressKX) and fell in love with it! It because more than just a "beater" watch and I found myself wearing it more than I thought I would. This was very much a cheaper alternative to something like a Rolex Explorer or Tudor BB36. I now have no desire to get one of those as the little Seiko 5 has a case I like more and an overall design and feel that I love.

I'll add to my original comment that it's not so much about how expensive it is. It's the consideration that goes into it. Being picky and patiently researching to find just the right watch, or waiting to buy just what I want, has worked out better for me lately. These also happen to mostly be more expensive picks, but I still adore and wear budget watches that are a good fit for me.

The version of the speedmaster I think looks the great is the snoopy (but there be many other watches I would rather own at that price range) ... the new blue lunar pilot at a tiny fraction of the price and also history / unique movement would be a good substitute or at least a placeholder.