4 ms·

For those of you with expensive watches (5000usd+): Do you wear it every day? Does it impact your plans ie "I shouldn't wear it today because I might be targe

For those of you with expensive watches (5000usd+): Do you wear it every day? Does it impact your plans ie "I shouldn't wear it today because I might be targeted for a robbery"? What is the reason you bought an expensive watch when there are plenty not expensive watches that are good at "time"? Would you consider yourself "well off?" Thanks :)

jacquesm 3y ago
Expensive is relative to where you live.
- criddell 3y ago
  If you bought a Submariner in 2013, you could sell it today for more than you paid. From some perspectives, that Rolex is less expensive than a similar Timex or Casio.
sschueller 3y ago
In Switzerland I don't think there is any such thought. I see crazy expensive time pieces on people's wrists and no one give as hoot other than watch enthusiasts. I don't currently own a watch over 5k but if I where to purchase such a piece it would be for the craftsmanship and the beauty of the mechanics. However you would never find me wearing a Rolex which is a mass produced status symbol IMO.
ohpls 3y ago
I currently don't own a >=5k but I have previously, my currently daily is 3.5k (GBP). > Do you wear it every day? > Does it impact my plans? I do wear it almost daily but it does vary, if I'm doing anything manual (gardening, working on my bike, painting/decorating) then I'll either not wear it or take it off during those activities where I'm likely bound to bash my wrist against something. I'll often swap it out for one of my other cheaper ones sometimes. > Why? I've liked watches for God knows how long and I was fortunate to work at a luxury watch shop where I got some great discounts. I've always said my collection is my funeral fund for once I go! > Do I consider myself "well off"? Personally, no. I just make very bad financial decisions.
sneak 3y ago
Generally I do wear it every day. I bought it because, after many many years of finding all mechanical watches ugly and tacky, I found one specific model that I find to be absolutely gorgeous and I adore the way it looks; a $300 Apple Watch keeps better time and has more functionality. A $20 Casio has equivalent functionality and way, way better timekeeping. It's jewelry and I wear it daily just as I wear an EDT and deodorant and clean clothes. I actually subscribe to the jwz theory of "if you need you to know what time it is that often, your life has gone dangerously wrong", and I have a radar filed because there are no Apple Watch faces without a time display. It also has the added benefit whilst traveling of signaling to customer service staff (I fly commercial and not always in first) that I am a revenue opportunity (ie don't ignore me), as I am quite utilitarian and my 'fits are almost always sub-$200 (not counting shoes and scarf). My daily driver tshirt is plain black and costs $25, for example, and I loathe brands and visible labels. It's not immediately obvious to retail staff that it's profitable to provide me with good service. Expensive watches aren't about timekeeping. They are jewelry and status signifiers. Also, my daily driver watch is under $10k; theft no more enters my mind about it than it does for carrying my laptop; a maxxed out Macbook Pro ($6k) is approximately the same value as my watch and I never think about whether or not I should bring my laptop somewhere. I also collect sunglasses and luggage; I'm not much of a clothes horse but I do adore stylish accessories. Edit: I have friends who are "expensive watch guys" and one such new money friend, despite growing up poor, now personally grosses low double digit millions of USD annually. He recently told a story to our group about being in a 10 person business meeting where his $40k Rolex was the cheapest watch anyone had on, as a way of communicating how impressed he was and the gravitas of how many corporate heavy hitters were involved in his deal. Perhaps this sheds some light on their purpose and utility. (My $7k stainless steel daily driver doesn't even rank among these sorts of guys.)
- EdwardCoffin 3y ago
  I've tried googling this JWZ theory but can't find anything. I suspect I would like to read whatever he embedded this in though. Could you give a citation or hint on where to find it?
  - sneak 3y ago
bthrn 3y ago
I have a watch that would be considered expensive by most. It’s not really about telling the time - I simply appreciate the complexity and beauty of handcrafted mechanical watches. People spend years learning how to build them. It takes a long time to assemble one. They’re precisely made with small parts made of precious metals which are themselves expensive. With companies like A Lange & Sohne, each watchmaker can only make about 6 watches per year. At a pace like that you’re not really paying for the watch, you’re paying for their labor and expertise. You’re paying to preserve the craft. You can’t make 6 of something in a year and sell it for $100 if it’s how you make a living.
stevekemp 3y ago
I collection (mechanical) watches I have 30-40, half are cheap as chips, usually old Soviet pieces, the other half are Swiss. The most expensive watch I own is about €10k. Honestly I don't think of the value on the days I wear it - I just look at it and smile. It used to be that I had about seven watches and I had one for each "activity". So I had a sauna-watch, a swimming watch, a photography watch. Later I got too many, so I switched into different styles - a pilot watch, a diver watch, a jump-hand watch, etc, etc. I usually change watch every day, but sometimes I might wear the same one for 3-5 days. The only time I consciously think about it is when traveling for holidays - I think "Is this the watch I want to go through security with, and dive into a lake?" or "Am I gonna wear a suit, or not?" Expensive watches are not comparable to cheap watches in my view. Just like a bottle of 50 year old whisky cannot be compared to a €10 cider - they are different things, with different audiences. (Also: Get insurance. That takes away almost all worry :)
r9550684 3y ago
when I first could afford to but before I had responsibilities, I bought a breguet classique off secondary market, which is already understated, and I wear it with an even more understated leather band. I consciously chose to wear it as a daily cary, which means that on more than one occasion I wore it through ghettos on the way to raves, including through one attempted and failed robbery. By now it's well worn in, and I prefer it to be a subtle signal: those who don't care don't notice, so it's not ostentatious, those who pay attention but don't know will figure it out through closer observation, and those who know, don't need to ask any questions. I do occasionally consciously take them off so as not to be flashing, when that would be particularly crass or foolhardy. I've lost many watches in my life, but this one has trained me in the discipline of care and attentiveness towards my possessions, which extends to all things and not just the watch. There was no particularly good reason for me to buy it though, except for the watch maker name's frequent mention in the 19th century literature, including a famous line from Pushkin's Onegin, "he strolls down boulevards, until a sleepless Breguet, calls out time for supper". now it's likely that Onegin specifically didn't wear an actual breguet, because that was a generic name for a chiming timepiece, but the imagery stuck. I grew up on 19th century literature, byronic heroes, this line is explicit reference to flaneur culture, a self-conscious decadent movement, associated with aimless strolling down boulevards dressed in provocative clothing, breguet fits here, and that's the joke of the line: at a time when a timepiece would be associated with a serious vocation, politics or military, it is being used for the most frivolous task of letting one man know when it's time to eat. I reflect on this point occasionally, when I look at my watch.
kadoban 3y ago
Expensive watches are jewelry for men, that's about it.
hunson_abadeer 3y ago
It's really no different than people who pay more than they need to for a car or a home. It's some combination of it being a status symbol and an "I can afford it and it's fun" kind of a deal. There is a variety of attitudes, as with fancy cars, McMansions, or other "premium" goods. Some people wax their car every week, some people let it rust. Watch theft isn't particularly common. I have a nice watch, I wear it daily, and I don't think about it much.
KaiserPro 3y ago
I have an expensive omega. I don't normally need to worry about it, because its not a famous watch, its not one that most people would recognise. If I had a massive rolex/richard mile or some other painfully obvious watch, then yes, I would be much more reticent. I got it because its a pioneer watch: https://www.omegamegaquartz.com/ https://www.omegamegaquartz.com/ it was the first watch that was stonkingly accurate. There are some citizens and seikos that are probably now more accurate (some of the seikos look damn good too.) But none of them look like this massive lump of 70s engineering. Yes I am very fortunate to be temporarily rich.
tzhenghao 3y ago
I wear them every day, but take them off if I'm going to high crime cities. The thing is I've been collecting watches for over a decade. My parents are into it, and so is my younger brother. I think it's very rare to share a common interest that won't bore anyone at the dinner table. Now onto the horological aspects - they're like the iPhone / app store back in the day. Keeping track of leap years and all in a 36mm package (think Patek 3940s). Various complications to address various "limitations" of mechanical time telling like the remontoire, co-axial escapements or solid block case constructions for better waterproofness. It's not too different than some of us on HN who fall in love with old Apple IIs, NES or Sega Genesis :)

jacquesm 3y ago

Expensive is relative to where you live.

criddell 3y ago
If you bought a Submariner in 2013, you could sell it today for more than you paid. From some perspectives, that Rolex is less expensive than a similar Timex or Casio.

sschueller 3y ago

In Switzerland I don't think there is any such thought. I see crazy expensive time pieces on people's wrists and no one give as hoot other than watch enthusiasts. I don't currently own a watch over 5k but if I where to purchase such a piece it would be for the craftsmanship and the beauty of the mechanics. However you would never find me wearing a Rolex which is a mass produced status symbol IMO.

ohpls 3y ago

I currently don't own a >=5k but I have previously, my currently daily is 3.5k (GBP). > Do you wear it every day? > Does it impact my plans? I do wear it almost daily but it does vary, if I'm doing anything manual (gardening, working on my bike, painting/decorating) then I'll either not wear it or take it off during those activities where I'm likely bound to bash my wrist against something. I'll often swap it out for one of my other cheaper ones sometimes. > Why? I've liked watches for God knows how long and I was fortunate to work at a luxury watch shop where I got some great discounts. I've always said my collection is my funeral fund for once I go! > Do I consider myself "well off"? Personally, no. I just make very bad financial decisions.

sneak 3y ago

Generally I do wear it every day. I bought it because, after many many years of finding all mechanical watches ugly and tacky, I found one specific model that I find to be absolutely gorgeous and I adore the way it looks; a $300 Apple Watch keeps better time and has more functionality. A $20 Casio has equivalent functionality and way, way better timekeeping. It's jewelry and I wear it daily just as I wear an EDT and deodorant and clean clothes. I actually subscribe to the jwz theory of "if you need you to know what time it is that often, your life has gone dangerously wrong", and I have a radar filed because there are no Apple Watch faces without a time display. It also has the added benefit whilst traveling of signaling to customer service staff (I fly commercial and not always in first) that I am a revenue opportunity (ie don't ignore me), as I am quite utilitarian and my 'fits are almost always sub-$200 (not counting shoes and scarf). My daily driver tshirt is plain black and costs $25, for example, and I loathe brands and visible labels. It's not immediately obvious to retail staff that it's profitable to provide me with good service. Expensive watches aren't about timekeeping. They are jewelry and status signifiers. Also, my daily driver watch is under $10k; theft no more enters my mind about it than it does for carrying my laptop; a maxxed out Macbook Pro ($6k) is approximately the same value as my watch and I never think about whether or not I should bring my laptop somewhere. I also collect sunglasses and luggage; I'm not much of a clothes horse but I do adore stylish accessories. Edit: I have friends who are "expensive watch guys" and one such new money friend, despite growing up poor, now personally grosses low double digit millions of USD annually. He recently told a story to our group about being in a 10 person business meeting where his $40k Rolex was the cheapest watch anyone had on, as a way of communicating how impressed he was and the gravitas of how many corporate heavy hitters were involved in his deal. Perhaps this sheds some light on their purpose and utility. (My $7k stainless steel daily driver doesn't even rank among these sorts of guys.)

EdwardCoffin 3y ago
I've tried googling this JWZ theory but can't find anything. I suspect I would like to read whatever he embedded this in though. Could you give a citation or hint on where to find it?
- sneak 3y ago

bthrn 3y ago

I have a watch that would be considered expensive by most. It’s not really about telling the time - I simply appreciate the complexity and beauty of handcrafted mechanical watches. People spend years learning how to build them. It takes a long time to assemble one. They’re precisely made with small parts made of precious metals which are themselves expensive. With companies like A Lange & Sohne, each watchmaker can only make about 6 watches per year. At a pace like that you’re not really paying for the watch, you’re paying for their labor and expertise. You’re paying to preserve the craft. You can’t make 6 of something in a year and sell it for $100 if it’s how you make a living.

stevekemp 3y ago

I collection (mechanical) watches I have 30-40, half are cheap as chips, usually old Soviet pieces, the other half are Swiss. The most expensive watch I own is about €10k. Honestly I don't think of the value on the days I wear it - I just look at it and smile. It used to be that I had about seven watches and I had one for each "activity". So I had a sauna-watch, a swimming watch, a photography watch. Later I got too many, so I switched into different styles - a pilot watch, a diver watch, a jump-hand watch, etc, etc. I usually change watch every day, but sometimes I might wear the same one for 3-5 days. The only time I consciously think about it is when traveling for holidays - I think "Is this the watch I want to go through security with, and dive into a lake?" or "Am I gonna wear a suit, or not?" Expensive watches are not comparable to cheap watches in my view. Just like a bottle of 50 year old whisky cannot be compared to a €10 cider - they are different things, with different audiences. (Also: Get insurance. That takes away almost all worry :)

r9550684 3y ago

when I first could afford to but before I had responsibilities, I bought a breguet classique off secondary market, which is already understated, and I wear it with an even more understated leather band. I consciously chose to wear it as a daily cary, which means that on more than one occasion I wore it through ghettos on the way to raves, including through one attempted and failed robbery. By now it's well worn in, and I prefer it to be a subtle signal: those who don't care don't notice, so it's not ostentatious, those who pay attention but don't know will figure it out through closer observation, and those who know, don't need to ask any questions. I do occasionally consciously take them off so as not to be flashing, when that would be particularly crass or foolhardy. I've lost many watches in my life, but this one has trained me in the discipline of care and attentiveness towards my possessions, which extends to all things and not just the watch. There was no particularly good reason for me to buy it though, except for the watch maker name's frequent mention in the 19th century literature, including a famous line from Pushkin's Onegin, "he strolls down boulevards, until a sleepless Breguet, calls out time for supper". now it's likely that Onegin specifically didn't wear an actual breguet, because that was a generic name for a chiming timepiece, but the imagery stuck. I grew up on 19th century literature, byronic heroes, this line is explicit reference to flaneur culture, a self-conscious decadent movement, associated with aimless strolling down boulevards dressed in provocative clothing, breguet fits here, and that's the joke of the line: at a time when a timepiece would be associated with a serious vocation, politics or military, it is being used for the most frivolous task of letting one man know when it's time to eat. I reflect on this point occasionally, when I look at my watch.

kadoban 3y ago

Expensive watches are jewelry for men, that's about it.

hunson_abadeer 3y ago

It's really no different than people who pay more than they need to for a car or a home. It's some combination of it being a status symbol and an "I can afford it and it's fun" kind of a deal. There is a variety of attitudes, as with fancy cars, McMansions, or other "premium" goods. Some people wax their car every week, some people let it rust. Watch theft isn't particularly common. I have a nice watch, I wear it daily, and I don't think about it much.

KaiserPro 3y ago

I have an expensive omega. I don't normally need to worry about it, because its not a famous watch, its not one that most people would recognise. If I had a massive rolex/richard mile or some other painfully obvious watch, then yes, I would be much more reticent. I got it because its a pioneer watch: https://www.omegamegaquartz.com/ https://www.omegamegaquartz.com/ it was the first watch that was stonkingly accurate. There are some citizens and seikos that are probably now more accurate (some of the seikos look damn good too.) But none of them look like this massive lump of 70s engineering. Yes I am very fortunate to be temporarily rich.

tzhenghao 3y ago

I wear them every day, but take them off if I'm going to high crime cities. The thing is I've been collecting watches for over a decade. My parents are into it, and so is my younger brother. I think it's very rare to share a common interest that won't bore anyone at the dinner table. Now onto the horological aspects - they're like the iPhone / app store back in the day. Keeping track of leap years and all in a 36mm package (think Patek 3940s). Various complications to address various "limitations" of mechanical time telling like the remontoire, co-axial escapements or solid block case constructions for better waterproofness. It's not too different than some of us on HN who fall in love with old Apple IIs, NES or Sega Genesis :)