It's a tale as old as time...

[wmate]

How does everyone trade off the price of a Rolex with the urgency to want one today?

I'm a long (long) (long) time admirer of Rolex: the engineering (yay engineers!), history, design. The whole deal. Father of a 14 month old girl, another girl on the way. Solid job, but man...tough to justify $10K when it could go towards a house for the expanding crew. I see a Rolex as much an artful timepiece as an investment, so won't get on a payment plan (or...gasp!...rent). Anyone have any creative ways of working or getting access to their grail watches? I'd love one now but I'm sure with time I'll get there. Wisdom, people!

(Sorry for the pseudo-rant)

[AzPaul]

Just one man's opinion but for now, I'd bank the money for your little ones and approach the high dollar watch at a later date.

[Knappo 1307]

Save your money for other things, the watch can wait....

[swils8610]

0% if available and affordable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[77T]

I’ll take an alternative path - I think you can find a way without breaking the budget. It means some sweat equity though.

Clearly you must have a model in mind since you posted it would cost $10K. Well you can work your way up to that model by starting much smaller with a preowned DJ that may cost much less. Then work your way through trades, sales and good reinvested gains so you can eventually get the watch you want with little more than what you started with.

It’s how I did it - started with just one Explorer II Polar dial and worked my way through Subs, DJs, GMTs, Omegas, Daytonas, DDs and now have the two I really love. Took 7-8 years but was worth the serial flipping to land where I did. Hope it sparks an idea or two for your quest.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ejvette]

This is a definite luxury item put the 10 in a mutual fund for your Childs education

[ironjim]

Don't do it till it's a comfortable cash purchase . Sounds like you have other things more important . The time will come ! :)

[Alexwwjd]

I would save some money every month even if takes a few years to buy the watch. I would not choose the strategy of flipping watches until you get the one you want because most of the time you'll lose money. Also, not a fan of instant satisfaction as you don't need a Rolex RIGHT NOW neither the "You only live once" is not an excuse to spend money .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[superdog]

Buy yourself a used Omega.

It will still be an incredible work of art. You will buy right as the original seller took the hit. And you can have an iconic brand on your wrist for now, and maybe trade it in, in the future when you are more comfortable spending on a Rolex.

Not the best answer. But it does have its merits.

Otherwise, I agree. You have bigger priorities. Watches are ultimately toys.

[Boothroyd]

Got my first Rolex, an Explorer, at 50. It can wait. It's great thing to have and I enjoy every minute, but no rush. Good advice from Seth. Or a used Tudor.

[FTX I]

Get one to celebrate the birth of your second girl.

[GradyPhilpott]

Wait.

[Etschell]

i just saved for years for mine.

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Don’t spend the money on a watch now. Sounds like you have too many other things going on to justify the expense.

At the very least, wait until after the next kid is born. You never know what type of unforeseen expenses you could incur, medical or otherwise, with a baby in the way.

[Star Ferry]

I don't think it's worth a major sacrifice. Watches are luxury items -- the fun is maximized when buying guilt-free with totally disposable income

If you are seeking money-saving advice, mine would be not to buy more house than you need. Per the photo below, most people in the world manage to get by with a lot less than what Americans are used to

[brandrea]

I agree with some of the posters above in that at this stage your priorities may mean that you should focus on other priorities.

Delayed gratification It will be much sweeter when you can afford it without any nagging doubts, (this can potentially suck the full enjoyment out of ownership).

[nsxnext]

1) Retirement fund
2) Kids education
3) Bigger house
4) Luxury items

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by wmate

How does everyone trade off the price of a Rolex with the urgency to want one today?

I'm a long (long) (long) time admirer of Rolex: the engineering (yay engineers!), history, design. The whole deal. Father of a 14 month old girl, another girl on the way. Solid job, but man...tough to justify $10K when it could go towards a house for the expanding crew. I see a Rolex as much an artful timepiece as an investment, so won't get on a payment plan (or...gasp!...rent). Anyone have any creative ways of working or getting access to their grail watches? I'd love one now but I'm sure with time I'll get there. Wisdom, people!

(Sorry for the pseudo-rant)

By realizing that there are more important things in life than high end luxury jewelry

[GB-man]

Life is short. Get a nice 14060 or 16710 and you can always sell it down the line.

[HK Islandboy]

Originally Posted by ironjim

Don't do it till it's a comfortable cash purchase . Sounds like you have other things more important . The time will come ! :)

Agree with this!

[JnmEaton]

buy a used Tudor, save, get it later...... my first Rolex was $2500. 12 yrs later.... PM DD and I'm done, content.

[droptopman]

Some good feedback here. Both sides have merit. I tend to go with the life is short philosophy.

Really depends on how much enjoyment you would get from a luxury watch and whether it is worth the cost. Cannot argue with those that suggest to put the funds to more important things as in kids, education, housing....

But...a used Rolex or Omega can be had for a relatively small cost and generally will hold almost all of its value. For example a nice Speedy or DJ can be found for 2500 ish.

[MrTwi]

Originally Posted by wmate

How does everyone trade off the price of a Rolex with the urgency to want one today?

I'm a long (long) (long) time admirer of Rolex: the engineering (yay engineers!), history, design. The whole deal. Father of a 14 month old girl, another girl on the way. Solid job, but man...tough to justify $10K when it could go towards a house for the expanding crew. I see a Rolex as much an artful timepiece as an investment, so won't get on a payment plan (or...gasp!...rent). Anyone have any creative ways of working or getting access to their grail watches? I'd love one now but I'm sure with time I'll get there. Wisdom, people!

(Sorry for the pseudo-rant)

We live in a world of instant gratification. Gimme Gimme Gimme.

I want it and I want it now.

What do you think?

[Rockrolex]

I would wait. You have other priorities ATM. I was just shy of 60 when I got my first Rolex. That was when I had sufficient disposable income that I could easily afford it. Until then I wore relatively inexpensive (couple hundred US dollars) watches, mainly Seikos and Casio memory banks.

[Chewbacca]

wait.

[socialpro]

I would wait and save to splurge on a 10K watch when you can comfortably pay for that in cash - where the thought of the money spent will definitely not affect your day to day or future life in any way to a significant extent - even if you (lost) the watch and had no insurance.

Buy a pre-owned one, from a trusted seller on this board in case you DO have to sell to minimize your losses.

Yes - I like to justify my (irresponsible from the outside) purchases by the yolo philosophy as much as the next guy -- but at the end of the day, only you know when you are ready and comfortable to take the leap.

[wmate]

Wow, thanks for all of the thoughts! Definitely didn't expect to get this kind of response.

I clearly didn't articulate this well, but it isn't really a "I don't have the money to do this but I really want it!" situation. I could pay cash today and it wouldn't impact much of anything, it's more of a "this is still $10K..." one, if that makes sense.

Maybe the better question is: when did you decide that it was time? If I buy the watch I want I doubt it's going to tank in value, and the thought of celebrating baby #2 with it seems like a cool story when I hand it down.

Based on a lot of user profiles and responses in the forums, there are people making far less and with more life complexities than me that pulled the trigger early. There are also folks that waited until retirement and probably have a few $MM in the bank (at least).

Everyone is different and ultimately it comes down to me, but I love hearing the points where other folks went for it. Thanks again, ya'll. Lots of fun reading these!

[mfer]

Originally Posted by nsxnext

1) Retirement fund
2) Kids education
3) Bigger house
4) Luxury items

Agreed. I see many people switch 1 and 2 incorrectly.

[No.15]

I am in the wait camp. It will feel so much better on the wrist when it is a no stress purchase.

[AK797]

Save and earn it, these are luxury goods and not everyone's by right, and certainly not like Honda Civics as some seem to think.