But for my $200 Garmin to "add up in costs" to your $10,000 watch would require some extremely creative accounting.
Although I suppose time does factor into every discussion of watches, in a way :)
Passions should not be primarily measured in TCO or returns, then no vacation ever makes any sense since you just spend money, no expensive clothing, no expensive car, no restaurants just eating cheap salads whole life and so on. Also one should live in tiniest cheapest shed to maximize earnings. You see where this goes
Sure, but even if I replace my Garmin every 5 years for the next 100 years, I'll only have spent $4000, so I'll still be $6000 better off.
Or if I put that $10,000 into an investment that returns 2% above inflation? I can have a new Garmin every year and 100 years later, I'll also still have $10,000
And if I'm needing a new Garmin every year I'm either very careless or very passionate about having the latest gadgets. So will that $10k watch really be my last ever watch? Almost certainly not.
> Passions should not be primarily measured in TCO or returns
Yes, I agree - as I said in the first paragraph of my post. If you're buying a luxury watch because you like luxury watches, there's nothing wrong with that.
But pretending a $10k watch saves you money is just wishful thinking.
There are three questions at issue:
1. Is the point of this watch to be a sound, efficient investment? No, clearly it is meant to be a personal luxury object and experience. It’s ok to indulge, but seem to agree that this watch is an extravagance —and thus it is wonderful but fundamentally beyond purely rational.
2. Is this watch a good investment, money-wise? It would be if it appreciated, and it may. It could also wind up (ha) depreciating, as ochs and junior make many similar pieces and OP is wearing it actively enough to damage it.
3. Is a series of lower end, 4-year supported, shorter lasting goods ($500 for 4 years) a worse decision than one, long lasting, analog artifact ($100000 for 80+ years)? I think that’s up to each person.