DH says I’m ridiculous for wanting to spend this amount of money on a watch, who is BU?

[Halowinslet]

I’ve been lusting after a Rolex datejust for as long as I can remember, but have always stopped myself from buying because there has always been something more ‘sensible’ to do with the money, like keeping it in savings or spending money on an experience like a holiday. This year I’ve been feeling pretty low what with the current situation and there’s no way I’ll be able to go on holiday this year as I’m vulnerable health wise.

Announced to DH this morning that I’m thinking about treating myself to a nice pre owned Rolex (£6k) on the basis that it’s what I’d usually spend on holidays in a year anyway and they hold their value pretty well, in the event that I ever wanted/needed to sell.

DH thinks I’m being absolutely ridiculous spending such a large amount of money on a watch and now I’m wondering whether I’m having a moment of madness. I should point out that the funds would be coming from my own pot of money, rather than joint.

I've spent decades inwardly rolling my eyes at people who titter and do the "teeheeheehee I dont get it tho!" routine while twirling their hair on this very subject.
It does wear thin eventually.
Dear God, why? Is the value of a classic watch really that bound up in the envy of strangers?

I love watches.

I don’t have an expensive one myself because I can’t afford one BUT I do love them.

A proper watch (not digital) represents the best of human design and ingenuity.

The fact that we were able to create the concept of time and then engineer clockworks that could actualise it is incredible.

To me they aren’t just jewellery but a physical representation of human achievement and skill.

They’re bloody amazing. I also like grandfather clocks.

I am a massive dweeb though.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Are you on commission, Verv?! Some people don't appreciate fine watches, and that's ok. It doesn't affect you (or your watch).

Some people do appreciate fine watches, and thats okay. Their fine watches don't affect you, or your finances.

They dont look like other watches, other watches look like them.

Yes but surely once other watches look like them, they by definition look like other watches! If things look alike, it goes both ways.

I was one of the people who said I don't get it. I'm not remotely edgy either . I just don't understand spending thousands of pounds for a particular brand name when the item does exactly the same as one that costs a tenth or even a hundredth of the price, doesn't look noticeably better, and isn't even a particularly noticeable thing to wear. I feel the same about bags, and they are at least larger and more noticeable.

When you get to silly money watches become about engineering and how many are made.

i.pinimg.com/originals/95/68/ce/9568cefa0f5b8cb5d7c252f31a8b17f0.jpg

Not to everyones taste of course but the skill in making this is genius level.

Price today is probably around £500,000 and there are probably fewer than 15 in the world.

@GreyhoundG1rl

I've spent decades inwardly rolling my eyes at people who titter and do the "teeheeheehee I dont get it tho!" routine while twirling their hair on this very subject. It does wear thin eventually. Dear God, why? Is the value of a classic watch really that bound up in the envy of strangers?

As I've already said. I work in the industry, I've heard it all.

I'm sure its not unreasonable for people who work in tech to eye-roll at the umpteen jokes about temperamental printers.

@sixthtimelucky

Stealth boast alert!

I second this!

Goady or what...

A different view
www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Mysterious-Automatic-Double-Axis-Tourbillon-Watch.jpg

Some people do appreciate fine watches, and thats okay.
Their fine watches don't affect you, or your finances.
I remain completely unaffected . Just slightly amused at how badly you want validation for your appreciation.
It's a bit odd...

@GreyhoundG1rl

I've spent decades inwardly rolling my eyes at people who titter and do the "teeheeheehee I dont get it tho!" routine while twirling their hair on this very subject. It does wear thin eventually. Dear God, why? Is the value of a classic watch really that bound up in the envy of strangers?

The thing is you get that response from people about Art, fashion, jewellery, furnishings, chairs, wallpaper, ceramics, glassware etc. It’s said often to position themselves as superior to your shallow coveting of material things and to imply you’ve been taken in by the emperor’s new clothes because of your vanity. It’s reductive of somebody’s personal tastes, priorities and appreciations and it’s often very smug. Like oh I don’t neeeeed such worldly things I am happy with less because I have nothing to prove.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Some people do appreciate fine watches, and thats okay. Their fine watches don't affect you, or your finances. I remain completely unaffected . Just slightly amused at how badly you want validation for your appreciation. It's a bit odd...

Yes, of course that's exactly what's happening. I'm just so very desperate for people to love and adore my watches that I've given no details of them whatsoever. You've excelled, Poirot.

It is a lot of money to spend on a watch, but it's your money, so if you want it, buy it!

Do you get that response often, MrsKoala?
Surely it would only take the gloss off your shiny stuff if part of it's value is that other people see it and appreciate it for what it is in the first place? Rather than a pure love of the good things in life?
It sounds like you're either surrounded by begrudgers (maybe think about a cull) or you brag a lot 😂

This is very weird but amusing thread.

If OP has been on mumsnet for a while, she must have known this is how the thread would go. So I’m a bit

I never understand why people ask this sort of question on here though. There’s so many different things that people value which vary wildly, combine that with also wildly varying incomes and the fact that others love to judge and there’s just no point asking on here.

You want a watch, you have the money...buy it or don’t. 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you want it and can afford it, go for it.

Definitely go and try one on first and see if you like it.

Don’t get a different watch than the one you’ve been thinking of for ages. It’s a Rolex that you’ve wanted, so get a Rolex.

Ignore the stupid jealousy of some saying that it’s a stealth boast. You can’t mention anything without someone piping up with that accusation.

Stealth boast alert I love my Rolex, and if you can afford it, go for it.

I have learnt from Mumsnet that some people do not like other people having things that they can’t have.

In theory I don’t care what people spend their money on as it’s their money but I don’t understand when people buy expensive things because they’re a certain make/brand just to show off that they can afford that certain brand.
Because people who are genuinely well off and can easily afford those things often don’t show it off.
There was a good photo of Richard Branson next to someone less famous. The less famous person was head to toe in obvious branded clothing with designer bags and sun glasses and Richard Branson was in simple jeans and a t-shirt with no brand names showing.

I have real issues with companies who over price things knowing that if it’s expensive people will buy it to ‘keep up with the Jones’s’ even though you can get just as good things for a lower price they just don’t have the brand name. So it keeps the prices unnecessarily high and people wasting money that they can’t really afford.

I’m one of those people who likes mechanical watches but has no great interest in things like the Apple Watch.

A mechanical watch is like a little marvel of engineering, taking nothing more than the power stored in a tiny coiled spring and then releasing it in precise increments to measure time to within a couple of seconds a day. It’s a concept that was created hundreds of years ago and has been refined and improved and miniaturised to create these little machines that quietly tick away at around 15,000 beats every hour, about 350,000 beats every day.

There is pleasure to be had in things that are well made out of good quality materials and do exactly what they are supposed to do, year after year.

It’s definitely complicated with Rolex, as there is a lot of other baggage around the brand image and you can always question whether the price is too high for what you are getting. Most people who know about watches though, and have a sense of what is going on inside the movement, will admit that Rolex makes a good (if currently overhyped) product, regardless of whether it is something that floats your boat or not.

The servicing is upwards of £350 each time though, just to warn you

I inherited such a fancy watch and I love wearing it due to sentimental value but I still feel awkward about it because it’s flash. Each to their own!

If you are going to enjoy it and it’s affordable then why not.

@toocold54

I have learnt from Mumsnet that some people do not like other people having things that they can’t have.

In theory I don’t care what people spend their money on as it’s their money but I don’t understand when people buy expensive things because they’re a certain make/brand just to show off that they can afford that certain brand.
Because people who are genuinely well off and can easily afford those things often don’t show it off.
There was a good photo of Richard Branson next to someone less famous. The less famous person was head to toe in obvious branded clothing with designer bags and sun glasses and Richard Branson was in simple jeans and a t-shirt with no brand names showing.

I have real issues with companies who over price things knowing that if it’s expensive people will buy it to ‘keep up with the Jones’s’ even though you can get just as good things for a lower price they just don’t have the brand name. So it keeps the prices unnecessarily high and people wasting money that they can’t really afford.

It’s not the brand, it’s the quality of the workmanship. You can be damn sure Richard Branson was wearing a very expensive (probably Swiss) watch

@ivfgottwins

costs far less than most MNers would spend on a car or family holiday, hardly a stealth boast 🙄

Err I don't know anyone in here who spends £6k minimum on a holiday? 🤔

Neither do I. It's over four months take home income for me.

Always amused that when police raid drug-lord houses they usually manage to seize several items including perhaps a Rolex watch (or several), a fake Rolex watch (or 10), designer handbags, 3 SUVs and a small quantity of ammunition.

If I see someone flashing a "Rolex" watch I usually assume they bought it on their holidays near the boardwalk not the fancy boulevard.

For 'stealth boast alert' read 'I am jealous'!

There was a good photo of Richard Branson next to someone less famous. The less famous person was head to toe in obvious branded clothing with designer bags and sun glasses and Richard Branson was in simple jeans and a t-shirt with no brand names showing.

HAHAHAHA. A great example of an unostentatiously wealthy man