How to convince the boss?

[orangeguy]

So, I've been looking for an Explorer II (white 42mm) for a while. I finally decided to reach out to DavidSW and found he has really good prices. So, under normal circumstances, I could totally justify its purchase. However, I have a 45th anniversary Snoopy Speedy on order (yes, still waiting) and I'm pretty certain my wife will have a cow over me wanting both.

I will add that it's not that I have to dip into savings for this, I just changed jobs and the payout from my unused vacation will definitely cover this. It's just that my watch affliction is not fully appreciated by my better half. So, I'm just trying to formulate a viable argument and thought I would seek some guidance from you. I figured I can't be the only guy who has faced this.

Thanks!


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[ernie2]

I have a son, so everything I buy is for the next generation.

[DPE]

Find out what she wants first and let her know what you want. Then see how you can get there !

[polaris72]

Buy her something nice (shoes, jewelry, designer bag, watch) to warm her to your hobby a little bit. Also like ernie2 response, after the laughs, it makes total sense.

[Erks]

Can't say I've had to convince the wife of any of my purchases, as long as I don't put financial strain on our life when making purchases my wife doesn't really interfere.

In saying that I would think that a Rolex is worth the scolding from the wife, she'll get over it and all will be back to normal in a few days.



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[AK797]

Cows make great pets so you'll be alright.

[eltonbalch]

My better half and I have agreed on seperate monthly stipends that can be used for anything without the other asking questions (assuming it's legal, of course). I buy watches, she buys other things. In this case, I'd just ask and if the answer is a shocked "no" I'd let it go and be really happy with the Omega when it shows up. There are lots of Explorer II's popping up all the time so be patient if she isn't thrilled.

[Chadridv]

I came up with a justification plan the was received quite well by the wife, but I somewhat abandoned due to lack of patience on my part.

The basic gist was that at almost any given time, if I bought a $2000-3000 watch my wife would give me the "you're an idiot" look with a smirk. If I came home with a $10k watch, I would get a "WTF" look with mean mean face.

So I explained to her that if 2-3 times a year I came home with a $2-3k watch, it would seemingly fly under the radar, but with some patience and understanding, if I just held back from 2-3 of these lower cost watches, after about a year it would actually be a smarter move to pull the trigger on a $6-9k watch.

This plan last about 6 months for me, and combined with the sale of an older watch, I made the argument to buy a new piece. After a couple months with that piece I made the argument to trade up.

So low and behold, after a little less than a years time I worked and weasled my way into a YM2. Shortly after that I came home with a Tudor BBB which I almost immediately strapped to her wrist and said "wow this looks great on you! We can share!". I somehow worked my way into the "you're an idiot" look and a smirk.

Hope that helps in someway :)

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

I came up with a justification plan the was received quite well by the wife, but I somewhat abandoned due to lack of patience on my part.

The basic gist was that at almost any given time, if I bought a $2000-3000 watch my wife would give me the "you're an idiot" look with a smirk. If I came home with a $10k watch, I would get a "WTF" look with mean mean face.

So I explained to her that if 2-3 times a year I came home with a $2-3k watch, it would seemingly fly under the radar, but with some patience and understanding, if I just held back from 2-3 of these lower cost watches, after about a year it would actually be a smarter move to pull the trigger on a $6-9k watch.

This plan last about 6 months for me, and combined with the sale of an older watch, I made the argument to buy a new piece. After a couple months with that piece I made the argument to trade up.

So low and behold, after a little less than a years time I worked and weasled my way into a YM2. Shortly after that I came home with a Tudor BBB which I almost immediately strapped to her wrist and said "wow this looks great on you! We can share!". I somehow worked my way into the "you're an idiot" look and a smirk.

Hope that helps in someway :)

I always like ur posts.

And those watches are perfect for you guys. Please tell her I said so.

[Xyzander]

Just don't tell her. My wife doesn't even notice the different watches I own or if they change. I'm not saying to lie to her, just don't mention it until she asks.

[Watch This]

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

[Daryl]

Originally Posted by Watch This

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

👍


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[Dashimmy]

Originally Posted by Watch This

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

I third this!^^^

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by ernie2

I have a son, so everything I buy is for the next generation.

This! My son has a very nice watch collection. It's all for him, Not me 👍


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[Eric Chan]

If you can afford it, then do it. Don't need to justify it to your other half. As long as you have a firm grasp of your spending ability and amount of future income, then who cares?

Probably not much help with my comments, but that is how I look at things and my wife agrees.

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by Watch This

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

Assuming your financial house is in order and she is able to splurge a bit if she desires, this I think is the best answer.

An alternative strategy might be to figure out what else she thinks to be a waste of money or time, but more expensive than watches in terms of both. Bonus points if it includes an element of danger that could result in being very expensive to your body. This could be boats, race cars, Harley Davidsons or superbikes, unmentionables that go bang, mountaineering, skydiving, etc. Start mentioning these things and activities in casual conversations. Buy related magazines to gaze at and leave lying around. Buy some army surplus gear and an airsoft, or a studded leather jacket with lots of zippers and wear it at inappropriate times. Practice the look of dreaming and fantasizing.

Another angle is to begin (or express your desire for) a newfound activity that will necessarily clutter-up and invade space in your home, especially if it confuses her even more than watches. Announce your intention to dedicate (seize!) a semi-important space or room in the house for a fairly unusual or inexplicable hobby, preferably were anyone visiting can see it so she feels the need to try and explain. Tying fly fishing flies is ok for initial space-taking, but not noisy enough plus suggests an image of thoughtful calmness where instead you want to either project noise or have her wondering "What on earth will he do/drag home next?". Propose a game room with pool table, foosball, air hockey, pachinko machines and a collection of vintage arcade games (Asteroids, Space Invaders, etc). It's great for projecting noise and overly-enthused, time-wasting activity, but a "game room" of any sort is perhaps too easily explained-away by her to others for it to be an effective tactic.

Probably the best bet in terms of creating confusion and instilling fear of a homespace invasion is a supposed interest in model trains. Track layout size is necessarily big, and encroachment into other spaces is limited only by one's imagination and how much plywood you can carry into the house. She'll recognize the potential for you to blow out of your dedicated space the moment her back is turned, especially when you begin telling her how easy it would be to run overhead track this way and that throughout the house where nobody will trip over it. A house-turned-trainyard isn't easily explained to anyone, and greeting people at the door in a zippered leather motorcycle jacket and Red Wing boots when you don't even own a bike is nothing compared to what she'll feel if you're wearing perfectly normal clothes but topped-off with one of those train engineer caps.

Model train-setting carries with it the added benefits of being noisy when operating plus messy when working with the plywood, and causing great confusion over the time spent immersed in the minutia and details of having everything "to scale" down to the miniature shrubs, buildings, and moustache of the little man working at the sawmill.

Do this, and she'll be buying you watches herself if it will make all the plywood, your train engineer dreams, and the whistles go away. The only danger involved is a minuscule chance that she may actually think it's a great idea, in which case you'll be the one who will have to try and deal with all the above.

Good luck.

[SemperFi]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

I came up with a justification plan the was received quite well by the wife, but I somewhat abandoned due to lack of patience on my part.

The basic gist was that at almost any given time, if I bought a $2000-3000 watch my wife would give me the "you're an idiot" look with a smirk. If I came home with a $10k watch, I would get a "WTF" look with mean mean face.

So I explained to her that if 2-3 times a year I came home with a $2-3k watch, it would seemingly fly under the radar, but with some patience and understanding, if I just held back from 2-3 of these lower cost watches, after about a year it would actually be a smarter move to pull the trigger on a $6-9k watch.

This plan last about 6 months for me, and combined with the sale of an older watch, I made the argument to buy a new piece. After a couple months with that piece I made the argument to trade up.

So low and behold, after a little less than a years time I worked and weasled my way into a YM2. Shortly after that I came home with a Tudor BBB which I almost immediately strapped to her wrist and said "wow this looks great on you! We can share!". I somehow worked my way into the "you're an idiot" look and a smirk.

Hope that helps in someway :)

Ah yes. "The Buying Plan" if I remember correctly.

[cdmorenot]

Get her something she likes. My wife likes shoes therefore a pair of $1K Valentinos usually OK a $7k watch no questions asked.

[SemperFi]

Originally Posted by CRM114

Assuming your financial house is in order and she is able to splurge a bit if she desires, this I think is the best answer.

An alternative strategy might be to figure out what else she thinks to be a waste of money or time, but more expensive than watches in terms of both. Bonus points if it includes an element of danger that could result in being very expensive to your body. This could be boats, race cars, Harley Davidsons or superbikes, unmentionables that go bang, mountaineering, skydiving, etc. Start mentioning these things and activities in casual conversations. Buy related magazines to gaze at and leave lying around. Buy some army surplus gear and an airsoft, or a studded leather jacket with lots of zippers and wear it at inappropriate times. Practice the look of dreaming and fantasizing.

Another angle is to begin (or express your desire for) a newfound activity that will necessarily clutter-up and invade space in your home, especially if it confuses her even more than watches. Announce your intention to dedicate (seize!) a semi-important space or room in the house for a fairly unusual or inexplicable hobby, preferably were anyone visiting can see it so she feels the need to try and explain. Tying fly fishing flies is ok for initial space-taking, but not noisy enough plus suggests an image of thoughtful calmness where instead you want to either project noise or have her wondering "What on earth will he do/drag home next?". Propose a game room with pool table, foosball, air hockey, pachinko machines and a collection of vintage arcade games (Asteroids, Space Invaders, etc). It's great for projecting noise and overly-enthused, time-wasting activity, but a "game room" of any sort is perhaps too easily explained-away by her to others for it to be an effective tactic.

Probably the best bet in terms of creating confusion and instilling fear of a homespace invasion is a supposed interest in model trains. Track layout size is necessarily big, and encroachment into other spaces is limited only by one's imagination and how much plywood you can carry into the house. She'll recognize the potential for you to blow out of your dedicated space the moment her back is turned, especially when you begin telling her how easy it would be to run overhead track this way and that throughout the house where nobody will trip over it. A house-turned-trainyard isn't easily explained to anyone, and greeting people at the door in a zippered leather jacket and Red Wing boots is nothing compared to what she'll feel if you're wearing normal clothes but topped-off with one of those train engineer caps.

Model train-setting carries with it the added benefits of being noisy when operating plus messy when working with the plywood, and the slight confusion about a watch fascination will pale in comparison to what she'll feel when you spend hours and hours immersed in the minutia and details of having everything "to scale" down to the miniature shrubs, buildings, and moustache of the little man working at the sawmill.

Do this, and she'll be buying you watches herself if it will make all the plywood, your train engineer dreams, and the whistles go away. The only danger involved is a minuscule chance that she may actually think it's a great idea, in which case you'll be the one who will have to try and deal with all the above.

Good luck.

Sounds like a plan...has it worked for you?

[Rolex57]

I say buy it. No way she divorces you based on a purchase of a watch.

Unheard of really.

[Rogdogg]

Originally Posted by Watch This

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

This is exactly what I was thinking too

[CRM114]

Originally Posted by Watch This

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

Originally Posted by SemperFi

Sounds like a plan...has it worked for you?

Fortunately, I've never had to resort to a bait-and-switch strategy for watch-buying, my interest/hobby was already in full swing when she and I met so part of the deal and she's mildly interested anyway.

But I did know a couple (both super nice) where the guy was a model train fanatic, a completely legit and harmless hobby, but I couldn't help but feel for her because she didn't really know where it might end space-wise and although he had interest in it as a kid he had only gone full-on just a few years before when he retired. He had filled-up one room and working on filling another large area adjacent. Their kids were gone and so he kind of felt all the less-used spaces in their home were fair game and he had money to burn to try and do so. She was just hoping that he would find some other interest soon, wanting the railroad construction and whistles to go away. They also had a running joke about things being "to scale".

They didn't fight about it, it was more bemusement and appeasement at that point but it wasn't hard to see that she would prefer to have her house back instead of wondering just how high the tide was going to rise in the meantime.

I will say that even though it's not my thing, his setup was pretty glorious, and creative.

[Mosbrook]

Tell her the price from DavidSW is a rare offer that shouldn't be ignored. In the long run, you're really saving money.

[jmiicustomz]

Buy with money orders and slip it quietly into the rotation. I bought my sub last month this way and she still hasn't noticed. My omega a year before that, a da Vinci montblanc full set last week and have a navitimer supposed to be delivered Tuesday. By the time they notice it's been around for 6 months and you just say "honey I had this old thing forever now. You never noticed? And to think you get I'll if I don't notice your hair." That usually quashes the watch bit then you take her to dinner to apologize for giving her hell and maybe order her a new pair of custom boots from Rome or London. Works every time!

[Ckci]

Not an issue for me as my wife has confidence justified or not in my ability to make money and I naturalky live well below my means but I'd stress how you expect it to hold its value pretty well and if you ever need cash you know you can sell it. It's like a form of savings and it's safer than the stock market. Blah blah blah... You get the idea. On the other hand if it's going to strain your relationship or wallet I'd say wait. It's not worth it. Russell.

[Gasoil4ever]

Originally Posted by ernie2

I have a son, so everything I buy is for the next generation.

+1

The Jetski, even before she was pregnant was the hardest part... 😂

[DCheeta]

It never occurred to me that I had to ask permission. If I did, my wife would probably laugh at me.

[kamalrae]

I just got the OK today to get an Aquanaut...but I have to give the wife a child as a compromise....

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[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by superdog

I always like ur posts.

And those watches are perfect for you guys. Please tell her I said so.

yours as well! Thanks bud, and i'll pass the message along

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by SemperFi

Ah yes. "The Buying Plan" if I remember correctly.

YES! That's the one Angelo... "... As explained to the wife" or something like that.