How does MSRP vs. actual price paid affect your view on your watches?

I am grateful that I was able to pick up two watches at great discounts: over 60%. Thus I was able to get a $900 watch for $400, and a $1800 for $800 roughly.

Because of this, I often think to myself "wow this is such great finishing for a <$500 watch" or "dang that <$1k watch looks like a $2k watch." Then I remember that the watches I have are, at MSRP, much more expensive, and justifiable at that price point too (if watches are justifiable purchases to begin with).

So I wonder, does the actual price you paid for the watch matter to you? Does it skew your views in any way? Or how you use the watches? 

How about for those who paid over MSRP - are you more careful with those watches?

Reply
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The luxury and art markets always have optimistic pricing. They want their work to be prestigious and desirable, and thereby use pricing to set expectations. "This is expensive so it must be rare/good/desirable." In some cases (e.g., Invicta, MVMT) this is pure marketing and the products are poor-to-okay. In the case of investment/high-profile brands (e.g., Rolex, Richard Mille), there is genuine high demand for at least some period of time. Even the super desirable stuff fades from fashion, and prices fall over time (e.g., Franck Muller). 

When viewed as a commodity, the value of a watch or any item is the sum of materials + labor + overhead + profit. Some brands are able to inconsistently increase luxury appeal (e.g., Seiko, Hamilton) while others mainly just make and sell a product at a fair price (e.g., Timex, Citizen, Casio). 

You can buy from a value perspective, luxury perspective (price is no object), or an investment perspective (expect price booms and crashes). Is the watch a user, a safe queen, or a social showpiece for work/parties? It depends...no firm answer here...

I personally don't feel that watches are reliable investments, so I float somewhere between value and luxury. I won't pay more than MSRP for any artificially limited production item, so I can't address that. 

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I totally understand, it can feel like you're picking up something that nobody wants... which could be a good thing if you're a hipster (is that even a thing these days?). I guess in some aspects, for me, it adds to the impressiveness because I am sort of a hipster?

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Saigoat

The luxury and art markets always have optimistic pricing. They want their work to be prestigious and desirable, and thereby use pricing to set expectations. "This is expensive so it must be rare/good/desirable." In some cases (e.g., Invicta, MVMT) this is pure marketing and the products are poor-to-okay. In the case of investment/high-profile brands (e.g., Rolex, Richard Mille), there is genuine high demand for at least some period of time. Even the super desirable stuff fades from fashion, and prices fall over time (e.g., Franck Muller). 

When viewed as a commodity, the value of a watch or any item is the sum of materials + labor + overhead + profit. Some brands are able to inconsistently increase luxury appeal (e.g., Seiko, Hamilton) while others mainly just make and sell a product at a fair price (e.g., Timex, Citizen, Casio). 

You can buy from a value perspective, luxury perspective (price is no object), or an investment perspective (expect price booms and crashes). Is the watch a user, a safe queen, or a social showpiece for work/parties? It depends...no firm answer here...

I personally don't feel that watches are reliable investments, so I float somewhere between value and luxury. I won't pay more than MSRP for any artificially limited production item, so I can't address that. 

Nicely put. I guess I just bought watches that I liked at the set amount I decided for myself... so I guess in that sense I am a value seeker. I am constantly surprised by the quality of the Citizen I own, I honestly wonder why there aren't more people talking about it (other than that it's solar quartz).

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It’s all smoke and mirrors and marketing. I got my Zodiac for £350 off rrp. So what’s it’s real value. I guess the cheapest you can get it right!? 🤷😆

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synaptyx

It’s all smoke and mirrors and marketing. I got my Zodiac for £350 off rrp. So what’s it’s real value. I guess the cheapest you can get it right!? 🤷😆

It is, I mean I suppose the MSRP is often very optimistic for brands 🤷🏻‍♂️ But it's one of the few metrics we as consumers have to compare products so...