[Opinion, Bad Therapy, Taboo Topic] - Using luxury watches as a coping mechanism (or luxury items in general)

I dropped a 🦄 emoji here cause if you want to see people of all walks of life, wearing all manner of watches, devolve into a bunch of lunatics, you should see a bunch of grown men dress as My Little Ponies in order to win a game…this year’s WC Scavenger Hunt. At the end of the day, we are all the same. To paraphrase my favorite poem, we’re here to seek, to strive, to find, and never to yield.

I agree with you that having nice things and craving them to show off isn’t healthy. On the other hand, folks who have and can afford luxury goods shouldn’t be shamed into not getting what they worked hard for. Getting a luxury watch or purse might be a way for folks to commemorate a special event, wedding, anniversary, new job, promotion, etc. It’s ok either way. ✌️

I think the display of wealth in inherent, and not limited to a particular society. In socialist East Germany it may have been showing of the Polski Fiat that one was able to obtain with the right connections, and not the AMG Mercedes that might convey luxury in a Cincinnati suburb. Either way it's a marker of belonging to a certain group.

It's not that conspicuous consumption in itself will save you, but that it may just open the door to associate with a different group. I would guess that few people care about the luxury purchase itself, but more what it may be able to signal.

I used to know somebody who lived on Long Island, and had a large sailboat. He didn't know how to sail, but all the neighbors had one.

I generally agree with you on this. I think the flex culture and displays of wealth are getting to crazy heights. Now maybe it’s because of social media. I don’t know what they 80s would have been like if there was the social media then that we have now. I think that more and more people are just not happy in whatever place they are in. Everyone wants to be a internet celebrity because they see everyone else doing it and living a luxurious life. I don’t know the answer to any of this but at the end of the day theres not much I can do. I don’t have any social media besides this so I guess that helps?

You know, I'm incredibly skeptical of arguments that point out "this time is different." I mean, basic human psychology hasn't changed much in the last 300,000 years. I suspect the basic instincts that led proto-humans to strive for status are largely unchanged in homo sapiens of today.

And we see this basic behavior in nearly every species!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_theory

What IS different this time around, though, is that contrary to everything we hear about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, it turns out that practically EVERYONE is getting richer.

https://www.cato.org/blog/latest-census-numbers-household-income-show-long-term-progress-era-increased-globalization

So, in fact, conspicuous displays of wealth may be the result of very good things going on in society... they are no longer the sole preserve of a tiny portion of society - when everyone is getting rich, everyone can display wealth!

I bought a luxury watch that's a bit under the radar (SM300 heritage) as a treat to myself.

I agree it does make me feel different and a bit special when I'm wearing it , I feel privileged.

I don't wear it to show off or pretend I'm wealthy.

I'll never afford a mansion or yacht or a Rolls-Royce - but I can afford to own what's in my eyes the ultimate mechanical watch.

I'm not an ostentatious chap but I can appreciate quality like most of us.

Wear what you love & love what you wear.

Absatively. Way back when www.thetruthaboutcars.com was readable, a commenter mentioned how "luxury marque" cars were ubiquitous in the trailer park and much less common in the affluent suburbs.

I always get a chuckle out of watches as a status symbol because they imply that, you know, you have to be somewhere on time. If you call the shots or are that important, you either have a person for that or the world adjusts to your time.

Same with cars, by the way. Asia understands that you get driven if you are rich. Here in the States, some people drive their own Maybach, oblivious to the fact that they are in the chauffer's seat.

Of course there are studies proving that the poorer one is, the higher the percentage of their income is spent on frivolous goods to project a fraudulent appearance of (their idea of) wealth. And no, it wasn't just a matter of every expense being a larger percentage of their income.

Even further off topic, this is where the foodie trend comes from too.

But yeah, ostentation is almost always about insecurity.

I've had the talk about luxury with the Mrs. many times, and the whole point is that it should enhance your life somehow. Branding is not inherently luxurious, that is fraud or a myth, however collective, that one buys into. Now a Rolex will keep better time and be more durable than many less costly watches. That's arguably a luxury. Having the coronet and corny etched ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX is not. The motivation reveals much.

I do not apply this to most of the people on this platform because they are actual watch enthusiasts. But social media is the decline and the need to show things off on there even if it isn't owned by said person is at an all time high. There are companies that stage private jet flights just for Instagram photos. I am sorry but if you are under 30 then most likely you are part of the problem. It's the younger hype crowd that is over exposed online that creates this negative view on "luxury" items because most sane people know these idiots are full of shit. If you can afford high end products you shouldn't feel bad for it. But if you go into a boutique and try on a watch take a pic post it like its yours then your an idiot. I never really knew wealth until I got I to the business I am in and work directly for really really rich people. But most of them don't go on the internet showing off their expensive items. Flex culture is a real thing but when you dive into it 99% of it is fake shit. I don't hate anybody that can afford luxury items and I Def won't hate on people that can't. I will hate on the people faking it pretending to be something they are not.

Unicorns all round 🦄

So true!

I remember reading about ancient jewelry (because I'm cool like that)...

The oldest known example of decorative jewellery are a group of 33 perforated shell beads, which were created and worn at least 142,000 years ago during the Early Middle Stone Age.

So people were still prettying themselves up and flexing while running away from dinosaurs in bear skins.

It's nothing new.

Same observation about really filthy rich people, they don’t flaunt their wealth or flex. I see no one wearing Hublots or whatever hype watch. Most people wear Apple Watches.

Reminds me of this

Watches are the only jewelry items acceptable in our society for business men so naturally they are easier than wearing your bank balance. Personal insecurities dictate the need for bling. Secure rich people don't feel the need to advertise it. Like Bill Gates with his Casio

Luxury is a state of mind, if you project abundance.. you will receive abundance. If you project scarcity…

Moreover an affordable watches can be a luxury for me and makes me happy. Is all relative!

I wish luxury good especially in terms of jewelry and watches where it’s absolutely unnecessary to purchase for quality of life was presented in a different fashion. By that I mean instead of mankind overly consuming for a flex or self worth to the world we where more so on the side of obtaining only 1 or 2 of these future heirlooms to show as a badge of honor only aquired after financial resources where allocated for the betterment of 1 your families security and 2 the uplift meant of your community. But the human nature of man has marked endless loops of history that is doomed to continue to repeat its self dispute there being detailed information that can be utilized to evolve from these elusive traps.

Now a Rolex will keep better time and be more durable than many less costly watches

I do not have a Rolex but I do often find that it is better to buy a better quality item because of it durability. In the long run, it is cheaper however one needs to be able to distinguish between branding and quality.

Interesting post.

I see very often kids in their 20s/30s driving BMW and Mercedes where I live but I always wonder how they can afford the maintenance on these German imports. I guess they buy and never think as they sign on the dotted line that they need maintenance and it is all to show off.

All the luxury watches that I own and the less expensive ones have all been bought for me. Most people don't even look at your watches but I just get mesmerized watching a 4hz second hand going around the dial.

True it is definitely used as a signal at times which can have its benefits. Tbh I believe alot of human behaviours are just signaling to an admired group.

“Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” - Epicurus

I disagree that it is a sign of a declining society. I have read too much Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Cato for that. Roman virtue failed for a 1000 years.

There is a possibility that some individuals wear a luxury watch or some other small affordable item sourced from the usual purveyors of nice products to suggest a privileged existence, membership in the good life but a young fella who used to be part of a coffee klatch that I was an occasional member had a slightly different point of view: he insisted that the need to wear a watch that cost more than a very modest sum was indicative of a massive inferiority complex. To him it was the only logical explanation why a person would spend thousands of dollars on an item that was superfluous in a society where almost everybody owns a smartphone. There was no point engaging him in debate. I used to buy a few watches from the grandson of the legendary founder of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club before he retired to build his own canoe and ride his bicycle in April. Some people wondered why he ever needed to work? He once confided in me that he works to earn a good income. I am just going to think that folks who wear a nice watch enjoys wearing a nice watch.

I’m just here for the new emojis!! mLP club baby!!

I have a high level job at a Midwest factory. I drive a $70K truck and no one thinks twice about it…because it’s a truck.

I wear $500 heritage work boots…not a word.

If someone buys a 10 year old Porsche Boxter for $15K, the bar flys and baptists get to gossiping! Same for a pair of Air Jordans.

Blend in. Don’t stand out.

Don't need to add to this post now my friend,couldn't have said it better 👌