What are you saying to your lady after acquiring new watch?

This is an easy one -- I don't share the news. For the most part they really aren't interested, anyway (other then the money aspect). Better to share the news with your watch buddies, as they will likely appreciate it more.

And later when the inevitable question is asked "Is that a new watch?", just reply "I have had this for a while, mumble mumble, surprised you don't remember, mumble mumble." And you will not be lying whatsoever, as at that point you will have had it for at least a couple of days (i.e., 'a while').

I’m pretty upfront with my better half about my upcoming purchases. Mainly because I like to show her pictures (without prices) and ask her opinion on different models. Very interesting feedback sometimes, haha, she has expensive taste..... Then once I make the purchase (the one I was going to by either way) I let her know I bought one, without saying which one. Once the watch arrives, she’ll ask why I didn’t by one of the ones she liked better. And I simply reply, that this one was cheaper and I wanted to save money.... it’s worked so far.

My wife and I were standing in line at the grocery store when @Dan S sent me a message containing a link to a Submariner I had been looking for. When I opened it and smiled, my wife asked what happened. I showed her the images and she responded “Nice! Are you going to get it? Get it!” (She was aware of the price btw).

I have always had expensive hobbies and a somewhat revolving door of stuff coming in and going out. My hobbies solely fund my other hobbies, meaning if I stop using something for x amount of time, I’ll evaluate if I want to sell it or not. If I do, the money I make from it will stay within my hobbies and fund something else I want. She knows this and because of that, I’ve never had to create an elaborate story of why I got something. She just laughs whenever a new package arrives.

My wife is interested in watches to a certain extent, and needs to wear one while teaching. She mainly wears a Timex I got for her a couple years ago, but she also has a 'fancy' Citizen with a mother of pearl dial she asked me to get for her as a x-mas gift a decade ago. More recently she obtained two old Russian watches that belonged to her grandfather, and she has asked if I can find someone who can get the nicer one working; unfortunately it would have been better if she had her brother run this down over in Russia as I have yet to get a referreal for someone here in the US that will properly service/ repair and not use replacement parts they make themselves from random items laying around on their writing desk (I get it -- the Russian spirit is to find a way to get the task done, even if it is not the 'correct' way).

A few months ago I finally landed a nice UG Italian Railroad that I thought would be perfect for her teaching, as it is very easy to read at a glance and it is not nearly as small as her Timex or Citizen. But she is to worried about damaging it so she has only worn it once or twice.

But all of this is a long-winded way of saying she appreciates watches both old and new, and without realizing it she has amassed a collection of 5 so far, with 2 being quartz and the rest being mechanical or automatic. An she knows enough not to get into pricing on my acquisitions, as she would rather not know. They have never compromised our ability to pay bills or her ability to devote herself to developing a very low-paying but satisfying teaching career over the last 4 years, so everybody is happy. Especially our 7 year old, who already has 3 watches and has put dibs on most of my watches.

'Thank you' as she is always behind me when it comes to purchases and on occasion actively encourages me 🥰

Here's a technique that worked well for me. 😉