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.

Of you are going to spend £6k on something non-essential, a Rolex is a good choice. DP bought his GMT Master ‘Batman’ in 2015, they stopped making that exact model in 2018 and it’s now worth more than twice what he paid for it.

If you have the money and you want to buy them go ahead and enjoy it.

@makingmyway10

I have learnt from Mumsnet that some people do not like other people having things that they can’t have. Also that many people can’t understand people having different priorities to them or different values.

And, apparently, things they don't like, 'get' or want themselves.

I like plain expensive jewellery so would buy a watch like that and wear it daily. It's a very individual thing, mine would be a ring.

Unless you have seen a top quality watch in the flesh, seen the quality up close and handled it, looked in the back and seen the sheer beauty and complexity of the mechanism then it's not surprising that you don't understand why some people love them.

People wouldn't be particularly surprised if OP wanted to buy a car she has always wanted, but actually this watch will be a far more sensible investment.

Your money you choice, especially if it holds value.

@TonTonMacoute

Unless you have seen a top quality watch in the flesh, seen the quality up close and handled it, looked in the back and seen the sheer beauty and complexity of the mechanism then it's not surprising that you don't understand why some people love them.

People wouldn't be particularly surprised if OP wanted to buy a car she has always wanted, but actually this watch will be a far more sensible investment.

Ouch! 🤣 Some people have, actually, and still choose not to. But your job is done, I feel suitably patronised

Go for it. If there's something the last year or two has taught me, it's that life is short. Get your watch and feel fabulous wearing it!

Tune in next week for “why would anyone even dream of spending $38.7 million on a Rothko when the local IKEA sells posters. And a selection of frames.”

I mean, all you do is hang it on the wall and look at it.

You only live once. Go for it and enjoy it ☺️

@GreyhoundG1rl

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 😂

I studied fashion and art and design and then worked in various galleries/design museums and it’s surprising how many people like(d) to tell me what a complete waste of time it all is. That we’d all been sucked in by the emperor’s new clothes and how superior they are for not caring what things look like. They also seemed to totally undervalue the design process and the role of the designer. Like everything was just thrown together.

I don’t brag at all and I doubt anyone I know has noticed my watch or anything else. I enjoy wearing all my things, regardless of price or whether anyone else admired it as each one has been selected for a purpose and makes me feel good because I like the design and it suits it’s purpose perfectly (and fits well). Form follows function after all.

I don’t brag at all and I doubt anyone I know has noticed my watch or anything else. I enjoy wearing all my things, regardless of price or whether anyone else admired it as each one has been selected for a purpose and makes me feel good because I like the design and it suits it’s purpose perfectly (and fits well). Form follows function after all.
And this is the only sane reason to do just about anything, really.
Carry on enjoying your stuff, just for you.

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

I don't think it's that at all. It's that if I had 6k lying around, I wouldn't spend it on a watch! Or any luxury brand wearable item. I'd probably save it or spend it on a holiday or something home-improvementy.

Unless you have seen a top quality watch in the flesh, seen the quality up close and handled it, looked in the back and seen the sheer beauty and complexity of the mechanism then it's not surprising that you don't understand why some people love them.

Is the beauty or mechanism of a £6k watch that different from, say, a £500 watch or a £1k one then? I guess so, if people are willing to pay so much more for them.

It is undeniably a ludicrous amount of money to spend on a watch.

However, if you can afford it then that is entirely your lookout.

@Nesbo

Tune in next week for “why would anyone even dream of spending $38.7 million on a Rothko when the local IKEA sells posters. And a selection of frames.”

I mean, all you do is hang it on the wall and look at it.

For someone who doesnt place value on art, they are essentially the same thing. Something vaguely interesting to be looked at and hung on a wall.

I'm not saying this is my thoughts about art, just that monetary isnt the only value something can have. And some people care so little about the general aspects of an item other than its functionality, that brand/cost/investment/etc mean literally nothing to them.

So it is with some and jewellry, some its cars, some its art, fine dining, whatever.

And just because someone doesnt appreciate/value expensive jewelry, doesnt mean they dont place a lot of value into items in other areas.

Tune in next week for “why would anyone even dream of spending $38.7 million on a Rothko when the local IKEA sells posters. And a selection of frames.”

I mean, all you do is hang it on the wall and look at it.

It's possible to appreciate fine things without feeling the need to own them though. I enjoy admiring art in galleries, but I can't imagine wanting to spend millions on it (regardless of how much money I had). Especially not Rothko .

Is the beauty or mechanism of a £6k watch that different from, say, a £500 watch or a £1k one then? I guess so, if people are willing to pay so much more for them.

Yes, yes it is. That is why I made this point. Some of them tell the time, date and day, the phases of the moon, have a stop watch and chronometer and all powered by a complex mechanical movement that fits into a watch case. Some of them even wind themselves automatically.

Sure, your cheaper watch or even your smartphone will do all this and more, but surely you have to admire the skill that goes into making an expensive watch do all this by means of making and assembling hundreds of minute cogs and wheels,

I don't understand expensive watches. But I'll spend thousands on stupid electronic nonsense that has a limited shelf life, or on unnecessary options on my car that really just needs to get me from A-B.

So me not understanding it is kind of irrelevant really. If you want it, other people don't need to accept/understand/approve providing financially it works for however your relationship is set up

@lazylinguist

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

I don't think it's that at all. It's that if I had 6k lying around, I wouldn't spend it on a watch! Or any luxury brand wearable item. I'd probably save it or spend it on a holiday or something home-improvementy.

Unless you have seen a top quality watch in the flesh, seen the quality up close and handled it, looked in the back and seen the sheer beauty and complexity of the mechanism then it's not surprising that you don't understand why some people love them.

Is the beauty or mechanism of a £6k watch that different from, say, a £500 watch or a £1k one then? I guess so, if people are willing to pay so much more for them.

right - but OP would. Maybe they see a holiday as a pointless waste of money.

Point surely is - having the freedom to spend £6k on anything non-essential is a luxury. The choice of what that is, is kind of besides the point and ultimately incredibly subjective to the person buying it. It doesn't need approval or anything else. One mans trash and all that.

A few years ago I bought a pre-owned Patek Philippe. I still love it - and my eldest grand-daughter says she has first dibs on it when I die..

Everyone should spend their money on whatever they feel like spending it on. It’s nothing to do with anyone else.
I live in Essex where every other person drives a white or black Range Rover and wears Rolex or Tag Heuer watches, tacky as hell imo but each to their own.

Sure, your cheaper watch or even your smartphone will do all this and more, but surely you have to admire the skill that goes into making an expensive watch do all this by means of making and assembling hundreds of minute cogs and wheels

Oh yes, definitely! I very much admire craftsmanship and would be interested by looking at the workings in somebody else's expensive watch. I just can't imagine it making me want to buy one!

Ouch! 🤣
Some people have, actually, and still choose not to. But your job is done, I feel suitably patronised

I expect OP also feels suitably patronised for having the nerve to want to spend her own money as she chooses, just because it is on something other people don't see the point of.

There are people who spend this amount on the type of holiday that I would hate, a holiday that lasts a few weeks then it's over and that money is gone forever. You can't hang on to it, or sell it to someone else when it's over. Yet people can easily accept that it might be the holiday of lifetime and therefore worth it.

I just think it's strange that watches bring out this particular animus on MN (although MN is a very strange place sometimes).

@Nesbo

Tune in next week for “why would anyone even dream of spending $38.7 million on a Rothko when the local IKEA sells posters. And a selection of frames.”

I mean, all you do is hang it on the wall and look at it.

🤣