Mental barrier on buying expensive watches?

Do you all have a price in mind where you start to really question a watch purchase? I've been comfortable in the sub $5k range all the way down to $150 aliexpress watches. Even between $2500 and $5000 I will certainly become more conscious of my purchase ... going over $5k though has been a challenge. Even with something tried and true like a Santos de Cartier or Speedmaster. Mentally looking at the vintage gilt dial at $8000+ or when you start buying subs/daytonas. I know with moving to something like a $50k watch -- having a watch that costs more than even my Subaru Outback Onyx XT -- on my wrist makes me sort of cringe and maybe that's where I am with hitting that $7500-10k barrier. Having an entire collection spanning that price though $50-75k), doesn't feel off though if you're talking a hundred or more.

That's a big deal -- to me. And not monetarily, just what else that money could represent. I'm not some rich bitch but I guess I'd even consider myself in the typical upper middle class.

Have you done much selling? If not, that might help give you more comfort with your purchases.

Yes, but not really a ton. I have sold 1 or 2 smaller pieces, and I have 2 for sale currently to try to fund a replacement! Slow time for selling vintage pieces bought at the peak without taking a huge L on the price.

I use the "wife test". Am I okay telling my wife I bought this watch for xxx dollars? If so, I'm comfortable buying. If not, I know I'm pushing the limit and should revisit.

Part of it also comes with increased income. If I'm making $50k, I'm not buying a $5k watch. However, I wouldn't lose sleep if I'm making $250k.

Some website said 1% of your annual ... nahhhhhh lol but yeah income level should make a difference. I mostly tell her when I get a watch but even she was like that Lunar Pilot cost how much? When I bought a $1000 Longines from phil at last year's G2G she was like, "Wow, really?" but that was initial sticker shock and her coming from a job where she was lucky make $10k a year -- her scale is calibrated in a way that mine isn't.

Plus it was early on in my insanity. 😀

I have never liked paying more than a couple hundred for a watch. I used to love my speedmaster back in the day. Now I am afraid to wear it.

Most of the time for me watches are practical things. For the most part they are emotion. I recently came into some unexpected cash and had a hard time deciding between some chronograph parts I have been lusting over for nearly a year. Or a completed chronograph similar to one I already have. I decided though I really need a new timegrapher, so it is parts for existing watches and a timegrapher.

Ironically I have been mostly wearing that stupid 17 buck Apple watch from goodwill. This was a multi thousand dollar watch when new. Sometimes I think it is a statement more than a watch. My rat watches are probably worth a few hindered. So What would I gain from a single 1K watch. As far as the big end stuff 10K or more. That has never been what or who I am. Sure they are nice, But if George Daniels was right, I could make my own watch that is just as good.

Back in the day when I was secretary of the local NAWCC chapter, and active I got to try and hold some pretty high faulting stuff. Some in the museum collections. My collection is also esoteric enough that it will turn heads to those in the know.

I do think watches are emotion. And I get attached to some watches more than others. I also get attached to watch auction listings. Of course when the watch arrives it goes into the box with the other watches to be worked on in the next instant I have some free time. Still these watches have character even personality. If I did not have them I would want them. If I sold them I would just want to purchase them all over again. And I do like to give the more troublesome ones nicknames.

I have also found money and wealth to be illusion. I have in many ways had a charmed life. Just no cash flow. None of this has stopped my from travel, or the finer things in life. Good meals books to read. Fascinating topics to research. Much of this is due to chance as anything else. I was taught not to incur debt. And if one waits long enough most things come along at the eWaste recycler or surplus or charity shops. And if one is real lucky there is that barn find or estate queen.

The older I get the more I question the illusion of free will. There are many things I can not have. (A time machine is probably the biggest regret. Even one that is read only.) On the other hand I can create whole universes through writing and storytelling. Or even build virtual worlds through 3D and computer modeling. Many of these are infinite.

The curious thing about the super expensive watches. Is that these are well documented. There are plenty of pictures to look at. And I never have to scratch the finish, or worry about a total market collapse.