Watches are a luxury good, there is really no debate about that. Not only can they cost quite a bit of money, the simply act of time keeping is done by our phones, so having the time on our wrist is really not needed. Because watches are a luxury good, there is always a stigma with how much you have spent on your watch. A common question we get asked is what is a good amount of money to spend.

The first thing to consider is how much you can afford. We all come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and have differing amounts of money to spend on luxury goods and hobbies. Nevertheless, you can enjoy watches no matter how much money you spend. A $100 Swatch can bring you as much enjoyment as a $10,000 Rolex. The number one thing to remember is that you should NOT go into debt to buy a watch.

The next thing to consider is to make sure you buy a watch where every single dollar, franc, or pound you are spending is maximizing the value you get from the watch. Value can be interpreted differently to different people - some get value in the watch things look, others get value in the way a movement is put together. Figure out what matters to you, and maximize every bit of money you spend.

You also should consider the fact that you want do not want to spend too much money on a watch that you are not comfortable wearing. You do not want to be afraid that someone will steal the watch, or that it may get damaged if you work with your hands a lot. Watches should be enjoy, so don’t let cost hinder you from being able to wear your piece.

The last bit of advice is figure out a good time to spend specific amounts of money. This timing issue can relate to your personal life, but also to where you are in your watch collecting journey. We would actually recommend spending less money if you are just getting into the hobby, and then slow spend more as you move forward in your journey. It allows you to enjoy all price points, but also means you won’t feel too committed at the beginning.

Enjoy!