How much do you spend on this hobby?

[RayG]

It is interesting to note that, with the current price of gas, the unemployment rate, and the number of homes in foreclosure, there does not seem to be any let up in the sales forum nor the number of new acquisitions being celebrated. Of course, the membership is diverse, as is the $ value of the watches being collected, ranging from affordables, to the unemployed college student looking to buy a $3,000 Omega, to the "can anyone recommend a dress watch in the 10-20k range?" on the high end forum.

I wanted to set up a poll that would deal with discrete points which would not be affected by subjective data ("but I ate nothing but soup for years to afford this watch," for example). The goal is to have a survey of expenditure/ watch collection value as a percentage of your annual gross income (personal, not combined or household income). Please take a look at your current collection, and estimate its USD value (since many buy used or discounted, use the amount you paid, not the msrp, or in cases of vintage, heirloom or gifted watches, the current estimated value). Take this value and divide it by your annual income/salary before taxes. If you are a student, use your annual stipend for personal spending.

This is posted in the public forum for the best chance of having a fair cross sectional representation.

The poll is not meant to be judgemental despite my initial statement, and everyone is free to make their own inferences from the data, which will not be reported to the IRS.

Or to your wife.

[Triton9]

I vote the 2nd option but probably it will only be a one time spending becos I have almost completed my collection and no further spending is likely..

[liujin08]

Some ways I rationalize spending the amount I do on watches is that:

-I am not married, I decide how to spend my money!

-I have no debt

-I have a very stable income.

[dkennedy1001]

Interesting poll. I guess less than 5% will be the big winner here though.

[Ray MacDonald]

Very few collectors buy everything in one year. I've been at it for close to 60 years now. Also my income is far lower now than it was when I was working.
That said I'm still well under 5% this year. The stuff I'm interested in (vintage and Russian) is not expensive.

[BlackLight]

I vote the 2nd option but probably it will only be a one time spending becos I have almost completed my collection and no further spending is likely..

No offence meant, but hahaha, famous last words!

[steph86]

I come in at 10%...but as Ray M. pointed out, my purchases are spread out over several years...

[Janne]

It is interesting to note that, with the current price of gas, the unemployment rate, and the number of homes in foreclosure, there does not seem to be any let up in the sales forum nor the number of new acquisitions being celebrated. Of course, the membership is diverse, as is the $ value of the watches being collected, ranging from affordables, to the unemployed college student looking to buy a $3,000 Omega, to the "can anyone recommend a dress watch in the 10-20k range?" on the high end forum.

I wanted to set up a poll that would deal with discrete points which would not be affected by subjective data ("but I ate nothing but soup for years to afford this watch," for example). The goal is to have a survey of expenditure/ watch collection value as a percentage of your annual gross income (personal, not combined or household income). Please take a look at your current collection, and estimate its USD value (since many buy used or discounted, use the amount you paid, not the msrp, or in cases of vintage, heirloom or gifted watches, the current estimated value). Take this value and divide it by your annual income/salary before taxes. If you are a student, use your annual stipend for personal spending.

This is posted in the public forum for the best chance of having a fair cross sectional representation.

The poll is not meant to be judgemental despite my initial statement, and everyone is free to make their own inferences from the data, which will not be reported to the IRS.

Or to your wife.

OP, you are assuming that the things you mention ( unemplyment rate, foreclosure etc) is universal. It is not, please bear that in your mind.

Over the years I have been collecting, I think I am around 25% of my current yearly income. But I have been collecting for a couple of decades!

[youcannotbeserious]

Less than 5% (3%). I feel guilty as hell writing it down. My father is probably rolling over in his grave.

[stratct]

Less than 5% (3%). I feel guilty as hell writing it down. My father is probably rolling over in his grave.

Glad your posting here.