Expensive watches, WHY?

June 19, 2026, 11:54 PM

Snapping Twig

Nice things tend to work better, last longer.
I still have my Rolex Sub Date I bought in '82, looks brand new and I wore it through thick and thin 24/7 365 for over 20 years. Only took it off to clean it with a toothbrush or send it in for 10 year service.

My firearms are similar, high quality, go bang every time you pull the trigger. I take them hunting, keep 'em clean and they just work.

Fishing, mostly custom rods and high end reels. Never fail.

My Dad was cheap and he taught me a lesson. He ALWAYS bought the bargain and he ended up buying everything 3 times. Cheap crap is crap.

America is free, so any path you choose is the right one for you. Some of us splurge, some prefer saving. As long as I do not endanger our savings or financial structure and have the resources, I choose the good thing or wait till I have the savings to do so.

Watches are the only acceptable jewelry for men. The manufacture of such a precision machine out of materials and design of superior quality that is so extremely durable and precise is the draw for many. Somebody made this, by hand.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Snapping Twig,

June 20, 2026, 05:20 AM

coyotedude

As a business owner, part of my job is patting others on the back with an atta' boy/girl gift, words, etc. When it comes to patting myself on the back, which is seldom, I reward myself with something like a watch, etc.

June 20, 2026, 07:04 AM

MNSIG

quote:
Originally posted by joel9507:
Yep. The extra weight and cost are pointless.

Have you seen the EDC load out some guys on here carry?

June 20, 2026, 07:16 AM

stickman428

What is one of the biggest, longest running threads on Sigforum?

A watch thread. Why do you think that is OP? My guess is there are probably a few people here who appreciate watches.

June 20, 2026, 07:37 AM

6guns

^^^ stick, I'll see you over there!

June 20, 2026, 09:18 AM

Calif Phil

Always have worn a watch since I was a kid. Have several watches in $500-1500 price range, a few years ago, had a chance to buy a Submariner. I get a good feeling every time I slip it on my wrist.

June 20, 2026, 09:41 AM

lastmanstanding

I consider myself fortunate. I cannot get accustomed to wearing any jewelry or carrying 5lbs of stuff in my pocket. I honestly cannot fathom carrying around all the things many designate as their edc stuff. Knives, watches, money clips, flashlights and on and on. I wore my wedding ring one night. I worked in the electrical field at the time and rings and other jewelry were not to be worn. Haven't put it on since. I watch baseball players pitch or run the bases with five pounds of necklace around their necks and it drives me crazy. I've always wondered if pitchers would be better without all that hanging around their necks. I don't carry my gun very often anymore and it took me a lot of holsters to find one I could even get along with for a few hours.

Wearing these gigantic watches some wear baffles me how that can be comfortable. My phone in my pocket is annoying. My wallet is in my truck console anytime I'm driving and in the drawer when at home. My key fob drives me crazy but it stays in my pocket to assure me I don't lock myself out of my truck. I think I have saved a lot of money over the years by being a minimalist in this regard. And being 71 years of age I cannot remember where not having a watch or knife or any other gadget on me at any given moment caused me any great regret.

June 20, 2026, 11:37 AM

snwghst

quote:
Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
I consider myself fortunate. I cannot get accustomed to wearing any jewelry or carrying 5lbs of stuff in my pocket. I honestly cannot fathom carrying around all the things many designate as their edc stuff. Knives, watches, money clips, flashlights and on and on. I wore my wedding ring one night. I worked in the electrical field at the time and rings and other jewelry were not to be worn. Haven't put it on since. I watch baseball players pitch or run the bases with five pounds of necklace around their necks and it drives me crazy. I've always wondered if pitchers would be better without all that hanging around their necks. I don't carry my gun very often anymore and it took me a lot of holsters to find one I could even get along with for a few hours.

Wearing these gigantic watches some wear baffles me how that can be comfortable. My phone in my pocket is annoying. My wallet is in my truck console anytime I'm driving and in the drawer when at home. My key fob drives me crazy but it stays in my pocket to assure me I don't lock myself out of my truck. I think I have saved a lot of money over the years by being a minimalist in this regard. And being 71 years of age I cannot remember where not having a watch or knife or any other gadget on me at any given moment caused me any great regret.

I'm the same way...if I don't need my wallet for anything, I just have cash in my pocket when I'm going to purchase something

June 20, 2026, 11:45 AM

mdblanton

Mechanical watches fascinate me. Such precision engineering in fabrication and assembly. I especially enjoy the videos showing movements being assembled by a skilled craftsman.

I only have one ‘expensive’ watch, a Rolex Sea Dweller 16600, I purchased in 1999. Given the prices in those days I could rationalize as it as only costing $129/year. It has roughly tripled in value since then. Could there have been better investments in 1999 - probably. Would they have given me the same enjoyment - absolutely not. I enjoy looking at all of the new models but don’t think I could bring myself to replace the 16600. I’m certainly not interested in spending what new Rolexes cost and that pales in comparison to Patek, AP, etc…. If I was recommending a new diver model for anyone, it would be a Tudor Pelagos which I believe is the best value going in today’s market.

June 20, 2026, 12:25 PM

Ranger41

I started wearing a watch as a kid. How else was I going to get home "on time." 20 years military service made watch wearing a life long habit. About 15 years ago I splurged on a Rolex GMT Master II. I wear it every day. Something about being all surgical stainless steel and its overall build quality attracted me and even after 15 years of daily wear it still looks new. I can't be the only one who appreciates them as retail has gone over $8K and they are waitlisted.

June 20, 2026, 01:24 PM

nhracecraft

quote:
Originally posted by mdblanton:
Mechanical watches fascinate me. Such precision engineering in fabrication and assembly. I especially enjoy the videos showing movements being assembled by a skilled craftsman.

If I was recommending a new diver model for anyone, it would be a Tudor Pelagos which I believe is the best value going in today’s market.

Is it worth 4.5x-5x the price of a Tissot SeaStar 2000?

June 20, 2026, 01:28 PM

Speedbird

'Merica

I like cars, guitars and guns (Have way more than I need/practical). Not me, but I can see watches are pretty much the same thing. No different than some females love jewelry or 5 even 10 digit engagement rings.

As for watches, I've been sporting a Garmin about 5 years now. One day I will have a gold Bulova like my Uncle got as a retirement gift from the railroad (But were talking under 6 bills)

June 20, 2026, 01:28 PM

ElToro

Becuaee they are nice. And the craftsmanship to make them is awesome.

I have several Rolexes. I read a 40$ gshock almost daily. I have 2 colt custom shop 1911 and gucci’d out LMT rifle. I ccw a 350 j frame I picked up used. People just like to collect nice things I collect guns and watches.

June 20, 2026, 02:10 PM

stickman428

quote:
Originally posted by nhracecraft:
quote:
Originally posted by mdblanton:
Mechanical watches fascinate me. Such precision engineering in fabrication and assembly. I especially enjoy the videos showing movements being assembled by a skilled craftsman.

If I was recommending a new diver model for anyone, it would be a Tudor Pelagos which I believe is the best value going in today’s market.

Is it worth 4.5x-5x the price of a Tissot SeaStar 2000?

Yes. Absolutely. I own multiple Turor Pelagos and Tissot SeaStar watches. The Pelagos is IMO the best daily watch one can buy if they can afford it.

The Pelagos has an exquisite movement. The titanium makes it light and comfy on the wrist, especially in warmer weather as it resists heat better than SS and the clasp is the best ever made. I own a blue dial one too but my lefty Pelagos is my favorite. The alternating red/black “roulette” date wheel is also a neat touch.

June 20, 2026, 04:31 PM

Maestro

I own one Omega that I purchased to mark a special occasion, and I wear it simply because I love everything about the watch and it makes me happy. For me, it was worth the cost. YMMV.

June 20, 2026, 06:13 PM

Appliance Brad

I love mechanical watches even though I wear a GShock Rangemaster most days. My first nice watch was a HS graduation present, a Seiko autowinder that I still wear.

They are cool machines that you can wear. I work a bunch, many weeks 80-100 hours. The last watch I purchased (from David of course) was a couple hundred bucks. The watch I'm currently chasing is 20 times that much. They bring me a small amount of joy and the chase after some of them is fun.

Some people spend lots of time an money on their yard, others on classic cars or super nice firearms. I like watches.

Do what brings you joy. Life is too short.

June 20, 2026, 07:13 PM

vthoky

I believe this is the simple answer to the thread’s title question:

quote:
Originally posted by Maestro:
I love everything about the watch and it makes me happy.

Even more pointedly:

quote:
it makes me happy.

Honestly, I enjoy all the watches I have (not that any of them are particularly expensive in the grand scale) and I’m probably done buying. There’s one more relatively-hard-to-find Seiko I want, and I might get myself a Grand Seiko after I retire (when, of course, I won’t need a watch so much).