Horological Meandering

Hi everyone,

I am not "new" here, but generally lurk a lot, and sometimes reply to messages.  I summoned the courage to ask the following question, as this place definitely feels like a place where "there is no dumb question or statement".   

Anyhow, my question is as posed in the title - "How long can you wait?"  For most people, their "dream" watches are, I am sure, out of one's range, having to support a family, send kids to school etc.  That means saving up!  Now I've been "saving up" since 2006, with very minor purchases in between, and recently began thinking that I may call myself a watch enthusiast and may not purchase a watch for 5+ years!   I guess you don't HAVE to buy watches to enjoy this hobby, but I would think this is quite a big part of this hobby.

Personally, I've come to terms with myself and said I will wait until my kid is in high school, and my wife feels safe enough (financially) to be agreeable to my purchases.  But that's another 15 years!  LOL Should I just "lower" my tastes and try to enjoy more affordable watches?  Anyone else going through something similar or have gone through similar experiences?

I don't see myself wiating for 20 years before getting MY dream watch, but I saw some examples.

I met a gentleman at the JLC Paris Boutique who saved for 15 years.

The gentlema wanted to gift himself a nice watch for his 60th B.DAY, and he chose a YG Duometre à Chronograph.

It was one of my most exciting moment, to meet him and to speak with him.

Did he have a big colection?

No.

He just had a Rolex Sub, and that is all.

Though, I can wait 5, 6, 8 years before getting one watch I hunt.

I'm still waiting to get some of them...



Good post!

Best,

Nicolas.

Wow 15 years... so there are others who do this!   

I have averaged about 1 watch per year for the past 10 years. Lately I've been going for $500 to $600 watches as that is all I can get away with without encountering resistance from the 'boss'. That said there is lots of fun to be had in that price range with realy credible watchess like the new 36mm Smiths MOD watch. My next purchase is going to be the official issue British Navy SBS quartz diver from Cabot watch Co , also around that price range. I  get as much satisfaction from the value proposition of more affordable watches as I do from the sophistication and refinement of more expensive ones.

Thanks Richard,

I too have affordable pieces such as my Seiko Samurai and a few G-shocks. I had a Eberhard which was way to large for my wrists so had to be sold off.

Anyhow, I certainly am not saying "affordable" watches don't give satisfaction. But there are different itches to scratch, I guess.

Thanks for your perspective!

I never want to wait too long for my dream watch..not that i have any dream watch that i want to own now.  I thought about getting an Exp II but after a period of time, the wants had not turned to needs, i mean really need that watch to be part of what i have now, and along the way, other matters came about, such as investing in other things to accumulate wealth (dont misunderstand me, i have bought all my watches because i like them and not for investment) so Exp II can wait, and if investments turned fruitful, then, i may even get a bigger dream watch..moreover if we wait too long to own a particular watch, we may not lived enough days to enjoy it, to wait 15 years is too long.... time flies, watch prices fly too.. What watches do you have in your collection now? Mind to share?

Hi KCKL,

Yes I agree that if you wait to long, you don't get to enjoy it at all.  My current lineup includes a vintage IWC Cal. 89, Rolex datejust, GO PML, Omega 3573.50, Seiko Samurai, a Korean Prosecutor's Office watch that I got from a friend at the prosecutor's office (quartz), and a couple of G-shocks (5600, 6900). 

No message body This message has been edited by KCKL on 2011-03-09 01:38:15

You need to save at a rate that's going to keep up with how these guys increase their price every year!  If Rolex had a fund out there, I'd probably put money on them

First off, I think that there is a watch for everybody such that one man's Dufour can be another man's Rolex.  So compromises from this perspective is out of the question.  Why buy it if you know that you're just shortchanging yourself?  Do I like Independents?  Of course.  Can I afford them?  Not really.  Do I think I'm settling when I just go for a garden variety JLC or Rolex?  Not at all.  Are these watches inferior to others?  Certainly not.  Price, finish, performance, preference... the mix of those criteria appeal to different types of sensibilties such that from an enthusiast standpoint, no one brand or type is necessarily better than the other.  And so there I am in this spectrum of spending and wanting.  There is no need to buy a "cheaper" watch.  There is just that need or want to buy THE watch.  MY watch.

Secondly, to want something badly points to a certain something within us.  I do not think of it as frivolity but something that becomes an adjunct as to how we perceive ourselves, our worth, etc.  To really want something, after having considered the other factors (kids, food, etc) does not make it a guilty pleasure.  Of course, it then all depends on our value system, yes?  It's hard to explain but I think a lot of people fall into this guilt trip when buying something "expensive" when it can be used for our kids college fund.  I try to be reasonable and tell myself and everybody else that I am here on this earth to live and not to sacrifice. 

And so I think we may be setting a bad example to kids when we refrain from enjoying ourselves.  i want my daughter to understand that it is possible to be both responsible and be happy/indulgent at the same time.

Besides, how much is enough really with kids and their future before we start crippling them and their ability to fend for themselves?

Of course, i do understand that we all have different tolerances.  At the end of the day, you'll have to be comfortable with who you are to be able to pull the trigger responsibly

As to Nico's example of that 15 year wait, that's an amazing one... not because of the wait in itself but because he knows what he wants and that for all intents and purposes, he is quite secure of himself to part with such an amount relative to other things in his life.  It's a statement of sorts, if you want to see it that way, of how we want to punctuate milestones in our lives... not so much, achievements, mind you, but more milestones in maturity.  15 years, a duometer... I call that a man coming into his own.  How many of us can live life the way that gentleman has?

I hope you are able to buy your watch sooner

 

 

To get my own watch, now the question is what to get.. a number of very good watches or just one amazing watch

My uncle waited for 25 years in total to get his to dream watches (a PP Nautilus and a PP minute repeater), I think waiting is the best part, if you could get the watch today the special magical feeling just goes away. I also believe that were just impatient, and want things as soon as possible

good luck on your journey towards your dream watch!

regards
Marwan

I am not unhappy with my current collection. I guess the question is do i spend money now and get joy from pieces that I like very much, or hold still for about 5 years of purgatory and really get a dream watch.

I guess it all depends on the person, but it seems the consensus is that life is too short and you shouldn't completely deny yourself of watches.

There is a large literature on "temporal discounting" of rewards, which is a pretty hardwired thing in our brains that shows big interindividual differences. The most useful way to to plot out that curve for yourself is to ask questions like would you rather have a Submariner (say) now than a Dufour (say) in three years? five? ten? twenty? The bigger the reward is to you and the less steep your discounting curve, the longer you will be able to wait. My feeling is that for a true grail, a journey is required and some waiting. Myself, I want something nice for my 50th so I am entering a five-year plan, let's see how it works out!

Best

Andreas

..there will come a time where priorities changed, and wants and necessities get mixed up a little and we start to stay focus a bit and in the end, whether to buy the dream watch sooner or later, would have considered the other more important factors. My grandpa bought his first Datejust at the age of 68 back in 1984. Maybe that was his dream watch. Prior to that there were 3 Omegas and a Rado. Not that he could not afford to buy one earlier but maybe he waited as he had other priorities ie family and business. If only i had passion for watches at a young age, i wud had suggested that he use money and buy all the Subs and Exps to become vintage today.. When he was my age back in 1947, he had to raise the family and that period there were no popularity or interest in horology. Each his own wait.......for that dream watch...

Each of us may have a grail watch, but I suspect that it is a holier grail for some of us than it is for others. When I try to identify a true "grail"  for myself, the pieces that come to mind as candidates are so wildly beyond my means that the exercise devolves more to fantasy than to theology.  As a consequence,  I am much happier being more actively "in the market", buying pieces I can afford. For me, this approach has the added advantage of allowing unanticipatable situations to be enjoyed (for instance, the watch you never expected to see in your AD's pre-owned case) than strict adherence to a 5 (or 15) year plan would permit. But it's a big tent, and we should each find the path that pleases best.

sounds like a good one.  i'm thinking about my 50th myself and i've already thought about a simple calatrava for that milestone.  but as KCKL said, things change along the way and so maybe that won't be "it" for my 50th.  maybe another JLC.  I'm turning 43 this year, btw.

nico's story about that 15 year wait for the duometer is inspiring.  15 years ago, how would he have even known that there would be a duometer of that kind?  i think the criteria is not that distinct in terms of its physical aspects but more what the piece will stand for relative to his life.  for me, it's going to be "gold" and classical

No message body

Thanks for your comment Andreas,

I do understand some waiting is required to acquire my dream. I have several watches that I like in the "medium" range, so I am thinking I will go for those for now every now and then, but overall try to save up for the BIG one.

No message body This message has been edited by foversta on 2011-03-09 12:40:22

Man ! It's like you know exactly what I am going through. I am in the same situation, I love watches and read about them all the time but I have yet to buy a serious watch. All the watches I am in love with are out of my range right now, so I feel the same as you do, do I buy a watch that is not what I really want or do I hold off for something better? I still have a long way to go though, my wife and I are expecting our first children in about a month and a half, Twins! So you know how it is they come first. I think you should save for something better and get what you really want, our time will come my friend.

Cheers

SamEE

the more you should celebrate to buy one to commemorate the arrival of your lovely twins. I initially wanted to buy one to celebrate my daughter's 1st birthday.. But other things came along
This message has been edited by KCKL on 2011-03-09 16:33:32

Alot man, I wish I could buy a watch to commemorate the occasion brother, but maybe next year on the one year birthday!

Best
SamEE

Hi Sam,

Glad to hear someone is on the same boat!

I like how you said it - our time will come. I trust that 100%!

don't forget to live each day as it comes.

As the song by Alanis Morissette goes....

"An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day"

Regards,
Richard.

Haha good point.

I actually just put in my order for a Habring time only. Dial color inspired by your jumping seconds!

You demonstrate excellent style and good taste. Hopefully we'll see some pictures soon enough.

Regards,
Richard.

How long? Only you can really answer that question. But here are my thoughts:

 

You don’t need dozens of watches to love horology, but you need to have some personal experience with watches to start to understand them. So going without completely is cruel and unusual punishment and counterproductive to enjoyment of the hobby.

 

Personally I have found affordable pleasure in a few classic vintage pieces, mostly from Omega. They allowed me to learn some history as well as the intricacies and issues of vintage watch collecting. The financial outlay was acceptable and enabled me to eventually reach a couple of highly anticipated pieces (principally the Breguet La Tradition and a couple of F.P.Journe’s).

 

But it is all part of the journey and gives us something to share with fellow PuristS! Look forward to hearing your journey as the years unfold.

 

Andrew

Particularly this: So going without completely is cruel and unusual punishment and counterproductive to enjoyment of the hobby.

The watch may be discontinued and it becomes "rare" and naturally more expensive.  You may need to save and wait for another 15 years.

Or, the watch may or may not be discontinued but the used watches flood in the second market, you may just need a fraction of your 15 years saving to get one and utilise the balance for a holiday.

Either way, you will be deprived of ownership enjoyment.

So, don't wait for 15 years as the life is too short or lower your expectation for something else.

Happy saving and hunting for what you desire.

Regards

Ling

...15 years or to spend 10 thousand dollars for a watch which may give you more than 50% or more enjoyment now?