I’m in a weird place with apparently a new personal $ financial threshold.

Hard to say. There's value in the lower priced watches just as much as there's value in the higher end ones too.

I'd say if there was a specific watch that you were aiming for, then go for it. If not, and you're jumping just to jump, then you might feel that buyer's remorse.

What level are you currently at and going to? Try looking at numbers based on percentage of net worth. For example I won’t allow my collection to be worth more than 5% of my net worth. Or you can no more than 1 or however many months salary. That way your enjoying the hobby while responsibly spending the money allowing yourself limits.

I get you.

For me it was a couple years ago, the $15k threshold. I'd toed the line a couple times before but eventually took a plunge when my business took the leap forward. It wasn't an affordability thing so much as wanting to have something to truly celebrate.

I didn't revisit the $15k+ range again until last year (another memory watch) and have, since, bought many wonderful watches of all prices.

I guess what I was saying is that it is not like a switch where suddenly the only watches I love are pricier ones. And there are very certainly diminishing marginal returns.

But there are aspects of watches that only really get added with higher prices (complications, precious metals, certain types of finishing) so it's allowed me entry into certain aspects of watch appreciation that I didn't really have before.

My price threshold had gradually increased over time, thinking for intance almost a year ago that i would never cross the 2k USD msrk. Having crossed that threshold I'm now thinking that i would never move above the 10k mark. I will probably break that limit someday soon. However, I find that it's easier to "level up" for specific pieces rather than general purchases. Just because I paid over 6k for a watch does not mean all watches are now over 6k. Generally speaking watches should still only cost below 1k for me. Specific pieces break the rules, not change them.

I can afford any car I want, I own a Kia. I can afford any gun I want, I own guns from $100 to $1000. I can afford any watch I want but won't spend what I can afford. I will buy watches that I like and represent myself.

Buy whatever you like and represent who you are.

I did go to the next level, I usually buy sub-1k watches, but then I got a Longines Spirit at just under 2k. No question, I like it, but I can't justify going higher. I look at things like Tudors and I try and imagine how more expensive watches can be justified.

I look at Rolex watches and I look at my Steinhart Metropole. It was around $500, and I try and imagine what justifies $9500 more for a Rolex, and I can't. So . . . I don't think I am going up in price. Now your mileage may vary, obviously a lot of people don't agree with me, and the differences will be worth the cost to them. However, not me, not now.

So I think my next watch will have a red dial, but be under $1k (By the way, I am open to suggestions).

I would not dare even to consider adding them I prefer the unknown 😁

The idea of spending that much $, even though I have it, on a watch, is just not clicking for me. I can either think of different ways to spend or experience that sum or just sit on it. It’s like I don’t know if I’ll get the satisfaction or feeling of it’s worth it to step up to the next level or tier.

Here's a man who can see the bigger picture of life. The priorities and obligations of fatherhood, family, career and all that entails. Here's a man who's starting to see that these little mechanical things on our wrists are just play things and don't supersede the really important things in life.

Keep going my friend - you are one step closer to liberating yourself from this treacherous hobby!

I have had the exact same thoughts. In fact I was on the list for a £12k watch which is rare, interesting and the watch I most covert right now. However when it came in and despite me being able to afford the watch I could not pull the trigger. Too much value in on piece. Fear of it making me a target. All kinds of thoughts. I came to the reality that I enjoy more moderately priced pieces with a £5k ceiling. On the whole as you go up the price scale you get deminishing returns. A £500, a £5,000 and a £10,000 automatic diver - all are watches, all have a bezel, etc etc. What falls outside of this argument is the base price to get a complication eg a perpetual calender or tourbion have higher base prices than a jump hour or a GMT. Also marials have a base value like Gold or Ceramic. Hope my thoughts help.

You never know until you try it out. It's not necessary to spend a great deal but if you focus on what you like and can afford more expensive watches, you'll enjoy them. Same with less expensive watches.

You are correct that it is an individual thing. I understand your sentiment on spending more for what is essentially already something of a luxury item. Being able to afford is emphatically not the same as being willing to spend. I have trouble going past a certain $ amount on a single watch even though I have a sizeable collection on which I have spent enough $ to purchase more expensive watches. I would say I prefer having more watches of less individual value.

All I can say is, having more pricey watches doesn’t create me to turn the other cheek on my collection, which entails mainly under 1k. Most are not even above $500. Best thing as it has been said, is to buy what you like and not to advance to the next tier, just for the sake of being in that tier of pricier watches. The honeymoon of a new luxury piece fades, as it is just a material item, regardless of the price. Pricier watches don’t necessarily “fulfill” you more in this hobby. At least for me it hasn’t, even though I thought it would be. It’s all about doing you, no matter the price tag. Over or under any amount. Enjoy, have fun and do you my friend.

It depends on someone’s personality. Just as there are people who routinely buy watches they can’t really afford, there are people who are still hesitant to buy things they can afford. Whether that’s something they’ve been able to buy for some time or only recently come into the ability to purchase doesn’t really matter. It’s just how the brain is wired. Over time you might adjust to your new bugetary level - and you probably will. Or you might not! The important thing to remember is it’s not unusual.

You make $1M/year = $10000 spent

You make $100K/year = $1000 spent

You make $10K/year = $1 spent

The ratios are not accurate but I hope you get what I mean. You're being responsible with your finances which is a smart thing to do in this economy.

ROCK what you LOVE ... Buy what you can afford!

Stay Thirsty My Man 🍻👊🏽

It reads like you are trying to "level up" for no other reason than just leveling up. You don't have a specific model in mind, you are just looking at pricier watches and not feeling anything. It will stay like that unless you find a specific model of a watch you really like. And you also feel the wow effect when you see it in person. Then those thoughts about spending too much will be overriden by the thoughts "wow I want it, it's amazing".

That moment may never come though, you don't need to like pricier watches and you may never buy one and it's ok. But what you like because you like it, not because of pressure from social media and watch YouTubers.

Recently, I've visited an AD and had two watches in the ~3000 range in hand. Although I liked them from pictures, and I spent a lot of time selecting them from catalogs online, in person, nothing happened. And it's fine.

Great advice. I can’t buy any, but have you ever felt silly for buying something really expensive for just you?

I’m dying 😂🤣

Firstly most of the price you pay on nearly all of the well known brands is used for marketing ,example being rolex whose retail price is so badly divided as little as 5% is the covering cost of the watch. As for thingslike 904l steel its no more expensive in real terms as 316. We use 904 inour watches and its very small portion of the manufacturing costs. My watches cost thousands because they take many hours to make the material costs are the smallest costs even the top end movements only represent a small part of the end cost to the buyer !! If you want the best bang for your buck the only place you should look is the small independent makers who are genuinely making them themselves in their own workshops. Avoid 90% of the microbrands as they all use the same generic Chinese manufacturers and if you really genuinely want to buy a rolex because you think its a good watch and you are not just buying it because it’s a Rolex then your conscience is clear. Its a very fickled market that is almost totally brand driven so choose carefully. Most of my buyers visit and view and discuss their watch and enjoy the process of having a unique watch that has been made for them just like a saville row suit. Lastly from your post it sounds like you are a long way off deciding your next watch lol 😀😀

Regards rob

I can totally relate to this thread. My watch collection is 0.5% of my net worth. I think that will increase over time, but for me, anything over 2% feels frivolous. My next purchase will go up a tier. My previous high spend was $3,300, but my next watch will be between 5-10k. But I don’t see myself going up from there, nor do I see myself getting 2-3 new watches each year. More like 1 watch every 2-3 years. I also want to keep my collection lean, no more than 10 watches. Because if I’m spending 10k on a watch, I want it on my wrist a lot. I spend a lot of time making sure it’s the right watch before I buy up a tier.

No don’t , the moment u wanted to share this here you know you don’t want to buy it.

People are going to post a lot of comments, some will offer advice or more likely just detail their own habits or paths in the hobby. I have been messing with mechanical watches for most of my life but will not try to lecture because there is no wisdom in just spending money on toys. Obviously you should not try to exist in financial levels that are not realistic or sustainable. I am older so as with many persons my age, we have dollars more than future years but while a few of my most recent watches were just south of 20k cad, I also bought 2 Longines divers that are worn a lot and might be referred to as entry level luxury items. When I was younger, more planning was needed for my hobby but lately, I keep a credit card valid in case there is one more watch that I want to experience. You will find your own timing and best routines.

I’ll add my 2c

Don’t do it just to do it, you just end up the guy who bought the GT3 RS just to leave it in the garage, and trying to find excuses to track it even though you hate track days. All you really needed was a sold 911 to enjoy some country roads.

I left the grail chasing game to the word of #microbrands I have fun discovering something new. You’ll need to find price that makes you happy but don’t feel obligated to chase X or Y.

Thank you for the words

So true, I never got to GT car levels, but went through many P cars, ended up the one that stayed or has stayed the longest is a base Boxster. Everything I want and love. It’s the hairdresser’s car ya know.

Hey if the base boxer/watch gives you the Captain Slow fizz… James May fizzing sensation, I think anything above is only really bragging rights or to satisfy others 👊🏾

Don't let Nico and other social media trolls dictate what is required for your level of success. If an RM makes YOU happy, then go for it. Or you can be like Bill Gates with the Duro. If wearing it doesn't bring you joy than it's a waste of money at any level.

Just make sure you're not buying a watch at the next teir for an investment. This hobby in my humble opinion isn't for investment purposes. Cheers mate 🍻👊🏽

Absolutely, which is part of the reason why I don't buy what I can afford. 😉

Heavens no, my watches are used or to be given away or passed to my kids one day hopefully long away. I happy if I ever do sell, to just not lose a ton, usually I’ll trade or just keep.

On higher ticket items I usually get obsessed and that stays until I get it. If I lose interest during the wait I let the ADs know.