Different take on wearing a Rolex to work

[csaltphoto]

I know a lot of people seemed to be concerned about wearing an expensive watch to work (and really, a SS Rolex is not that expensive in the grand scheme of expensive watches. What it is a lot more money than most people spend on a watch and very recognizable as such.) But it is also a smart persons luxury watch. Hard wearing, great resale, yada. I wear my sub to work every day and don't even think about it. It's a watch.

I've been with my company a long time; 20 years. It's ostensibly a non-profit so the salaries are not that high but very good for the industry. I've done OK there.

I had a meeting with our VP of HR the other day (known her since I started there). She had some nice gold jewelry, BMW keychain in the dish on her desk, family photos indicating a nice life.... And wearing a Rolex DJ. We didn't comment on our watches but I got to thinking. We are both senior level staff. A Rolex might be expensive for our industry but really, if you do things like bring your lunch to work and skip Starbucks, say $15/day, that's a SS Rolex every 2-3 years. If you buy your BMW gently used instead of new you could throw in a PM Rolex that will certainly outlast the car. Then there is cable TV services and all sorts of things people think they can't live without.

I see a Rolex or other hallmarks of a nice life with a person of average means and I think, "There is a person who knows what they want and can budget for it." They don't make frivolous decisions. Buying a Rolex is generally a well thought out process and often has to be planned and budgeted for.

Thoughts? (and yeah, long post... )

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

I see a Rolex or other hallmarks of a nice life with a person of average means and I think, "There is a person who knows what they want and can budget for it." They don't make frivolous decisions. Buying a Rolex is generally a well thought out process and often has to be planned and budgeted for.

um... lol

I don't think most WIS would let something like a "budget" get in the way of the Rolex they want

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

um... lol

I don't think most WIS would let something like a "budget" get in the way of the Rolex they want

I did say generally... I don't think most Rolex owners are WIS types actually. TRF is it's own planet.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

um... lol

I don't think most WIS would let something like a "budget" get in the way of the Rolex they want

You don’t say? I never knew WIS was synonymous with “unlimited wealth” to the point of dismissing budgets.


AOW

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

You don’t say? I never knew WIS was synonymous with “unlimited wealth” to the point of dismissing budgets.


AOW

You misunderstood my post, and that's probably my fault more than it is yours.

It's not at all about unlimited wealth. Quite the opposite, actually: most "wealthy" individuals keep strict budgets. I'm merely saying that enthusiasts would go ahead and splurge on the watches they like, irrespective of whether or not it makes fiscal sense to do so.

I'm not demeaning the concept of a budget. Many of us (yours truly included) would benefit to organize finances a little better.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

You misunderstood my post, and that's probably my fault more than it is yours.



It's not at all about unlimited wealth. Quite the opposite, actually: most "wealthy" individuals keep strict budgets. I'm merely saying that enthusiasts would go ahead and splurge on the watches they like, irrespective of whether or not it makes fiscal sense to do so.



I'm not demeaning the concept of a budget. Many of us (yours truly included) would benefit to organize finances a little better.

Lol, no we misunderstand each other. I was actually clarifying whether the acronym WIS was really synonymous with wealth. It’s not actually a term I use regularly and prefer enthusiast.

Back to OP. I think it depends on the culture you grew up in with regards to watches. For example, a person who grew up watching mom and dad strap on a Rolex every day for any occasion be it business or pleasure will certainly not be as self conscious as someone who did not.


AOW

[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

um... lol

I don't think most WIS would let something like a "budget" get in the way of the Rolex they want

I’d sell my house for a YG DD40.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Dsmith1974

I’d sell my house for a YG DD40.

Hahaha

[schoolboy]

I agree.

I personally could afford mine because I skip out and lots of things that other people can’t live without.

[Brich436]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

I agree.

I personally could afford mine because I skip out and lots of things that other people can’t live without.

Ditto. The reason I can afford something like this is because I have been diligent with the small things.

[dtwer]

Good post, OP.

To subject our lives to what others might or might not think of us is akin to making ourselves a slave to others.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Brich436

Ditto. The reason I can afford something like this is because I have been diligent with the small things.

[imperio]

So what has this got anything to do about Rolexes in the workplace?

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by imperio

So what has this got anything to do about Rolexes in the workplace?

I don't know, but seeing Robert Redford's Red Submariner in All the President's Men sold me on the idea of wearing a Rolex to your work without offending anyone.

[ikincooper]

Broadly agree with the OP and would say that your observations fit me well. I wear my SD4K daily, drive a used BMW Z4, take my lunch to work (most days) and manage our finances tightly. I’m not as senior in my job role as I could be and get the odd comment on my watch but ultimately it comes down to my priorities in life-I like nice things but they need to be financially sensible too




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[Madman37]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

I know a lot of people seemed to be concerned about wearing an expensive watch to work (and really, a SS Rolex is not that expensive in the grand scheme of expensive watches. What it is a lot more money than most people spend on a watch and very recognizable as such.) But it is also a smart persons luxury watch. Hard wearing, great resale, yada. I wear my sub to work every day and don't even think about it. It's a watch.

I've been with my company a long time; 20 years. It's ostensibly a non-profit so the salaries are not that high but very good for the industry. I've done OK there.

I had a meeting with our VP of HR the other day (known her since I started there). She had some nice gold jewelry, BMW keychain in the dish on her desk, family photos indicating a nice life.... And wearing a Rolex DJ. We didn't comment on our watches but I got to thinking. We are both senior level staff. A Rolex might be expensive for our industry but really, if you do things like bring your lunch to work and skip Starbucks, say $15/day, that's a SS Rolex every 2-3 years. If you buy your BMW gently used instead of new you could throw in a PM Rolex that will certainly outlast the car. Then there is cable TV services and all sorts of things people think they can't live without.

I see a Rolex or other hallmarks of a nice life with a person of average means and I think, "There is a person who knows what they want and can budget for it." They don't make frivolous decisions. Buying a Rolex is generally a well thought out process and often has to be planned and budgeted for.

Thoughts? (and yeah, long post... )

This is such a good post I do this at work eg bring lunch to work, don’t drink alcohol, bring my own coffee in etc. I budget for things that matter to me eg the watch hopefully, property etc. People do comment but they forget how they spend at work coffee, lunch, tea etc

[JePro]

Originally Posted by Madman37

This is such a good post I do this at work eg bring lunch to work, don’t drink alcohol, bring my own coffee in etc. I budget for things that matter to me eg the watch hopefully, property etc. People do comment but they forget how they spend at work coffee, lunch, tea etc

Yes, highly agree!

[jimcameron]

This phenomenon is a recent one. Many, many of my associates paid about $300 for a Sub or a GMT brand new, 40 yrs ago. I've worn mine for about 35 years and no one ever said a word about it until the last couple of years. It was no big deal, people weren't as price conscious about Rolex as they are now. It is the hype that has made Rolex the icon.

[depmur]

I agree with the OP, it comes down to priorities and how we achieve them. Most people could afford so much more if they budgeted a little more. I recently traded my first Rolex, Explorer, for a ND Sub. I had worn the Explorer daily for 2 years and trade value was $500.00 more than I paid for it. The Sub has always been my grail watch and I was finally at a position I felt I could swing it.


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[airchitect]

Where I live people spend boatloads on loaded SUVs, side-by-sides, hunting and fishing gear, 5,000ft McMansions for a fam of 4, and random “hunting land” in the middle of nowhere that won’t appreciate for 30more years, but will scoff at the thought of 10k for a Rolex.....while everything else they own depreciates to nothing all around them.

[Dsmith1974]

Originally Posted by airchitect

Where I live people spend boatloads on loaded SUVs, side-by-sides, hunting and fishing gear, 5,000ft McMansions for a fam of 4, and random “hunting land” in the middle of nowhere that won’t appreciate for 30more years, but will scoff at the thought of 10k for a Rolex.....while everything else they own depreciates to nothing all around them.

This is a valid point. I’ve seen plenty of raised eyebrows and snarky/loaded comments about the wisdom of spending more than x on a watch that does the same job as y. All this from people happy to buy new Range Rover from a showroom or spend 40+K on a kitchen extension and an Aga grilll.

Seems certain purchases are above scrutiny whilst others are sometimes frowned upon. Doesn’t bother me. What you choose to do with your money is up to you.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Dsmith1974

This is a valid point. I’ve seen plenty of raised eyebrows and snarky/loaded comments about the wisdom of spending more than x on a watch that does the same job as y. All this from people happy to buy new Range Rover from a showroom or spend 40+K on a kitchen extension and an Aga grilll.



Seems certain purchases are above scrutiny whilst others are sometimes frowned upon. Doesn’t bother me. What you choose to do with your money is up to you.

Agree!

[Juicemt]

Originally Posted by airchitect

Where I live people spend boatloads on loaded SUVs, side-by-sides, hunting and fishing gear, 5,000ft McMansions for a fam of 4, and random “hunting land” in the middle of nowhere that won’t appreciate for 30more years, but will scoff at the thought of 10k for a Rolex.....while everything else they own depreciates to nothing all around them.

All true. Frankly, when we get into any topic to the point we're browsing forums on it routinely, we care more than the average person. For nearly every material thing that exists, there's an option to multiple the price a few times to get higher quality, perceived value, etc. It's the same for everything (cars, guns, knives, etc.). And for each of us, we probably have a few topics we care enough about (vanity, whatever) to pay more for. I'll pay a lot for a hand made 1911 (it's a gun) or a Rolex, but I wouldn't pay a similar amount for another product that doesn't sing to me (kitchen knives, a coffee grinder, etc.). In those other products, I'll buy average quality and low price.

[goldfixer21]

If you wore a $1 million Patek to work no one would notice. It's simply brand recognition with Rolex. Marketing genius.

[denmanproject]

Some people balk at expensive watches but don't think twice about their $1000 phone or daily $20 avocado toast lol

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by denmanproject

Some people balk at expensive watches but don't think twice about their $1000 phone or daily $20 avocado toast lol

And I could not agree more. Heck, I still own a Blackberry from 2012. It continues to work fine, and gets better reception than current iPhones do!

[erne75]

Originally Posted by denmanproject

Some people balk at expensive watches but don't think twice about their $1000 phone or daily $20 avocado toast lol

This. That's usually my retort to co-workers that cant understand how I must be "rich" because I spend thousands on watches. In the meantime their China made "luxury" electronics have built in obsolescence of a couple of years. That means that after a couple of years they have nothing to show for their money.

[TswaneNguni]

One colleague remarked last week ..."That watch you wear costs a lot ".

My answer:
"Its not what it costs,its what its worth ."

The light bulb went on .....

[kuuttingg]

Originally Posted by denmanproject

Some people balk at expensive watches but don't think twice about their $1000 phone or daily $20 avocado toast lol

I agree. Since I started this journey of owning mechanical watches, I learned to remove Starbucks from my daily routine. I also bring lunch to work. That avocado toast reference was so on point. For unknown reason, I don’t feel deprived without my Starbucks coffee. But I am happy of the savings I earned that will go towards purchasing another timepiece that will most likely outlive me.☕️

[iliketime]

its all relative