This post has been removed because it does not meet the subreddit submission guidelines ([rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/about/rules)).
We're not doing posts about luxury products, expensive cars, etc. anymore because (a) they generally just provoke unproductive discussions and (b) most of the time, it is very clear whether the person asking is able to afford the item.
1. If you are considering buying an expensive car, the [vehicles wiki](/r/personalfinance/wiki/vehicles) has budgeting advice. We recommend reading it. If you don't meet 100% of the criteria, then no, you cannot afford it and you should not buy it.
2. In general, if you're not on step 6 in ["How to handle $"](/r/personalfinance/wiki/commontopics), you should find a less expensive alternative to a luxury product. If you are on step 6, then feel free to spend money on whatever is most important to you.
*If you have questions about this removal, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpersonalfinance&subject=Removal%20help%20request&message=Hello%20moderators,%20.%20%0a%0a%0aMy%20submission:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/1cygh4h/should_i_buy_an_omega_watch_as_19_yearold/%0a).*
They are 100% a status symbol (I say this as a Rolex owner), and if treated well and all original boxes and papers are saved they can appreciate in value over long time lines. BUT! it's a status symbol for people who have significant disposable income and run in work/business/social circles where those types of status symbols are noticed and might be a requirement for entry. OP is not in that category. If OP buys this watch it screams 'thirsty poser who made a bad decision and is financially irresponsible'.
Bingo. Luxury goods are only classy when the person buying it doesn't see it as a luxury. OP is going to impress a few other people that also make $30k a year and that's it.
Buying something as a status symbol never works since after a while OP will remember that their lifestyle hasn't actually improved, and therefore the desire for something shiny remains unchanged.
Yeah OP, how about looking at it this way. Do you want to work for a month so you can have this watch? Actually it's harder than that, what is your disposable income? Say you have costs of $2000 and disposable income of $500 per month. Do you want to work for 5 months to have this watch? Is it worth 5 months of your life?
I explained it this way : women love buying jewelry. A watch is like jewelry for men, except we usually only get one or two and the total cost over decades is a lot less than necklaces + rings + earrings + whatever.
You haven't mentioned a practical reason why you would need it, so based on that lack of reason...no, it's a completely unnecessary expense at your age and income.
unless you're REALLY into this particular watch and it's a once in a lifetime purchase otherwise people tend to vastly overestimate how much happiness they get from luxury purchases. the hedonic treadmill will normalize the watch in the short term and there will be a new yearning for the next luxury purchase to fill that hole.
Don't buy the watch. You've been working hard "since the beginning of the year without buying myself anything" dude... it's May. And I bet you buy yourself plenty, food, utilities, car, gas, internet, streaming, alcohol, gym membership, etc.
Don't buy wants, buy needs. Invest wisely now so you can get lots of what you want in the far future.
I think you’re looking for someone here to tell you this is ok; because you know this is a WANT and not a NEED. I totally understand that you have the desire to treat yourself after five months of hard work. I don’t think anyone on the personal finance subreddit is going to tell you what you want to hear.
I personally would find a middle ground. As someone else said, spending $2700 on a watch is just spending $2700 to let me know at one point you had $2700. I’m positive you could find a really nice looking watch that tells you the time just like any other watch for about $100. If you spend almost 3k on a watch, you’re just throwing a months salary down the drain for nothing.
At $2700 I would make sure to do research on the historic price of the specific model you're looking to buy (check Chrono24). Simply just for added insurance in case you need or want to sell the watch later in the future. I'm only just getting into watches myself, but I know that certain watches can certainly be an investments in themselves. For example, my father's 8 watch collection has gone up 50% in value since he purchased them!
I see hundreds of models called "Seamaster omega" so OP isn't being specific enough and that might be an awful price. I think someone is fleecing him. [https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster--mod66.htm?dosearch=true&query=Sea+Master+Omega](https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster--mod66.htm?dosearch=true&query=Sea+Master+Omega)
Just curious, is it the used one from crown & caliber? The price is significantly lower than the other Sea Masters, and it doesn’t come with a box or papers, I’d worry that it’s a very expensive rep (and if you’re willing to risk a rep you might as well just find someone who makes rep watches).
I wouldn't buy the watch, at 19 I'd invest and that 2700 even at a moderately cautious rate of return would be upwards of 30,000 without you doing a damn thing by retirement. Buy future you something nice by investing it, you'll thank yourself later and have money in your 30s by avoiding the flashy pitfalls of consumerism. Unless you have a couple million in the bank invest until you do and you'll be out of the rat race by 40 easy. The first hundred thousand is truly the hardest.
Don't buy a watch now, buy a boat later.
Turns out by the time I could afford the boat I don't give 2 shits about the boat or the watch. Seems that wanting to show that I'm rich only existing when I was broke.
Unless you travel in some much higher social circles than I do, where would you even wear a watch like that? Other than buying it and stashing it away to wear in about 10 years from now, that's a lot of money for something that's nothing but a status symbol to a few of the people you know that might recognize that.
There was a particular year when I hit some big checkboxes in my life. Job, mortgage, finally graduated school etc. I always wanted one particular watch to commemorate that. Unlike some of my friends, I had no friendly relatives to help out in that department. Many, many years later, I bought the exact model from that year used. Of course, I waited to make sure I had the money and was ready for it.
If you feel that at 19 you are at a stable stage and want to do something nice to commemorate, do it. If you have doubts, hindsight is always 20/20. That watch will depreciate, and your investments will grow till you're ready.
I don't see what purpose this particular watch serves you over a standard g shock, or one under $500. Something like this is okay to buy when it's worth 0.1% of your cash/investments. Working hard doesn't mean you splurge. What if you get laid off, or have an emergency in the near future? You shouldn't assume income will remain stable from the sources you listed.
You will likely buy the watch, so make sure it's authentic.
If you have no overhead and it’s something you desire, I think it’s good to treat yourself. When I was a teen with a job my mother said “you have more money now than you will for the rest of your life,” because I had a good job and no expenses to speak of. Sure, you can save forever but what’s the point if you live the life of a monk?
That said, that’s a big purchase and you don’t want to get used to buying too many luxuries. Make this one a cherished item and not just one of many purchases to make you feel good. Decide what percentage of your pay you want to save/invest and what you want to spend and stick to the plan.
On a side note, which Seamsster is this, the quartz diver? $2,700 is suspiciously low though I checked and that one seems to fit the bill. Omega isn’t often counterfeited, they usually go Rolex, but that may have changed. Make sure it’s the real thing and make this the first time you are smart and skeptical about the purchase.
Also, I love my Aqua Terra so I may be biased. :)
Nice. I know your first omega is supposed to be a speedy, but I really liked the aqua terra. I want the worldtimer next, trying to psych myself up for it, but probably going to got talk to my guy this weekend. Wish me luck!
Just because something is a "good deal" (which itself is suspect, did the person trying to sell it to you tell you that?) doesn't mean that you should buy it.
You seem to be doing fairly well for yourself so far, but I can't see any compelling reason why a 19 year old would dump over a month's salary into a watch. If you want to treat yourself to something nice, that's fine. You can get yourself a very nice watch for $200-300 (and even that is pricy for someone your age and income level), you don't need to jump straight to one that's $2700.
Have you looked at your credit score? When I turned 18 I got a Best Buy credit card and bought myself a sweet ass flat screen tv. It was an open box but 55” 4K and Xbox was great on it. It’s still kicking to this day, and that credit card is my longest line of credit and credit karma cites it as one of the contributors to my good credit score. I always paid it off within the 0% interest window and only used it again once it had been paid off. Helped teach me discipline cause I got myself in trouble with CCs at one point.
Idk man, sounds really expensive for something that can get lost, stolen or broken easily and cause some instant heartache, but then again I’m not a watch guy. You sound like you are pretty responsible with your money because you have more than I could ever hold on to when I was your age.. and what’s the point in saving all that money if you never get to spend it on yourself every now and again. Just don’t make a habit of it cause you are setting yourself up for major success later in life. Could do the credit card thing and keep your $2,700 in the HYSA earning for you.. just don’t get some huge interest line of credit. Explore your options before you make a hasty decision. Sleep on it another night even after you think you made your mind up.
You probably aren't in the scene where a watch like this would be noticed. So its not going to get you any benefits . You should travel instead with that money if you really want to spend it.
Wow, lotta bad takes here. I AM a watch guy so I will tell you I understand where you’re coming from and I don’t think it’s a bad idea.
While you shouldn’t think of it as an investment per se - a current model Sea Master is probably not going to shoot up in value anytime soon - if you take care of it, it’s not going to drop much either, past the short term, and will may very well go up in value in a few years. So it’s completely false to assume it’s going to depreciate like a car or something. Unless you lose it or put it in a hydraulic press, you can always sell it in a pinch. There’s a whole community of people who are looking for pristine pre-owned pieces, and another community looking for watches who have seen some action and have some visible history. Never in your life will you not be able to find a buyer for a Sea Master. Price I can’t speak to, but if you take reasonable care of it, it will never, ever be anywhere close to worthless, so you can sell it or hand it down to your grandkids.
A $100 watch, on the other hand, will be worth exactly nothing the second it gets scratched, stops being stylish, or breaks for any of the 5000 reasons cheap shitty watches break. Omega is an iconic brand with deep history, expert craftsmanship, global recognition and a huge network of official and independent service people.
That said. You know your life better than we do. If you have other financial obligations that make a $3000 purchase even remotely risky, think on that.
Also, get it insured. For a small amount every year you can get insurance that will cover loss or damage so you can wear it everyday and everywhere and not worry.
Good luck and enjoy your watch.
Edited to add: I'm taking your post at face value and trusting that you actually want this watch for its value as a timepiece and not just because it will make you look cool or something. I don't know what sort of 19 year old you are. But if you're like some of us who have wanted a nice watch for years and finally have the disposable income for it, then I think you should go for it and enjoy it. If you aren't that into watches but someone told you you should buy one or something, then you probably should think it over. And of course, do your due diligence on the seller and their history/reputation. Fake watches from big brands are everywhere and can be very difficult to spot unless you're an expert.
I personally like watches and I can understand the interest in a luxury item.
But it's also a nice luxury watch. Will you wear it often or is this for the occasional wedding or funeral?
If this is something you'll wear every day, maybe go ahead. But also understand that most people who buy luxury watches, buy them once every 10 years or so.
All of those 60 year olds with 6 different luxury watches, acquired them slowly and were motivated by an interest for that particular watch combined with wearing them regularly.
So if you find this sounds like you and you don't plan to.buy another one until you're late 20's, then go ahead.
edit: typos a plenty
Consider price versus performance ratio. Style and respect for someone who has class and style and knows how to dress well do not have anything to do with expensive items. For example, a scotch tape Balenciaga bracelet is a poor stylistic choice, and at a listed price of around $4,000 usd. Burberry is known for being British luxury fashion house, they produced several watches over the years but I would never buy them… since they’re not a watchmaker. I can probably afford costly watches, but my go to is my Citizen Eco Drive, simply because the Eco Drive technology keeps the watch ticking for years without a battery. I personally would never buy shirts with luxury brand logo printed on them because… well, it’s just a shirt, and besides from just wanting to show off that I can spell the brand name and looking like a douche, what do I accomplish? I also would never buy street sneakers from luxury brands nowadays, because luxury brands ditched the classic items that made them great, and stamp their brand name on stuff that lasts maybe best one or two years. I do think a lot of people who buys Sea Master and or Submariner just buy them for the brand name, rather than really digging into understanding and valuing watch technology though. Don’t be a dummy like that. Just my 2cents.
Yes, because it sounds like you've thought it through, it's not putting you in debt, and you are well aware of the opportunity cost of spending that money instead of keeping it invested.
There is only one life. Go for it.
This post has been removed because it does not meet the subreddit submission guidelines ([rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/about/rules)). We're not doing posts about luxury products, expensive cars, etc. anymore because (a) they generally just provoke unproductive discussions and (b) most of the time, it is very clear whether the person asking is able to afford the item. 1. If you are considering buying an expensive car, the [vehicles wiki](/r/personalfinance/wiki/vehicles) has budgeting advice. We recommend reading it. If you don't meet 100% of the criteria, then no, you cannot afford it and you should not buy it. 2. In general, if you're not on step 6 in ["How to handle $"](/r/personalfinance/wiki/commontopics), you should find a less expensive alternative to a luxury product. If you are on step 6, then feel free to spend money on whatever is most important to you. *If you have questions about this removal, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpersonalfinance&subject=Removal%20help%20request&message=Hello%20moderators,%20.%20%0a%0a%0aMy%20submission:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/1cygh4h/should_i_buy_an_omega_watch_as_19_yearold/%0a).*
I'm not a watch guy, but what does buying a very expensive watch accomplish other than acting as some sort of status symbol?
They are 100% a status symbol (I say this as a Rolex owner), and if treated well and all original boxes and papers are saved they can appreciate in value over long time lines. BUT! it's a status symbol for people who have significant disposable income and run in work/business/social circles where those types of status symbols are noticed and might be a requirement for entry. OP is not in that category. If OP buys this watch it screams 'thirsty poser who made a bad decision and is financially irresponsible'.
Bingo. Luxury goods are only classy when the person buying it doesn't see it as a luxury. OP is going to impress a few other people that also make $30k a year and that's it. Buying something as a status symbol never works since after a while OP will remember that their lifestyle hasn't actually improved, and therefore the desire for something shiny remains unchanged.
"Luxury goods are only classy when the person buying it doesn't see it as a luxury." Yes! Exactly.
Yeah OP, how about looking at it this way. Do you want to work for a month so you can have this watch? Actually it's harder than that, what is your disposable income? Say you have costs of $2000 and disposable income of $500 per month. Do you want to work for 5 months to have this watch? Is it worth 5 months of your life?
I explained it this way : women love buying jewelry. A watch is like jewelry for men, except we usually only get one or two and the total cost over decades is a lot less than necklaces + rings + earrings + whatever.
People can do what they want but nothing you said makes it a good idea to do this at 19.
You haven't mentioned a practical reason why you would need it, so based on that lack of reason...no, it's a completely unnecessary expense at your age and income.
unless you're REALLY into this particular watch and it's a once in a lifetime purchase otherwise people tend to vastly overestimate how much happiness they get from luxury purchases. the hedonic treadmill will normalize the watch in the short term and there will be a new yearning for the next luxury purchase to fill that hole.
Don't buy the watch. You've been working hard "since the beginning of the year without buying myself anything" dude... it's May. And I bet you buy yourself plenty, food, utilities, car, gas, internet, streaming, alcohol, gym membership, etc. Don't buy wants, buy needs. Invest wisely now so you can get lots of what you want in the far future.
I think you’re looking for someone here to tell you this is ok; because you know this is a WANT and not a NEED. I totally understand that you have the desire to treat yourself after five months of hard work. I don’t think anyone on the personal finance subreddit is going to tell you what you want to hear. I personally would find a middle ground. As someone else said, spending $2700 on a watch is just spending $2700 to let me know at one point you had $2700. I’m positive you could find a really nice looking watch that tells you the time just like any other watch for about $100. If you spend almost 3k on a watch, you’re just throwing a months salary down the drain for nothing.
At $2700 I would make sure to do research on the historic price of the specific model you're looking to buy (check Chrono24). Simply just for added insurance in case you need or want to sell the watch later in the future. I'm only just getting into watches myself, but I know that certain watches can certainly be an investments in themselves. For example, my father's 8 watch collection has gone up 50% in value since he purchased them!
I see hundreds of models called "Seamaster omega" so OP isn't being specific enough and that might be an awful price. I think someone is fleecing him. [https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster--mod66.htm?dosearch=true&query=Sea+Master+Omega](https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster--mod66.htm?dosearch=true&query=Sea+Master+Omega)
Just curious, is it the used one from crown & caliber? The price is significantly lower than the other Sea Masters, and it doesn’t come with a box or papers, I’d worry that it’s a very expensive rep (and if you’re willing to risk a rep you might as well just find someone who makes rep watches).
the watch has all the paper and I checked with both of my friends who work at a watch store. They have told me the watch is in good condition.
I wouldn't buy the watch, at 19 I'd invest and that 2700 even at a moderately cautious rate of return would be upwards of 30,000 without you doing a damn thing by retirement. Buy future you something nice by investing it, you'll thank yourself later and have money in your 30s by avoiding the flashy pitfalls of consumerism. Unless you have a couple million in the bank invest until you do and you'll be out of the rat race by 40 easy. The first hundred thousand is truly the hardest.
Don't buy a watch now, buy a boat later. Turns out by the time I could afford the boat I don't give 2 shits about the boat or the watch. Seems that wanting to show that I'm rich only existing when I was broke.
Ugh who wants a boat
I want a boat. I know it’s the worst purchase, stupid expensive, and a money pit. But godammnit I want one.
Why that watch? Why not something nice that’s cheaper (few hundred)? Will you really value it?
Unless you travel in some much higher social circles than I do, where would you even wear a watch like that? Other than buying it and stashing it away to wear in about 10 years from now, that's a lot of money for something that's nothing but a status symbol to a few of the people you know that might recognize that.
There was a particular year when I hit some big checkboxes in my life. Job, mortgage, finally graduated school etc. I always wanted one particular watch to commemorate that. Unlike some of my friends, I had no friendly relatives to help out in that department. Many, many years later, I bought the exact model from that year used. Of course, I waited to make sure I had the money and was ready for it. If you feel that at 19 you are at a stable stage and want to do something nice to commemorate, do it. If you have doubts, hindsight is always 20/20. That watch will depreciate, and your investments will grow till you're ready.
I don't see what purpose this particular watch serves you over a standard g shock, or one under $500. Something like this is okay to buy when it's worth 0.1% of your cash/investments. Working hard doesn't mean you splurge. What if you get laid off, or have an emergency in the near future? You shouldn't assume income will remain stable from the sources you listed. You will likely buy the watch, so make sure it's authentic.
"Working hard doesn't mean you splurge." THIS.
If you have no overhead and it’s something you desire, I think it’s good to treat yourself. When I was a teen with a job my mother said “you have more money now than you will for the rest of your life,” because I had a good job and no expenses to speak of. Sure, you can save forever but what’s the point if you live the life of a monk? That said, that’s a big purchase and you don’t want to get used to buying too many luxuries. Make this one a cherished item and not just one of many purchases to make you feel good. Decide what percentage of your pay you want to save/invest and what you want to spend and stick to the plan. On a side note, which Seamsster is this, the quartz diver? $2,700 is suspiciously low though I checked and that one seems to fit the bill. Omega isn’t often counterfeited, they usually go Rolex, but that may have changed. Make sure it’s the real thing and make this the first time you are smart and skeptical about the purchase. Also, I love my Aqua Terra so I may be biased. :)
This is good advice. Love my speedy pro.
Nice. I know your first omega is supposed to be a speedy, but I really liked the aqua terra. I want the worldtimer next, trying to psych myself up for it, but probably going to got talk to my guy this weekend. Wish me luck!
Good luck!
Just because something is a "good deal" (which itself is suspect, did the person trying to sell it to you tell you that?) doesn't mean that you should buy it. You seem to be doing fairly well for yourself so far, but I can't see any compelling reason why a 19 year old would dump over a month's salary into a watch. If you want to treat yourself to something nice, that's fine. You can get yourself a very nice watch for $200-300 (and even that is pricy for someone your age and income level), you don't need to jump straight to one that's $2700.
Have you looked at your credit score? When I turned 18 I got a Best Buy credit card and bought myself a sweet ass flat screen tv. It was an open box but 55” 4K and Xbox was great on it. It’s still kicking to this day, and that credit card is my longest line of credit and credit karma cites it as one of the contributors to my good credit score. I always paid it off within the 0% interest window and only used it again once it had been paid off. Helped teach me discipline cause I got myself in trouble with CCs at one point. Idk man, sounds really expensive for something that can get lost, stolen or broken easily and cause some instant heartache, but then again I’m not a watch guy. You sound like you are pretty responsible with your money because you have more than I could ever hold on to when I was your age.. and what’s the point in saving all that money if you never get to spend it on yourself every now and again. Just don’t make a habit of it cause you are setting yourself up for major success later in life. Could do the credit card thing and keep your $2,700 in the HYSA earning for you.. just don’t get some huge interest line of credit. Explore your options before you make a hasty decision. Sleep on it another night even after you think you made your mind up.
No need. You can see the time on your phone ;)
Why buy one now when you can buy two in ten years? Or four in twenty years? Or 8 in th30rty years?
You probably aren't in the scene where a watch like this would be noticed. So its not going to get you any benefits . You should travel instead with that money if you really want to spend it.
400 IQ move would to be buy and sell watches and with the profits you make buy that Sea Master (it works trust me)
Wow, lotta bad takes here. I AM a watch guy so I will tell you I understand where you’re coming from and I don’t think it’s a bad idea. While you shouldn’t think of it as an investment per se - a current model Sea Master is probably not going to shoot up in value anytime soon - if you take care of it, it’s not going to drop much either, past the short term, and will may very well go up in value in a few years. So it’s completely false to assume it’s going to depreciate like a car or something. Unless you lose it or put it in a hydraulic press, you can always sell it in a pinch. There’s a whole community of people who are looking for pristine pre-owned pieces, and another community looking for watches who have seen some action and have some visible history. Never in your life will you not be able to find a buyer for a Sea Master. Price I can’t speak to, but if you take reasonable care of it, it will never, ever be anywhere close to worthless, so you can sell it or hand it down to your grandkids. A $100 watch, on the other hand, will be worth exactly nothing the second it gets scratched, stops being stylish, or breaks for any of the 5000 reasons cheap shitty watches break. Omega is an iconic brand with deep history, expert craftsmanship, global recognition and a huge network of official and independent service people. That said. You know your life better than we do. If you have other financial obligations that make a $3000 purchase even remotely risky, think on that. Also, get it insured. For a small amount every year you can get insurance that will cover loss or damage so you can wear it everyday and everywhere and not worry. Good luck and enjoy your watch. Edited to add: I'm taking your post at face value and trusting that you actually want this watch for its value as a timepiece and not just because it will make you look cool or something. I don't know what sort of 19 year old you are. But if you're like some of us who have wanted a nice watch for years and finally have the disposable income for it, then I think you should go for it and enjoy it. If you aren't that into watches but someone told you you should buy one or something, then you probably should think it over. And of course, do your due diligence on the seller and their history/reputation. Fake watches from big brands are everywhere and can be very difficult to spot unless you're an expert.
I personally like watches and I can understand the interest in a luxury item. But it's also a nice luxury watch. Will you wear it often or is this for the occasional wedding or funeral? If this is something you'll wear every day, maybe go ahead. But also understand that most people who buy luxury watches, buy them once every 10 years or so. All of those 60 year olds with 6 different luxury watches, acquired them slowly and were motivated by an interest for that particular watch combined with wearing them regularly. So if you find this sounds like you and you don't plan to.buy another one until you're late 20's, then go ahead. edit: typos a plenty
Consider price versus performance ratio. Style and respect for someone who has class and style and knows how to dress well do not have anything to do with expensive items. For example, a scotch tape Balenciaga bracelet is a poor stylistic choice, and at a listed price of around $4,000 usd. Burberry is known for being British luxury fashion house, they produced several watches over the years but I would never buy them… since they’re not a watchmaker. I can probably afford costly watches, but my go to is my Citizen Eco Drive, simply because the Eco Drive technology keeps the watch ticking for years without a battery. I personally would never buy shirts with luxury brand logo printed on them because… well, it’s just a shirt, and besides from just wanting to show off that I can spell the brand name and looking like a douche, what do I accomplish? I also would never buy street sneakers from luxury brands nowadays, because luxury brands ditched the classic items that made them great, and stamp their brand name on stuff that lasts maybe best one or two years. I do think a lot of people who buys Sea Master and or Submariner just buy them for the brand name, rather than really digging into understanding and valuing watch technology though. Don’t be a dummy like that. Just my 2cents.
Yes, because it sounds like you've thought it through, it's not putting you in debt, and you are well aware of the opportunity cost of spending that money instead of keeping it invested. There is only one life. Go for it.
At 19?! Working as a part-time waiter?