Curious - Do You Own a Luxury Watch?

I know this is OzBargain, but I'm sure we have a few watch peeps in here.

If so, what brand(s)? Specify the model if you want to. And maybe why you bought it.

A random watch lux pyramid tier l found off a quick google search.

Poll Options Mon, 15/07/2024 - 00:00

  • 224
    Yes
  • 469
    No
  • 53
    What is a watch?

Comments

  • +1

    https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MukHzmrYues/maxresdefault.jpg?sqp=-oa…

    Don't think i need to spend that much to impress my boss lol

    • +3

      Spend or save, boss never get impressed by definition.

  • +4

    Not real lux according to your scal but I have a Longines, Tag & a Tissot. Different watches for different events

    • +2

      According to the Luxury pyramid you belong to The Crowd.

    • Solid collection. I've got Rolex. Omega, Nomos and Tudor…. the Tudors are actually my favourite, next is the Nomos. Lot of good in that "entry level" tier.

      • Lol "entry level". Which Nomos?

        • Club Campus with the display back. Stunning in-house movement from the back. I like looking at the back of that about as much as Kim K.

          I suppose they're entry level if you're a trust fundie. Most of that entry level tier is a fair chunk of change.

  • +42

    I don’t own any luxury watches, but I own several watches that are very interesting to me.
    I think it is a bit like wine. There is nothing interesting or laudable about buying an expensive wine - quite the opposite, it often denotes a lack of knowledge and sophistication. Tracking down a great wine for an affordable price is much more impressive.
    With watches, I’m much more interested in the watch your Grandad brought back from the war, or the Seiko you customised with parts to reflect your taste than a marker you spend lots of money.

    • +3

      you customised with parts to reflect your taste than a marker you spend lots of money

      To me this applies to multiple things in life, a well cared for and tastefully modified motorcycle, rather than the latest top of the range Ducati, same for cars, computers, even houses if you're handy and have done a hec of a lot yourself.

    • What watches do you have and why are they interesting to you?

      • +2

        I have a Seiko digital LC A031 from the 1970s that was the first alarm, with an all metal case and front buttons. I love the retro futurism, and the idea that buttons hadn’t quite been worked out, plus cost cutting hadn’t led to chromed plastic yet.
        I also have a USSR raketa manual wind date with very unique looks. If you are tired of the usual suspects from Seiko 5 then check out the huge variety they made in the 70s and 80s. It keeps pretty good time.
        I have two Seiko 5 railway style day/date, though I wore them to death and they are scratched, chipped and beaten up. Both keep excellent time, typically needing no adjustment apart from maybe half a minute when I have to change the date following a non-31 day month.
        Also a couple of unremarkable mechanical and quartz watches given to me as gifts that I value for the sentimental reasons.
        I’ve also given a couple of pretty great watches as gifts, one was an Alba w670 which is an incredible retro look, another an Alba y824 that has a voice alarm in Japanese. Both gimmicky, but very unique and the recipients loved them.

  • +2

    Define luxury. Many people here thinks Seiko is luxury.

    • +24

      did you look at the pyramid

      • +15

        Someone forgot to look at the pyramid.

      • Not worth looking at when some Jack sell Chinese crap at the highest price.
        Let alone they are the latest entrant to sell dumb watches.

    • To be fair Grand Seiko and especially Credor are very much on the luxurious spectrum.

  • +17

    was about to say I am a new proud owner of a Tissot to mark the birth of my daughter, but after seeing the chart that OP posted, well forget it haha

    • +6

      Congratulations. And Tissot make very stylish watches.

      • thank you kind stranger :D I always thought I wanted a PRX but then everyone and their grandpa seem to have one. So at the end, I went with a Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles as I got hooked the first time I saw it. It did not disappoint! Such elegant watch with superb finishing details for the price :)

        • +1

          I have the PRX in blue,powermatic. It's a nice watch. Concerning how many are popping up on FB marketplace tho!

          • @inertia8: I think it is just because it is a very popular watch from all those youtube videos, so people tend to get it without trying it on first. Then a lot of them realised it does not suit them so offload it on fb marketplace. Wear yours in good health if you like the watch as it is though. It's still a beautiful watch :)

  • +12

    Why is Steeldive and Tommy Hilfiger missing from the pyramid?

    • +33

      Never mention a real luxury watch like Steeldive SD1970 with that other brand ever again or I will report you to the mods.

      • Mods are in the other brands group.

    • +3

      Naviforce not in that list either.

    • +3

      Where my Invicta Kings at

    • +4

      And where is Panerai, or Rado?

  • +6

    Bill Gates wears a Casio MDV106 so you need to flip the pyramid for him.

    • +12

      He doesn't need to buy a richard mille watch, when he could buy the richard mille business.

      • +2

        He could buy Richard Mille

        • +1

          He could buy

          • +1

            @Kangal: He could

            • +1
            • +1
              • +2

                @kaleidoscope: Apparently Bill Gates has spent Billions of dollars over the last 4-Decades into marketing his name into the history books. He has put mainstream media to sell himself as a successful entrepreneur that pushes humanity forward.

                Meanwhile, it's been found that he owns many shell companies, and has been expanding his wealth steadily.

                Bill Gates is the individual who owns the most land in the continental USA. It kind of blows my mind.

                • @Kangal: Interesting if true. And if not.

                • @Kangal: and also use those lands to grow potatoes which is the main supplier for McDonalds…

                  • +3

                    @Ti94: Well… compare that to Douglass and Kristine Tompkins who sold their successful clothing companies North Face and Espirit. And used USD $400 Million Dollars to buy up huge amounts of land in South America, in the Patagonia region, and marked the first and only efforts for conserving those untouched habitats. That entrepreneur/millionaire died a few years back, but his legacy lives on.

                • @Kangal: He is creating wealth in the name of humanity!

      • +1

        He probably has some taste and doesn't want to buy a Richard Mille. Bar perhaps a couple of their ladies watches, they are universally fugly and yuck.

  • +6

    Wheres the poll?

    I purchased the $9 Kmart smart watch.

    • +1

      Bummer, my Blaupunkt from Coles was the same price.

    • +2

      That's it, I'm gonna jump off the pyramid.

  • +5

    its all a trap. those damn things cost a bomb to service

    • +2

      People don’t service cars they can’t afford, what makes you think they are servicing those watches 😂

      • because they eventually stop turning

      • -4

        Because a lot of these 'luxury' brands have terrible movements inside - I've even heard people who own Rolexes say that it's normal to start desyncing after 3 months 😂

        • +1

          Because a lot of these 'luxury' brands have terrible movements inside

          Like which ones for example? Every watch from every brand in OP's "Luxury" tier and above has an exceptional movement inside in terms of durability and timekeeping. Possible exception of Cartier. Same goes for many of the in-house movements of brands in the tier below. What do you mean by Rolexes "desyncing" after 3 months?

  • +5

    I have watches I can afford and like. Got about 6 in the collection with a Longines, several Seiko's and a Casio.
    A few on my wishlist are some older Seiko's, a Raymond Weil, Squale and Meister Singer. I've had people think a $200 Seiko is worth several thousand, same for a $90 Casio Marlin with NATO strap. Ultimately they're the ones I like, approach it from what appeals to you. It's a nice but dangerous hobby.

    • +3

      Welcome to the weird club. Everytime i mention i want a Meister Singer to someone, they go….. what is that? LoL.

      • +1

        As the proud owner of a Meister Singer Neo single-hander, I highly recommend the purchase. Beautiful watches, and I love the "close enough" concept of telling the time.Best part is that they use a basic ETA movement so most watchmakers can service it.

  • +6

    Yes, i own a casio baby g watch. I bought it because it was $8 and I always wanted one.

    • Ok I'll bite, where did you get it for $8?

  • +2

    I own a Z1 Android 2.2 smart watch phone and that's an ancient piece of technology to find now. Before Android Wear and the Apple Watch.

    • +1

      I bought I’m watch around the same time :)

    • +1

      I've got a Kickstarter issue Pebble. Still alive, but the phone app disappeared 3 phones ago, just after the start-up was bought-out by Fitbit.

      • Oh man I really wanted a Pebble and once my Uni lecturer showed it off it was quite disappointing.

        I remember around the time of the Pebble seeing the Kreyos pop up. Good thing I never invested as it turned into a major trainwreck.

        • +1

          The second gen Pebble (Pebble Time?) is still the best smartwatch I ever owned, functionality and battery-wise.

          The first pebble… Not so much.

          Best "smart" alarm ever and gently buzzed your wrist when you were in in the light sleep cycle to wake you up, had a nap mode, didn't have a touch screen, voice typing was great, and battery lasted a bunch of days.

          When Fitbit acqui-hired the Pebble dev team I thought the Fitbit would immediately become a more polished version of the Pebble, but… Nope. Nothing. What a waste of talent and ideas.

      • +1

        I used https://rebble.io/ with my Kickstarter Pebbles for a few years after the buy-out. Looks like it might still be active?

        setup guide

    • You still wear the Z1, mate?

      • Only at bush doofs.

        • Must trip so many peeps out

  • +4

    I own a Citizen CA0791-81X dress watch, a Casio CA0791-81X travel watch and a Galaxy 6 Classic smart watch. I don't wear them to impress anyone, but because I like their look or functionality myself.

    P.S. I'm not a watch guy, but this pyramid looks ridiculous to me.

    • +14

      You kind of are a watch guy because you just rattled off the model numbers and you own more than one.

      • +7

        Citizen CA0791-81X
        Casio CA0791-81X

        Does not compute.

        • Oh yeah haha, I guess not a watch guy then.

        • +1

          Whoops, good pickup. It's a Casio AE-1500WH. I got it as a knock about travel watch with large display, but funnily enough it's my favourite daily driver now.

        • +1

          Where does my Casio fx-82au go on this pyramid?

      • +1

        Actually, I had to find the order for the Citizen and Google image search the Casio. My memory isn't that good these days! 🙂

  • +7

    the luxury of not having any weight on my wrist

  • +3

    Apple Watch stainless steel, bought off eBay. So no I wouldn't call it luxury. Smart watches are great because they remove standard watches from the equation entirely. You don't need to feel bad about not having the $40,000 astronaut watch or whatever because you have the best smart watch for like only $500. I guess the Ultra changes that if you consider it the best smart watch. The Android ones for like $500 look mighty fine too, you can have among the best Android watches for the fraction of the price of the best normal watch.

    • +2

      I'm not a fan of wearing things on my wrist, but got a GW6 to monitor my health and fitness. If I'm going to wear a watch, it may as well be something that could potentially give me more time. This was after a fatal heart-attack in the family that could possibly have been avoided if any tachycardia were detected.

    • NOT in the pyramid

  • +1

    Have a stupid number of Swatch watches (what can I say, teacher and low budget colourful wonders), and a few Seikos.

    Have been looking at 'entry level' luxury watches but honestly would prefer buying vintage over new.

    • do you own any of the collaborations with omega blancpain?

      i have the moon watch.. absolutely love it,

      • No but they come up for auction regularly enough. Selling price around $250 - 400 depending on model. Seen last 12 months a brand new moon, saturn and Antarctic one here in Adelaide all auctioned off.

  • +1

    I couldn't be happier with my Withings Scanwatch Horizon. Smart, 30-day battery charge, and beautiful! Watch does what I want it to do and doesn't do what I don't want it to do (i.e., I don't use notifications).

  • +2

    no.
    but i have some oats in the pantry if that helps

  • +10

    I like to watch.

  • +22

    Richard Mille is hot garbage. They have no heritage, and are generally shat on by watch enthusiasts. It's a new brand that makes gaudy, bulky crap that only rappers would wear to flex while sitting courtside at NBA games. Ranking it above the holy trinity (AP, Patek, Vacheron) is insane.

    I own a couple of 'luxury' watches. My daily is Rolex Explorer (understated, not blingy) and a Cartier Tank for formal occasions. I also have a handful of other watches that I like to swap around like a G-Shock square and Laco pilot. I'm pretty much set, although if I could afford it, I'd love a Speedie.

    • Even if I was a billionaire, I doubt I'd wear RM or J&C.

      Too gaudy for me. I'd 'settle' for a Patek.

      They remind me of Panerai. They were all the rage… they aren't even mentioned in the pyramid or discussed anymore.

      I want to like a moonwatch but it's just too big for my wrist.

    • Nice one! Explorer is a do-it-all.

    • +1

      I'm convinced brands like RM are just trolling the ultra rich with the $5 plastic crap they pump out for hundreds of thousands.

    • Thats like saying bugatti make shitty cars 🤣🤣

  • +2

    I have not really luxury according to your pyramid - Oris x3 and Tag x2. I'd like a Cartier one day but otherwise I'm content. (Handbags are my weakness, not watches).

    • I'd like a Cartier one day but otherwise I'm content.

      But why though? I’m asking this as someone whose mother has easily spent an eye watering amount on handbags in her lifetime - an amount I’d be too embarrassed to state publicly on here.

      • I really like the look of the Ballon Bleu. But while I could drop that amount on a handbag I'm reluctant to on a watch. I know as far as heritage goes, Cartier is more of a fashion item than anything else. (Which handbags are. My logic sucks. I just love handbags. Your Mum's handbag collection sounds like mine.)

        I'd also not say no to an Omega Constellation, come to think of it…

        • I have the Cartier Santos Large. Very happy to have a nice watch.

  • +8

    Have owned quite a few but am now back to a Seiko SPB143 (about $1000 retail, ignore Seiko RRP lol) daily wear and a few Swatches (Moonswatch, Fifty Fathoms collab, Simpsons) for fun.

    As far as luxury goes, I have owned a Vacheron Constantin which is traditionally considered one of the Holy Trinity of watchmaking brands. The other two are AP and PP. Jacob and Co and Richard Mille do do incredible things technically but for me they are way too gaudy lol. I have also owned Rolex, Cartier, Omega, IWC and Tudor.

    Of all the fancy watches I have owned my favourite would be the Cartier Santos medium. Beautiful watch with a great history and wears well on both the bracelet or a leather strap with a deployant clasp.

    Side note: Anyone that thinks people notice their watch is delusional 99% of the time. I wore my Simpsons Swatch once and received more questions and comments on it within a couple of hours than I ever received about any other watch I wore.

  • +2

    Does a roughed up 1960s Omega Seamaster that doesn’t work count?

    • +9

      No, that's not worth anything so you might as well let me take it off your hands.

    • +7

      roughed up

      just call it 'patina'

  • +4

    Casio is S++ tier and belongs on top of that pyramid OP. My Casio gets as much wear as my Swiss and high end Seiko watches

  • I do but want to sell it. Was a gift from family, but haven't worn it since covid and it's not something I enjoy wearing.

  • +5

    Yep - Love them. Headlines from the collection are:

    • Rolex Sky-dweller (daily driver)
    • IWC Pilot Chrono - Le Petit Prince
    • Omega DeVille 1983 - Dad's 21st watch
    • A few fun beaters like the moonswatch and Casio G Shock that I'll swear by and wear as happily as my SD.

    I think it could be completed with the addition of a JLC reverso tribute calendar and Patek Calatrava.

    Imo - Rolexes all the way. They are built to survive anything, tell the best time (mine is around +.30 seconds a day two years into ownership), and aren't priced for more than what they are. I have experienced plenty of compliments, and different service in Asia.

    That said, my boss earns 3-4x what I do and slings an early gen Fitbit. So… Luxury watches are very much IYKYK.

    • +7

      I have experienced plenty of compliments, and different service in Asia.

      Hey, me too! Especially from the guy who sold me my Rolex for $30 in 1997 at a Bangkok street market.

      • Gee! … that bastard rip you off badly … USD$10 max …

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