I just don't feel comfy telling anyone that I spent over 10k+ on a watch, including my own family..... Is there a way to diffuse this? This happens often at poker tables, and yesterday my neighbor and I were chatting and she said she spent $2k on a watch and her husband freaked out, then she asked me how much mine was.... I deflected, distracted and left....
I'm not sure it's ONLY the high figure that is the problem. Maybe a little of it is that people are judging you based on how much you spent for anything, if it seems inappropriate. I'm a board game hobbyist. If I told you that I paid $300 for a kickstarter for a boardgame, or that some games had a retail price of $1000 or that I ended up paying way more than $1000 on Star Trek Attack Wing minis and cards (over a couple of years), you might think I'm crazy ... and I am.
Or if you didn't know how much cameras cost these days at the high end, and I told you I once paid $6000 (used) for a camera, again you might think I'm crazy. if you were "in the hobby" you might not think so because you know how much things cost.
I do think though that people don't generally have friends who are so far above them financially that they live in fear of having to ... say... pick up a check at the kind of restaurant their friend might take them to. That's a problem for sure. I had a cousin who owned a restaurant chain. We didn't see her too often and when we did, she didn't really spend much time with us. Maybe after a while she thought people were always uncomfortable around her or maybe always wanting something from her. I think it could work against the relationship from both sides.
Kind of makes me not want to buy really expensive watches. Most so far has been $750 with a deposit on a $1200 one. Even the $1200 is likely to be greeted with incredulity in an age where a $10 quartz watch can outperform it on an accuracy duel. It used to be that my Mom had a reason to buy a Bulova Accutron for my dad because he was an Air Force navigator and he needed the accuracy. But now no-one really needs a watch for it's utility typically -- even dive watches have been mostly supplanted by dive computers. Only James Bond needs a watch that shoots lasers and zip lines!
I don’t see it as a rude question per se, but it would depend on the persons intentions. I’m happy being able to explain how I did my research, looked at buying in an AD, on the grey market, or pre-owned, and how I decided on which way to go. Several of my hobbies are a mystery to the lay person and most have no idea what a good watch, a nice print, or a collectible statue are worth. So you get use to appreciating what you enjoy and not worrying about others opinions.
I think its pretty rude to ask, if someone buys a nice omega or hamilton for example(as its happened) i never ask. If they want to volunteer the cost, thats their choice. I dont own an expensive watch, but would feel uncomfortable saying the cost if i did. I think people are too quick to judge, be it $2000 or $20,000. The latter...... rich guy or crazy , unless your into watches(if asking they probably are not as should know anyway) they will think crazy! .
So if someone did ask, i would say sorry not sure, it was a gift. If a close friend who i trust, then i would be comfortable telling them the cost and where from.
Yeah I find this is the best response I usually tack on from the fact that is from in laws as it's actually a custom where I'm from. To work though at the moment I primarily wear a nomos and no one asks about that which is good. In social settings my watch mates already know. And those that don't know don't seem to ask which helps.
There’s literally only 2 reasons someone would ask you how much your watch costs, (1) they know you’re a watch guy or (2) they’re also a watch person.
Answer to (1) is a million dollars, because anything over $100 to a non-watch person seems excessive anyway, might as well go big...and for (2) the truth.
I don't think I've ever had a stranger ask me how much my watch cost, even after complimenting me on it (which doesn't happen often). If someone did ask, however, I would probably say, "Well, you can pretty easily lookup the price online, so I guess I don't mind telling you. It cost..."
Perhaps the ol' "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you" joke would deflect the question, but if not, then maybe follow-up with the previously mentioned "Too much!" If they don't get the clue at that point and cease asking, then they don't deserve a third answer.
Watch people know the price. I got into a wonderful conversation with a guy sitting next to my wife and I at a restaurant while waiting at the bar for a table. I was wearing the 2k watch and he was wearing a Royal Oak. I never asked the price because I knew (I suddenly feel like Hyman Roth talking time Michael Corleone). If they are watch enthusiasts, they wouldn’t ask the price. If I owned a watch that was more than $5k , “it was a gift.”
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