I buy rather cheap watches for several reasons including personal safety and my idea that most luxury brands have nothing to offer beyond status.

However, in terms of my other purchases, I only buy them if I can afford them the same number of times as digits in their value. For example, if I want an iPhone, I have to be able to buy it 4 times without it denting my bank account severely. In case of a Rolex, 5 times. An S Class? 6 of those please. So on and so forth. That way the purchase never burdens me.

Well it’s just a couple but they are pretty much fixed (so far): “- only having 5 watches max” “- Only buying watches (I plan on keeping) on special occasions” “- not overspending” “- never buying a watch to flip that I wouldnt mind keeping” “- Each watch doing something different” “- Not going over 40mm” “- doing a ton of research before each purchase.” Something that’s not a rule but really gives watches bonus points is also a 19mm lug-with. Because that’s the size I have most straps from.

The first rule of Rolex Club is you do not talk about Rolex Club.

You’re not going to like mine. I don’t save for watches. If I can’t afford it incidentally, then I can’t afford it yet. That money needs to be able to disappear without affecting me. I don’t want to be freaking out about resale values or not wearing the watch due to fear of theft. Any saving I might do for a watch begs the question of why that money isn’t in a retirement account or something else, given how unnecessary a watch is. As a result I get about a $1000 watch a year, and next year when I get a better job might get a Tudor or Omega. I won’t be buying a nicer Rolex until I make A LOT more money, and that might not actually ever happen.

At your age and likely finances I’d be a little more conservative for awhile. You’d be surprised how happy you can be with Mido or Christopher Ward if you’re not in it for the name. And if you’re in it for the Rolex name, well, you might be making different decisions from me anyway.

1.If I can’t afford to buy a watch twice without noticing, then I can’t afford it.

2. I only buy watches with date complications.

3. I only buy watches with 20mm lugs. Other measurements are irrelevant.

My rules are simple - you must be able to afford it in cash and you’re getting the best possible price available on something that has historically had low depreciation

• Buy if the money has zero impact on lifestyle for at least the next 12 months

• Maximum 5 watches (no selling, replace only if irreparably damaged)

• No overlapping complications, ie. no 2 dive, no 2 chrono, etc

• No duplicate brands, the limit is 5 so maximum diversity is good

I want it, I ask my wallet and my wife. Both tell me, no! I got lucky made some good money and buy it. Tell my wife only it costs 1/10th of the real price I paid. My wife after 2 weeks me sleeping on the couch agrees finally. Wife happy, me happy, wallet empty like always. Just in a nutshell

Here’s some opposite advice: buy the watch now, more expensive things later. Here’s the reason: it’s pretty easy to save up let’s say 10k without it impacting your finances, often more difficult to justify a 10k splurge later when you have more responsibilities. You’ll always be able to rationalize putting it off to be more responsible. There will always be “better” ways to spend that 10k down the line, especially if you get married, have children, or purchase a home. In the long run, the 10k is nothing compared to the demands from those expenses, so if you spend it now, you’ll essentially forget that expense before you start really having to sink money into the “important” things later. That said, it shouldn’t impact your current financial situation in the slightest, that would be dumb. Take a small amount you wouldn’t notice missing, put it into an account and just skim your income a bit every month and add it to your “fund”. In a little while, you’ll have the cash to buy what you want without any sacrifices. There are so many people I know that always wait to be “financially secure”, but their expenses necessarily ascend along with their income so it’s always a race and there’s always car expenses, home expenses, schools, family vacations, illnesses, investments, etc that will be legitimate reasons to allocate resources in those directions. Besides, you’re young, get a nice watch now, be thankful that you can obtain one. Have fun, own it for fifty years. You’ll probably buy several more in your lifetime and if you’re financially successful your 10k will be a wonderful reminder of where you started, and if you’re not, you’ll always have a wonderful watch anyway. Obviously don’t go in debt for it, and do your research. Best of luck and hope you get something you’ll treasure for your entire life.

Pretty simple 10% rule.

Take 10% of your net annual income for shots and giggles. ( only if you have no debt or running costs ) with that 10% you can do what ever you want.

So let’s say you want to buy that gmt for 11 grand that means that you have to make 110k net annually to comfortably afford this watch.

You will never go broke of this, you will always have a limit of what you can afford and you can plan ahead for future watches that might take a while to be delivered.

I use that rule and it works perfectly. ( although I’m already at my limit for this year 😅) but I know when to stop

Only buy things you like, you can afford, and you’ll wear. Never, EVER, buy something because someone tells you that you “should have it in your collection.”

My rule is 1% of gross income per year can be allocated to a watch purchase (can take several years for larger purchases) or being able to purchase it twice without affecting your financial situation. I’m 30 and at $150k base salary my most expensive piece is a $1000 vintage omega. That said, I’m aiming to get a speedy pro and with my income trajectory think i will be able to drop the $4k for a used one sometime in the next year or two.

Definite rules for personal buying.

-Personally I can only buy 6 watches in my life max so Im forced to make my decisions count, I have bought 2 so far with a third coming along the way for my 25th Birthday.

-all have to be different brands and face colours. Only buy watches on special or memorable occasions. (Overseas holidays or birthdays). 3 swiss and 3 Japanese.

-If a watch is given as a gift, it voids all the rules.

Some other considerations I take into account but not set in stone rules:

-If a watch is worth more than 20% of what my car is worth, evaluate if it’s more worthwhile to use the money to save for a better car.

-I need to actually be able to wear the watch. Dont want to get a grail piece yet if I feel I cant wear it on a daily basis.

-Dont see the watch as an investment, more as a hallmark of memories. I believe having memories associated with a watch increases its sentimental value and talking points, being able to point to a watch in your collection and go, ‘I got this from my wife’ or ’ I got this during my overseas trip in Japan’ etc. is more precious and valuable than saying ‘I saved 10k for this Rolex’. But that’s just me.

I would also say if you have to go to great lengths to save up the money, its probably too expensive for you. It should be easily within your budget. Maybe saving for a month or two is ok. Preferrably be able to buy it outside your regular cash flow with something like a bonus, commission payment or an investment payout.

But if you cant easily afford it, you should probably focus this money on other things, such as investing. Exactly so that you get to the point where you can actually easily afford a rolex at some point.

My rules are simple. 1, If I have to think about what might happen to what’s on my wrist all day I can’t afford it. If I can afford it it must be insured to wear it. 2, No more than two of the same type or brand in the rotation at any given time. This does not include “safe” watches that are not worn regularly or at all.