Stressing Over Nothing?

Give yourself this great gift for this milestone and keep it forever! You deserve it! No remorse 🙏🏻

I wouldn't beat yourself up about it, it's not a crime to be frugal. In my previous working life advising clients on their savings, investments & retirement planning you very quickly learn that people fall into 2 categories. Habitual savers & habitual spenders. What you also realise is that it's very difficult for either group to change their habits.

You can certainly get yourself a very nice watch for less than the price of a Rolex. It looks to me from reading what you've said, that you'd like the status & cache that a Rolex portrays but you're not wanting to pay the premium for doing so?

I don't know how you reconcile this with yourself, if that's the case. You either accept that's what it takes to get one or you decide it's cool, I'll buy something a few thousand dollars less.

The one advantage of the Rolex is that you can pretty much always get your money back or as near as damn it, unless you pay crazy money for it to start with.

It’s tough to square your logical and emotional parts of your brain. I’m a few years down the timeline from you and still struggle with this.

Setting aside cost as you seem to have your finances in order, Rolex is a good choice. I know the Big R is a derisive topic around here but if you like it, go for it. It is your money and don’t let anyone else tell you what to do with it. I would encourage you to research other brands if you’re interested in doing so as luxury means different things. Rolex is going to be universally recognized and respected if that’s what you’re going for.

Do it!! You won't regret it!

Got my Grail a few years ago and it's honestly saved me money as I don't buy "lesser" watches as they'd be stealing wrist time from my Grail...I'm pretty much a strap collector now, which is way cheaper,even for very posh straps.

Its a bit odd & nerve-wracking to begin with wearing a car value watch, but I soon became used to it.

Not a Rolex fan myself, but if it makes you happy then go for it, life's too short not to have fun!

Good luck 🍀👍🏻👍🏻

Treat yourself well, life is too short! My wife and I are getting ready to host a lunch soon for at least one guest who throws us under buses without even second thoughts but it is also a month celebration for our first grand daughter who is just adorable. The ladies will shop afterwards but I intend to look in on a few watch ads! It is going to be a good day!

Congratulations on your promotion! You said you’re not sure what you’d go for, so I don’t think you should spend your money until you know for sure what you want. When I was new, I was thinking I’d like a Submariner or GMT, but after awhile I decided on the 36mm Explorer. I can live with not having the Sub or GMT, but I knew I “needed” the Explorer. Go to stores, try on different watches.

Just give it a try. It's only a watch after all, not a priceless artifact. Don't make it more than it is. At least with a Rolex you don't stand to lose a lot of money (if any) considering it will hold its value if you can't deal with wearing it. I don't personally consider resale value when buying but if it works for you, it's something to consider.

I think the mental block and guilt is typical when getting your first “serious” watch. It took me a year and a half to muster up the courage to go out and buy my Tudor BB58. It was actually my wife who pushed me across the finish line telling me she was tired of me talking about it and to just go out and get it. I remember feeling guilty on the way to the AD, feeling guilt finalizing the purchase, and feeling guilt while wearing it for the first couple weeks. But I’m happy to report that the guilt quickly faded and was replaced with joy. If you’re in a good place financially then go for it! It’s something you’ll keep for the rest of time.

The fact you want a luxury piece to commemorate this milestone speaks volumes. You didn't choose a car, holiday or whatever, you thought of a watch. The Rolex will hold it's value so it's low risk. I say do it, and sell if you change your mind. I hope you do it, cos I think you'll enjoy it. Good luck whatever you decide.

The first purchase is always the hardest . . . And then it’s wild how you’ll normalize certain prices as “not that bad”

From my reading of this post it feels like your focus is spending a lot of money. The watch you buy is almost secondary (“Maybe an OP?”)

I really feel this is the wrong approach. You’ll always see the watch as a symbol of the money you spent on it.

Find a watch you truly love first, then spend as much money as you need to to acquire it. The watch should be the important thing, not the money.

I own watches that, if I put my sane head on, are a truly ludicrous amount of money for a normal person to spend on a trinket. But I never think of the money spent, only the joy I get from owning such a beautiful object.

Thank you all for such swift responses. Sensing a common theme, and I think you've all inspired me to head down to Tourneau this afternoon to try some stuff on. I do really like the OP, and not just for the supposed clout that comes with owning a Rollie, but I've always seen them as symbols of success, and now that I (finally) have some of my own, seems like the logical step.

There are a lot of nice watches out there that are still luxury but way below the price of a Rolex. You can look at Omega, Oris, Sinn, Grand Seiko plus many others. My recommendation is to not overthink it and find something that speaks to your heart. In my opinion, watches have nothing to do with reason and everything to do with emotion.

Life is too short!!! Enjoy it while you can!! Do what makes you happy!!

Get an Omega Aqua Terra. Cheaper and better built than a Rolex and actually attainable.

That’s really well written, spot on !

I love the way everyone congratulates a poster when they get a promotion without knowing what they actually do. This guy could be selling land mines for all we know. Though I suspect the majority of people who do sell land mines also have a Rolex, possibly two.

Some terrible advise in this thread IMHO , if you are struggling trying to rationalize spending money on a Veblen good then walk away. If you don't think the watch is worth it then ultimately it isn't.

Do you really want to change your brain and your habits? They brought you this far. But you can do something else: Just step over the line, feel the pain, be nice to it, but do it anyway. Make that experience of a superior watch and how you live with it. Then you can really decide whether it is what you want, what feels good, or whether it is not your thing. Buying. watch is no life sentence, you can sell it, you can gift it away, you need not buy more watches .... ah, well, forget the last point.

Even a land mine seller or biological weapon dealer comes to the point for their first Rolex 😅. But why thinking about getting an expensive watch if these guys don't know any sort of conscience 🤔 But I see your point 👍.

Do not buy a luxury piece till you are mentally prepared to own it. This thought of spending so much on something useless is a middle class thinking and you rightly said you have been frugal, so it’s natural. The more money you start seeing, you need to get a perceptual shift going on in tandem and redefine what value is. There are some irresistible Rolex OP dials and other models too that are great investments esp in the long term. So buy them if and only if you have overcome your mental block. Don’t regret after purchasing. You can die a rich man or as a middle class man, you choose. Either way, be the best of what you are and wear a watch that represents it. 😎

If you can't justify the cost, or it seems like a lot. Then your spending too much, especially at 30. This is the age for investing, letting that compound and then when you simply don't care about the money or cost of that watch then buy it.

But hey that's just my opinion, for the record I'd still buy yourself soemthing nice to celebrate but at the level where the cost is an after thought.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do

If you can't justify the cost, then it is unjustifiable. Don't purchase it. You will have regrets after the purchase.

Also, there are other brands than Rolex. It's not about the price or the brand but what it means to you. Big money does not equal big happy.

Ask yourself, how much money could you spend without having doubts/potential regrets and look at that price point.

It's actually a great time to buy versus a year ago. Omega will offer discounts off new, and Rolex grey market is becoming more sensible. I would just urge you to try a few on, and go for what gives you the feels. Outside of Rolex, no one will say, that's a great watch, unless an enthusiast. If you want that to happen, try a Rolex on. Even then, just look at watchfinder. Rolex is the most common watch there is. It's not rare, just expensive. With a 40% market share, it's everywhere. (but also recognisable) Also, after a few months, and scratches, it will just be your watch. Like shoes, something you wear. Stick with one big watch, it becomes part of you. Spend more, and keep it.20 years from now, what watch will have seen you through so many more milestones? Omega? Rolex? I'd go big or go home. I personally went Omega, because I wear it everyday, it's reliable, tough, and I have no fear.

Congratulations on your success! You should definitely mark it with a decent watch purchase!

I was quite anti Rolex until a few months ago when I had the opportunity to buy a black dial datejust 41 from a friendly AD.

Perhaps because I'm naturally tight fisted I prefer the more affordable Rolex models and don't like anything with precious stones etc.

As such the OP , datejust and Explorer are my favourites and classy without being too flash in my opinion. The OP in green is gorgeous. Also perhaps take a look at the latest Airking which flies under most people's radar and is very wearable like the OP in terms of dimensions if you want something a bit distinctive for similar money?

Good luck with the purchase and enjoy!

Justification of a luxury good purchase doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me. In my opinion, the only justification is having enough money to comfortably afford the purchase. Purchase based on your finances and living situation and don't look back. With that being said, I would also look at a Tudor or Omega.

We all financially plan for the future, but the future isn’t guaranteed, enjoy the triumphs when they come as you don’t know when they will stop.

I do think a higher priced watch is justifiable if you really appreciate it everytime you wear it. It also seems like you are the type of guy who is financially stable enough to buy a luxury watch so Id say get it if you really want to.

Looking at a couple pieces at nice store today, amazingly they had my grail, told the salesman I couldn't but he insisted I try it on

Practical advise… in this economic environment CASH IS KING. You just having gotten a sweet raise surely has you feeling good but I’d suggest squirreling away the extra money you’re getting every month in a high-yield savings account or QQQ. After a year (or 2) look at account size and then decide whether it’s time to splurge. There will be plenty of OPs, Explorers, DJs, available. The crazy days of unavailability have wound down in this economy.