A naive question maybe
A naive question maybe
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avinalarf

Original Poster:

6,438 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
A naive question perhaps.
I have worn a Seiko for the past 25 years that has performed perfectly.
Apart from the Kudos of wearing a more renowned brand what am I getting for the extra £X,000 's that would make a practical difference to my daily life ?
This is a genuine enquiry from someone that appreciates the beauty and design of watches.

CardShark

4,263 posts

210 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
A naive question perhaps.
I have worn a Seiko for the past 25 years that has performed perfectly.
Apart from the Kudos of wearing a more renowned brand what am I getting for the extra £X,000 's that would make a practical difference to my daily life ?
This is a genuine enquiry from someone that appreciates the beauty and design of watches.
Not naive at all smile

Firstly, I'd say that you are wearing a brand that has a high kudos factor already, certainly amongst WIS even if the man on the street thinks differently.
Secondly, if you're happy with your watch - and you've been wearing it for the last 25 years so I'm presuming here that you are - then unless you really fancy something different I wouldn't go out and buy another watch for the sake of it, in purely practical terms unless a new watch peforms a particular function that you require you'll gain nothing at all.

Nick M

3,632 posts

254 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all

I would only buy a watch I really liked, rather than one which maybe meant something to someone else if they saw me wearing it, if you see what I mean.

My shopping list is relatively short at the higher end, but I've currently got a bit of a list going of about 5 or 6 Seikos which I really rather like, and which I could buy for less than the cost of one more expensive watch.

Basically, I like a watch to put a smile on my face when I look down to tell the time, rather than trigger a reaction that I bought it because I thought it would be noticed by someone else.

I don't know that this answers your question as such, but the point is that an expensive watch which you regret buying (even a tiny bit) is likely to be one you don't enjoy wearing.

Beachbum

2,610 posts

262 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
If you like Seiko's, look at Grand Seiko's. Not well known outside the WIS, but highly thought of within.
After that, you can go down the obvious routes, Rolex, Omega, Tag, etc, or if you want something a little different, just say so and a few hundred people will then deluge you with a vast number of other options smile

MYOB

5,130 posts

169 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
With all due respect, if you feel the need to ask such a question, I would suggest you keep your current watch! After all, you have worn it for 25 years and in my opinion, the kudos of your current watch will far outweigh anything more "prestigious".

Debaser

8,636 posts

292 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
A naive question perhaps.
I have worn a Seiko for the past 25 years that has performed perfectly.
Apart from the Kudos of wearing a more renowned brand what am I getting for the extra £X,000 's that would make a practical difference to my daily life ?
This is a genuine enquiry from someone that appreciates the beauty and design of watches.
There isn't a practical difference to your life when you wear an expensive watch. A bit like most luxury items.

SVS

3,824 posts

302 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Nick M said:
Basically, I like a watch to put a smile on my face when I look down to tell the time, rather than trigger a reaction that I bought it ...
^ This is the best answer.

If you still like your Seiko, that's the one to keep!

avinalarf

Original Poster:

6,438 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
I tried to phrase my question carefully and you have given me reasonable replies,thank you.
Thing is,I had in mind to purchase a Cartier de Calibre but meanwhile recently purchased a new Seiko diver watch for £135 from Creation.
I am very pleased with it and take pleasure in wearing it,relegating my old Seiko for work only.
I have an Omega gold "dress watch" and a JLC that I inherited,both rarely worn.
So it got me thinking whether I would be purchasing the Cartier purely as a status statement,albeit I do like the aesthetic appeal.

NeinFondue

860 posts

187 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
So it got me thinking whether I would be purchasing the Cartier purely as a status statement,
If that is the intention, then it serves the purpose and is money well spent?

You're very welcome, and can buy me a beer biggrin

avinalarf

Original Poster:

6,438 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
NeinFondue said:
avinalarf said:
So it got me thinking whether I would be purchasing the Cartier purely as a status statement,
If that is the intention, then it serves the purpose and is money well spent?

You're very welcome, and can buy me a beer biggrin
Good point,well made.
You're very welcome to a beer.

yeti

10,700 posts

306 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
Debaser said:
There isn't a practical difference to your life when you wear an expensive watch. A bit like most luxury items.
Ka-boom.

In a nutshell. Buy one if you like it; there is no other reason.

avinalarf

Original Poster:

6,438 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
yeti said:
Debaser said:
There isn't a practical difference to your life when you wear an expensive watch. A bit like most luxury items.
Ka-boom.

In a nutshell. Buy one if you like it; there is no other reason.
I obviously accept that .
The point I was attempting to explore was whether those of you,with in depth knowledge of watches,made your choices to purchase expensive watches, because of the intricacies of their movement, or their heritage,for the kudos of wearing a certain brand,or indeed as I presuppose a combination of all three.
For example,I have read you praise the Tudor brand and compare it well with an Omega which costs considerably more.

toohuge

3,501 posts

247 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
yeti said:
Debaser said:
There isn't a practical difference to your life when you wear an expensive watch. A bit like most luxury items.
Ka-boom.

In a nutshell. Buy one if you like it; there is no other reason.
I obviously accept that .
The point I was attempting to explore was whether those of you,with in depth knowledge of watches,made your choices to purchase expensive watches, because of the intricacies of their movement, or their heritage,for the kudos of wearing a certain brand,or indeed as I presuppose a combination of all three.
For example,I have read you praise the Tudor brand and compare it well with an Omega which costs considerably more.
I wear a UN maxi marine as a daily and love it to bits, I bought it because I like the style and the finish of the watch - there is nothing like it out there, so my choices were limited.

The more time you put in to educate yourself on any subject, the easier it is to justify spending what would be considered a large amount on a single item. Think of cars, boats, art, pets etc. education gives context and allows for an easier justification.

Chris

michael gould

5,698 posts

272 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
A naive question perhaps.
I have worn a Seiko for the past 25 years that has performed perfectly.
Apart from the Kudos of wearing a more renowned brand what am I getting for the extra £X,000 's that would make a practical difference to my daily life ?
This is a genuine enquiry from someone that appreciates the beauty and design of watches.
You drive a £140,000 Aston Martin why don't you buy a VW Polo .......the Polo will probably be more reliable and does the same thing as the Aston


Edited by michael gould on Wednesday 2nd July 22:52

MYOB

5,130 posts

169 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
michael gould said:
.......the Polo will probably be more reliable and does the same thing as the Aston


Edited by michael gould on Wednesday 2nd July 22:52
Nah, the Polo will be poor at massaging egos...biggrin

Nobby Diesel

2,119 posts

282 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
A naive question perhaps.
I have worn a Seiko for the past 25 years that has performed perfectly.
Apart from the Kudos of wearing a more renowned brand what am I getting for the extra £X,000 's that would make a practical difference to my daily life ?
This is a genuine enquiry from someone that appreciates the beauty and design of watches.
Surely, it's the same as any luxury item?

It'll make zero difference to your daily life, but may give you a sense of satisfaction.
I would think most luxury watches are bought as "treats" by the owner, or as a gift by another.
If you like it, want it and can afford it, then what other reason do you need?

avinalarf

Original Poster:

6,438 posts

173 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
Nobby Diesel said:
Surely, it's the same as any luxury item?

It'll make zero difference to your daily life, but may give you a sense of satisfaction.
I would think most luxury watches are bought as "treats" by the owner, or as a gift by another.
If you like it, want it and can afford it, then what other reason do you need?
I understand all that Nobby.
What I was attempting,unsatisfactorily,to elicit was whether those on the forum,that had great knowledge of the mechanics and movements of watches,used that criteria,more than others,when choosing an expensive watch e.g. Say £5K plus
I,on the other hand, tend to go by the appearance,and by the heritage,and if it will enhance my chances of pulling a bird.
That is,as an additional penis extension to the Aston,( not that I need it ).

Edited by avinalarf on Friday 4th July 14:36

MYOB

5,130 posts

169 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
avinalarf said:
and if it will enhance my chances of pulling a bird.
I have spent £000s on watches and no, it hasn't enhanced my chances of pulling birds as you elegantly phrase it. Mind you, my wife is a fearful woman to reckon with.


avinalarf

Original Poster:

6,438 posts

173 months

Friday 4th July 2014
quotequote all
MYOB said:
avinalarf said:
and if it will enhance my chances of pulling a bird.
I have spent £000s on watches and no, it hasn't enhanced my chances of pulling birds as you elegantly phrase it. Mind you, my wife is a fearful woman to reckon with.
So is mine,but what the eye doesn't see........
Obviously all this is tongue in cheek,as I'm very lucky,my wife is a smashing gal,my days of philandering are (almost) over,but it doesn't hurt to look and make believe.
The day I stop doing that,I'll be six feet under.

traffman

2,263 posts

240 months

Saturday 5th July 2014
quotequote all
As someone once mentioned , you don't own a Ferrari to get you around the shops. You don't buy a quality watch to tell the time. It's the satisfaction owning something that has had many hours/weeks and months being machined , built , polished and tested .

If you have to ask why , then your still not convinced.