Does it make sense to drop $4K on a watch at 21?
Hey all,
Got a FT offer at a BB and want to celebrate with a new watch. I’ve got my eyes on an Omega Seamaster AT and have wanted it for a while, but it’s a bit over 1/3 my savings. Does it make sense to cop? Or should I go with a more humbler, Nomos Ludwig? I really like the AT, but not sure if it’s the most responsible purchase to make.
Objectively speaking, spending 1/3 of your savings on a watch does not seem like the best of ideas.
Especially if you consider how things are currently.
Theres three categories as I see:
-beer money
-champagne by the glass money
-champagne bottle money
Don't have taste for a higher level than you have the money for. It's great to have a $4k watch, but don't tie up 1/3 of your current net worth in it. At the end of the day, a $10 watch tells the same time as a $4k watch.
You'll really want that cash when you sign a lease. I like celebrating milestones, so perhaps a cheaper watch is more appropriate. A analyst rocking an Omega will raise eyebrows but that's not a bad thing nobody really cares unless you're wearing a Patek as a first year
You can get a great-condition used seamaster for around $1-2k if you're deadset on the watch. It's a beautiful watch, I love mine.
Interesting. Where do you see those? Ebay seems like a potential nightmare for them if anything goes wrong.
OP: Even in good times I wouldn't put 1/3 of my net worth into a watch, and we're definitely not in good times. Personally I'd say that everything I own (a half dozen automatics including a vintage seamaster plus a couple modest quartz watches) comes out to 10% of the value of my liquidity account. I'm a bit of a watch geek, but even I think that your spending number is high. Assume money that you put into a watch is money that you'll never get back. Yes, you can sell it, but that takes significant time and effort. If you really need cash and have to sell it quickly then you're likely going to take a bloodbath on it. Let's face it too, if you actually do sell it outside of a personal liquidity crunch, you're probably just going to put the cash towards another watch anyway.
I think the TL/DR on my post is to just go and buy a ~$300 automatic that isn't going to be ugly, but won't break the bank. A key part of being wealthy is knowing that you have it and that you don't need to flaunt it.
Agreed, if it was a Rolex it makes more sense they don’t lose value. Omegas are like a car. When you leave the dealer it loses 30% of Msrp but you can usually get a discount
Don't buy either right now, keep saving for an additional ~year then cop the Omega. More savings and the wait will make it more rewarding
Those two watches couldn't be more different. If you like the Seamaster style you could find something similar for a cheaper price. For example, the speedster reduced is a really cool watch and is cheaper than 4k. But either way, you're probably better off getting a new Apple Watch and waiting until you have more money to burn to buy a really nice one
Hah I can relate hard. That's my favorite watch and I was actually in the exact same spot as you in deciding whether I should pull the trigger. Ended up waiting three years and found the exact model I wanted (s/o Bond) so I'd recommend not spending a hugely material % of your money just yet.
Wait a little.
No
Thx
Hmm I think staying under $2k would be reasonable
I'm a big watch guy so I get where you're coming from but you also want to temper than with where you are in life right now
I realized the same thing. Ended up spending just a bit over 2k for a Nomos
Don't mean to wring OP on this thread - I've just reached the tipping point with all these "should I buy a watch" threads. You knew the answer with your initial post and even said it -- "not sure if it's the most responsible purchase to make." Instead of spending ~33% of your savings you spent a little less. But you still dropped nearly 20% of your savings (maybe more doing rough mental math).
I'll be the first to admit I've got my eye on nice watches (Rollie/Omega/etc) and am usually a huge proponent of spending your hard earned money the way you want to spend it. You earned it, you want it, go get it. However, I feel like this particular situation comes down to basic common sense. If you have the money, spend it. If you have to ask if you're spending too much, you probably are and should wait. $2K isn't a ton of money in the grand scheme of life and you'll probably be fine - depending on where you live, you'll probably make that back within your first quarter of working and not think twice about it. Enjoy the watch and congrats on the FT offer - you should celebrate with something to memorialize this great achievement but maybe waiting for first-year bonus would have made more sense.
At the end of the day, who am I to give advice. If you don't have buyer's remorse, feel free to throw me MS and flip me the proverbially bird. Just think these threads are getting a little old and are turning into weird flexes/a sense of self-vindication.
Nomos is amazing amount of watch for the $. Good choice.
No.
I do not understand the obsession with watches, but then again I do not own/plan to own a sex dungeon.
Buy used at a price you can resell profitably or at a minor loss. It's not rocket science.
You should buy a g-string and some pumps instead to be a good little bitch for your team.
Net worth pre-career is a complete nonsense variable. So I wouldn’t think in those terms
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