I just don't get the concept or the allure of them.
Sure some options may be needed but for the average life style the $10 Timex (type) has been all that the majority needed.
I have been a working man all my life and it made no sense to pay any more then I needed to get through my daily life.
Since I retired I have pretty much quit wearing a watch other then maybe when on a trip.
I don't argue with buying the quality I need but I don't need to over buy.
Same concept with my guns, 99.9% of any gun I have bought has the ability to shoot better then I am capable of so why would I spend the big bucks for one when I can buy several for the equal amount. Or buy more ammo for the one lesser price one.

Cars, houses, guns, golf clubs, clothes, everything has levels from used to top level excess.

Sometimes you want to just look good, which means you feel good....

If one has the means, it's highly recommended....

Define what you think of as "expensive" for context?

I'll agree with HRK

No different than wanting a more expensive gun, car, etc.

Not everyone wants to drive a Mitsubishi Mirage G4, or carry a HiPoint.

I like watches, and have a small variety, but on the lower price range of the scale.
I've long pined for an Omega Moonwatch, but at $9k it's just a dream for now.

The hyper expensive watches, most don't have much appeal to me. Engineering exercises, and some are pretty fascinating in their operation, but when it costs more than my house, I'm out

I can get by with what I need but there is something special about a Glencairn glass with a pour of Colonel EH Taylor single barrel Bourbon VS some Jim Beam in a dixie cup

Watches are no different

Some of the finer things in life are well worth it

How large does a women's diamond ring "need" to be?
Mostly driven by egos and marketing and applies to almost all things.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I'll agree with HRK

No different than wanting a more expensive gun, car, etc.

Not everyone wants to drive a Mitsubishi Mirage G4, or carry a HiPoint.

I like watches, and have a small variety, but on the lower price range of the scale.
I've long pined for an Omega Moonwatch, but at $9k it's just a dream for now.

The hyper expensive watches, most don't have much appeal to me. Engineering exercises, and some are pretty fascinating in their operation, but when it costs more than my house, I'm out

I don’t wear jewelry but watches! The Omega Moonwatch is my dream!

If you carry a phone any watch is redundant.

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I can get by with what I need but there is something special about a Glencairn glass with a pour of Colonel EH Taylor single barrel Bourbon VS some Jim Beam in a dixie cup

This might very well be the best analogy I have heard in my 70+ years on this planet.

I totally get the pleasure of owning/wearing/using expensive things.

My budget, however, does not.

My dream - $1xx,xxx 2026 C8 Corvette.

Reality - $12K 1990 C4 Corvette.

Somehow, I'm perfectly happy with and grateful for what I CAN afford.

More on-topic: Watches, rings and suchlike have never done it for me. Largely due to a life spent in electronics/electricity/maintenance where such things were a safety hazard.

It's no different than owning any other luxury item: cars, jewelry, guns, pens, etc. Some people either like owning expensive stuff for its own sake or maybe for the statement they perceive it makes about them to others.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
If you carry a phone any watch is redundant.

Nonsense. A pocket watch would be redundant, but then again, I don’t want to have to pull something out of my pocket every time I want to check the time, which is why I wear a wristwatch.

Because I have the means, and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into luxury goods like a fine watch. My tastes are more along the line of Christopher Ward vs Rolex, although I am in the market for a certain Omega.

Its the same reason I drive a Porsche instead of a Hyundai. Both would get me where I need to go, but the Porsche does it in more style, and is light years ahead in driving experience.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
If you carry a phone any watch is redundant.

I know, I just call someone and ask them what time it is.

While some (most?) that wear expensive watches (or possess other expensive/exclusive items) appreciate the craftsmanship, there's definitely a group (and NOT an insignificant one!) that are part of the attention craving 'Look at Me' crowd, and either think they're cool due to such possessions, or want others to think they're cool.

I like nice watches. I worked very hard in my career and want a little 'jewelry bling'! I figure I earned it and if I have the discretionary money, why not!

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
If you carry a phone any watch is redundant.

A watch is more convenient than a phone just like a phone is more convenient than a laptop. But the existence of the phone does not eliminate the need for the laptop.

There's a sweet spot in the ~$200-$500 range where a watch is noticeably better/nicer than a cheap sub-$100 watch, yet still relatively affordable.

Anything above that is mostly about status/luxury, rather than functional improvements.

I like watches, but I'm not going to drop thousands on one.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
If you carry a phone any watch is redundant.

In general, sure. You can solely use your phone to tell the time and get by.

But there are situations in which a watch is handier than a phone.

For one, you don't need a free hand to look at your watch.

You also don't have to dig it out of your pocket.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
While some (most?) that wear expensive watches (or possess other expensive/exclusive items) appreciate the craftsmanship, there's definitely a group (and NOT an insignificant one!) that are part of the attention craving 'Look at Me' crowd, and either think they're cool due to such possessions, or want others to think they're cool.

I work with a guy like that. He's a cop, but his wife makes multi-million dollars as a corporate exec. Everything about his personality is centered around "look at the expensive toys I have". Always bragging about his latest luxury watch, new luxury car, exotic material bathroom remodel, upcoming expensive vacation, etc.

It's exhausting.

Dude wears a $15k Rolex Milgauss on duty, meanwhile I'm rocking a $30 plastic Casio as my duty watch because if it gets bloody or broken it's not a big deal.

And you know what? They both tell the same time.

I have to side with the op on this one. Plus, it screws up my beautiful tan!

quote:

Expensive watches, WHY?

The quest for status is a human reality, so prevalent that it must be tied to a Darwinian survival mechanism somehow. The desire to impress through one's possessions is an attempt to acquire status. I would distinguish preference for expensive watches from a desire for expensive food and drink, the former being less tied to physical pleasure derived from sensory input, although many people seem to get a boost out of wearing their wealth/success on their sleeves. Whole industries exist to supply this demand, and it drives the popularity/perceived value of many products. Why would the watch industry be different?

One other thing, price does not always equal quality in the watch world, depending on how you define quality. Rolexes, for one, are notoriously poor at keeping time, enough so that it has become somewhat of a joke. More important, it seems, is the use of precious metals and jewels to affect an expensive presentation.

The way technology and miniaturization is progressing makes me think that we will soon have watches that are as accurate as our phones and computers based on GPS signals or network time synchronization algorithms such as NTP (I think there are already watches that do NTP, or at least query NTP servers, the Apple Watch for one).