Watch Prices and Affordability

It is the sad truth of the past 2-3 years: the price of everything has gone up, but salaries haven't. Which means that luxuries and the things people would 'stretch' to own are slowly shifting farther out of reach. Like Tantalus, we can see the fruit and water but they are just beyond our reach.

 

For me, and what I want, it is more of a problem GETTING a new watch at MSRP than it is paying MSRP. I am a nobody in every respect of life, so I can’t get alot of things like high end watches or high end cars.

And like with high end cars, breaking in as a new watch buyer where I could probably buy only one every 5 years doesn’t get anyone’s attention.

 

I haven’t bought a new watch in 10+ years. Not worth it anymore to me. Sad because I enjoyed the hobby before everything went nuts. (Same can be said for certain Ferraris too btw)

A Daytona at $10k is cool, at $30k it’s not.

Oh wait I did buy a watch recently.. a $280 MoonSwatch

 

Can you walk into a Rolex store and buy anything they have at MSRP?

 

Got it. Thanks.

 

I used to be into watches. Mainly Rolex, Panerai, Bell and Ross etc. Nothing too special. Sold my Daytona as I felt it was underwhelming and too small for me. Thinking about getting back into it and like the AP Royal Oak Offshore but I know so little about the brand and there is a lot of variability in look and Price. Some of these things sell for 60-100k and some for 25-40?

 

Luxury items are not intended for everyone, otherwise they would not be considered a luxury.

Casio makes great watches that are very affordable.

My $.02.

 

A lot of this is self inflicted.

why is a panda worth 30k?
Why is a nautilus worth 2-3x msrp?
Why is an offshore sold at a premium?

Each of these companies have “less desirable” pieces but are they any worse? No- it’s just we don’t put value in them for some reason. If you want to enjoy this hobby, nothing says that you can’t do it for a fraction of the cost. We are just so overwhelmed by social media and what is “hot” it skews our perspective on things.

 

Well… things are much different now than a few years ago, and social media has been around for a long time. I think the crazy increase in prices (for many things, not just watches) is more of a function of the amount of money that was printed and given out for free over the last few years. It had to go somewhere.

 

Word...
" All the world's indeed a stage
We are merely players
Performers and portrayers
Each another's audience outside the gilded cage..."

 

Nice watches were always a "stretch" for me, something I planned and saved for rather than an impulse buy. I haven't bought a watch in years except for the Moonswatch like @mchas mentioned. For that one it was more the thrill of the hunt than the attainment of a goal. They're hard get, especially in a few of the colors, so obtaining one felt like an accomplishment. I think I've worn it 5 times. I bought a Momentum Sea Quartz 30 a few days ago on impulse based on this thread:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/show-us-your-ferrari-watches.536375/page-3#post-149210485

The only nice watch I want these days is a Rolex Deep Sea. I'm sure I'll never buy one, but it's literally the only one on my list. Or maybe an Omega Ultra Deep except I already have a Planet Ocean.....

 

I also haven’t bought a watch in >15-20 years and the ones I have left represent something to me beyond the watches themselves.

However, I’ve been looking more recently and have been tempted with the price drops this year. In end, I also just want one watch: a certain Patek chrono. And as a fun delayed-gratification, I would only buy when current business reaches a certain milestone.

 

I bought a Submariner last year, but part of the mental calculation is knowing that I’ll likely be able to sell it for what I paid in the future. I did this with my Panerai 177 — wore it for 15 years, then sold it for what I paid.

I wouldn’t “invest” in watches, because when the economy sours values may fall. But like classic cars a top tier watch is value stored rather than money thrown away.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Except that money 15 years ago was worth more than today's bills. So there's a loss in there as well, but you do get the advantage of use for that time.

For me, Mr. Middle Class, the current costs of Rolexes and higher stuff is just not justifiable. The Tudor brand seems to be in a decent price range, and I've had a soft spot for the Seiko automatics.

 

@jimpo1 - not sure if you meant the Deep Sea in black or if you meant the James Cameron Sea Dweller. If you are looking for the regular Deep Sea, let me know - I was offered one about six hours ago.


PDG

 

Even the Deep Sea (James Cameron) edition is fairly easy to acquire now. I inquired about this watch at a dealer (that I've never purchased a watch from) this past weekend and they said I would have an allocation in 3-12 weeks.

Deep Sea's are also trading just over MSRP on the grey market now.

 

I'm of the opinion that the market is in a bubble as high end watches are the 'flavor of the month' and as a result, others are seeing them as investments. This will not last too much longer. When the bubble bursts, don't forget which ADs were dicks - let them sink.

If you are getting the latest and greatest to keep up with the Joneses, then its the cost of doing business. If that's not your motivation, think outside the box about your purchase or wait a little while.

Regards,

Art S.

 

Rolex dealers must sell at MSRP for new watches.

 

But they don’t have to sell it to YOU! The same game Ferrari dealers play.

 

I just was counting watches I have yesterday... of all kinds, cheapos, and nice ones. I have 30 right now. I try to wear them, and some are inherited that I just keep running, for nostalgia. I think with watches its just like Cars, buy what you like, and not for the investment side of things. I have several Rolex models... and two "vintage" that have gone way up, and have come back down, but I just like them.... that is my advice. if you buy to speculate... but stocks. its like Art, you have to like it first .