Tried luxury for the first time - and boom, nothing!

#keepitaffordable 💪

Entry, premium, luxury…It all means nothing. I think people get so caught up in all this hype. Just buy what you like and can afford. Going into debt over a watch is a bad way to live.

I don’t get tingles when putting on a watch. It’s just a watch right?

My biggest love is vintage watches because even the most basic simple cheap watch has a history that no new watch can have no matter how expensive.

The better the feeling of a material, the manufacturing, the beauty if a design the better it feels wheb wear and see it.

BUT...

Most watches can reach that level already in a price range of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 Euro/Dollar, depending on the watch type and expectations.

There some exceptions for me in a 3,5/4K range.

But after that a shining ceramic bezel can't be more ceramic, the bracelet can't be more polished and leather straps can't be more softer.

I get your point - and agree up to a point. I agree that a 1000 dollar watch can have the same quality / feel as as a 5000 dollar watch. But if I compare them with a 10k+ watch they do fall short. For instance: my CW C63 GMT is a GREAT watch around the 1k mark. But it cannot hold a candle to the craftsmanship, look, feel and detailing of my GO senator. My (still tentative) conclusion sofar is that I am willing to spend either <1k (CW, Squale, Scurfa…) or > 10k (GO) — and nothing in between. Precisely because of your points.

Same way I felt when I put on the SuperOcean with rubber bezel insert, the Longines Big Eye chrono as well as the BB58 blue dial. Well, actually I felt disappointment.

After the last two, I will always try on a watch north of $2K before I buy it.

Some watches get me all giddy. Some don’t. Price has never been a factor.

That said, I can only wear so many watches, so I try to get ones at the upper end of my budget to keep the collection small(ish).

🖖

Price doesn't = enjoyment, it's just a factor and sometimes a barrier for some things. If a piece doesn't speak to you, it doesn't speak to you 🤷‍♂️

For me it’s all about design and usable function… which means I find, for example, a Seiko Samurai more of a thing I would want than a Rolex Submariner. I mean sure, I would choose a Planet Ocean over both of those, but it’s still the same point. Shockingly, I don’t think the ‘big three’ make a watch I actually like, and if Richard Mille suddenly went mad and cut all their prices to AliXpress levels, I still wouldn’t fancy one.

Buy what you like. Who cares? As long as it makes you happy.

Nope

Pleasure from watches can be had for less than $100. It can also be had for $50,000+.

I think the maxim of never spend more than you can afford and be satisfied in all things whether common or rare...is probably a good way to live life and enjoy what you have.

All of us here are probably living a life exceeding many who can't even imagine having a computer or smartphone to be joining this type of discussion.

It's worth remembering that.

Good for you - and you wallet

@KristianG (I believe) summed it up best, at least for me: I feel better striking out at around the $500 range. That doesn’t mean I shy away from premium /luxury watches but I need to be very confident in the purchase. For example, the Omega Aqua Terra small seconds I owned. It’s a beautiful watch and functioned perfectly. I stopped wearing it. It was because of the sub-dial mostly. I sold it at a loss as expected but picked up a GS that I love. Still pisses me off but I had three bids right on top of each other so I feel I got the best price for the AT under the circumstances. Conversely, I picked up a Lorier Gemini Nero. We’re not clicking. I’ll continue to wear it from time to time but having paid $499 reduces the frustration and I could probably sell it for a minimal loss but I won’t just yet.

Somebody can afford 200, somebody 20k. Affordinility all depends on budget. I see no point in burning pocket to buy watches beyond budget.

Just buy what YOU like and can afford. I realized some time ago that nobody cares about what kind of watch you have on so if a watch speaks to you and you can afford it grab it. I don’t own a luxury watch but the watches I do own I enjoy, well maybe except my SKX my future ex-wife bought that so it hits different now 😂😂😂.

I had that feeling when I tried on a few Tudors. They did nothing for me.

Just what is luxury?

It is all relevant.

For instance, many consider Longines a "luxury" brand.

And I I am not editing the comment, I’m proud of my typos! 😂

Ha, no doubt. I’m by no means immune to getting seduced, and as far as luxury goes, Grabd Seiko certainly comes the closest to delivering something you could almost call “value,” but I’m definitely more than a little embarrassed when a sane person outside this hobby asks what it costs and usually tell them, “it’s still just a really nice Seiko, so, y’know, it was a lot less than a Rolex or something like that!”

Gorgeous peice — I’ll be getting one eventually myself lol

Great story! And what was your dream watch?

Your three watch choices are perfect and extremely wearable they would get plenty of wrist time for sure by many including my self. I say a good five watch rotation that best discribes yourself is the way to go who needs extra watches sitting in the watch box which is my issue.

well it depends, If I see a watch that clicks when I see it the research begins Along with the saving $. This happened with the Okavango Delta. Waited a full year to finally Purchase, Still get the feels when wearing that watch.

Some people can't be hypnotized. I've handled luxury watches and felt nothing. People speak as though one is supposed to have some spiritual experience but it was just there and I didn't much care.

I spent a lot of time recently at Bucherer, Wempe, Watches of Switzerland looking at Omeas, Breitlings, IWCs, JLCs, Girard Perragaux, even went to the Hermes and A Lange boutique. Didn't try After looking at those watches and going to Macys and seeing the Seikos, Citizens, Bulovas, etc. I noticed a HUGE difference in quality in finishing just by comparing the differences in the details. It was night and day!

I own one Sub one mid 70’s Omega moon watch one Rolex “president” a gift the rest are average run of the mill brands, Orient, Seiko,

@tonyberneta I think your comment is right on point, specially when you come from great watches in that category. The jump in quality, feel and look from a basic Timex to a Longines is huge. You do not see this massive gain from Longines to Rolex for example. In other words, as price rises, the value return for your dollar demonishes. Fir this reason I love the price range of $1,000 to $5,000.