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 expired

  • 232
    Yes
  • 502
    No
  • 56
    What is a watch?

Comments

    • +1

      Agreed. How else would we afford Rolexes if we don't scrimp every cent.

      • +1

        Won't spend money on anything that isn't on a sale. Will drop 15k at a heartbeat if I got the call from the AD.

        • What Rolex are you buying for 15K when an "AD calls you" ? lol. Try 50k+

          Bargains are not exclusive to $2 raspberries from coles.

          I got a GS Skyflake for 40% off, that was a bargain but it was still $5k.

          • @coffeeinmyveins: Plenty of Rolex under $15k if you can pay retail. Submariner, Explorer and Explorer 2, Oyster Perpetual, Airking.

            Problem they will have is getting the chance to pay retail and that will mean spending $50k on other crap you don’t actually want.

  • Apparently I love buying a first watch again and again, must keep forgetting I already have one… one day i might even spend as much as a “real” watch!

  • -5

    Shouldn't Rolex be at the top of the pyramid? I mean, the people who wear Rolex must be the manliest of alpha male, dripping with wealth, suave and style?

    • Shoukdve added the /s at the end to avoid the negs, either that or a few of rolly wearers bought them for exactly that reason haha

  • If it isn't a Swatch, is it even really a luxury watch at all?

  • Rolex SS only baby

    • Pepsi GMT thanks :D

      • Solid gold deepsea only please.

      • I got my Pepsi oyster in 2022 and a Panda this year, i'm retired :)

  • +2

    I have a citizen and casio watch from when I was a kid in the 80s, is that classed as luxury? 🤣

    Never gave it much thought, I don't buy anything to impress other people

    • +1

      They might be collectable & worth something. Please post pics?

  • I’ve got multiple. But I’ve been collecting, buying and selling for over 10 years.

    Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time 7900V is my current most expensive piece. Wanted one ever since I saw the original Gen II overseas. Took well over 5 years of buying / selling / trading to acquire.

    I also have Breitling, IWC, and Bremont aviation inspired watches. Have previously owned everything from Rolex to TAG, omega, Blancpain, Glashutte, H Moser, JLC and Tudor.

    • How was the Moser owning experience?

      • Beautiful! Actually one of the watches I regret selling. Here’s some pics and a video.

        The ONLY negative thing I had to say about it was damn that curved crystal made it near impossible to get a clear non-reflective photo of it. It was super easy to wear casually and also with more formal attire as well.

        The other watch I regret selling is my GMT Master II which I purchased from Rolex with zero purchase history back in about 2016 lol. Sold it a year or so later and then the boom happened. Not a chance I could buy one again from an AD as most of my purchase history is overseas or through second hand dealers.

        • Great photo and video mate. Thank you for sharing.

  • $10 Casio over here

  • +2

    i do own a few rolexs and omega - but im a hobbyist and i ain't rich or want to 'impress the boss'. It's just something I enjoy and i've amassed a few vintage stainless steel pieces over the years before they became a social media flexing thing and are way overpriced now.

    why would you impress your boss with a nice watch anyway? if anything, they'll probably think you're being overpaid.

    anyway, getting a luxury watch for work reasons don't mean much in Australia afaik. Maybe in other countries, not so much here.

    btw i utterly disagree with that pyramid - 2nd tier is where the real watch aficionados live, long history and heritage of horological finesse. RM, Jacob & Co has little to no heritage and are expensive so they can pander to the rich that have nothing better to throw their money at.

    • why would you impress your boss with a nice watch anyway? if anything, they'll probably think you're being overpaid.

      Imagine trying to impress someone who objectively is more successful than you by spending your money on something dumb like a luxury watch to impress them.

      If I was the boss I wouldn't think they are overpaid, I'd just think they lack financial literacy and probably aren't suitable for their job.

      • Mmm, not everyone sees watches as an investment. Most buy them for personal enjoyment, like jewelry or art. It doesn't really speak to their financial literacy, it speaks to how much disposable income a person has to spend on non essential wants.

  • I am happy to say that I am poor enough to have never heard of any of the brands at the very top of the pyramid, but OK enough (not really…"vintage" versions don't count I expect 🤣) over the years have one watch from a brand or two from "impress the boss" down to "beginners".The "impress your boss" was a gift for a milestone anniversary…. and it was a vintage.

  • Get a Grand Seiko and stop.
    If you really want another watch - get another Grand Seiko :)

    • I have a GS and I find it hard to bring it out as a daily. Unless you get one of the sport ones.

  • -3

    i know many people who simple go on ChinaRep or Reptime on reddit and get close to Genuine watches for 1-5% of the price. i think its ridiculous to spend so much on a watch just for luxury and looks, a watch is something nobody but yourself really sees anyway. The fact that so many watches these days have reps that make genuine look the same as the repto 99.9999% of us, makes me think any watch is just a fake one anyway when people wear them out, especially if the person is young. so go ahead and buy an expensive watch, but its not worth it, people will assume its fake if they see it. thats not something you want. get something that cant be assumed to be fake.

    • -1

      I, and 'many people' I know buy fakes, so therefore, I assume everyone who wears an expensive watch is also faking. Great prison logic there.

      • yes, i do. who are you to know what i think. always being skeptical is better then always thinking what i see is what it is. you do you though. hopefully the next time you see joe blow with a rolex you go "wow thats so awesome" without thinking twice

        • -2

          The only “American” people I or any of my friends know are actors therefore everytime I see any American person they must be an actor.

        • +1

          yes, i do. who are you to know what i think

          Because that's literally what you just said?

          hopefully the next time you see joe blow with a rolex you go "wow thats so awesome" without thinking twice

          NOW you're projecting. I don't think any such thing, nor am I awestruck by watches. They're a fun novelty. What I've personally witnessed, however, is 'Joe Blow' looking guys in trackies blowing tens of thousands on watches in ADs, so unlike you, I wouldn't presume to know what someone is wearing. The only people hyper-fixating on whether someone else is wearing a fake or not, buy fakes and have a guilty conscience.

          i think its ridiculous to spend so much on a watch just for luxury and looks

          Yep, that's the only reason people own watches. It's not sentimentality, collectibility, self-satisfaction, or appreciation of history or engineering. Everyone is like you, and buys things solely to project status and image. Shallow and superficial thinking. If that's how your brain works, no wonder you think fakes are amazing.

    • For some people splashing $15k on a watch is the same as you splashing $150 on a rep so who are you to tell them they're wrong? Reps don't look or feel like genuine anyway.

      • +1

        Plenty of $700 reps that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference on, even the movements have been reverse engineered.

        Very few tells on the replicas these days. In fact i have a mate who had a genuine sub and a fake sub that he wears daily so the gen doesn't get scuffed. Turns out he was wearing the replica so often and no one could tell the difference that he ended up selling the gen.

        • -1

          fake sub that he wears daily so the gen doesn't get scuffed

          my douche alert has gone off.

        • I bet I could tell the difference. Good luck reverse engineering a proper in-house movement at that price point. Any watch with a good display casebook shows the movement and finishing off through the sapphire and you can't fake that.

          If you're worried about a watch getting scuffed from everyday wear it means you can't afford it.

    • +2

      I think it’s ridiculous to spend so much on a watch just for luxury and looks.

      95% of the people I know wouldn’t even notice the watch on my wrist. I wear it for me, not for them. Of the people that say, ‘oh that’s a nice watch what is it?’, and I tell them the brand, 95% of those people would go ‘never heard of it’.

    • I would rather people think I'm wearing a fake. If a stranger ask about my watch I tell them I got it from the market in Thailand. I don't buy a watch to impress others.

    • a watch is something nobody but yourself really sees anyway

      So why would you want to be wearing a fake, knowing that you are pretending to be something you aren't?

      people will assume its fake if they see it. thats not something you want. get something that cant be assumed to be fake.

      Literally no-one assumes that every luxury watch is a fake unless you're a 12 year old wearing a gaudy Rolex.

      People who know, know. And the people who don't, aren't worth talking to about watches.

  • I am a big fan of JLC and own a couple of JLC reversos and other JLC like geographic, ultra thin moon and memovox. Also have a basic patek 5119 which I bought at a very good price on ebay years ago, other watches include ALS 1815 up down and Saxonia Outsize Date, some IWCs like basic pilot and ingenieur, vacheron overseas from the late 90s/early 00's. I used to own a Gerald Genta mickey mouse but I sold it as I never wore it.

    • Amazing collection - well done!

    • Which piece is your favourite?

      • I think the reverso sun Moon, I have both the rose gold/ white dial and the white gold/black dial versions, and I find the grande taille size fits me the best, anything bigger looks huge on my wrist

        White gold version:
        https://www.europeanwatch.com/watch/Jaeger-LeCoultre-270.3.6…

        Rose gold version:
        https://www.europeanwatch.com/14244.html

        Still looking for another reverso or maybe the Patek 6000 at a good price, was also dreaming about the Lange 1 but since covid prices have gone crazy and the low AUD hurts too.

        • Love the date on the Lange 1. I am a fan of the OG saxonia date with the micro rotor movement.

  • I got a diamond encrusted Apple Watch.

    • I have a crusty watch, is that similar?

  • Right at the bottom of the pyramid - a couple of Baby Gs for yard work (first one is falling apart) and the rest of my watches aren't even listed. Daily driver currently an Apple watch, nothing flash, just functional. I think other than that, my most expensive is a Burberry which isn't even a watch brand as such.
    I do have my eye on a nice watch for when I retire though.

  • -1

    Isn't every watch a luxury watch these days? Everyone has a smartphone these days, so you don't need a watch to tell the time. Ergo, any given watch is a luxury.

    • That’s not the definition of luxury

  • Current daily a Arab Dial Seiko 5 - Clean, and lowkey piece.

    Only downside is that 42mm is slightly on the larger side for my wrist

  • Occasionally umm and ah over entry level watches according to that pyramid but figure I don't want to spend a couple grand on a watch and have to spend $200 every 5-10 years to service it. So "not a luxury watch" here.

    Side note, I'm confused, Tissot and Hamilton (and Seiko) are the same tier as Timex and Casio?

    • +4

      $200… I wish.

      H. Moser was $2,000 to service, my VC is currently in service (invoice here) and that will be $2,160. There was a further $5,300 in optional servicing costs.

      Gotta pay to play though. It’s like owning a Lambo and complaining about the maintenance.

      Not to mention, the worst part about servicing higher end watches - the VC has been gone since March. From that invoice in April they estimated 10-12 weeks, which in real terms means 12-16 weeks. So hopefully sometime in July she pops back into my hands.

      • damn. i thought 1.3 to repair the speedy was steep!

        Just out of curiosity, do you follow a/the service schedule? or just send it whenever you feel like or something goes wrong? have a couple of coming up to 10 years old now (my GS is 12!) and i figure i should probably service them, but they're keeping perfect time and have no issues other than cosmetic from being worn.

        • Naar mate, at those prices f the service schedule. But the VC is 5 years old now and date was playing up. I’m actually hoping (fingers crossed) they fix it under warranty but I’ll find out when I get it back I guess.

          H Moser I damaged the crown and it needed a service for them to change the crown according to them. Otherwise it would have been maybe $400-500 (crown was 18ct gold).

      • Hows the VC ownership?

        • Absolutely love it. Though I’m glad the new Overseas has a more tapered bracelet. The one on my 7900v is a hefty chonk.

          The dial is absolutely mesmerising. It’s a black enamel with hand painted blue on top and amazing in different lights.

          My other favourite about the watch is the addition of the leather strap and rubber strap that can quick change so it makes it very versatile.

          • @Pelicannn: Great watch, shame no hacking seconds though

            • @Duckie2hh: Ha. Yup. It’s pretty shameful hey. For any new mechanical calibre it really should be a given in this century.

        • +2

          Some pics here. First video was first day of ownership. Couldn’t take my eyes off the dial.

      • My old VC overseas is going to cost me about $2300 to service including laser welding as there's a little dent near the crown, and I bought the watch for less than $5000!

      • $2160 is insane!! That's about as much or more than the watches I have looked at (entry level stuff like Mido, Oris, Tissot, Seiko).
        Yeah remember a friend of mine also having the long wait to get his IWC back.

  • +2

    yes.
    rolex , iwc , patek , omega , fp journe , grand seiko , jlc , Lange & sohne.

    not a real fan of richard mille , .maybe one or 2 designs (simpler seems better)

    currently hunting for a cartier crash and looking at the AP Royal Oak - 26574BC.OO.1220BC.02 aka john mayer ap

  • Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 42mm. Worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. https://www.omegawatches.com/en-au/watch-omega-seamaster-pla…

  • Nope, very happy with my Apple watch series 4…. I own a swatch (yeah bottom of the pyramid…) which was a gift to me back in uni days and I keep it in my drawer for the memories (hasn't been worn for over a decade or so)

  • +1

    By lux watch you mean a top pick from AliExpress….. Naviforce.

  • Old gen Fitbit as a daily driver

    Casio CA53W-1 when I'm suiting up and want panties dropping en masse.

  • -2

    I don't like wearing watches as it makes me feel shackled to the time. Also I find luxury watches as a status symbol to be a bit of a wank.

    • Do you not have a phone then? Even a dumb phone tells the time.

      • +1

        I would suggest Windows would also find someone with an iPhone 15 pro 1TB … also a bit of a wank.

    • Ironically I like wearing a watch to check the time as it stops me looking at my phone haha.

  • Got a Panerai for my wedding about 3 years ago (PAM00926). I've always liked the look of PAMs and wanted to be a bit different compared to something a bit more common like Omega/IWC etc.

  • According to the pyramid I own my first real luxury watch.

    I received it as a matching set with my wife for our wedding.

    I personally wouldn’t buy a luxury watch though.

  • Rolex and Longines.

    Both were gifts. I prefer the Longines because of the leather band. I haven’t been a fan of metal bands since high school.

    Leather bands suit my style when I dress up for occasions.

    But these days I prefer to wear an Apple Watch for convenience and features whilst driving, and a Casio for when I’m out hiking, camping etc

  • I have a dozen watches all non luxury; apparently.

    My daily driver is my Bulova 96B158 precisionist. I just like looking at the seconds hand smooth motion.

    I also like checking amazon au for its price, from time to time (no pun intended), to see how much of a bargain it was when I bought it.

    • What do you mean by “apparently”? Isn’t it clear if it’s luxury or not?

  • Apparently i impress the boss but i much prefer to just look at it then wear it out.

  • I don't have a luxury watch but I do have have a premium field watch. It's a Tudor Ranger on strap. It goes with everything, with a suit or shorts.

  • I haven't worn a watch since I got my first mobile phone. I'm surrounded by clocks all day, almost everywhere.

  • got a few. Favourite is my breitling navitimer. bunch of casios too. I'm a hardcore fan!

  • +1

    Casio and Tissot in the same level, that hurts

    • Yeah needs another tier to put Casio, Timex and Swatch. No way Tissot is on the same tier, most plebs would think it luxury given it's Swiss (although they are only slightly more exxy than Seiko).

      • +1

        Anything above $100 is luxury for a watch
        calling me plebs ?

        • +1

          plebs

      • Casio deserves its own tier at the top considering how many people here rocking AP's, VC's and Rolex have a Casio as well.

  • who else googled the top of the pyramid just to see how much they cost?

    i like watches but i cannot afford a luxury watch based on this pyramid

    feel like we wouldnt have a single person on Ozbargain who owns a watch in the top tier

    i certainly dont know anyone who owns a watch at 'that' level do know a few people who have Rolex and Omegas

  • The most expensive watch I have is a Seiko sarb017. Honestly, I don't think I will ever need anything nicer.

  • -1

    I have a Rolex datejust with diamonds. I appreciate the design and I wear it daily.

  • -1

    I have a fitbit. Will probably get a new Apple Watch when they come out in September.

    Do not see the appeal of a luxury watch. Would rather spend the money on technology or car or entertainment.

    • You don't see the appeal of a luxury watch and then say you'd rather spend the money on a car.

      People buy luxury watches for the same reason not everyone is driving around in a Toyota Camry.

      • -2

        Not sure what your point is.

        • You literally said "I don't get the appeal of {x} I'd rather by {y} or {z}".

          You're almost there.

  • Whilst most of my watches would probably be seen as a luxury to most people, I only have one watch I (and most watch enthusiasts) consider to be from a luxury brand.

  • "First Real Watch" here.
    Bought a mechanical Tag whilst in Switzerland, something to remember the trip by.

  • Bought a couple of old Soviet mechanicals from eBay, ended up with Tudor, Omega, JLC, Kurono, M.A.D., Casio Seiko, et al. Plus a bunch of watchmaking tools.

    Really I just like the learning bit of the hobby, but it’s a complete money pit.

    • Come on, do you actually wear that MAD watch out?

    • +2

      Vostok has entered the chat

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