The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 26 March 2010, 09:36 AM   #1
stockjock1975
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Brian
Location: Cleveland, OH
Watch: Platona
Posts: 1,569
What's YOUR spending limit for a watch?

Hello everyone here at TRF! As I was looking at the latest edition of WatchTime magazine, I began to ponder a particular question and wanted to get all of your thoughts on the subject.

This latest WatchTime shines the spotlight on many of the fine timepieces being shown at this years Basel. These are some of the finest pieces released from some of the most prestigious watchmakers in the world. As you can imagine, they also cary a very hefty price tag. As I was looking at the latest watch from (you fill in the blank here....PP, AP, Breguet, etc.) with a limited production and a 6 figure price, I just began to wonder if I would ever buy a piece like that even if I had the resources to do so?

Even if I was wealthy, I think I would personally strugle to purchase a $100,000+ timepiece and not constantly worry when it was strapped to my wrist. Even the $6k to $12k that we all here at TRF pay for our Rollies seems at times like a large chunk of cash for, lets be honest here, a purely selfish, luxury item.

So my question to you is, do you have a limit as to how much you would ever spend on a wristwatch? As I tried to answer my own question, I kept coming back to $25,000 as an answer. I think I would be willing to consider the purchase of a $25,000 watch, but I don't know that I could ever go above and beyond that price point. How about you?

Just curious as to where each of you would draw your own personal line in the sand.
stockjock1975 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 09:38 AM   #2
moviefreak
"TRF" Member
 
moviefreak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: in my house...
Posts: 5,524
If I was to spend 30k to 40k on a watch.. I would also be thinking about spending the same amount but getting more watches...
__________________
Cheers, Eduardo
Be a WIS not a WUSS... and remove all the stickers..
moviefreak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 09:39 AM   #3
HL65
TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron
 
HL65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Real Name: Ken
Location: SW Florida
Watch: One on my wrist.
Posts: 64,009
That all depends on which watch--some of the watches I really like --like Lange Sohne, AP and some others get up there in price. It is best to not look at them as after a while they start to call your name --both when awake and asleep......
__________________

SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT
HL65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 09:41 AM   #4
srgriff
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: -
Posts: 132
Quote:
Originally Posted by stockjock1975 View Post
Hello everyone here at TRF! As I was looking at the latest edition of WatchTime magazine, I began to ponder a particular question and wanted to get all of your thoughts on the subject.

This latest WatchTime shines the spotlight on many of the fine timepieces being shown at this years Basel. These are some of the finest pieces released from some of the most prestigious watchmakers in the world. As you can imagine, they also cary a very hefty price tag. As I was looking at the latest watch from (you fill in the blank here....PP, AP, Breguet, etc.) with a limited production and a 6 figure price, I just began to wonder if I would ever buy a piece like that even if I had the resources to do so?

Even if I was wealthy, I think I would personally strugle to purchase a $100,000+ timepiece and not constantly worry when it was strapped to my wrist. Even the $6k to $12k that we all here at TRF pay for our Rollies seems at times like a large chunk of cash for, lets be honest here, a purely selfish, luxury item.

So my question to you is, do you have a limit as to how much you would ever spend on a wristwatch? As I tried to answer my own question, I kept coming back to $25,000 as an answer. I think I would be willing to consider the purchase of a $25,000 watch, but I don't know that I could ever go above and beyond that price point. How about you?

Just curious as to where each of you would draw your own personal line in the sand.
15K is the most I would pay now, with the price increases rolex make every year we will all be paying those prices 20 years from now.
srgriff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 09:42 AM   #5
bobernet
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Real Name: Bob
Location: Mountains
Watch: ALS, AP, PP, Rolex
Posts: 2,988
There was a time when I'd have told people I would never in my life pay 4-5 figures for a watch. Times change. If I was worth 8 figures, I don't know what I'd be willing to spend.
bobernet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 09:43 AM   #6
Lowflight
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Real Name: Harold
Location: On The Far Right
Posts: 1,106
I can't justify over $5k for one watch.
Lowflight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 09:46 AM   #7
zippaul
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Real Name: Paul
Location: Georgia
Watch: 16610LV
Posts: 172
Great question. I think my personal limit regardless of income would be $10,000 and even that would be pushing it. I view these timepieces in the same vain I would jewelry and art as odd as that may sound. They (in my case "it") are pieces of engineering artwork that I for the most part wear as jewelry. It does tell time but clearly that is not the sole reason I wear it. Hard to quantify but the dollars are.
zippaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:16 AM   #8
RIducati996
"TRF" Member
 
RIducati996's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 162
Before I purchased my first Sub, 2 months ago, my spending limit was $3500. That limit went out the door pretty fast
RIducati996 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:19 AM   #9
snow_rocks
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Rick
Location: At what TIME?!!!
Watch: the SKY tonite!
Posts: 3,225
Quote:
Originally Posted by stockjock1975 View Post
How about you?

Just curious as to where each of you would draw your own personal line in the sand.
Depends on how many aluminum cans I have collected!
snow_rocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:21 AM   #10
JPersat
"TRF" Member
 
JPersat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Jarrett
Location: San Antonio TX
Watch: ing everybody
Posts: 1,515
It would really depend on what watch it is, and how bad/long I have been wanting it. Me personally, I think I would have a hard time spending over $10k.
JPersat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:27 AM   #11
mborner
"TRF" Member
 
mborner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Coral Springs, Fl
Posts: 99
On a watch? $800. On a Rolex? $10k. I'm not much of a watch fanatic but I love Rolex.
mborner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:32 AM   #12
mike
"TRF" Member
 
mike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 22,683
As stated it really depends on a couple things.

1. The arguement of quantity vs. quality. Some prefer to have a number of fine time pieces at somewhat affordable pricing (though now a days I'm not sure what that is). Some prefer to place the funds in one or two (more?) grail type pieces.

2. The purpose the watch has in a collection or is it to be a daily wear. I can see getting into rarified air for that particular vintage grail piece that either satisfies the desire to own a truly great collector's piece, but I'm not sure I could use it as a daily wear.

I'd have to take a more pedestrian approach for a watch I would subject to grind of consistent wear. There was a time when I thought "$1000 dollars for a Sub?? Are you nuts!!"

Boy how times have changed.
mike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:36 AM   #13
jets
"TRF" Member
 
jets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: Mario
Location: CANADA
Posts: 2,483
I remember when spending more than 300 dollars on a watch was insane. I just spent 9K on a DSSD. In the end I believe I would be hard pressed to pay more than $15K on a watch at this point.

Ask me again in ten years...the thought frightens me.
__________________
DJII 116234 · Submariner 126610LV · Yacht Master 42 226659
Pelagos 25600TN
Ω X-33 Speedmaster Skywalker · 1861 Speedmaster Modsukoshi · SMP 2254.50 · SMP 2230.50 NAC · Seamaster 300 166.0324 · Genève 162.037
Seiko SLA033 Willard · SKX007
jets is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:38 AM   #14
Tools
TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron
 
Tools's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Real Name: Larry
Location: Mojave Desert
Watch: GMT's
Posts: 43,515
I notice that the older I get, the less I want to spend on a watch....or almost anythng else for that matter.........

Prices for jewelry (and a luxury watch is jewelry) is usually related to income...

If you can drop 10 grand on a tennis bracelet for your significant other, or 20k on a diamond ring; it makes sense to spend twice that on a watch that will last you a lifetime...... or any other figure that you are comfortable with ..........
__________________
(Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....)
NAWCC Member
Tools is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 10:38 AM   #15
snow_rocks
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Rick
Location: At what TIME?!!!
Watch: the SKY tonite!
Posts: 3,225
Quote:
Originally Posted by jets View Post
I remember when spending more than 300 dollars on a watch was insane. I just spent 9K on a DSSD. In the end I believe I would be hard pressed to pay more than $15K on a watch at this point.

Ask me again in ten years...the thought frightens me.
Yeah, I remember when 500USD was a lot for a camera body,

then I bought 2 Leica M7s!
snow_rocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 11:16 AM   #16
maxxor
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 117
10 grand cdn or us would be my limit......for now......

when i bought my sub, i could have bought a breitling superocean and omega seamaster for same price...

but hey...needed the sub....

when i bought my breitling avenger seawolf (direct competitor to the deep sea rolex), i said to my self "well now you have a sub and an avenger seawolf for the price of a deep sea)

sometimes quanity sometimes quality.....
maxxor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 11:24 AM   #17
vjb.knife
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Real Name: Vince
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Watch: Rolex Sub & GMTIIC
Posts: 626
To me there is no watch worth more than ......

I have spent as much as $8k USD on a watch but wouldn't ever do it again. To me there is no watch worth more than $6K and that is actually an insane statement when I look at it. I guess the most I am willing to spend on a watch is going to depend on the watch and the day that I am standing in the dealer with it in my hand.
vjb.knife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:08 PM   #18
multimedia
"TRF" Member
 
multimedia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Joe
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by snow_rocks View Post
Depends on how many aluminum cans I have collected!



$8-10K, but then again, all depends on the situation and how things are looking financially at the time of purchase. For example, I would never buy a watch on credit.

Cheers,
Joe
__________________
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." - S.J.
multimedia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:13 PM   #19
Speed
"TRF" Member
 
Speed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 19,706
Well, with the exception of the Speedy Pro I just sold, I have never purchased a fine timepiece (Rolex) new. I think I would like too...but have not had the right circumstances. Therefore $4K has been the max so far.

Now I would LOVE a mint White Dial Daytona...I know, who wouldn't...so that means I will eventually have to break that upper limit to date. < sigh >
Speed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:13 PM   #20
icnbne
"TRF" Member
 
icnbne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Real Name: J
Location: Brisbane
Watch: Rolex Omega Seiko
Posts: 1,562
for now, about 8k..
in the future, who knows, depends on my income..
icnbne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:25 PM   #21
Jason71
"TRF" Member
 
Jason71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Real Name: Jason
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex/Tudor Divers
Posts: 7,973
I hope to have the money to spend $25k on the White gold Submariner at some point. I guess I could probably get it if I liquidated 1/3 of my watch collection, but I just don't want to part with my Rolexes or Doxas.
__________________
Best Regards,
Jason


Just Say "NO" to Polishing
Card-Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch Curmudgeons
LIfe is too short to wear inexpensive watches
PLEXI IS SEXY
Jason71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:40 PM   #22
timeisfathaoftruth
"TRF" Member
 
timeisfathaoftruth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Ed
Location: New England
Watch: Sub,Daytona,GMT,YM
Posts: 997
I always think that my limit is the last amount spent on a watch....Seems, however, that I am invariably wrong.
__________________
Time and tide wait for no man...
timeisfathaoftruth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:43 PM   #23
mpkRolex
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
mpkRolex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: USA
Watch: Pepsi
Posts: 2,170
I started with the $50 Casio 15 years back..now I am upto $10k with the SS daytona...I dont know how far I will go few years from now.
__________________
Rest in peace JJ!
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...light=JJ+irani

"Rolex is highly addictive. Please shop responsibly"
mpkRolex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 12:54 PM   #24
Windy City Watchman
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 21
I'd really prefer to keep it as close to $10K as possible, so I'm crossing my fingers that Rolex doesn't go crazy with the Daytona prices in the next few years.
Windy City Watchman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 01:07 PM   #25
PeteNYC13
2024 Pledge Member
 
PeteNYC13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Pete
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 1,607
Great thread...
I have no idea what my limit will end up at, I hope it increases as my earnings increase. It scares me sometimes that my 9 year old Sub is my "cheap" watch. There were many years where this didn't seem possible (I would have been happy with a $20 Armitron) and I am thankful each day that I have the ability to have an expensive hobby - I am shocked the my limit has been reset for the past few years. Maybe it stops at $10 k... but you never know!

-Pete
__________________
SS Submariner K16610
SS Submariner F16610LV
SS/P Yachtmaster M16622
SS Black Dial Daytona M116520
SS Explorer II D16570
PeteNYC13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 01:12 PM   #26
SLS
"TRF" Member
 
SLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Real Name: Scott
Location: GMT -7
Watch: GMT's & Sub's
Posts: 10,401
Sadly, I don't see myself buying two pieces that I really want...A DRSD & a 1655 Exp. I suppose that I cold sell off part of my collection, but I just don't see that happening.
Scott
__________________
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of lower price is forgotten." -Benjamin Franklin

Member No. 922
SLS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 01:17 PM   #27
brent d
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: fl
Posts: 24
just changed mine up $33,650.

Can you guess what i just got? And yes its a rolex.
brent d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 01:18 PM   #28
Leasky
"TRF" Member
 
Leasky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Colin Leask.
Location: Scotland, UK.
Watch: 118238 YG DD.
Posts: 723
8K GBP and that will be on a used 118### but not this year.......
Leasky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 01:27 PM   #29
DOUBLE 0 SE7EN
"TRF" Member
 
DOUBLE 0 SE7EN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Real Name: KAAN
Location: ISTANBUL
Watch: Explorer-PAM233
Posts: 1,648
Well, GMT MASTER IIc will be my final watch...That means 6000usd is my final limit for a watch....Because I have to buy a new house and I will pay it for a long time..
But; I am really afraid that in the future sometime maybe I can save some more to have a SS Daytona...But I never promise..It is just a fantasy..a reason to live:)
DOUBLE 0 SE7EN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2010, 01:31 PM   #30
AstroBoy
"TRF" Member
 
AstroBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Lucky
Location: Ohio USA
Watch: TT-Tona/EXII/Tudor
Posts: 696
It's a lot of burgers to flip! But...Oh...well, "You Can Only Live Twice!"
__________________
Astroboy

"Life Is Not A Problem To Be Solved But A Reality To Be Experienced"

"JJ - Your smile takes all my troubles away!"
AstroBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.