Obviously we all have our own circumstances, so I’m generally wondering: there is a difference between the watches we dream of and the watches we wear.
When I wear mine, I need to be not too flashy for clients while keeping it professional. I earn $105k as a middle manager in wealth management (MCOL), and the nicest watch I own is an Omega Seamaster ($5.9k).
Affordability aside, I’m weighing how much “nicer” of a watch can I get without “out-wearing my wage”.
I’d love to hear how others have approached this intangible; I can make my own decisions just looking for anecdotes.
Most watch guys have Main Character Syndrome (MCS). No one care what watch you are wearing unless they intend to rob you.
I manage money for high net worth people. The self-made ones generally don’t like to see expensive jewelry or clothing on their advisor. The investment fees from the client’s accounts literally pay our salaries.
MCS exists but this is not it.
It seems like the rule of thumb in that case would be ‘loudness’ of watch rather than actual cost. So blingy, high polished pieces, two-tone, attention-drawing pieces, and of course Rolex.
E.g. I don’t think they’d bat an eye at a moonwatch on leather or a reverso. Or my favorite, on an Erika’s originals