Why I'm afraid to buy a luxury watch

It's best to study your options really, really closely before committing to something like this.

Generally speaking, most luxury wristwatch enthusiasts consider the entry level to be TAG Heuer. Above is the Aquaracer model, but most guys prefer the Formula 1.

I actually like the Aquaracer better than the Formula 1 because it has more choices of dials with no arabics (as in just blocks for hour markers). The majority of Formula 1 models have huge 12 and 6 hour markers. There's nothing wrong with that, I just prefer the all-blocks indices look.

Why do watch guys consider TAG Heuer the entry level into the luxury watch space? Probably because that's the go-to brand most guys buy when they want something expensive that's available right now with no waiting. And the connection with racing helps too, hence why the Formula 1 is the preferred model.

I'll now list my reasons why I still haven't bought a luxury timepiece. I've been examining luxury wristwatches for years now from afar, viewed many photos and videos on them, and so on. There are a few inescapable truths about these things.

Paying over $1,000 for a watch that tells time worse than a $15 Casio...

A plain digital quartz Casio watch has stated accuracy of +/- 30 seconds per month. It's actually better than that at about +/- 15 seconds per month. I've owned enough Casio watches to confirm this.

There are very few luxury watches that can get better numbers than that. Yes, there is the Bulova Precisionist, but that's not technically "luxury" since it's well under a grand. You have to go way more expensive than that to reach the luxury mark. Namely, Grand Seiko watches that use a Spring Drive movement. However, Seiko states themselves that the accuracy of Spring Drive is +/- 1 second per day, which means +/- 30 seconds per month, meaning it doesn't beat a plain quartz movement. At best, the accuracy is equal that of plain quartz and not better.

Also, let's not forget that any Casio G-SHOCK with atomic timekeeping syncs to the atomic clock every night for the ultimate in time accuracy. And the Casio Waveceptor does the same thing even cheaper than G-SHOCK (as little as 30 bucks!)

Most luxury watches still fall short when it comes to the bracelet

This is where many luxury watches just don't cut the mustard.

Sure, the head of the watch will be great. A decent one will have excellent finishing, great dial, great hands, smooth operation, and so on. You get your money's worth there.

Then there's the bracelet, and that's where things get not-so great.

It is just a sad state of affairs when Strapcode bracelets beat the pants off of what the majority of luxury watches come provided with.

Spending thousands of dollars on a watch only to end up with a bracelet that doesn't measure up is just outright insulting. You would literally be better off buying the leather or fabric strap version of whatever luxury watch you intend to get, remove that the moment you receive the watch and then install a Strapcode bracelet. That's what you have to do just to have everything truly feel like the luxury you paid for.

A very common complaint by many luxury watch reviewers on YouTube is something along the lines of, "Oh yeah, this X brand watch is great! Everything is so perfect! But that bracelet..."

That happens a lot.

I know what buyer's remorse feels like

This is what keeps me from buying a luxury timepiece more than anything else.

I've never bought a luxury watch, but I have bought what most would consider to be luxury electric guitars only to part with them later.

From my luxury guitar buying "adventures", I learned that brand and price absolutely do not dictate the level of quality you will receive. With upper end guitars, much of what sells them at the high prices they command is perceived quality and not actual quality.

With luxury wristwatches, the same applies. Totally different product, but like with luxury guitars, there's a lot of that perceived quality thing going on.

Maybe one day I will buy a luxury watch. A Rolex Oyster Perpetual? A Cartier Tank? Something else entirely? New? Used? I don't know these answers just yet.

Do I need one? No. Do I want one? Yes, even if it's something I just do once and never again.

Published 2021 Dec 16