Watch value; perspective · Watch Lover

Watch value; perspective

I don’t know if I could call this a “struggle” or just an observation.

I’ve loved watches since I was a kid. Throughout school, I always had a watch that was as nice as I could afford (Typically a Timex or Casio from my own money).

My You Tube feed is now populated with watch related videos and I’m getting exposed to some very expensive options. I am now in a position to be able to afford a more luxury brand, but… (I’ll get back to that).

My friend has a vintage Rolex Submariner. His father owned it and passed it down. Pictured is my sentimental vintage watch (It was my grandfather’s). Part of me is a little jealous that he has a valuable heirloom, but then I think of where my grandfather came from. He wasn’t wealthy- he was pragmatic. The pragmatism runs deep.

The second picture is a watch I assembled myself. It’s a Seiko NH38 movement, Namoki dial and generic stainless steel case and bracelet. It has an obvious homage to a vintage Submariner.

Here’s the musing: I love the look of the watch. The pragmatic gene in me tells me that this watch serves every purpose I need for less than $200. Even though I could afford $15,000 for a Rolex, this feels like taking $14,800 from my family.

I’m curious. Are there others who have settled in at a budget or homage level; not because you can’t go higher, but because it doesn’t feel right to go higher? I thought I would grow into a grail, but I think I may have hit a practical ceiling (especially since I’ve got the skills to assemble a homage for pretty cheap).

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