genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

I have a Rolex which my mother gave me almost 40 years ago and a Panerai which my wife gave me 15 years ago. Plus I have my first wrist watch given to me on graduation, my father’s wrist watch, and my grandfather’s pocket watches. All of these will go to my sons and then hopefully to their sons. I can’t think of anything as permanent and as meaningful to pass on through the generations. Just my opinion and sentimentality. I guess they represent tangible reminders of special people long gone and to be long gone.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

So it's clear that there are people out there who like to collect things. Nice things: watches, jewlery, paintings, antiques........
As long as they can afford it (in their own opinion) it's fine. They're using their money for their own pleasure. I have no problem with that.

The rest of us collect things, too. Maybe not at the same level. When I buy a car or truck I buy it for utility, not investment. I buy commodity vehicles, which depreciate rapidly. If I were to buy a car, put it in a garage and apply copious amounts of cosmoline and wait 50 years the car might actually be worth more than I paid for it (not adjusted for inflation). But my style is to buy a vehicle, use it for the purpose intended (and occasionally beyond that) until it doesn't run any more. I generally figure on half the purchase value for maintenance over the years. When it starts to cost more than that to keep it running reliably I get rid of it. Usually by donating it to some organization for a tax deduction because it's not worth the hassle of trying to sell it.

I have bought probably 12 cameras over my lifetime. I have never sold any of them. They weren't worth anything when I stopped using them. I gave away a couple to kids who wanted to do photography. I still have most of the lenses and they still work. I don't consider my photographic equipment collectible. Its utilitarian.

One exception to the vehicle depreciation model is my tractors. I have probably bought 10 tractors in my career. One of them was new. It died after 25 years since parts were not available to keep it going. All the others I bought used, and they cost me more than they cost the original owner new (again, not adjusted for inflation) but they were still less expensive than new tractors. One of my tractors had been out of production for about 40 years but I could still get parts for it. The cost of a farm tractor is not the capital, it's the maintenance.

pendennis

I have a number of mechanical watches. I still have a Timex which my grandparents gave me for a graduation gift in 1965. Cleaned, it runs quite accurately. I also have a couple of Breitlings which run very well. My latest mechanical is a Seiko diver's watch. It's also a good performer. All get some wrist time, but my Seiko 7T34's are my favorite. Those "pilot" chronographs run well, and accurately.

In 1982, I inherited my grandfathers railroad pocket watch, a Hamilton 992 lever-set. I get it CLA's about every five years, and wind it every other day.

daldds Loc: NYC

My 25 year old grandson does; my 5 other younger grandchildren do not.
For his 25th birthday, I gave him my Breitling Aerospace, which had him just about speechless.
From the time I acquired it until I gave it to him, it had tripled in value.
This is in response to the question about millennials wearing watches.

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Exactly so.......

BusterCrabbe Loc: Montreal

A question. What is your idea of 'expensive'? $100, $500, >$1000? I think it is important to buy a watch that is solar driven (to charge the battery), that has a very hard crystal surface (to prevent the inevitable surface scratching that WILL occur over decades), that is easy to put on and take off (no fubling wiht a leather strap) and is very waterproof. All that costs ~$200. Is that a lot?

KoniOmegaflex Loc: Central KY

I wear an $11 or $12 one from Walmart. I replace it every couple of years when it needs a battery. By then, it has been knocked around enough to replace. Keeps good time and I like the other functions it has like a timer/stopwatch and a night light. Utilitarian. Not trying to impress anyone. Before I had a decent camera, I was asked to shoot a couple of outdoor photos for a zoning committee hearing. The company I worked for had some 16 x 20 photos shot by someone with a Hassy. I borrowed a friends Minolta Autocord (anyone remember that?) and took a few photos. Side by side with the ones shot with a Hasselblad, they didn't look at all bad.

Designdweeb Loc: Metro NYC & East Stroudsburg, PA

A wristwatch is an easy, practical inconspicuous way to check the time when juggling multiple assignments or appointments, when your hands are busy with cameras, notebooks, lenses, flash. A good wristwatch, even when dressed for mud says something about you, when you raise your camera to your face, and instills a modicum of confidence in strangers you approach at events. It sometimes is a conversation starter, too. Mostly, I like them, a precision instrument with history, a piece of practical jewelry appropriate for business. That said, I don’t wear my dress watches for everyday, and consider my Omega Speedmaster my top dawg. I love the mechanicals and automatics, but have a bunch of colorful name brand quartzes I bought at closeouts as beaters. Too many batteries to replace!

elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

Yes, for many, a high-end watch brings pride of ownership and also view such items as works of craftsmanship and art. Some people consider the cost of one as "chump change" and have several. Unlike a high-end camera, these watches retain their value and could be good investments. Check out watch auctions at Sotheby's and Christy's and see how their value has increased immensely.

As for me, I'm hard on watches and they don't last long. I use these; they are cute and available on eBay and elsewhere. The quartz batteries in most recent watches don't last that long anyway and a new one will cost more than one of these!

Cheers. Ed

(Download)

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

Perhaps because it was part of your father's daily life for many years?

KoniOmegaflex Loc: Central KY

Thanks for the new source of cheap watches.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

Citizen EcoDrive. No batteries, perpetual calendar, and I have not set the time except for daylight savings. To therwol, some of those old Rolex watches a worth lots.

BusterCrabbe Loc: Montreal

That was the watch I was describing in my post above.It is a Citizen Ec-Drive with the one additional critierion, it is made of Titanium. Lightest watch in the world! Have had it for years and years and it is been in lakes and oceans around the world. Never have to wind it, replace a battery and the crystal still looks brand new.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Here's one thing that I've considered in my choice of watches is that I have a $30 waterproof Timex that I wear on vacation and days that I need to keep track of time (I don't have a cell phone). I have a better Longines that I wear when I would travel on business. My reasoning was that in the event of an emergency I could use it to barter my way out for I usually carry very little cash putting all that I need on my card.

I got stranded once and it was quite traumatic. No ATM and no one with anyway to take a card. I vowed to myself that I would never let that happen again and a watch worth $1500 would help get me out of nearly any situation I might find myself in away from home.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Very rarely see anyone in public wearing a very expensive watch. Quite frankly it has been years. My friend and his wife both have Rolex's, neither bother to wear them. His wife wears a fit bit, he doesn't wear a watch. I have other friends who are well off, and could easily buy expensive watches, but fitbits seem to be the rage now adays.