Life Is Short-Buy The Watch

         Why the World's Finest Timepieces Are the Only Splurge You'll Never Regret

In a world obsessed with fleeting trends and fast tech, there’s one indulgence that marries hedonism with heritage, and aesthetics with actual asset value: the high-end luxury watch. Not the casual “I got this at the mall last weekend” type, but the unicorns—those $30,000-and-up masterpieces that are as emotionally gratifying to wear as they are strategically satisfying to own. They’re not just watches. They’re heirlooms, trophies, personal landmarks, and yes—investments. So, if you need a sign to pull the trigger, this is it because time waits for no one.

Rolex Daytona: Icon Status, Investment Security

There’s a reason the Rolex Daytona is consistently at the top of every collector’s wish list. Between its connection to Paul Newman, its legendary scarcity, and its bulletproof value on the secondary market, this is the gold standard of horological flexing. Whether you go classic stainless steel or indulge in precious metals and exotic dials, the Daytona doesn’t just hold its value—it climbs. — at auctions a prized Daytona can fetch millions. While the current retail price of a stainless steel Daytona hovers around $15,000, resale values can double or even triple that, depending on rarity and condition. Crafted with Rolex’s in-house chronograph movement, the Daytona combines technical excellence with racing style, making it both a collector’s grail and a symbol of enduring prestige. You’ll enjoy every wrist glance and every stock-market-level gain.

Patek Philippe Nautilus: Perhaps the king of collectability

When Patek Philippe discontinued the Nautilus 5711 in 2021, the watch world went into a frenzy. Already scarce and highly coveted, the 5711 instantly became even more desirable. Prices on the secondary market, which were already well above retail, surged to astronomical levels—often exceeding $200,000 for models that retailed around $30,000. The discontinuation created a speculative bubble, fueled by hype, scarcity, and the model’s iconic status. For a time, values soared unchecked. But by late 2022 and into 2023, the heat began to cool. The overall luxury watch market corrected, and so did prices for the 5711. While values dropped from their peak highs, they remained well above retail, especially for mint-condition pieces and rare variants like the Tiffany & Co. dial (which reached over $6 million at auction). Today, the 5711 is still a blue-chip collector's item—less volatile, but still a symbol of horological hype and investment-grade steel. There is a reason the brand’s marketing line is “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Skeleton: Mechanical Exhibitionism Done Right

Nothing says “watch guy” like an Audemars Piguet Skeleton Royal Oak. The open-worked dial is a window into the soul of the machine—complicated, elegant, and unapologetically visible. Famous owners are John Mayer, Sereena Williams, LaBron James and Jay-Z. These pieces are rarer than your average Royal Oak (already no slouch in the status department) and prices reflect that. From titanium to ceramic to frosted gold, the skeleton line is equal parts avant-garde and blue-chip, and the price and investment reflect that. 

Cartier Crash & High Horology: Art with a Balance Sheet

Cartier might be best known for the Tank and the Santos, but it’s true high-end offerings are where things get wild—and wildly valuable. The Cartier Crash is pure surrealist fantasy and one of the rarest watches in existence. The Crash is a surreal and iconic wristwatch first introduced by Cartier London in 1967. It emerged during the Swinging Sixties—a time defined by rebellion, bold design, and free spirits in London’s Bond Street atelier. Another is the Limited runs of the Santos Skeleton, or anything involving a flying tourbillon, which turn Cartier from jeweler to horological powerhouse. These aren’t watches—they're wearable masterpieces with six-figure auction track records to prove it.

F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu: Cult Status Achieved

The Chronomètre Bleu by F.P. Journe is the stuff of whispered collector lore. With its tantalum case, electric blue dial, and outrageously precise movement, it’s the watch that seasoned connoisseurs seek once they’ve grown tired of the mainstream. Good luck finding one at retail—waitlists are laughable because there are none and resale prices hover near or above $100,000. Owners of Journe’s are friends of the founder and even he would say that wearing one tells the world you know what you’re doing, and you're not here for the Instagram flex.

Richard Mille RM Series: Insane Engineering Meets Insane Prices

Think of Richard Mille as Formula 1 for your wrist. These watches are featherlight, wildly over-engineered, and sport design language that makes traditionalists clutch their pearls. Mille worked a brilliant marketing campaign around individual athelets and provided them with hand made versions to be worn while playing their sport. The ultimate visibility, especially when they hold the trophy over their head. But Richard Mille didn’t just hand watches to celebrities—he engineered them for them. He partnered with elite athletes like: Rafael Nadal, who wore a sub-30g tourbillon during live matches, Felipe Massa, a Formula 1 driver and early brand ambassador and Bubba Watson, who wore his RM during high-impact PGA drives that led to championships. Among athletes, celebrities, and billionaires, they’re the ultimate statement. You’re looking at $150,000+ just to enter the club—and much more for rare or custom pieces. But as Mille himself says, “If you can’t afford one, you’re not supposed to.” Brutal. But true.

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin: Whispered Prestige

Quiet luxury, defined. The Overseas QP Ultra-Thin is one of those rare watches that doesn’t scream—it nods politely, accepts your praise, and keeps perfect time for eternity. Vacheron Constantin is one of the Holy Trinity of watchmaking (along with Patek and AP) this model—with its moon phase, perpetual calendar, and impossibly slim profile—is horological poetry. At north of $100,000, it’s not cheap. But neither is greatness. Vacheron, like Rolex and Patek, is greatness.

My watch collecting journey began, as many do, with sheer enthusiasm and little restraint. Over time, I amassed over 40 timepieces from 25 different brands—an eclectic mix that spanned everything from microbrand curiosities to heritage stalwarts. I was seduced by variety: the thrill of discovering a new case shape, a different movement, a fresh dial texture. I swapped bracelets for bands and leather for nylon creating different iterations of the same watch. But eventually, quantity became noise. The rotation was too large to enjoy meaningfully, and my connection to each piece started to feel diluted. (…you read that correctly. Watch collectors and enthusiasts ‘rotate’ what they wear)

So, I did what many collectors eventually do: I edited. Ruthlessly. Because of the market craze, many brought more than I paid, most did not. I let go of the watches that didn’t spark joy—or at least didn’t speak to craftsmanship, legacy, and enduring design. I traded breadth for depth. Today, my collection fluctuates near 25 pieces from four to five of the world’s best maisons. Some are 3-5 years new, but many would be considered vintage. Each is an heirloom in the making, chosen for its horological significance, timeless design, and emotional resonance.

There’s something deeply satisfying about a refined collection. Every piece now has a story, a place, and real purpose. Some are daily companions; others are reserved for milestones. I’ve learned that fewer watches, well-chosen, can offer more joy than an overstuffed drawer and multiple winders ever did. Watches are, after all, about time—and time is precious. So is space. And taste. My current collection reflects not just what I love, but who I am—and the patience it took to get there. Yes, luxury watches are indulgent. They retain value, they create joy, and they age far better than sports cars or rental properties. They mark occasions. They tell stories. And—if chosen wisely—they make you money while you’re too busy living your life to notice.

Life is short. Buy the damn watch.