I like watches a little bit and I have a couple. I'm getting old now so I have some savings and I could afford Rolex (one! just one!) but I choose instead to buy from a brand called Orient. Japanese, precision automatic mechanical movements. Accuracy on par with the best swiss watches (I measured one to about 2 seconds per day lost which is outstanding for a mechanical watch). Very good quality for under $200 at the time. I'm quite pleased with that decision.
I'm assuming that eventually Rolex will run out of Oligarchs and Sheiks to sell to and will once again deign to accept money from the unwashed normal people. But not from me.
I too enjoy Orient watches and Seiko’s.
I have a Seiko solar diver in stainless I picked it up new for under $500. I wear it everyday whether working outside or in the office. Super durable and great looking. Even had a Rolex owner ask me once if it was a Rolex.
I currently have two, an iWatch my daughter gave me which does all kinds of neat things, and my favorite, my Citizen Ecodrive Calibre 8620 (or something like that). They are both great watches, although my only gripe is the leather strap on my Citizen has come apart. It’s the second one, too.
Not cheap, but far, far below the stratospheric prices of Rolex and others.
Rolex can keep their watches and their snobbery.
Figured I would never own a Rolex, and wound up Purchasing a 1969 Omega Seamaster 300 with date window at an estate auction over 20 years ago. I’ve replaced the face, hands, crystal, crown and case back from a now defunct Watchco out of Australia (affects the collector value, but I don’t care) and it runs like a champ as my everyday watch. I’ve taken care of a nice vintage Omega Speedmaster reduced that I will present to my son in August when he graduates from Duke University’s Physician Associate program. He’s a rather bright boyo who’s just starting to get into watches.