The WANT Thread

[Mike]

Eh, who gives a shit.

Substitute "paperclip" for "watch" everywhere and you'll see it works just as well, but for thousands less. That's stupid to me. I'd have to think you guys would find it silly for someone to collect paperclips, no?

The sports car analogy is fail. A sports car is vastly different than cheaper alternatives in terms of performance and looks.

I'm not saying he must stop. I'm saying that in my opinion it is a really stupid "hobby." Friends don't let friends do stupid. 8)

[SlimKlim]

I can appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into assembling high-end watches. For me it's just so "out there" on cost vs benefit that I'm gonna have to be really, really, really, really, really loaded and have run out of pretty much anything else to spend my money and time on before I go shopping for a $10k watch. Even something like a cellar full of absurdly expensive wine & bourbon would be more enjoyable to me than a watch collection. You'd probably be chasing down certain vintages you wanted, which is its own fun experience, (I suppose that's true if you were into classic watches) and when you felt like it you could crack open a $500 bottle of wine and pretend you can tell the difference between it and a $10 bottle. It's going to have it's own unique taste at the very least, metal on your wrist feels like metal on your wrist.

And yeah I agree the sports car analogy doesn't really work. A sports car has a different purpose than an economy car, it offers its own set of experiences. There is no functional difference between my Skagen and a Rolex, they both provide the same information, the Rolex is just made out of better materials. It's cool, in and of itself, I love taking the back off an old watch with automatic movement and seeing how it ticks, it just goes back to the cost vs benefit thing.

Anyway we're way fucking off topic. My initial response was that I thought the watch rental business model was stupid, not because I don't think there is a market for it, but because I think the target market is not what the CEO thinks it is. It'll be spoiled teenagers or 20-somethings with confidence issues coughing up a few hundos a month to make it look like they can afford a $10k watch, which is stupid.

[Mike]

Anyway we're way fucking off topic. My initial response was that I thought the watch rental business model was stupid, not because I don't think there is a market for it, but because I think the target market is not what the CEO thinks it is. It'll be spoiled teenagers or 20-somethings with confidence issues coughing up a few hundos a month to make it look like they can afford a $10k watch, which is stupid.

My guess is he doesn't care who the target is as long as there is one, and unfortunately, there is one. GET MONEY.

[Evan]

The 2 biggest reasons to lease.

1: You arent keeping it long so instead of financing/pay the whole value of the car, you finance/pay the depreciation.
2: Your demand for the item is elastic and changes frequently, and you dont want to maintain a stockpile/inventory yourself.

paying $400 to wear a watch that isnt yours for 2 months falls under neither of those categories, and lands firmly into category 3:
3: A lot more money than brains.


any demand of this service is from people who didnt use their intelligence to make their fortune. (or want to put out the appearance that they have more money than they do)


and thats just the financial angle, and doesnt address the over-the-top douche factor of wealth-flaunting something that isnt even yours.

[WRXtranceformed]

Eh, who gives a shit.

Substitute "paperclip" for "watch" everywhere and you'll see it works just as well, but for thousands less. That's stupid to me. I'd have to think you guys would find it silly for someone to collect paperclips, no?

The sports car analogy is fail. A sports car is vastly different than cheaper alternatives in terms of performance and looks.

I'm not saying he must stop. I'm saying that in my opinion it is a really stupid "hobby." Friends don't let friends do stupid. 8)

A lot of people collect a lot more asinine things than watches that have far less craftsmanship, quality, history and long term value. Those things aside...by your logic, why collect comic books? Or antiques? Or old car memorabilia? Or any art in general? None of those serve really an intrinic purpose other than to satisfy your personal appreciation and taste for what each thing is. People pay silly money for old classic Coke machines....but "why do that when they can get a Coke from the cooler at the grocery store??!"

I honestly think the sports car analogy is more relevant than the paper clip argument. A watch can be used functionally as a backup for computers but it can be worn / appreciated fashionably with a T-shirt or it can be worn with a suit to complete one's look. Heck i have couple of watches that will retain functionality in the event of an EMP. Who's going to be laughing when you all are late to the zombie-killing party?

[WRXtranceformed]

and thats just the financial angle, and doesnt address the over-the-top douche factor of wealth-flaunting something that isnt even yours.

That is fair and I completely see your point....but technically I don't own my car yet. It's owned by the bank until it's paid off or sold. I must be an over-the-top douche who drives a Jag he can't afford to pay cash for.

Or in reality it was financed at an extremely low rate and the cash that could pay it off is kept in my investment funds making 13-36% right now versus paying off a depreciating asset that I am not going to keep past 5 years.

[.RJ]

There is no functional difference between my Skagen and a Rolex

Other than one is like a piece of flea market jewelry and the other like diamond earrings. Or a $30 target dress shirt vs. something nice.

Nice watches (and other nice accessories) are nice things for adults to have. Appearances should be important. Now, I dont quite get Lee's watch obsession because I think 1 nice watch is plenty, but #yolo and all that. I sure as shit dont need 5 bicycles but they're nice to have.

[SlimKlim]

^ Can you look at a pair of $100 Swavorski earrings and $1500 diamond earrings and tell the difference without a microscope? I highly doubt it. No functional difference.

Like I said, I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a nice watch. If I ever make it big, I'll treat myself to something nicer than my Skagen or Jacques Lemans. However, the point remains that an ultra high end watch is about as pointless as a solid gold shitter.

That's not even what's rubbing my fur the wrong way. I think collecting uber expensive watches is kind of silly, but hey, whatever floats your rubber ducky. It's specifically the Rent-a-Swag business model to pay a monthly fee to flaunt a $10k watch you don't own that strikes me as incredibly fucking stupid and douchey. But that's just me.

EDIT:

Nice watches (and other nice accessories) are nice things for adults to have.

By the way, I'm just sharing my opinion, you don't have to be condescending.

[.RJ]

Just my opinion I dont own anything nicer than a Skagen, either. I have 2 of them :lol:

I did have to start dressing nicer for work a few years ago though.

[WRXtranceformed]

It's not hard for a lot of people to spot the difference between a cheap watch and an expensive one as much as you would like to sweep them into the same bucket. It's also not hard to spot the difference between cheap jewelry and expensive jewelry...ask any woman. Whether or not you think it's worth paying more for a nice piece of jewelry is similar to whether you think it is worth it spend $30k on the 1st edition of the Amazing Spiderman when you can go to the comic store and buy a new one for $1.50. Functionally they are exactly the same, but people do it because the first one is special and you're clearly passionate about what it is because it IS what it is.

[*insertusernamehere*]

It's not hard for a lot of people to spot the difference between a cheap watch and an expensive one as much as you would like to sweep them into the same bucket. It's also not hard to spot the difference between cheap jewelry and expensive jewelry...ask any woman. Whether or not you think it's worth paying more for a nice piece of jewelry is similar to whether you think it is worth it spend $30k on the 1st edition of the Amazing Spiderman when you can go to the comic store and buy a new one for $1.50. Functionally they are exactly the same, but people do it because the first one is special and you're clearly passionate about what it is because it IS what it is.

Can I ask what you find special about watches?

[SlimKlim]

Just my opinion I dont own anything nicer than a Skagen, either. I have 2 of them :lol:

I did have to start dressing nicer for work a few years ago though.

:lol: Ain't that a shock to your clothing budget? I ended up spending like $800 for a "starter" wardrobe when I started at TWC. I still need to go pick up some more shirts and maybe another pair of shoes because I don't want to put these Cole Haans in an early grave. Apparently these are the last year with the Nike sole. :dunno:

I get it Lee, It just ain't my bag. Neither are comic books or coke machines or expensive memorabilia. I like to spend my money on things that offer a concrete benefit. I own a sports car because I like to go out and drive it. I buy slightly more expensive clothes because I know from experience they'll last considerably longer than Walmart clothes.

At this point in my life there's no concrete benefit to a "real watch" or "real jewelry." A Rolex would not offer me $9,890 more life than my $110 Skagen. I'm currently shopping for engagement stones and half wishing I could wriggle out of getting a real stone because the pricing seems so ridiculous and arbitrarily assigned.I'm sure my perspective will change when (if) I have more money in my pocket.

[WRXtranceformed]

Haha no worries dude, everyone has different taste. Not that I care what anyone here thinks about mine clearly but y'all just need to go easy before you tell someone their hobby is stupid just because you don't appreciate the same things.

Regarding engagement stones, I know it would be a bit of a hassle but having gone through that just over a year ago I can point you in the right direction and to the only place I found on the east coast that I trust. If you are interested shoot me a PM and I can get you the details / contact info. I have sent several people shopping for engagement rings to him and he really took care of them.

[HAULN-SS]

Diamonds are a bad example, because they are neither rare, nor good. That's a rant for a different thread, but you should convince your lady she wants a Musgravite ring or something. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.multicolour.com/detail/index.html?/details/musgravite/mu6027aa/">http://www.multicolour.com/detail/index ... /mu6027aa/</a><!-- m -->

[SlimKlim]

^ Dude I wish. The pricing and and quality ratings on the diamonds seems totally arbitrary. I wish she wanted another kind of stone, if that was the case I'd already have the ring.

I was mostly calling the Rent-A-Swag thing stupid. I still think spending biiiiiiig money on a watch is silly, as is dropping crazy money on a coke machine or some antique, or for that matter, spending insane money on a classic car. If I had the cash to burn, would I buy all of it anyway? Yes. Would I still think it was just a bit stupid to spend a gazillion bucks on something like that even as I was doing it? Yes.

I also realize that my own hobbies are totally silly, the blank stares I get from my co-workers when I describe how I spend my time and money on the weekends reaffirms that pretty often.

And thanks, when I'm ready to pull the trigger I'll shoot you a PM, I dunno how long it's gonna take me to get the money set aside, I have a rough budget in mind, and I'd prefer to pay cash rather than have another monthly payment hanging over my head for 2 years.

My Director at work also has a "hookup" that apparently involves bringing cash and going to some woman's basement, but she can allegedly match just about any setting type from any manufacturer and hook you up with the right stone for a pretty sizable discount over the "name brand" places. I have the exact setting picked out on Blue Nile, just need to get the money set aside, the pick a stone and pull the trigger.

[Evan]

There is no such thing as a 'deal' on diamonds. You can certainly get swindled, but if you're getting a 'deal', its a shit stone thats a reject from the big dealers and even the mall stores. Maybe that matters to you, maybe it doesnt, but Ive seen quite a few people get 'deals' and they come back with a dull cut pee colored stone with flecks in it, but they were too enamored with the 'deal' they got to notice.

I am deal hunter extraordinaire, and I couldnt find anything that matches blue nile in quality and price on real high quality certified diamonds. I guess economies of scale, volume, and low overhead has its benefits. Go figure.

[Ken]

I'm genuinely debating that, when it comes time, i'll go visit some family in Colombia and reap the benefits of cheap high quality stones. Emeralds that I have purchased there are significantly cheaper and better quality than here.

[Mike]

There is no such thing as a 'deal' on diamonds. You can certainly get swindled, but if you're getting a 'deal', its a shit stone thats a reject from the big dealers and even the mall stores. Maybe that matters to you, maybe it doesnt, but Ive seen quite a few people get 'deals' and they come back with a dull cut pee colored stone with flecks in it, but they were too enamored with the 'deal' they got to notice.

I am deal hunter extraordinaire, and I couldnt find anything that matches blue nile in quality and price on real high quality certified diamonds.

+1

a "deal" on a diamond is like a "deal" on a trade-in car; you're getting played.

[SlimKlim]

There is no such thing as a 'deal' on diamonds. You can certainly get swindled, but if you're getting a 'deal', its a shit stone thats a reject from the big dealers and even the mall stores. Maybe that matters to you, maybe it doesnt, but Ive seen quite a few people get 'deals' and they come back with a dull cut pee colored stone with flecks in it, but they were too enamored with the 'deal' they got to notice.

I am deal hunter extraordinaire, and I couldnt find anything that matches blue nile in quality and price on real high quality certified diamonds.

Allegedly this lady my Director knows can source all the same stuff the big places like Blue Nile can, she can just do a little better on pricing. I've been trying to learn about the whole "cut, color, clarity" thing. What I lack is an actual understanding of the visual differences between, say, a "Very Good, H, VS2" and an "Ideal, G, VVS2." I think I need to sit down with someone who can show me the differences between all of that, then I can be a more educated consumer and shop for the best deal on the quality of stone I want to buy.

This definitely isn't a purchase I want to cheap out on, but I also don't want to spend a dollar more than I absolutely have to, and right now I still lack the knowledge to pull that off. Like I said I'm still in the pretty early stages, not sure when I'll have the money set aside and will be ready to pull the trigger. I'm not going to contact someone like Lee's hookup or this lady my boss knows just to waste their time getting a quote, if I'm not ready to actually make the purchase, so I figure save up the expected MSRP, then start working some connections.

[WRXtranceformed]

There is no such thing as a 'deal' on diamonds. You can certainly get swindled, but if you're getting a 'deal', its a shit stone thats a reject from the big dealers and even the mall stores. Maybe that matters to you, maybe it doesnt, but Ive seen quite a few people get 'deals' and they come back with a dull cut pee colored stone with flecks in it, but they were too enamored with the 'deal' they got to notice.

I am deal hunter extraordinaire, and I couldnt find anything that matches blue nile in quality and price on real high quality certified diamonds. I guess economies of scale, volume, and low overhead has its benefits. Go figure.

Don't listen to cranky over here. He is right 95% of the time but you can get a better price from someone who is good at buying high quality diamonds with certs from the wholesalers. And it is not going to be at Zales or Sears or some big box store. There is a lot to be desired by buying something online with so many variables that you need to see with a microscope and the right light in person. BN is a great baseline for negotiation but my certified stone appraised at the BN price point (I just checked pricing again a few minutes ago) and I paid about 32% less than that. That also included a custom solid white gold setting that this jeweler made (manufacturing jewelers). Solid is the key; most jewelers sell hollow junk settings that fall apart. Honestly, with the cost of living and amount of wealth in NoVA I doubt you are going to find good pricing anywhere up there.

Seriously though no matter what your budget is, feel free to shoot me a PM. I did more research on that purchase than anything I ever bought and my "guy" is one of the only true 5 star jewelers on the east coast. You can avoid the basement lady slanging stolen stones :lol: