Before jumping into the main body of this piece I would like to first add a disclaimer. This piece does not apply to 3 groups of people. If you are in one of these groups, you can stop reading, or continue with the understanding that this writing is not applying to you, or written for you. These three groups are as follows:
Group 1 / The person who has a watch tradition in their family. If you are someone who received, or will receive a very nice watch from your father upon reaching some milestone, age or life event, and your father received a very nice watch from his father for the same reason, and his father received the same from his father and so on... this pieces does not apply to you. Traditions like this are meaningful and so cool and I have deep respect for them and I think you should keep them!
Group 2/ The person who is so wealthy that if they lose or break a $5000 watch it is nothing to them. You are not devastated, this loss of $5000 doesn't even bother your bank account. If you are that wealthy that a loss of $5000 doesn't mean anything to you, then you are among a very small percentage of the population and have very extraordinary circumstances and this piece does not apply to you.
Group 3/ The person who has an active true hobby interest in timepieces/watches. This is someone who truly has a passion for timepieces, it is a real hobby for them. This isn't just your normal person who thinks watches are cool, this is someone who has a very particular interest and knowledge base and actively is into this hobby. This is very cool, there is something very deep about the keeping of time and the watch, the creation of the watch, the measurement of time, the precision. There is deep meaning in this, this piece does not apply to the timepiece/ watch hobbyist. I have much respect for this group.
Now we can set aside those three groups and move onto the piece which is written for everyone else.
Yeah a $10,000 Rolex is cool, but have you ever seen the Indiglo on a Timex?
I was originally going to start the piece with this line, but decided on the disclaimer first. It is a funny line, but I mean it seriously. I don't buy expensive watches. I think the most I would ever spend on a watch would probably be a few hundred dollars. I have never even spent that amount on a watch. I think this $50 Timex [+ $15 band I swapped in, as I didn't like the original], as seen in the photo above looks more classic, unobtrusive, unassuming and natural than the majority of watches I see these days.
I am not into clothing as signals of wealth or ["f & g"] monetary linked status. It is not just me that is not interested in this. There is a general sense of this that runs through much of the Trad and Ivy world. This approach to style is absolutely not about gauche flashiness, nouveau riche cringe. The fashion world at it's essence is gauche flashiness, garbage hyper-trends and monetary signals that are "dunce hats in disguise". Just one big false world.
This style world [style is not the same as fashion], is the antithesis of this. Some things are pricier, some things are less so, yet all will last and their relevance will not fade. They are almost never priced opulently, the overt signal-display of opulence is absolutely not a part of this style world. Expensive watch signal-culture, certainly excluding groups 1 and 3 above, is largely a culture which is actually opposed at a deep level to the ethos of our style world.
The way I approach anything I buy is that I never spend more than I would be willing to lose. I like to live a real life in my clothes, a natural life as a grown man and not as a ridiculous display ken doll, wearing items that were too expensive, and so I have to live in constant fear of ever harming them in the slightest way. When you spend too much money on your attire, which then strike fear of damage into your heart at all times, you back yourself into a corner with no way out other than living a stilted life in fear. This undoes all of those great pieces you own because when you appear in the story you appear stilted, uncomfortable and odd, not as a natural actor.
When I wear this $50 Timex, or any other watch I own around the same price, I am not scared to death of what may happen. I didn't blow too much money on this object I wear on my wrist all day every day. I wash my hands, the dishes, lift and move things, play with my son etc... I live a carefree life and if and when anything ever happens, I will just buy another one. It's just about living normally.
Lastly, aesthetically, this $50 watch is beautiful. It is simple, classic, understated. This simple Timex appropriately compliments my style approach and philosophy in a natural way, perfectly. Why I do buy something? Because it looks good and is a good value. That is why I buy something. Because it compliments my lifestyle and naturally sits inside my philosophy and approach. In my opinion, the closer we can get to pointing in that direction, in our hearts, the closer we get to more natural style. The closer we will get to better style and ultimately better lifestyle choices that are not corrupted by a false-force of fleeting monetary signaling. This place, direction with all the psycho-signals shut out sets us on a path approaching a more pure essence, and spirit of true style.