Why It's Important To SAVE For Your Watch? (Entry-Level to Haute Horology)

roadwarrior

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Aug 4, 2020

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IDGuy

A brief discussion around saving for your next watch, looking at it not only from a monetary standpoint, but looking at the nature in how we make purchases nowadays. By discipling yourself to wait and take time when deciding on your purchase, you can truly learn whether or not the watch still appeals to you.

All Images are Sourced from either Press Release Photos or Public Listings.
Below are a list of the common sources that are used in no particular order:

Bob’s Watches | Revolution Watch | HQ Milton | Hodinkee | Monochrome Watches | Jomashop | Analog Shift | Bulang and Sons | Robb Report | Watchfinder | WatchBox | Phillips Watches | Christies | Timekeepers Club | Fratello Watches | Bexsonn | Worn and Wound | A Collected Man | Oracle Time | Time + Tide Watches


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$40,000 Bruce Williams Watch Collection - Timegrapher SOTC

Aug 4, 2020

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Bruce Williams

Its time to do a proper state of the watch collection! In this video I'll take you through all 12 of my watches, why I like them, how good they are running, and how much they are valued at. I also touch on the diversity or lack thereof of my rotation, and my future plans. I hope you enjoy!

 
Deciding to save up for a echelon piece is what I am attempting to do here.
I don't have an amount but a range. Lets here from WIT's who have done this.

I have my sights on some brands: Omega; Fortis; Tudor and maybe Sinn. I don't to
have too many choices here for good reason. Your thoughts are important so bring
em on as they say.
 
haven't tried that yet...wailing on a trigger has it's rewards...especially for low & mid pieces...

saving for a grail ? well that would be smart...but I have enjoyed the hobby and we get too soon old and too late smart
 
I'm working on that now, but trying to stay focused on a future maybe is not as fun as grabbing something I like, now, now, now, haha. Always a balance between present pleasure and possible future gain. As for planning, while my buys may seem frenetic, it actually is all planned and budgeted, beforehand.

If I got hit by a bus tomorrow, I'd be happier at such an end with having enjoyed all of what I have, rather than planning for that which I never bought.

Part of quality of life is celebrating the journey and much debate has been had over the generations about the value of living in the moment, versus the value of delayed gratification. Good arguments both ways.

Part of my affordables journey has been getting to where I even can appreciate and understand what a bigger buy would mean, to make it worth it. I struggled for a long time even justifying ever buying anything over a few hundred dollars for a WATCH -- a device that simply tells time, that a buy for thirty bucks or less would accomplish.

I still have an aversion to considering some price points, especially knowing what can be had for a grand or less and my Breitling buy (my most expensive, to date), really, is still primarily worth it to me because it's a Breitling, not because it's so much more fantastic, as a time piece, and I suppose that gives me pause. What if I drop five grand on an Omega and it's just an "okay" watch, but doesn't feel like five grand worth of time keeping happiness??

Don't get me wrong, my "real wings" buy is a beauty, but at day's end it's a 200m diver with great lume and excellent accuracy on the wrist, beautifully built, and I can say that about a lot of watches I own that cost so much less.

As I've often shared, I feel my Oris is my most "impressive" buy for what it is, for what I paid. The humble SW200 inside is MORE accurate than my COSC Breitling, the build is impeccable, and the styling and design is right on target for me. Beautiful dial, the practicality of both day and date -- it's a big win across the board and the higher price feels very justified by the high quality.

So, it will be interesting if I can pull the trigger on a graily grail buy, and see if it convinces me that saving up for something grand is worth it. I think it's helped that I've gotten so much buying "out of my system" haha, as it feels easier, at this point, with 200 plus buys behind me, and the shelves well stocked, to aim for something big, even if it takes a long time to get there because, in the meantime, I'm thoroughly happy with the options available to me each day.

For me, it seems to have worked to work up, in affordables, toward some "some day" grail ideas.

All others mileage may vary.

Good topic.
 
There is a bit of a risk as mentioned because you may pull the trigger but could
be disappointed. If the Omega does not live up the 5 thousand dollars price tag.
I'm sure I will have to see the piece in person, try it on to get an impression. Not sure
how this would work with Watch Box or other premium watch sellers. This may not work,
so I'm then looking at New Stock!
Better get dough first then see how chips fall. Tanks for all your thoughts and really I'm
pretty happy with my current buying situations, but I'm left wondering with this grail
situation.
 
haven't tried that yet...wailing on a trigger has it's rewards...especially for low & mid pieces...

saving for a grail ? well that would be smart...but I have enjoyed the hobby and we get too soon old and too late smart


hey I understood GREGG...2MANYWATCHES opus will circle back he #1 wit gangster...

you know what with all due respect ...for now...pass on multi-$$$$$.00 grail desire cultivation...

I been in & out re-hab NBZ my wagon greased silicon... gave a couple half dozen away today... lighten my load

I stepped up to ZELOS that was a major step for me... that' all...ten + years still postin'
 
There is a bit of a risk as mentioned because you may pull the trigger but could
be disappointed. If the Omega does not live up the 5 thousand dollars price tag.
I'm sure I will have to see the piece in person, try it on to get an impression. Not sure
how this would work with Watch Box or other premium watch sellers. This may not work,
so I'm then looking at New Stock!
Better get dough first then see how chips fall. Tanks for all your thoughts and really I'm
pretty happy with my current buying situations, but I'm left wondering with this grail
situation.

well said...and the wit has skills... " on display on display "
 
I'm working on that now, but trying to stay focused on a future maybe is not as fun as grabbing something I like, now, now, now, haha. Always a balance between present pleasure and possible future gain. As for planning, while my buys may seem frenetic, it actually is all planned and budgeted, beforehand.

If I got hit by a bus tomorrow, I'd be happier at such an end with having enjoyed all of what I have, rather than planning for that which I never bought.

Part of quality of life is celebrating the journey and much debate has been had over the generations about the value of living in the moment, versus the value of delayed gratification. Good arguments both ways.

Part of my affordables journey has been getting to where I even can appreciate and understand what a bigger buy would mean, to make it worth it. I struggled for a long time even justifying ever buying anything over a few hundred dollars for a WATCH -- a device that simply tells time, that a buy for thirty bucks or less would accomplish.

I still have an aversion to considering some price points, especially knowing what can be had for a grand or less and my Breitling buy (my most expensive, to date), really, is still primarily worth it to me because it's a Breitling, not because it's so much more fantastic, as a time piece, and I suppose that gives me pause. What if I drop five grand on an Omega and it's just an "okay" watch, but doesn't feel like five grand worth of time keeping happiness??

Don't get me wrong, my "real wings" buy is a beauty, but at day's end it's a 200m diver with great lume and excellent accuracy on the wrist, beautifully built, and I can say that about a lot of watches I own that cost so much less.

As I've often shared, I feel my Oris is my most "impressive" buy for what it is, for what I paid. The humble SW200 inside is MORE accurate than my COSC Breitling, the build is impeccable, and the styling and design is right on target for me. Beautiful dial, the practicality of both day and date -- it's a big win across the board and the higher price feels very justified by the high quality.

So, it will be interesting if I can pull the trigger on a graily grail buy, and see if it convinces me that saving up for something grand is worth it. I think it's helped that I've gotten so much buying "out of my system" haha, as it feels easier, at this point, with 200 plus buys behind me, and the shelves well stocked, to aim for something big, even if it takes a long time to get there because, in the meantime, I'm thoroughly happy with the options available to me each day.

For me, it seems to have worked to work up, in affordables, toward some "some day" grail ideas.

All others mileage may vary.

Good topic.


hey not sure I understood todo horo soliloquy...but something like ...if i get hit by a bus I leave my loved ones my beloved 200 box collection...

but seriously... maybe and feel free to disregard unsolicited advice worth less than price paid...

sell the 2 grails...

play with the 198

study grails


wait 10 years buy 1 or 2


give away part of the 198 until there are less...maybe give to charity auction worthy cause ?

hey enjoy 2Manywatches... you have gr8 skills could easily go on youtube or be successful in any endeavor...and thank you for your body of work for the forum...a thing of pride for all wits...and a major jones " on display, on display "
 
Some good insights and musing's for sure. If I were stuck here on Left Coast and
wanted to see a Grail Piece on East Coast then could employ an Escrow Account to
view the piece then make an informed decision. Each entity would have to be willing to do this, especially if spending serious coin. I would agree to splitting the the Escrow fee to be sure.
 
hey not sure I understood todo horo soliloquy...but something like ...if i get hit by a bus I leave my loved ones my beloved 200 box collection...

but seriously... maybe and feel free to disregard unsolicited advice worth less than price paid...

sell the 2 grails...

play with the 198

study grails


wait 10 years buy 1 or 2


give away part of the 198 until there are less...maybe give to charity auction worthy cause ?

hey enjoy 2Manywatches... you have gr8 skills could easily go on youtube or be successful in any endeavor...and thank you for your body of work for the forum...a thing of pride for all wits...and a major jones " on display, on display "
Too kind, Sir Scotty, and thank you for your encouragement. Your thoughts are always a pleasure.

And, yes, that's about the gist of it -- if the bus to lights out arrived, I'd be glad for what I DO have, and have enjoyed, versus saving, saving, saving, but always some day down the road that never seems to come.

Idk, for me I guess, a more expensive watch is just not where I've been, and not where I am, as it almost seems a financial (and "moral" or, better to say, "principled") threshold is needed to "justify" a buy like that, in my mind. My affordables have never strained the budget, lol, which is part of why it's been so joyful. I can buy them, I can even be not thrilled with them and learn from the purchase, but it's never been a regret.

I've been blessed that what's affordable now is more than it used to be, for price point, and it has opened up a range of outstanding watches to me, but part of that is realizing the watches that ARE available, for NOT five grand (and up) pricing.

If I get to the point where five to seven grand is disposable income, then, yes, I can certainly see how any watch fan could rack up pricey watches at the rate of Invictas, haha, but, with other life goals, I just don't see it for me. One or a few trigger pulls at that level, and I'd be more than content to say I'd visited the high realm of watchery and came away with some trophies.

The Oris, well, as I say, that was a pricier buy, but, it retails far above the gray market price I paid and felt very much worth it, and still does, every time I even look at it, let alone wear it. Would a Seamaster impress me as much?? I don't know, I really don't, but I know it would cost me four times as much. Not sure I'd be four times as happy, haha.

But a Sinn, now that feels worthy of saving and holding the trigger finger in check until being able to grab one. At the cost of a handful of affordables, it seems it would outshine the lot, but, again, it seems a brand that doesn't add a lot to the price tag. It does something special for the cost that is asked, and seems "justified" in my little brain.

The Breitling was a very deliberate and researched step into "entry" level luxury, the Colt being widely considered one of the most affordable gateway buys into the "high brand" world, for me to see what that's all about. It was for a special occasion, a self-reward for hard work done, and I had the money to get it, so, no real worries attached to it. And, at about $3600, it's not like I could have bought a whole lot, relatively, and I had no other pressing needs at the time. It strains the limits of justification, however, for me.

My Zelos, for example, seems like far more watch than I paid, which is the end I'd rather be at, and it's my usual approach to any buy, to ask what's the best whatever at the best price. Likely a consequence of being born with a plastic spoon in my mouth!

And, not that the Breitling provided less than its sticker price, because, after all, it IS a Breitling, but that's really all that's expensively amazing about it, to be honest. I mean, lume, yes, build, sure, beauty, absolutely, but those aren't tricks that can only be performed above $3000. So, prestige has its price. Even an in-house movement, if one goes up scale from the Colt, while braggable, isn't necessarily justified in comparative performance, yes??

Reminds me of a seven grand Seiko I saw, that basically had some moss coloring on the dial, haha. A version of a GS movement, but such iterations exist for a lot less and, at day's end, a power reserve only two hours greater than my 3rd Gen Sumo (and eight hours less than my Tissot), so it comes back to asking if it is worth it. Don't get me wrong, it's stunning, and I'd love to have one, but wow it seems like they are asking just way too much. Maybe for a life milestone? Oh, how we seek to justify....

I struggle with higher end watch pricing. I get it, the world it is in, and why it is priced as such, but when so much less money provides such a great watch, it continues to elude me, the point, personally, of dropping five or seven grand, even if I did have it as "disposable" income. That's a lot of disposing, and I could buy someone a car, who needed it, or do any range of deeds that would bring more happiness to me than a wrist bauble that comes with a nagging sense of unjustified indulgence.

The question of, "is it worth it" is certainly subjective and relative, for every watch buyer. But, affordables have always been easily worth it. Higher buys, I still debate. Plus, the worry of loss, theft, damage, and add in servicing costs, etc., and it's almost its own snack bracket of living and, should I be in that bracket, I don't even know if it's worth it, at that point. Just so many damn good watches for less money, haha, that don't bring a sense of wondering what else I could have done with the dough, or feeling that most of what I paid was for a brand.

So, maybe as a "crowning" piece to add, I don't know....is the graily grail worth it....I don't know.
 
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