Stop Buying So Many Affordable Watches!

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[SweeturKraut]

Just got a Casio Royale... It was like 25 bucks and it's great. I also have a Japanese car. It was cheap and is also great. I took the extra money and put it into my son's college fund. I think I made the correct investment.

[abnzg]

bought a cheap watch. bought a cheap car. bought cheap shoes. bought cheap everything for a long time. bought a nice house.

[brennan]

“Life is a constant battle against instant gratification”
Best line of the video for sure

[neverpick]

This really made me reflect on my 11 seikos... and I regret NOTHING!

[robadams]

This is all a matter of perspective. As a middle-class guy, I can afford to buy a Rolex if I really wanted to, but it would be a stretch for me. Given that I have other expensive hobbies, it's tough to pull the trigger on a so-called luxury watch. As a result, I have found that I truly enjoy the more affordable watches, and I love having a nice collection of watches that I can turn to depending on my mood that day. I have a couple decent dress watches, some nice casuals, and a few nice dive watches as well. People often ask me what watch I am wearing today. Now, if I had skipped all of these affordable, enjoyable watches in order to save up for the grail watch, sure, it might feel good at the time, but that feeling would fade soon enough. Then, I would have been stuck with one watch, every day, knowing that for the price of that watch, I could have so much more. Then again, I am also of the opinion that spending thousands on a watch that doesn't even track time as accurately as a cheap quartz is a foolish decision for all but the most affluent among us.

[anishabisht]

I mean casio, seiko, timex are durable and aren't overpriced

[xjimmyx]

personally I would rather have 4-5 watches around $300-$500 vs 1 watch worth $2000 simply because I want to have multiple watches with multiple styles for multiple occasions. That being said once I feel like I have 1 watch for each possible occasion then I will start saving for a more expensive piece

[NemeanLion-]

I’ve always had the philosophy of getting exactly what I want or getting nothing at all. I don’t accept cheap substitutes. I don’t have a lot of money, but in the long run this has worked out for me. Everything I get is minimal, but it’s also quality. You treasure what you buy and it usually lasts you a long time. I find this a lot more satisfying than “settling” for something you really don’t want. It takes a lot of willpower and discipline to hold out, but it’s definitely worth it in my eyes.

[Alamina.]

Well give me Rolex money and I’ll buy it. But until then, sticking with Seiko, Casio, orient

[sailordave]

I work in a hospital boiler room. Before this I served 8 years in the Navy working in the engine room of steam driven ships. For work a Timex of no more than $40 is best. I once lost my Timex Atlantis in the bilges of the ship and found it a few days later submerged in seawater still working fine. Replaced the strap and it was fine. I can’t justify buying a watch for over $100 on my income and needs. I do have a Bulova but this was a company retirement watch given to my dad and passed down to me when he passed away. A dress Timex for under $100 is about the best I can justify for a purchase of a watch.

[renzovizcarra]

Teddy: Stop buying “affordable” watches
Also Teddy: Makes video called 20 Watches Under $200

[Sills]

I don't own a watch... but I can tell you - ALWAYS BUY THE EXPENSIVE HOOKER!

[bbbbburton]

My first watch was a Seiko 5 (snzf15j) and I was happy for only a month or so, until the novelty of it wore off. I should not have purchased on impulse. I then bought an SKX007J, after months of research and looking at pictures of it from every angle, and absolutely love it. I wear it almost every day and never get bored of it. I also own a $10 Casio F91W lol

[thelongslowgoodbye]

It reminds me of an old Finnish proverb: "A poor man can't afford to buy cheap things."

[MichaelAChang]

Bill Gates wears a Casio Duro - that's enough of a reality check.

[hidecki]

so what? the question is: did you have fun with your affordable watches ? you gotta start somewhere, right?

[ttbfan]

It's crazy how quickly my concept of "cheap" watches went from between $100 - $300 to $1, 000 - $2, 000. I started my collection at the beginning of 2020 with a hamilton khaki field mechanical for $300. I thought that was not cheap but also not too expensive. Last month I won an ebay auction for an Omega seamaster 300m for under $2k. Expensive but relatively cheap for what it is I think.

[oadefisayo]

"Life is a battle against instant gratification" - Great line! I have applied that principle to most things. I have decided to ignore the cheap option just to "tide" me over until I get the more expensive things I want. I'd rather save now.

[rayseaman]

That's nice...Now how about a reality check? Unless I have a 100, 000 dollar a year job, a Rolex/Oris/Omega is out of the question. If the damn thing gets stolen (or breaks), I have lost a large (for me) amount of money/time. It is simply not worth it. The time or the risk. A Toyota Camry will do better than a Rolls Royce, in this case.

[DAVIDCALDERA]

I am new to this hobby. One rule I have for myself is before I purchase any watch I research both the brand and model for a minimum of seven days. If after an entire week of scrapping the internet I’m still in love with the watch. I allow myself the joy of purchasing it. We all have different taste and desires. Never buy a watch because someone else tells you it’s the best watch and by the same token never decide to not buy a watch because someone else doesn’t like it. One of things I have enjoyed the most about this hobby is learning. Learning all the history and brands, different materials and designs. Decide for yourself how many watches do you want for your own collection. What brands do you like. What colors, materials and style do you like. What size wrist do you have. What’s the appropriate size case for you. How much are you realistic able to afford versus how much you are actually willing to spend. Remember at the end of the day this is a hobby not your livelihood. My watch collection currently consists of three watches and is growing at a slow and healthy pace. Honestly I agree with this video. Don’t spend all your money on affordable watches. Collect a few prize pieces along the way as you research and learn value & appreciation for craftsmanship and quality. Eventually you’ll be able to identify your holy grail of a watch or a small handful of watches you’ll really enjoy. I do not collect simply for the sake of collecting. I collect to wear, enjoy and experience living a life we’re my collection is just that, my collection.