Whats the most you've ever spent on a watch

[bobfitz14]

I shall be first in line for an Apple Watch. $29,000 is too much to spend on a watch no matter how wealthy you are.

Thanks for trying.

Trying? I just reread my post and I believe I succeeded in getting my point across. So no, I don't believe that trying is the appropriate word.

Here's an example of the point I was trying to make:

[...]Watches are not for everyone ... just like fancy clothes aren't either ... I dress like a slob, and wear a $34,000 watch ... because I want to ... you don't because YOU don't want to ...
[...]

Victory.


I realize I'm a stubborn human being but I'm willing to admit when I am wrong and that is not me in this argument. Accept the fact that wealthy people are going to do what they want and that watches can be far more valuable than £1,000 and we'll leave this to rest.

Here's an example of my 21st birthday gift to myself:

A currency converter website informed me that this purchase was approximately valued at £406. This is on the LOW end of quality watches, particularly those with Swiss movement. Just to give you an idea of how unrealistically low that £1,000 figure is...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I've never heard of Tag Heuer claiming anything of theirs was "indestructible"? It's well known that sapphire will shatter if subjected to a sharp impact force - especially a heavy watch being dropped onto a hard surface. It's scratch proof, but not as shatter proof as some other substances. That's why Omega Speedmaster Pros were made with hesalite crystals - they scratch much easier, but won't shatter if they get a knock.

On their website, they described it as 'highly durable' or some such. I even threw that back at them, and they still wouldn't budge.

This was also why I was meh over Apple possibly using sapphire crystal on the 6's. Remembering looking down at my Formula watch with the shattered crystal after falling less than two feet was depressing... So much for 'durable'. I then read about how sapphire can have flaws in it that can cause it to shatter, but no budging Tag. I tried... I did drop it after all, and it wasn't all that expensive to get it replaced. Gravity works...

 

[HereBeMonsters]

On their website, they described it as 'highly durable' or some such. I even threw that back at them, and they still wouldn't budge.

This was also why I was meh over Apple possibly using sapphire crystal on the 6's. Remembering looking down at my Formula watch with the shattered crystal after falling less than two feet was depressing... So much for 'durable'. I then read about how sapphire can have flaws in it that can cause it to shatter, but no budging Tag. I tried... I did drop it after all, and it wasn't all that expensive to get it replaced. Gravity works...

Hey, I knocked the rubber crown guard off my F1. Very flimsy little piece around the crown, sticks out with no reinforcement.

Apparently they can't replace this. Needs a whole new case. Ho hum. Now I have a decent beater that I'm not afraid of scratching any more!

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Hey, I knocked the rubber crown guard off my F1. Very flimsy little piece around the crown, sticks out with no reinforcement.

Apparently they can't replace this. Needs a whole new case. Ho hum. Now I have a decent beater that I'm not afraid of scratching any more!

Mine is like a plastic resin or something. After the crystal broke, I freaked about the rest of it but figure that one I got to wear 'every day', so might as well wear it every day. I just wish it had a metal bracelet rather than the rubber strap.

One thing I forgot to mention, the Carrera has a window in the back of it to see the winder and the 'guts'. Call me a geek, but when I saw that, 'It must be mine' kicked in. I'm sure they did that for people like me...

 

[HereBeMonsters]

Mine is like a plastic resin or something. After the crystal broke, I freaked about the rest of it but figure that one I got to wear 'every day', so might as well wear it every day. I just wish it had a metal bracelet rather than the rubber strap.

One thing I forgot to mention, the Carrera has a window in the back of it to see the winder and the 'guts'. Call me a geek, but when I saw that, 'It must be mine' kicked in. I'm sure they did that for people like me...

Yeah, a lot of my autos have a display back. Even the cheapy Seiko 5s do!

If you've got one of the older plastic cased ones, I thought they came with a mineral crystal? It was only the metal cased ones (with the plastic bezel and metal bracelet) that had the sapphire crystal?

 

[AAP8]

I realize I'm a stubborn human being but I'm willing to admit when I am wrong and that is not me in this argument. Accept the fact that wealthy people are going to do what they want and that watches can be far more valuable than £1,000 and we'll leave this to rest.

Here's an example of my 21st birthday gift to myself:
Image
A currency converter website informed me that this purchase was approximately valued at £406. This is on the LOW end of quality watches, particularly those with Swiss movement. Just to give you an idea of how unrealistically low that £1,000 figure is...

Its not even about being wealthy, its about valuing something different ... is the new Ferrari F60 America really worth 2.5million? No, but if people want to pay that they will.

For many, a watch is to tell time, for this purpose alone, a $10 knock off Fossil will suffice, everything else is because the person wanted to get it, the Apple Watch is not a "need" or even a "watch" per se, its a computer on your wrist, so its better to ask if you want a wrist computer.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Yeah, a lot of my autos have a display back. Even the cheapy Seiko 5s do!

If you've got one of the older plastic cased ones, I thought they came with a mineral crystal? It was only the metal cased ones (with the plastic bezel and metal bracelet) that had the sapphire crystal?

It's a Carrera Link series. Sapphire front and back, water resistant to 300m. Nice watch, far too nice to beat around during the day... Needs to be sent in for cleanings ever couple of years too.

The price you pay for fashion I guess... That's on the outside of what I'd ever pay for a watch.

I had a friend that wanted to sell me his Rolex (a real Rolex) that he hated, despised, didn't pay a cent for. I offered to 'take it off his hands', more as a joke. He came back with a price, and apparently he didn't hate it as much as he had people think... Not that I expected him to 'give' it to me, but, it was retail price! Yeah, that will happen...

I fainted paying $80.00 for a tie!

 

[fortysomegeek]

Sure but if you spent $3400 in apple stock in 1994, what would it be worth now? Or even many other investments, how much would they be worth? And given inflation, it may be that $3400 in 1994 may not be much different than the current worth of those watches.

Just because it isn't a loss doesn't make it a great investment

That is 20/20 speculative hindsight on the investment. I never buy watches as investment. I treat them as hobbies that can be liquid in a jiffy I need them to be.

I was mereley rebutting the car price analogy as it always comes up in discussions.
Using a car price for comparison is always an ill-attempt as they always (except rare instances like the Defender 90 and some ferraris) depreciate in price much faster than a luxury watch.

 

[cgc]

Around $1,500 for a Ball Engineer II Ohio 40mm with tritium on the numbers and hands...pretty sweet at night and is guaranteed to glow continuously for 10+ years:

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

it amazes me that people will spend on a watch what a car cost. I dont know. Id rather have a car for that much.

What if you already have a car?? haha

Regardless, all of my watches have probably been in like the $20-$30 range except for the fossil watch that I got 5 years ago for maybe like $75. I've been very thrifty my whole life, but I'm kinda changing my views on that.

 

[bobfitz14]

Its not even about being wealthy, its about valuing something different ... is the new Ferrari F60 America really worth 2.5million? No, but if people want to pay that they will.

For many, a watch is to tell time, for this purpose alone, a $10 knock off Fossil will suffice, everything else is because the person wanted to get it, the Apple Watch is not a "need" or even a "watch" per se, its a computer on your wrist, so its better to ask if you want a wrist computer.

You live for a good time, not a longtime....gimme that wrist computer!

 

[APlotdevice]

$149+tax for my Pebble.

 

[cgc]

Funny how some people claim some people shouldn't spend more than X dollars on a watch yet pretty much everyone in this thread owns an overpriced computer. I'm not pointing fingers, I have a 2006 MacPro, but it's a little hypocritical. I wouldn't spend $34K on a watch at the moment, but I'm eyeing a Rolex for my wife when I retire from the USAF in a few months as a treat...much more useful than other jewelry and if it makes someone feel good then why not?

 

[SHNXX]

29000 is an entry level high-end price range so I don't even understand what all the big fuss is about.

if I said 2.9 million, now that would be something that watch collectors would notice.

 

[JuryDuty]

LOL the most I've ever spent on a watch was $129...and that's when I wore watches. Honestly, the adoption of cell phones has pulled me away from wearing watches and I'm not at all excited about a wearable. It would have to be pretty life-enhancing for me to start wearing a watch again.

 

[Jonx]

£50 about $80, that was like 10 years ago. I don't own nor wear watches anymore.

 

[itjw]

$3800 for a nice pre-owned Submariner about 15 years ago. That price is really low today, but was a steal even then.

Everything has value. If something will sell for $X, it is worth $X. You may not see that value, which is fine, and as long as someone else out there does it doesn't change it. If no one else does, the value goes down (potentially to zero).

I also own a cheap Datejust that I picked up for $2400, and my daily driver (an Omega Seamaster) that I think was only $1600 (but remains my favorite).

I sold the Sub for $6000. Not bad, and not unusual for the Rolex market. The watches will go up in value from time to time, especially as the new models get more expensive and people still want a Rolex.

That basically sums up why I don't think Apple is going to make a DENT in Swiss (high-end) sales, let alone ULTRA high end (and yes, there is a very large market for watches $25K and UP, even if you think it's "ridiculous").

People don't buy the watch because of what it can do, they buy it because of what it represents. Elitist? Snobby? Sure. But it is undeniably something that wealthy and successful people around the world do, so people want to emulate that.

I'm not as wealthy as I'd like to be, but if I were I would happily rock a $25K watch, just because I could.

Apple might grow to that prestige, but it's going to take time.

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Around $1,500 for a Ball Engineer II Ohio 40mm with tritium on the numbers and hands...pretty sweet at night and is guaranteed to glow continuously for 10+ years:

Love the Engineer. I almost bought one not too long ago, but the wife convinced me I didn't need "another" watch lol.

Beautiful watch

 

[cgc]

...
Love the Engineer. I almost bought one not too long ago, but the wife convinced me I didn't need "another" watch lol.

Beautiful watch

Yeah, fantastic watch...you should get back to work convincing your wife..."...but CGC from MacRumors has one, I need to be like him..."

 

[SusanK]

Just look at YOUR signature. It is full of 'wasted' money.

Yes. A fine timepiece is enjoyed for life.

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I respect everything you said in your comment. However, even if I was worth £600bn I would not throw away £29,000 on a watch. Because it would still be a waste of money even then.

You're not gonna change my mind. But I do agree with your comments about accepting different people can afford different things - it's the way the world works.

A luxury watch would be a waste of funds for you. It's not your thing and that's OK. Another enjoys a fine timepiece. The expenditure is worthwhile for that person.

Unless they purchase the luxury item with your funds you have no legitimate issue.

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+1 on the car.

 

[nando87]

120USD, the Sector which is announced by Jorge Lorenzo.

Pure class. Everyone spending more than that on a watch must be stupid.

 

[zyr123]

104$ on the times jcrew military watch.

 

[Kiimora]

Well so far £1,600

 

[QuarterSwede]

Another $0 person. I can stand wearing watches. Not only do they make my wrist sweat even with a good band, I do not like knowing the time. If I need a reminder of the time I'll set an alarm or reminder on my phone.

 

[bunnspecial]

I collect antique American-made watches.

The most I've spent on a single piece is $2500...and it took me a long time to track down the right watch of a certain type that I wanted. I bought mine privately(a friend who knew I'd been looking for one contacted me and said he was letting his go) but a couple of examples that were not as good as mine sold at a public auction for within $100(in both directions) of what I'd paid about a month after I bought mine. If I needed money in a hurry, I'd have no trouble selling it for what I paid or even a little bit more. Considering that my savings account is earning well under 1% APY these days and my CDs are not a whole lot better, I figure I'm just as well off with that watch(and a few other similar purchases) in a safe deposit box.

Of course, this is all strictly a speculative market, and prices on early American watches are-as a whole-soft right now. About 12 years ago, there was a landmark sale that took place after a museum in Rockford, Illinois closed. A friend of mine desperately wanted a certain piece in that auction(Freeport serial number 1, if anyone is interested) and held on for a while, but ultimately the watch sold for $48,000+premium.

Fast forward a dozen years to this past summer, and Freeport no. 1, along with several other key pieces from the time museum sale, came back up for auction. In that time, Freeport no. 1 had gained a heavy 18K gold case worth probably $2500-3000 just in metal value(it had last sold as an uncased movement). My friend was better prepared this time, but ended up being able to buy the watch for a little over $28000 with premium.


All that said, there are worse ways to spend money. I'm typing this post from a late 2005 model Powerbook that was $2000 when it was bought new. I paid a tiny fraction of that original amount when I bought it.

 

[SmGrafiX]

Most ive spent is approx $900 for a movado for my wife. Most ive spent on a watch for myslef was around $500 for my limited edition citizen watch with a rubber strap, my fav watch !