The Breitling Watch Source Forums

first off let me just say that this post is in no way meant to digg anyone or aimed at anybody.

As some of you know i am a new enthusiast to the watch world. I got my first watch a bit over a year ago and have collected a couple more since then. in the process of collecting watches my desire and urge to add another piece is ever growing. However as of late I have been thinking about the cost of these watches and although they dont break the bank i cant help but to feel guilty buying them. i look around and see all the messed up things that happen in the world and i wonder if i should use my money to help other people instead of indulging in my own self gluttony. I am just curious if any of you ever feel like this...and if so does it come and go?

Nope.

I work my ass off for my money and if I want a $5k watch I'm gonna buy it. If I was wearing a $20k watch then maybe.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

I've said this before, but......

When I first started buying watches I did feel guilty about the money that was being spent on something that I didn't 'need'. However, having spent a long time navel gazing my philosophy is simple.

I pay all of my obligations - I have paid off my mortgage, my cars are paid off, my credit card is paid in full every month. I don't compromise any other spend for watches - we needed a new furnace in the house this year, so that got done before any money on any luxury. I also work for every cent that I have, I had an extremely working class upbringing and have not and will not received any inheritance - I am only spending my hard earned money, not anybody elses.

Above all though, watches make me feel good, and I am not prepared to put a price on my happiness when that happiness is not causing anyone else to suffer. The people that I care about have what they need, my future / retirement is paid before everything else and I have no desire to be the richest guy in the graveyard.

I fully recognise that I am luckier than some (although to use a cliche I have found that the harder I work, the luckier I get), but I think that the principles hold true regardless of the numbers involved.

Some times, not as often as I should though, I donate an amount to my chosen charity, say when you pay off your credit card or if you like when you make a large or indulgent purchase like a watch etc.
That way everyone's a winner!!

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

this is JMO but as of late i do feel guilty wearing some of my watches. its not that i dont pay my bills or work hard for my money. i do both and like everyone else we all have responsibilities outside of our hobby so i attend to those things first.

but lately (no idea why) i tend to wonder if I should give back more to those that are less fortunate than me. sure there is some charitable donations i make as im sure most on here do. i dont know what happend to make me think about this stuff but its just been hitting my mind lately.

sure its only 5-8k i might spend and even if i donated it all away how much difference would it actually make? maybe this is more a feeling of is my hobby superficial....maybe im trying to fill a void with material things...who knows.

Well I have the same problem TBH. Every now and again I feel the same as you but at the end of the day the guyz on here will tell you the same as they've told me which they already have done.

It makes sense, you work hard, pay the bills and look out for your family so then, if you've got pennies leftover, go and buy what you want and makes you feel good.

I give money to different charities personally and through my business but every now and again I get a bit of a guilt trip....usually after watching the 10 o'clock news!

Cheers

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Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

Absolutely NOT; I never feel guilty about buying or owning watches. My wife and I work hard, pay our bills/taxes, donate to local charities, and volunteer our time for different events...health fairs, soup kitchens etc. Buying watches is a HOBBY, just like collecting baseball cards, comic books, memorabilia etc. Regardless of the price, it's just a hobby; hobbies exist for people to enjoy themselves on something they derive pleasure from. I won’t ever feel guilty for having a hobby but I think it’s important to stay humble and recognize our good fortunes in life.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Boogie, a good question.

And as usual Roff hits the nail on the head (oh and Happy Birthday Roff, 39 again!), one of the benefits of having disposable income is being able to choose what and where you spend your money, my grown up children have had far more help financially than I ever had, but that's a result of the work I do and because of that hard work I am in a position to help them. After that comes cars, motor bikes, holidays, watches, cameras, and all the additional clutter that makes up our life style.

In amongst all that comes charity, and from the tone of your post it would seem that you perhaps have not yet found the benefit and the feeling of well being that giving to others less fortunate than yourself can bring, or spending time to assist them, to me it is on a par with the feeling you get when you buy a new watch. Its not a smugness or a showing off, like you do or have with a new watch on your wrist, but its a private feeling that feels good inside. I am not talking big sums of money but choose something you care about and set up a regular payment from your bank and see how it feels.

I also belong to a social group that has charity as one of its core beliefs and the combined power of a large number of people giving a small amount can make a difference in the world. (And as I write this its interesting to me, as I am usually very private about my charitable donations, and have not previously discussed this in public) strange what you will discuss with a bunch of watch nuts spread across the globe.

Ian

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Navitimer World, Callistino.
Omega Speedmaster Moon, Hamilton 992B, Steinhart BS LEII #2, B&R 01-92 Heritage

Nope, I don't feel the slightest bit guilty about it.

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[Witty signature here]

No, until I read this topic. Thank u for making me feel guilty!

Well said Roff.

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Breitling Colt GMT
Breitling Navitimer World
IWC Portuguese Automatic
Breitling Transocean Chronograph LE

Not really, I work hard for my money and I'm the only one who gets to choose how I spend it. Quite a few people I know have pointed out that might not be the case forever.

Occasionally I feel like I should be a more frequent supporter of charities, but I did something recently to address that, at least for a while.

At a practical rather than moral level, there are people who want to lecture me about buying property instead, but I think that has a lot to do with people in Sydney being obsessed to an unhealthy degree with real estate and property prices (still the number one obsession in this city, way above the more recent things like celebrity chefs). Call me short-sighted, but I'm happy renting at the moment - I'm not from here originally and I don't share the dream of paying a huge sum of money for a crappy apartment.

I must be honest but I never feel guilty from a "I could've donated this to charity instead" point of view. Maybe that says something about me (and I guess it's that I'm not about to become a monk anytime soon), but I think it's a very rare person who things like that to be honest. Hat's off to those of you who do.

I'm like most others here - I work hard for my money (well, hardish! ), and I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying a few things that make you happy, and I certainly get pleasure and enjoyment from my watch hobby. I do tend to limit my buying to things that I will use - hence why I don't have a collection of a hundred watches sitting there collecting dust, never being worn. That strikes me as wasteful in some way, but that's just my opinion.

Ultimately I guess we all have a "moral line" where we feel we are being excessive in some way. I've not reached mine yet, but guilt is a personal thing, and I think that if and when something makes you feel guilty then maybe you shouldn't do it anymore. But all the time you don't feel guilty, well....., crack on I say!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

The standard of thought has started to change in recent years, and i fall on the same side as you. Buying property can be a great lifetime investment or it can be a cash drain for years to come and ultimately worth less than what you originally paid.

However the old addage of buying being better than renting wont be going away soon. Wit comes down to it, it will depend on the individual sitution, and many times the opprotunity cost of those funds can be higher than the reutrns

hi ian,

i think that you are right. i dont believe i have found the joy in giving to others. i do sponsor a kid but i know that i could do alot more. maybe it has something to do with the fact that im an only child?? sorry to get all freudian on you guys. its just something that has been on my mind as of late.

thanks to everyone that has posted on this thread.