What's a proper watch?
Jan 16th 2017, 4:03 pm
#121
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Jan 16th 2017, 4:11 pm
#123
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Jan 16th 2017, 4:15 pm
#124
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Riyadh
Posts: 35
Re: What's a proper watch?
I will ask my dear clients to donate their Patek Minute repeaters instead of dumping them on eBay. But what to do with all the other superficial nonsense like classic cars and the useless art collections. Sleepless nights...
Jan 17th 2017, 3:33 am
#127
Knee deep and rising
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,007
Re: What's a proper watch?
I'm really trying to be sensible here with the car. I walk to work, mine is paid off, I drive it once a week, there's nothing really wrong with it...you know, the odds are stacked in the sensible shoulder-bird's favour here.
I bought my last iPhone with my credit card, banked the airmiles and paid it off, does that count?
Also - the car one. My Mrs used to poke fun at me because my car was on finance and therefore I didn't 'own' it. This was back in the UK when I earned less and let's say the car was worth £12,000. I didn't have a spare 12grand to drop on a car.
Are we meant to poke fun at people with mortgages because they've got a house on finance?
I bought my last iPhone with my credit card, banked the airmiles and paid it off, does that count?
Also - the car one. My Mrs used to poke fun at me because my car was on finance and therefore I didn't 'own' it. This was back in the UK when I earned less and let's say the car was worth £12,000. I didn't have a spare 12grand to drop on a car.
Are we meant to poke fun at people with mortgages because they've got a house on finance?
The watches, cars, and general lifestyle discretionary spending (not essentials) don't match the income profile so I assume something has had to suffer in the background or the person is very financially stretched.
For example there was a thread on here before about some guy looking for a 'full option' car and yet a one bed apartment for his wife and kids.
Jan 17th 2017, 3:38 am
#128
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: What's a proper watch?
The second part was a general comment about people I tend to encounter in construction rather than a personal dig at you
The watches, cars, and general lifestyle discretionary spending (not essentials) don't match the income profile so I assume something has had to suffer in the background or the person is very financially stretched.
For example there was a thread on here before about some guy looking for a 'full option' car and yet a one bed apartment for his wife and kids.
The watches, cars, and general lifestyle discretionary spending (not essentials) don't match the income profile so I assume something has had to suffer in the background or the person is very financially stretched.
For example there was a thread on here before about some guy looking for a 'full option' car and yet a one bed apartment for his wife and kids.
Priorities. So I should be moving us to a cheaper apartment and getting a Range Rover?
Jan 17th 2017, 4:40 am
#131
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2015
Location: Abu Dhabi via Barcelona
Posts: 1,478
Re: What's a proper watch?
Money can buy lots of things, but happiness and class aren't either of them.
Jan 17th 2017, 4:41 am
#132
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: What's a proper watch?
No one disputes that luxury watches are a popular item to have. I also don't disagree that among a rarefied set extremely expensive watches are used as a subtle indicator (among others like addresses in Cannes and flats in Mayfair) to tell others from the same sets that you 'belong'. We all do this in our own ways.
But you greatly exaggerate the importance of luxury watches among the hoi polloi and this includes the great unwashed upper middle classes that most of us on here fall into to some degree by dint of our incomes / professions. Watches are strictly a vanity item. Have a luxury one if it makes you feel great and to give you a sense of accomplishment. And many are happy to equip themselves with moderately expensive watches. But you must be a right sad, shallow, materialistic, financial adviser of a fool with ****** if you think people are being judged if they don't have a £30,000+ watch among the 99.999999867% of the world's population.
But you greatly exaggerate the importance of luxury watches among the hoi polloi and this includes the great unwashed upper middle classes that most of us on here fall into to some degree by dint of our incomes / professions. Watches are strictly a vanity item. Have a luxury one if it makes you feel great and to give you a sense of accomplishment. And many are happy to equip themselves with moderately expensive watches. But you must be a right sad, shallow, materialistic, financial adviser of a fool with ****** if you think people are being judged if they don't have a £30,000+ watch among the 99.999999867% of the world's population.
First of all you heavily underestimate the affluence of at least a low single digit percentage of world population. 
Rolex alone sells around a million watches a year add all the other luxury brands this is several million watches each and every year. Status symbols like it or not do have their demand and there certainly wouldn't be if there is no assumed benefit by consumers.
You mentioned magic circle firms and investment houses - my humble observation around the world these people usually sport some expensive watches at least at some hierarchical level. And those people including MDs and Partners usually are nowhere near the 99.9999999999867% Percentile.
You feel an expensive watch is not necessary that's fine - and yes there are still tons of people very successful without all that superficial nonsense. You are likely one of them - Congratulations.
My subjective observation though - clearly most high level white collar and above join this status symbol game for a valid reason.
Rolex alone sells around a million watches a year add all the other luxury brands this is several million watches each and every year. Status symbols like it or not do have their demand and there certainly wouldn't be if there is no assumed benefit by consumers.
You mentioned magic circle firms and investment houses - my humble observation around the world these people usually sport some expensive watches at least at some hierarchical level. And those people including MDs and Partners usually are nowhere near the 99.9999999999867% Percentile.
You feel an expensive watch is not necessary that's fine - and yes there are still tons of people very successful without all that superficial nonsense. You are likely one of them - Congratulations.
My subjective observation though - clearly most high level white collar and above join this status symbol game for a valid reason.
Jan 17th 2017, 5:11 am
#133
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: What's a proper watch?
People who place a high regard and judgement on the price of the watch that you wear also probably wear Hackett Polo Shirts with large horses on the front and a number 1 on the back.
Jan 17th 2017, 6:01 am
#135
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887