Max $$$ you're comfortable with on your wrist?

kelsey · May 4, 2019

Thanks for so many great, honest and interesting replies.
Agree sometimes its not about the $$$, $$ is just one variable to consider.

Also for me its not just about what I can afford, I mean I feel if my net wealth went up 10 times, I'd still have about a 50k cap on buying a watch. I think its certainly diminishing returns as prices go up and almost limitless options for under 50k.

ericmtl · May 4, 2019

With pleasure and I think you had responses from both side of the spectrum, I am blessed to know people personally on both side, and I can attest that like you , not that there are a lot, but I know some that wear expensive 20k and more watches as everyday ''beaters'' , not that they go out of their way to damage them, but after a few year wearing the same watch you tend to take it a little for granted and you go about all your activities like it's nothing so they end up getting beat up a little even sometimes a lot. At the end of the day money amounts do not mean the same to everyone a guy who make a million a year ends up with about 10k a week where a guy like me who makes 40k a year ends up with 700$ a week, so the 20k dollar watch value is really relative to who wears it. (and of course there was the collector point of view that was mentioned where it's the not really about the value but more of how rare it is, but that is a whole other story!) anyhow cheers!

Timmert · May 4, 2019

I wear a Breitling Navitimer as my everyday watch. It cost me almost 7k and I take good care of it, but I wear it for nearly everything except water / beach stuff.

On the other hand, my rarest (most expensive) watch is a Speedmaster 105.012, which I only wear on certain occasions. While it is probably more bulletproof than the Navitimer, it's the cost, vintage factor (replacement DON bezel, anyone?!), and the fact that it is my "collectors item" that makes me extra careful while wearing it.

Eve · May 4, 2019

larryganz
@Archer I love your beater. I have one myself but I baby it, since for me it would be harder to replace than some others.

This my beater - it's the watch I wear when I hike or bike, swing a club or travel, and on most days when doing nothing special. I might wear another watch from my collection once a week, and I do take off all watches if I'm working on my car; but I probably wear this 300 days a year and try not to worry too much about it.

It's practical while looking great, I love the chronograph feature, and with the dive bezel I can time a second event at the same time. As a bonus the Ti is very resistant to scratches and dings as well, and the Ti adjustable clasp from the Ti MC300 makes it fit my wrist well all year long.

The way you describe it, this one watch is all you need! 😀 looks great! 👍

Swissmister · May 16, 2019

My comfort level is in direct proportion to where I will be and how great is the likelihood of being asked to hand it over to an armed stranger. During much of the 90s I felt safer wearing a Daytona than leaving it at home as a potential victim of a break-in. But while roaming the streets of Angeles city in the Philippines or any of the less-affluent parts of any city in the world, I leave my watch at home, and if I forget, I put it in my pocket. Frankly, displaying a pricey timepiece in a risky locale is endangering you and anyone with you.

Walrus · May 18, 2019

w154
Forget any negativity from me, I’ve got a great watch currently missing in the USPS and I’m in a grumpy mood.

Holy cow same right now I have an old dynamic that tracking got screwed up on. Actually stuck the house today and get and go right to the jewelry store for a service. Second vintage in as many seams. You guys call 5,000 dollar watches beaters I find that funny. Five thousand is the most I wil spend on any one watch. I’m having good luck on the vintage things now. Got a sixtie constellation with only the only only the second hand running. I figured that it needed to be tightened or maybe a bad canon and got lucky it’ll be good after a 180 dollars service. But yeah five of six K I think would be my tops.

Stripey · May 18, 2019

ericmtl
With pleasure and I think you had responses from both side of the spectrum, I am blessed to know people personally on both side, and I can attest that like you , not that there are a lot, but I know some that wear expensive 20k and more watches as everyday ''beaters'' , not that they go out of their way to damage them, but after a few year wearing the same watch you tend to take it a little for granted and you go about all your activities like it's nothing so they end up getting beat up a little even sometimes a lot. At the end of the day money amounts do not mean the same to everyone a guy who make a million a year ends up with about 10k a week where a guy like me who makes 40k a year ends up with 700$ a week, so the 20k dollar watch value is really relative to who wears it. (and of course there was the collector point of view that was mentioned where it's the not really about the value but more of how rare it is, but that is a whole other story!) anyhow cheers!

This is such a sensible post - I have quickly taken my DSOTM Apollo 8 for granted, and it outshines what I've previously spent on a watch by a factor of 4.

Furioso · May 20, 2019

Super interesting thread. 30 years ago I found a fake Rolex for sale at a garage sale I the middle of nowhere. Thought about buying it as a novelty until my friend asked "why would you pay 25 bucks for something somebody will cut your arm off for?". That always stayed with me. I'm in a much different situation now and considering a very nice real timepiece, rather suddenly and unexpectedly. I come from humble means and work with (for) people who are mostly from far humbler means, though I now also work amongst people who are paid significantly more than me for comparable work. While I have myriad thoughts about all of this, I have worked very hard to be genuine and true to self, regardless of what's around me - I tend to be very engaged with those around from all walks of life, and have lived many walks of life. I have considered a fair bit about what else I could do for others, altruistically, instead of spending on a watch. Mine will be a gift from my betrothed, as a token of our commitment to each other. I'd feel as strange not wearing it as wearing it. It will likely cost more than the value of my car. I live in an area where traffic is horrendous, and parking lots worse. Buying a nice car would be utterly ridiculous to me. But value and cost are different. I'd give up a car more readily than a wedding ring, but still not easily. This timepiece will be the equivalent of a wedding ring for me. Though the 5 or 8k I might spend is dear, the significance of the cost is low compared to the value. It's quite something to ponder the balance of reasonable safety or insulation from potentially inviting, if not just increasing the likelihood, of some foul interaction, versus trust in humans (whether their good or bad sides). I suppose I will measure my faith in humanity by where when how I wear a nice watch. I quite suppose I'll wear it most everywhere I go, and that is not infrequently places where some might be very concerned about their safety or insulation from crime.

steelfish · May 22, 2019

Like many others it depends on where I am and how safe I feel.

Generally though I’d not wear more than about 6k gbp for an everyday watch, and 10k is just for special evenings. My approx 6k speedy looks pretty down key and has the scars of 2 years almost daily wear so I’m pretty happy to rock that by default.

Holidays are a difficult one as you sometimes can’t get a feel for a place before you’ve been there, and i mistrust hotel safes so I err on the side of caution.

Inpw · May 22, 2019

It all comes down to my surroundings and what I intend to do. On vacation or when doing sports of any kind, I wear a Tissot quartz exclusively. I'd still hate to lose or damage it (beyond adding new scratches and dings to the plethora of existing ones), but at least it would be for sentimental reasons only, not financial ones. For everything else, I use my mechanical watches equally regardless of value. I consider them written off the moment I buy them, so value is something my children will have to worry about when I'm gone.

RazorFrazer · May 22, 2019

asrnj77
Actually I wear my Speedmaster when I want to have a nice watch that doesn’t scream Rolex or rob me. I also have a vintage Seiko that I’ll wear when traveling. Otherwise I get insurance on the watches and hope for the best (but prepared for the worst).

Can I see the vintage Seiko ?

Swissmister · May 22, 2019

Let's not assume a Rolex is worth more than a Speedmaster. Many of the older Speedmasters are worth much more than many Rolex watches. I bought a used Submariner years ago to wear instead of vintage Speedmasters or vintage Rolex models. Calling it a "beater" is probably not fair. It's an attractive and (relatively) valuable watch, but I wear it when I'm going to be doing things that might harm a vintage watch. Obviously there are members here who have the means to wear 50k usd or more watches to dig ditches or gear head a small block Chevy, and there are others whose entire collection is worth 5k usd. If anyone has thousands of spare dollars to spend on luxury items, that person should have enough understanding of the World to know where and when it is safe to wear a watch of X value.
And Kelsey, if I may, your initial post could be read as a financial disclosure, letting members know you can afford to spend 50k on a watch or multiple 50k usd watches. That might account for the negativity you sensed. I'm confident dozens or hundreds of members here are similarly financially fortunate, but I suspect very few share that information. I saw a post recently with a discussion of real estate values that had a similar flavor. It can seem as if an individual is sometimes creating a platform from which to announce his success, even if that was not his intent. Make sense?

Max $$$ you're comfortable with on your wrist?

kelsey

ericmtl

Timmert

Eve

Swissmister

Walrus

Stripey

Furioso

steelfish

Inpw

RazorFrazer

Swissmister

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