Balancing value across multiple watches

[minimalist]

Just wondering on different opinions regarding spreading value across a watch collection.

I've always promised myself a nice watch but something always pops up to distract me and demand money. For example, the joys of a 200 year old house.

I've decided that I put it off long enough and this year is the year.

I'm drawn to the Omega 'Side of the Moon' watches and the two I like are around £13k retail. The local dealer has indicated there is wiggle room on price but there is a niggling voice telling me I could have multiple nice watches for the price. Like a regular Speedy, a Tudor and a Grand Seiko. I also might feel better about not spending so much in one transaction and have some fear of buyers remorse.

So, did you start at a more affordable price-point and work up to something more special or did you buy the special one and fit others around it in more supporting roles? If the former, did you do it that way because at that point in your life, perhaps you couldn't afford to do it the other way or maybe you had similar reservations to me?

For reference, current watches are a vintage Oris dress watch, a G-Shock and the Swatch I had as a 90's teenager. I have a Fitbit but don't count it as a watch. The Oris looks nice but was bought cheaply on eBay one evening while slightly inebriated and waiting for my wife to get ready. It keeps time poorly and is probably not worth repairing.

Images of the Omegas I like....

Edited by minimalist on Friday 12th April 17:19

[minimalist]

Thanks for the different opinions

TWW said:

Great problem to have!

My instinct is: get the edition Speedmaster but know you will end up spending more on others.

This has occurred to me and is a concern, albeit a concern for later.

Guycord said:

....would I sensibly pay for it if it were twice the price?

You will still itch for watch you really wanted and wear only 1 of the 3 until you can go back and afford the original watch you wanted again.

I don't consider any high end watch a sensible purchases, unless perhaps you are getting appreciating models at retail price.

This is more of a heart thing, an indulgence that common sense or other priorities vetoed too many times. I can afford these but only because I have been sensible. This would be the most frivolous purchase of my life to date, apart from a set of expensive speakers bought last year.

Sometimes its OK to be frivolous but it isn't something that sits comfortably with me. My wife is egging me on telling me I deserve it. Bless her.

si800 said:

OP, the thing I'd take into account is how much you will enjoy wearing something that expensive compared to your other watches.

In the past I made the jump from a Rolex I paid £5k for to a Patek Aquanaut and an AP Royal Oak Chrono. I didn't truly enjoy wearing either as much as my scratched up GMT Master, or my £4k seamaster on rubber strap that I bash up in the swimming pool on holidays.

You may find going from a G Shock to a £13k Omega has a similar effect and it ends up sitting at home collecting dust.

Mine became safe queens, I moved them on and enjoy rotating a few still nice but nowhere near as expensive pieces - up to £10k is probably my sweet spot to enjoy a watch guilt free/without fear of scratching/getting robbed/etc.

Obviously everyone is different but the very fact you are asking the question suggests you may be better off working your way up the ladder kind of thing.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

How much would I enjoy wearing it ....? This is hard to know in advance.

I'm not flash and wouldn't derive satisfaction from being seen with it but I don't think the expense would make me think or treat it differently to something less expensive. I wouldn't wear it every day anyway, not because of the expense but because I often go without a watch for extended periods.

I suppose the point of the purchase is to see it is a mark of achieving some life goals and surviving some challenges. The last ten years have been tough and this would be a full stop behind that period.

I suppose the full stop doesn't have to be so expensive and I might get the same feeling from something else. Common sense is telling me to buy something in the ~£5k range and put the rest in the next-car-fund. I just keep getting pulled back to those Omegas on C24.

[minimalist]

Thanks for the different opinions and I feel a general consensus forming. Only one of my friends is into watches and his answer to everything is Rolex. My wife wears Rolex too but isn't as blinkered. It's good to get additional perspectives.

I thought I might be mad for considering the Omega as a first expensive watch as it is a bit spendy and I must admit I'm still hesitant. Our ten year anniversary is in autumn so I've a few months to mull the idea over further before committing to a choice. Of course I'll have to get her something nice too.

richard-cxcy4 said:

They wear very nice too. Even if mine is illegible.

Ah that looks like the 'Dark Dark'... Quite a statement wearing a watch so difficult to read. I assume typically worn by someone who has a few other options as well as good eyesight.

My dealer doesn't have either of the two above in stock but I tried on the 'Vintage' model (shown below) just after trying a regular Moonwatch and it felt better on my chunky wrist. It's a bit cheaper than the two above so I could still be tempted by it and not feel I'm compromising. In person the rose gold might be a bit much anyway.

Edited by minimalist on Friday 12th April 17:26

[minimalist]

Voodoo Blue said:

I bought a GSOTM 18 months ago as I wanted a watch with a meteorite dial and of the very few available at the time this was my favourite. It also helped that Watches of Switzerland had it on sale so got it for £9.5k as opposed £13k so I suspect a decent discount would be achievable if paying cash.

I really like the watch but not so much the strap so also bought a tan leather replacement which I think looks much better. If you buy one its a really nice watch to wear and as its ceramic its not heavy like a SS Rolex so feels really comfortable. Good luck and post pictures once you've made your decision.

Oh and here's a gratuitous picture of mine

That is lovely

Thanks for telling us how much you paid. Good to know how much room there is to manoeuvre.

[minimalist]

I just though I should add an update, two years later than expected.

This afternoon, I collected my Omega and am very pleased. The retail price increased quite a bit in the last two years and I was kicking myself for not going for it before.

Anyway, quite unexpectedly a used one popped up locally so I went to view it and here we are....



Have a good weekend folks

Edited by minimalist on Saturday 13th April 18:54