What Motivated You to Buy an 'Expensive' Watch?

[bigwithey]

I guess I get them so I got one... eventually. If I'd spent a grand on a tv I doubt I'd be having the "How much!" conversations that are really getting on my tits now.

www.oris.ch/images/watches/artelier/large/676_7547_40_51_LS.htm

[Sharief]

I'm pretty into watches although obviously not on the scale of most people on here. At the moment I have about five which add up to probably around 600 quid altogether, not really sure what motivates me to spend so much on them. TBH, it is quite a waste of money... But for some reason I just need a nice watch...

[minipower]

18th birthday present for me.
Coolest timepiece is the Patek calibre 89

[nbetts]

Calorus said:

One for the Horolophiles(?) - Not whinging or ranting, but why did you decide you chose to spend far larger sums than average on a watch?

Because I can.

[Graykiraa]

Because i have loved watches ever since i could tell them time so when the time came that i could afford to buy the one i wanted i did. Quite simple really

[steve bowen]

Calorus said:

A good car is something that has to be fast, responsive, informative, light, and atractive. A car's purpose is to be driven, and a watch's is to tell time.

A spade is a spade.

[Strangely Brown]

I bought my Speedy Pro because I had always wanted one and eventually I found myself in a position where I could spend the money without having to justify it to myself.

Then I got the bug and bought a Seamaster GMT... and then a Breitling Shark... but I did check myself and stop there.

I have now sold the Breitling (I just didn't really like it after all) and am on the lookout for a decent Pre-Moon Speedy Pro or a De-Ville Co-Axial Chrono.

IMHO, Omegas are about as good value for money as it gets in the quality watch market. I prefer old Heuers over new Tags and I think Rolexs are over-priced for what they are despite quite liking the Sub and Sea Dweller.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Wednesday 14th March 22:49

[northernboy]

I had just received a completely unexpected, and very welcome, first bonus in the city, while I was stiill a graduate trainee, so had £6,000 burning a hole in my pocket. I was bumming around in Canary wharf, waiting to pick the wive up, and saw a Tag S/El reduced to £750, and thought to myself "That's a beautiful watch, it would be a nice ting to get out of my bonus", so in I went, and bought it.

And never regretted it for a second.

[wadeski]

Im looking at my bank account, my bonus and this watch. Ive been looking very hard at all three for a month now...there is the little problem of the trip to new york i promised my other half - and the new clutch....but just LOOK at this thing




I have no idea why I need a £1800 Seiko, but I do. oh i do

Edited by wadeski on Wednesday 14th March 22:59

[selmahoos]

I just like collecting them, and usually take a fancy to a particular one and buy it. But they're all more attractive to pursue than to obtain, and I've yet to buy one that really satisfies. I disagree with the Rolex-slaggers, tho. The 18ct President Daydate with diamond dot dial is a decent honest watch, and in rose gold is particularly attractive. A great "daily drive".

[northernboy]

That is quite similar to a rolex Explorer II. If you bought a used one of thos (maybe from as low as £1900), which would probably hold its value extremely well, in case you ever decided that you needed the money back...

[wadeski]

eh, a high-spec GS will hold its value very well indeed - i would think the problem would be selling it in the UK outside of a small circle of collectors. Would probably be better to sell it back to Japan...

[northernboy]

wadeski said:

eh, a high-spec GS will hold its value very well indeed - i would think the problem would be selling it in the UK outside of a small circle of collectors. Would probably be better to sell it back to Japan...

Fair enough, I did not know that they, too, did that.

[RDMcG]

I bought a gold Jaeger-Le Coultre Reverso Duetto, (reversible with two faces) because I had always liked the design which came from the thirties, and because Jaeger is one of the only manufacturers making 100% of the watch in its own factory. I also lke that almost nobody ever notices it.

[Bob the Planner]

Lost my last one at the NYork weekend away. Decided that its better to have a £20 cheapo to keep time if I am going to lose the beggars.

[petrolnog]

Gazboy said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've always struggled to see the connection between watches and cars. I can appreciate the research & development that goes into a £200,000 Ferrari, I can appreciate the feeling of taking a TVR Tamora by the scruff of its neck and going for a blast to north Wales for a pint of milk, I can appreciate the lavish style over substance interior of a Zonda S, even if it is a gimmick, but there is some mental block that prevents me from appreciating a £7000 watch over a watch worth £20. I just can't see the connection of a shitload of torque catapaulting you along the road, rushing your blood with adrenalin, the g-forces on your body with direction changes, hitting that corner as sweet as a nut, when the second turbo forces the pit of your stomach against your spine and when the brakes make your eyes pop out.

I don't hold any ill-feeling towards anyone who gets off on expensive watches, it's their money, they can do whatever the hell they like with it.

As someone says, you get them, or you don't, and I am certainly in the 'don't get it' camp, much like five figure cutlery services ("oh wow this fork has a perfect balance & action..." )

Gaz, how large is your TV? is it HD? I hope you don't own anything larger than a 15" CRT, because surely thats all you need to see the TV pic, after all your getting the same basic image arent you?

[petrolnog]

Gazboy said:

petrolnog said:

Gaz, how large is your TV? is it HD? I hope you don't own anything larger than a 15" CRT, because surely thats all you need to see the TV pic, after all your getting the same basic image arent you?

It is a 24 inch CRT in the livingroom & I have a 15 inch CRT upstairs.

Why 24", two 15" would be just fine surely?

[tank slapper]

Gazboy said:

I've always struggled to see the connection between watches and cars. I can appreciate the research & development that goes into a £200,000 Ferrari, I can appreciate the feeling of taking a TVR Tamora by the scruff of its neck and going for a blast to north Wales for a pint of milk, I can appreciate the lavish style over substance interior of a Zonda S, even if it is a gimmick, but there is some mental block that prevents me from appreciating a £7000 watch over a watch worth £20. I just can't see the connection of a shitload of torque catapaulting you along the road, rushing your blood with adrenalin, the g-forces on your body with direction changes, hitting that corner as sweet as a nut, when the second turbo forces the pit of your stomach against your spine and when the brakes make your eyes pop out.

I don't hold any ill-feeling towards anyone who gets off on expensive watches, it's their money, they can do whatever the hell they like with it.

As someone says, you get them, or you don't, and I am certainly in the 'don't get it' camp, much like five figure cutlery services ("oh wow this fork has a perfect balance & action..." )

The reason I like watches (even though I don't know lots about them) is that they are mechanical works of art in many cases. The intricacy of design and skill that goes in to making them as much as their ability to tell you what the time is.

[petrolnog]

Gazboy said:

petrolnog said:

Gazboy said:

petrolnog said:

Gaz, how large is your TV? is it HD? I hope you don't own anything larger than a 15" CRT, because surely thats all you need to see the TV pic, after all your getting the same basic image arent you?

It is a 24 inch CRT in the livingroom & I have a 15 inch CRT upstairs.

Why 24", two 15" would be just fine surely?

It came with the flat we bought.

Sell it, its pointless

[BrianTheYank]

I mugged somebody and figured I might as well keep it. Great way to get a nice watch tbh.