Luxury Bag or Watch?

[the_black_tie_diyer]

Thanks for the reply Oliver. You've shocked me a bit.
I didn't know a watch would need frequent servicing, my friends and family all use luxury watches, and none of them ever mention needing frequent service
My work is really not intense enough to scar or beat up anything, I wear my cartier love bangle (never comes off) and a simple steel marc jacobs mechanical watch on a semi-daily basis to work, and they have held up perfectly. Are you saying the watch mechanism itself needs to be serviced? like wound up or something or are you just referring to polishing? Because hairline scratches just add to the patina of a well-loved piece of jewellery imo, not something I would want to remove often.

Hi ZoobaAruba,

I'm sorry, I definitely didn't want to shock you!

Basically every mechanical watch movement needs servicing sooner or later. (Think car: Oil change, changing wear parts (brake pads, ...))

Rolex rather currently changed the suggested interval for this service from every 5 years to 10 years. Also they are giving you a warranty of 5 years on every newly purchased watch now.

The main reason being the synthetic oils used to lube the movement are so well formulated these days that they do not dry/gunk up as they years ago and also the alloys/materials used inside the watch movement are different/better.

The 10 year interval is a suggestion by Rolex but to stay within the car analogy, a mileage beater needs more service than a car that simply sits & waits in a garage.

Now you can wear a mechanical watch until it literally gives up = stops running. Or you can check how well it's keeping time every now and then and when it starts to "act funny" = unreliable = more than 20/30 seconds off a day bring it in for service. Some people will tell you it doesn't matter much, but it can significantly add to the bill when you need a mechanical watch to be repaired after it stopped running vs. it's still running but just not as reliable reliable anymore.

Mechanical watches, especially those with an automatic movement don't like bumps or harsh treatment in general. The more they get of it, the faster they need to be serviced. Something that is pretty common after really harsh bumps for example is a broken rotor shaft.

But rest assured that this needs a lot of "abuse" on the watch for this to happen.

Also a watch that is considered water resistant and that is in contact with water and detergents regularly needs to be checked from time to time if it is still water resistant.

Still, servicing cost should be taken into consideration. Current model Rolex serviced through/via an official AD at the Rolex Service Center starts at 650 USD.

To sum it up: Rolex watches are incredible reliable and they definitely can take a beating compared to many other mechanical watches - but the watch will be very happy to receive some "Spa"-time every now and if it's your one and only every day watch And since this isn't a 5$ battery change one should simply be aware of it

Don't be scared or shocked - a mechanical watch is a wonderful thing but it needs a little care.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[KittyKat65]

I have a Rolex and an Apple Watch. I wear the Rolex for special occasions and the Apple Watch daily. Service of a Rolex is around $395. Having said that, I have had mine for 8 years and never had it serviced.

 

[jellyv]

Thanks for the reply Oliver. You've shocked me a bit.
I didn't know a watch would need frequent servicing, my friends and family all use luxury watches, and none of them ever mention needing frequent service

Not frequent--more accurate to say infrequent. Just more than none. For a Rolex, probably 7-10 years out from original purchase, with the exception of periodic water tightness check if you plan to shower/swim a lot wearing the watch.

To answer the question, I had luxury bags before getting a luxury watch, and I do love both and would not be without my one "good" watch. I will say that a Rolex is going to be much more expensive than most luxury bags (excluding Hermes).

 

[ZoobaAruba]

Thanks for the replies everybody. I can definitely live with servicing once a decade. I guess the only reason I'm a little ambivalent is because, while the watch would be something I would enjoy and get more use out of, I feel like I can't wait to buy a new Chanel or Hermes [emoji85] The idea of a bag purchase is more exciting than a watch to me, you know?

 

[lenarmc]

I always go for the bag even though I've worn a watch everyday since getting my first one at the age of five. When the battery runs out, I buy a new one. By the time the battery runs out (two years sometimes longer), I'm sick of it anyway. With that being said, I don't spend a whole lot of money on one. My last two watches were a Fossil and a Kenneth Cole which were bought at TJ Maxx. I'm currently wearing a Marc Jacobs that I got from TJ Maxx as well. Never spent more than $40 on any of them. Not interested in getting anything expensive. I'm too hard on stuff to invest thousands.

 

[Alan_SF]

Not frequent--more accurate to say infrequent. Just more than none. For a Rolex, probably 7-10 years out from original purchase, with the exception of periodic water tightness check if you plan to shower/swim a lot wearing the watch.

I bought a Rolex GMT Master in 1981 and didn't have it serviced until 2005! I won't do something like that again. The watch was in very good shape and just needed routine service. I was lucky and won't go past ten years. Rolex maintenance is expensive, about $600 - $1,000. If you think that is pricey, Audemars and Patek, the brands above Rolex, start at roughly $1,000 and often go past $2,000.


People will tell you that Rolex watch is a good investment. I will say they hold their value. But then again so does a luxury bag.

 

[Evia]

Bag wins every time! I'm not bothered about watches thank goodness I have a cheap battery powered watch which keeps great time and a vintage hand wound watch which was my dads and is also accurate. Often keep my watch in my bag rather than wearing it, actually

 

[Senf]

I need to wear a watch for work/uni (to count HR/RR, a watch with a seconds hand is a requirement for clinical exams at my uni). I literally only wear it when necessary though, never while on vacation. I anticipate needing to wear a watch for my residency too, so it may as well be a nicer one, no?

I use a nurse watch - one that is upside down and that you can fix on cour coat
I don't want germs to get all over my watch

 

[ZoobaAruba]

I use a nurse watch - one that is upside down and that you can fix on cour coat
I don't want germs to get all over my watch

I googled a picture and that looks so useful! I've never seen one of those before.

 

[UpUpnAway]

Of comparable price:
Ex. Cartier bb steel vs Chanel cf
Or Rolex 2 tone vs Hermes birkin/kelly

I don't own any luxury watches (yet) and I feel like I need a nice watch that will last a lifetime. But bags are my [emoji173]️

I'm trying to decide between a Chanel jumbo or a Cartier love bracelet myself. I am such a bag girl too. But I don't own a single bracelet. So if I am going to get one, might as well get something nice, right?

Decisions, decisions.

I have daughters so it's also nice to think that I could pass my few bags and potential bracelet to them...

 

[makn808]

I think a watch is a wonderful way to commemorate a milestone. I purchased a ladies Cartier Santos automatic during a particularly pivotal moment in my life. I've worn it everyday for the past 16 years and I appreciate its symbolism everyday. For what is worth, I've never had it serviced and it keeps time as well as when I first got it in 2000.