No More Watches For Me

I once heard deNile (sp) is not a river? 😉

Nope. It’s a done deal. I’m not buying a single watch until I’ve saved enough for a 79090.

In September I started my own business and I vowed to buy a Tissot Heritage 1938 when I achieve my first $60k quarter. I reached that goal Q2 this year, but I’ve decided not to buy the Tissot… I planned to wear the Tissot every day. But once I acquire the Tudor Sub that I will certainly wear every single day - so I figured I’d just skip the Tissot and put the $750 towards the Sun.

In fact, I’ve listed a couple watches that I don’t wear much in order to put some extra funds towards the Tudor.

No lie… I’ve decided to stop going to Walmart as well, that way I’m not tempted by the Casios 🤣

Stay strong I’ve failed every time. 💸

I do have an Omega in for a fairly hefty service. But other than that there’s no watch that I’ll let deter me from the Tudor. There are very few watches that keep me up at night. My 50th Anniversary Omega SMP GMT did, and now the Tudor is calling me 😵‍💫

I've consolidated a good part of my collection, so I'm in the same boat. I'm done buying for a little over two years, and then it'll be my 40th. That'll be my last "big" watch purchase. Thing is I'm not 100% what'll be yet, and I'm open to changes. I've admired the blue, teak-dial Aqua Terra on the rubber strap, and that could be it. But I don't want to commit to anything just yet.

My collecting journey is a constant battle. I have about 10 sentimental pieces that I wouldn’t necessarily buy, but they were given to me or I inherited them. And I’d ultimately like to stick to a 20 watch collection so that I can enjoy each piece. So I’ve had to get more intentional about what watches to aim for. Instead of celebrating smaller wins, I need to focus on bigger accomplishments and milestones.

In reality I probably will have my core 20 and maybe a small 4-slot watch box that acts as a revolving door. There are so many pieces I want to experience and try out, but there are only a handful that truly resonate with me enough to keep them long term.

Seriously more power to you.

My personal purchasing philosophy (alliteration is fun!) is that I don't save for watches. I base my purchases on my economic situation at the time of acquisition. I only use money that neither enriches or impoverishes me. I mean, I look at my bank account and then my income and if the amount of a watch does not impact my bank account and income significantly that I will feel it, I buy the watch.

I guess you can say I buy based on my purchasing power, not the money in my bank account. The reason for this is that watches are unnecessary (news, right?) so I don't stress about earning it. I save for important things like my kid's education, vacation for the family, a new car, etc. A watch is what I get when I have extra extra money.

But that's just me. You do you, of course. And like I said, more power. I'm sure you'll get your Tudor in no time at all.

the obsession until the next obsession. ❤️👍

You're right about intentionality being key. That's been my mantra for the past year or so. As far as sentimental pieces, I'm there with you too. Some of mine are so old and in various states of disrepair that they're basically watch box excess. But my kids like to look at them and tinker with them, so I let them. Hell, maybe they'll want to fix them some day, who knows. What's helped me a lot is being able to admire a watch without owning it. I don't own anything particularly rare or expensive, but I can appreciate the artistry of something without it being on my wrist. Plus, all the cheap quartz stuff (no offense, I absolutely adore quartz) that seemed to accumulate in my life just felt like I was test-driving, like there was no connection. Anyway, didn't mean to go on so long. Best of luck, and you can do this.

I prefer fewer, higher quality watches over many good watches. That doesn’t mean they have to be the most expensive, necessarily. They just have to speak to me from a design, craftsmanship, and engineering point of view.

I bought a GS Shunbun and it put many of my previous good watches to shame. I have given many to friends. There are more on the chopping block.

My next purchase will be a retirement watch: the Cartier Tank Must large on the bracelet. I will also purchase it a selection of nice straps. It’s design and heritage make it an icon.

I subscribe to your philosophy, and I’ve never saved for a watch before. To take things a step further, I only buy watches to celebrate an achievement or milestone.

Over the past 18 months I’ve found myself setting small goals and celebrating with smaller watch purchases. But with a current collection of over 20 watches, I’ve decided to pair my collection down so that I can enjoy them all. About 10 of my watches are gifts/inherited and will be staying for the long haul, even though they aren’t pieces I’d choose on my own. So being that my chosen collection will ultimately be only 10 pieces, I’ve decided to become much more selective about what to aim for.

Last year I decided to forego a Khaki Field Auto, a Seiko 5 GMT, and a Speedtimer to instead get an Omega Seamaster 300 GMT.

Earlier this year I set a goal for my business and planned to celebrate with a Tissot Heritage 1938. I’ve hit the goal, and I could buy the Tissot, but once I get the Tudor I know that the Tissot will be obsolete. So I’m just increasing my goals to match the watches that I wish to pursue.

I definitely agree that saving for your kids education, investing, etc. are more important, and I have all of that in place as well. My watch purchases do not affect my finances.

I guess after 14 years of collecting I’ve learned that skipping the instant gratification of numerous sub-$1k timepieces is worth it to aim for the watch that I ultimately want. Sure, nobody needs a $5,000 watch. But I don’t need five $1,000 watches either haha.

I’ve got those planned out too… this Tudor just skipped the line 😂

That's a killer watch man!

It's one of the two that I kick myself for not buying years ago when I had the chance and they were cheap as no one wanted them...

Win some, loose some

When you know, you just know. And no amount of side pieces will do.

Thanks man!

You can get a lesser condition Rolex Sub for a few grand more, yes. A Rolex in this condition though (near mint, unpolished) would be closer to double.

There’s a couple reasons I’m after the Tudor though:

1. I have other Rolex aspirations and don’t want my end all collection to be made up of only 2-3 brands 😅

2. The Tudor seems to be easier to service

3. I can’t put my finger on it, but something about the Tudor Sub makes it seem more rugged, and more of a tool watch, and it appeals to me more

4. Ultimately I’d want to wear this watch every single day. Bartending, hiking, boating, swimming, at the office, working in the garden, building things… I think I can live with tattering up a $6k watch. But would I really want to treat a $10k watch the same?

Thank you 🙏🏻

That’s a beautiful piece. Enjoy the journey!

Can’t fight you because I agree 👌🏻

They don’t make these anymore. To go new you’d have to get a Black Bay, and they just don’t do it for me.

You can get a lower condition Tudor Sub in the $3500-4k range. This one being minty and unpolished with the caseback sticker still in tact and on the bracelet is $6k. For a few grand more you can get a lower condition Rolex Sub, and a Rolex in the same condition would probably be $10-12k.

So it will save me thousands over a Rolex Sub, but that’s not why I want the Tudor. I’d pick the Tudor even if they were the same price.

We’ve got this!

They don’t make them anymore, the one in my photo is circa 1994. You have to buy on the secondary market.

Dude your company is doing great just buy the damn watch so you can start early on constantly spending money on straps (especially the limited ones in cool circles). Obviously don’t put yourself in a bind but I also have an itchy trigger finger lol. Either way outstanding choice

I have no discipline and am way too fickle to plan and execute a plan like this

Mine is a Speedmaster Reduced. I tried my friend's one on and I just felt like "thats it". The watch was light, perfectly sized for my wrist, and the design is iconis (even if it didnt go to the moon)

My business is doing pretty well. 9 months in and my business partner and I are taking the bare minimum to pay our bills. At this rate, by the end of the year we’ll be able to take comfortable salaries.

My wife has her own business so her income varies month to month as well. So I’m not yet comfortable just throwing $6k at a watch (so far the most I’ve spent was $3k on my Omega). I take a percentage of earnings from my part-time bartending gig, and a percentage of any side hustle income (I sell cars for people, etc) for my hobbies. I’ll be able to comfortably buy a 79090 for my 35th birthday in May 2025, and I won’t have to touch my income from my business.

Neither do I haha. If it was easy then I wouldn’t make a big deal about it. But it’s going to be tough to go 11 months without any watch purchases… it will be worth it though.

I’ve got my eye on a Soeedy reduced as well. I saw one of these in 2018 and I’ve been obsessing ever since. I plan to reward myself with one after I buy my first rental property… hopefully in the next 1-2 years 🤞🏻

Ah we’re pretty much the same age! That’s solid man, good job 🤙🏼I still say holding back is for cowards but I’m also not trying to be the one wearing red on your shoulder 🤣 which Omega? I’m looking at the Peter Blake myself.