Green Rambles: Is it All About the Money?

The question that I get asked most often on my Instagram account is the price of the watches I post. Some ask politely, others simply message me with 'PP.' In my world, this stands for Patek Philippe, in theirs for 'Price Please,' but in general, I think that 'Public Problem,' is perhaps the best description.

I find it such a pity that beautiful objects of art (because that is what many watches are these days) are demoted to nothing more than their price tag. In a touch of irony, people seem most impressed when the price is very high than low, which is a strange kind of excitement. It is almost as if people want to wear something utterly expensive, in a twisted sense of 'dress to impress.' The buzz around the perception of the watch, rather than the timepiece itself, seems to be the most important.

In the articles I write, I rarely discuss price, and there is a reason for that. While the specs of watches may be compared, in the end, they are emotional products. If you want to make a rational decision, don't buy a watch at all, as you probably already have a phone. Comparing watches is often like discussing the difference between a Monet and a Manet. While there is plenty to tell, determining which has the greater value is something for the eye of the beholder.

As a collector myself, I often first examine watches and study them before getting into financial matters of things. This way, I can determine the only value that matters to me: what I think it is worth. Then there is the whole contemplation of if I can and want to afford it, but all these are things that I soon forget once a purchase is made.

I don't wear my watches with the price tag still attached to them, I don't avoid wearing watches because of their (perceived) value, I simply want to enjoy the craftsmanship, excellent design, cool functions, and whatever more the timepiece has to offer because those values stay with you.

How do you relate to what is mentioned above? Let us know in the comments