re: Is it trashy not to GAF about expensive watches?

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My father gifted me his watch a couple months ago. The last watch I wore was a Casio watch that doubled as a calculator (prob did other stuff too - alarms, etc). That was in 1991.

It's a 1984 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust #16013, Champagne Diamond Dial. It's probably worth more than my car. I generally don't burn money on luxuries, and so I'm not really used to wearing what some would perceive as a status symbol. Despite what others may assume about me, I wear the watch.

It reminds me of him daily, as it was affixed to his arm every since I was 3. He has always been a punctual man, which I generally am not. This watch reminds me of my father and the values that he tried to instill in me. It also reminds me not to put the pressures of time above the love that God expects me to show the world.

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It is the same...movement

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No, it's not.

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I don’t understand watches at all anymore. Totally antiquated thing unless you’re a diver.

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When I dive I wear a watch but it is a backup to a backup. I see very few on dive boats anymore and most of them are old Seiko dive watches.

If we are just talking about watches and not simply mechanical watches which are an anachronism a watch has a lot of utility a phone doesn't have. Try checking the time on your phone when you have both hands full, dirty or you are trying to note the time without anyone around you noticing. Even wearable tech will draw attention to itself when you shift it so the display comes on.

I am very time cognizant and check a watch almost subconsciously multiple times an hour. I could function without a watch but I see no reason not to. People that have switched to not wearing watches have no issues and I could be one of those if I chose I just like wearing a watch but certainly understand those that don't. I lot of my time awareness may be that I make my money 6 minutes at a time.

I bought a birth year Rolex Submariner 16800. I love wearing it and it’s an awesome piece of engineering. I’m currently trying to find a birth year sub for my son to give to him when he graduates from college.

I mean I don't have a very expensive watch, just an apple watch which is more for just telling time. However I do see the value in having something like that for the craftsmanship that goes into it, looks more appropriate than a smartwatch say for black tie events or something, and it's an heirloom. Taken care of a good watch will last forever.

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It's not trashy, it's called being smart and not spending 1000's on a depreciating asset.

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I would never suggest watches as an investment strategy but like other alternate investment vehicles like wine it can produce good returns though without dividend payments the gains are relegated to post-sale.

I have done extremely well though not without a significant amount of luck. It turned out that relatively inexpensive watches I loved in my 20's turned out to be some of the hottest watches in the market starting in the 2000s and continuing until today.

Outside of luck, it takes a lot of knowledge and patience but there is also a remarkable amount of liquidity in the market.

Years ago I did a series of posts over several years on a watch forum to determine the cost to own of two watches. One a simple $200 quartz "mall watch" and a Rolex 5513 which could be bought fairly inexpensively at the time. I included all the costs to own including the time cost of money using the DJIA as the cost of money. The quartz watch cost money to own, the 5513 actually made a substantial ROI beating the DJIA. Now I will admit I chose the 5513 because I "knew" it was a smart buy at the time. I haven't updated that series in years but the 5513 has continued to appreciate at an even faster rate.

Apple Watch just does more for less money.

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Apple Watch just does more for less money.

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Over 30 years the average Apple Watch wearer will almost certainly spend on ownership than a 1 watch owner that owns say a Rolex Submariner. One is designed to be used for multiple generations and the other is built with designed obsolescence in mind. There is no question the Apple Watch has more functionality which is an easy target to meet for any wearable tech.

I have a $75 Seiko that looks like a Rolex date just and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if it’s a Rolex.

I bought myself a Rolex with my Christmas bonus a few years ago. I wear it everyday.

My grandfather had one that he bought in Paris at the end of WWII and I always thought it was cool and always wanted one.

I bought it for ME. I didn't buy it as an investment. I didn't buy it to show it off. I bought it because I wanted it.

If someone notices and asks me about it I will talk about it, but I don't try to show it off.

No other purchase has given me a bigger sense of accomplishmemt.

I suppose it is because I always wanted one and it is a pure luxury item that I was finally able to buy without any buyers remorse or wondering if I could afford it.



I just like watches. There are a ton of really nice looking watches out there in pretty much every price range. If I see a nice looking watch I will complement someone regardless of how much it cost.