Grail watch dilemma

[TheSearcher]

Hi folks,

With the recent down turn in prices it has given me an opportunity to buy my grail piece. A day date ( DD 40 in rose gold chocolate dial)

I’ve seen a DD 40 rose gold for early £32kish, with a trade in of a couple of watches that I’m willing to trade I can get my cash price down to £15kish which I’m financially comfortable with.

This is where my dilemma comes in - owning a watch worth £30k+ makes me feel guilty about owning such an expensive “flashy” item. Mixed in with living in the UK and having the wrong people take notice.

This watch would have been way out of my price range not so long ago so now feels like an opportunity to strike, my heart says yes, my head says ok but my stomach is telling me no.

Something that could bring me so much joy could also bring me so much unwanted attention kind of dilemma.

Has anybody had a similar dilemma? What did you do?

[Subshark1861]

Make sure it's insured, don't walk round dodgy areas at night and enjoy your watch.

If someone wants it, let them take it.

[Bulldozer]

Will you be 100% okay with losing the watch if the unthinkable were to ever happen? If so, get the watch and enjoy it for life. If not, spread the risk among several watches you like, and enjoy them all. You can get this watch at a later time when you would be in a position where a complete and sudden loss wouldn't change your life much.

[Tim Plains]

The guilt part is up to you.
Wear long sleeves with it and the bad guys will ever know what you have.

[SpecialK888]

Just being aware of how valuable your watch is and the fact that it will attract attention puts you in a fairly safe position in my opinion.

The bigger question for me is given the market downturn could you not get this from an AD for a couple of grand more? Yes you'll have to play some games and wait a bit but given they now trade below list there must be a good chance of getting it. Plus that way you'll have £35k of AD spend history that may come in handy further down the track.

Good luck either way.

[Kevzep]

Originally Posted by TheSearcher

Hi folks,

With the recent down turn in prices it has given me an opportunity to buy my grail piece. A day date ( DD 40 in rose gold chocolate dial)

I’ve seen a DD 40 rose gold for early £32kish, with a trade in of a couple of watches that I’m willing to trade I can get my cash price down to £15kish which I’m financially comfortable with.

This is where my dilemma comes in - owning a watch worth £30k+ makes me feel guilty about owning such an expensive “flashy” item. Mixed in with living in the UK and having the wrong people take notice.

This watch would have been way out of my price range not so long ago so now feels like an opportunity to strike, my heart says yes, my head says ok but my stomach is telling me no.

Something that could bring me so much joy could also bring me so much unwanted attention kind of dilemma.

Has anybody had a similar dilemma? What did you do?

I wear high end watches all the time, I find people barely notice, I've never had anyone say "oh you're wearing a Rolex"....
Maybe its different for other people, but I'm not sure whether people really care...

But of course there are places I wouldn't wear a Rolex, not sure its a place I'd want to be or go to.....

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by TheSearcher

This is where my dilemma comes in - owning a watch worth £30k+ makes me feel guilty about owning such an expensive “flashy” item.

At the end of the day I would please myself because it's my life, my money and my watch, but at this price point my cogitations tend to lean the same way as yours. Plus there's insuring it. As for it being flashy, it's as flashy, visible and eye catching as you want it to be, or not. It's all relative, a Z Blue will outflash almost anything.

Bottom line, your watch, your choice. Life is not a rehearsal and should be enjoyed while you still can.

[drew0020]

If the money works, do it. Most people have no idea what’s on your wrist and won’t know if it’s cheap or expensive. Personally I think a DD looks terrible, but you have to do what’s right for you! Good luck

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by TheSearcher

Hi folks,

With the recent down turn in prices it has given me an opportunity to buy my grail piece. A day date ( DD 40 in rose gold chocolate dial)

I’ve seen a DD 40 rose gold for early £32kish, with a trade in of a couple of watches that I’m willing to trade I can get my cash price down to £15kish which I’m financially comfortable with.

This is where my dilemma comes in - owning a watch worth £30k+ makes me feel guilty about owning such an expensive “flashy” item. Mixed in with living in the UK and having the wrong people take notice.

This watch would have been way out of my price range not so long ago so now feels like an opportunity to strike, my heart says yes, my head says ok but my stomach is telling me no.

Something that could bring me so much joy could also bring me so much unwanted attention kind of dilemma.

Has anybody had a similar dilemma? What did you do?

Don't buy it then. Get something more modest with no doubts, guilt, self-conciousness or other negative feelings attached. A new watch should make you feel 100% great. However much or little it costs.

[WatchTimes]

Do it
Bought my DD40 a few weeks ago and don't regret it for one second!

[Calatrava r]

If owning this watch will make you feel guilty, you should pass on it. As Adam said, get something that you feel great wearing it.

[Kreyzhorse]

I understand the guilt feeling. It's just a watch. However, you only live once and if you can afford it, and really want it. Treat yourself. You can always sell it and recover most of your purchase price.

Consider the difference as cost of ownership. I have a couple of watches that I paid $20K for. I too felt guilt, but I can afford it and I cherish both.

[Chiboy]

It's hard for us to know whether you will get over the guilt/flashy feelings once you own this. But would you consider a WG DD? While I wear a platinum Daytona every day and don't worry about it, a RG or YG Rolex may be more "noticeable" than a white metal watch. Of course, RG/chocolate brown is not a combo you can find similar looking with a white metal, so that could be an issue.

Good luck. While I have read (on TRF only) about watch thefts in the U.K., I have a hard time believing it's more of an issue than in most places in the U.S.

[the dark knight]

I've had the same dilemma and I decided not to purchase some grail level watches. It's a Catch-22. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing such pricey watches around for various reasons (even more so now), but I'd also feel stupid spending that much money on a wristwatch and just keeping it in a safe.

Ultimately I decided to spend money on other stuff (or just invest it) and/or just spread it around a number of watches I like that are at more comfortable price point for me to wear out and about. But that's just what I decided, YMMV.

[Porschen]

Life is short - get the watch, insure it, and wear it!

[huncho]

tough question, normally i'd say just get it, wear it and enjoy it but at the same time i just straight up don't feel comfortable wearing my YG day date anymore. i'll wear it when i have a hoodie or sweater on to cover it but i just can't see myself wearing it with short sleeves on a regular basis. this is a complete 180 from a few years ago when i gave 0 f's and would wear it on any given day if i felt like it

i still say go for it and just be careful with how you wear it. you're in the uk so you can cover up for most of the year anyway

[powertsp]

Did something happen that changed your wearing habits?

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Don't buy it then. Get something more modest with no doubts, guilt, self-conciousness or other negative feelings attached. A new watch should make you feel 100% great. However much or little it costs.

This!

[hanw]

Generally, be cautious of your environment.

[Old Geezer]

I can relate to the mental hurdle and emotions associated with investing so much money into a single timepiece.
I guess one way to look at the situation is you can have £32k tied up in one grail piece or spread across multiple pieces. It's still £32k.
If you can't reconcile your emotions and see yourself enjoying the DD without baggage, don't do it. By the way, the RG DD with chocolate dial is a beauty

[JC316]

We do not worry about such things. Just buy it and wear it. Life is too short. Share some pics!

[Chewbacca]

You can still own it and just admire it at home. Many people do that with grail or whatever purchases.

Have a Seiko or MoonSwatch as an outside watch.

[JSCP]

Originally Posted by subshark1861

make sure it's insured, don't walk round dodgy areas at night and enjoy your watch.

If someone wants it, let them take it.

+ 1

[JSCP]

DD are the bet, gold models incredible visually and physically. Love my pm’s.

[sski]

i'd get a 2-tone Datejust and call it a day; its also arguably the 'quintessential' Rolex with a rich and storied history, also predating pretty much all modern references.

(would also cost less than 1/2 of the gold DD40)

[daOnlyBG]

Having worn my 126710BLRO on both the subways in Chicago and in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I've found that how you wear a watch is far more important than where you wear it.

Truth is, anyone can rob you anywhere. But if you tuck the watch under your sleeve in crowded areas, keep your distance, and/or present yourself confidently and aware of your surroundings, no one will bother.

Conversely, if you appear aloof, unorganized, nervous, and/or lost, you paint yourself as a target- Rolex or no Rolex.

[alphadweller]

For me, it's mainly the safety concern, attracting the wrong kind of attention. That's all I'd worry about. You read in the news about people being robbed with violence in broad dailight, even when willing to cooperate. The watch insurance won't help you with injuries and psychological trauma. Is it worth it? Only you can decide. If going ahead with the purchase, I'd only wear it at the office or private parties with friends, not in public.

Another thing to bear in mind is the cost of insurance. Where I live, it's 3% a year, so €100 a month on a €40k piece for as long as you own it. Not cheap, although not the prime concern if you can comfortably afford a 40k watch, but it all adds up.

[George58]

My father now me have worn a yg dd everyday everywhere with out a single thought. Wear enjoy a lot of worry warts here afraid of their own shadow. Fyi I do look like I'll fight you to your last breath if you piss me off, so I've been told.

[Rolex1982]

If you really want it, get it! Life is too short for waiting around. Just enjoy. And you already have awareness so you know in which areas you have to cover up the watch if you walk around and in which areas you don’t have to. But don’t let your joy in life be limited other people’s opinions or by fear of what could go wrong.

[TheSearcher]

Love some of the comments folks and certainly has helped me so thank you. I did wonder if I’m over thinking things!

I think I’m going to take a look at some older YG day date 36, which feels more “comfortable” for me at half the price of a DD40 and can spread money across multiple watches rather investing heavily in one watch.

If a DD36 isn’t right for me I will probably go ahead with the DD40 and admire at
Home and a few selected places where I feel more safe/comfortable. It certainly won’t see the daylight of London!

Either way, I’ve told the mrs I cannot get married until I have a day date on my wrist ��