Would you buy a different watch now than you would have a year ago?

I was just perusing an article (on Forbes.com); below is an excerpt:

"The days of shopping 'til you drop are over," says David Lamb, chief strategic officer at diamond giant De Beers, which, with London-based market research firm Ledbury Research, recently examined the changing demands of the high-net-worth customer. "Instead of seeking out novelty, they're exploring authenticity," he says. "In this kind of economic climate, you literally can't afford to make a mistake."

This is the new conventional wisdom, and there seems to be something to it. If, as historians of economics say, the entire basis of the valuation of currency is trust, then what makes us ascribe value to luxury goods -watches, clothes, cars or what have you -is our trust that there is some authentic value added aspect to a luxury vs. a non-luxury product.

The discomfort that some of us feel with the explosion of luxury growth is driven partly by the feeling that, at least sometimes, there's a tendency to address the social display aspect, or brand identification aspect, of luxury goods to the point where the most sophisticated thing about a luxury product is not its design, or its expression of craftsmanship, but how it's marketed.

Do you feel there's an increase in the horological consumer's "value orientation" and if so, what, to you represents value horologically speaking? What do you want to be able to trust is present as the value added aspect of horology?

Jack

A year ago before all these financial crisis hit, I will honestly admit that I will buy watches that 1) please my eyes 2) please majority others eyes 3) please my lady's eyes
and 4) something that I can easily sell away without getting much hit should I decide it is not 'my keeper' afterall and at the same time experience different watches :-)
Now, after the crisis happens, I decided not to just play safe but to get something I've always wanted but had no courage to do it. Mainly because 1) it was deemed too Expensive 2) too strange
3) too progressive, not a classic 4) extremely difficult to sell should I have a change of heart.
I got the BlackShark 201 right after the crisis happens. Though I do have buyer remorse at times , not because I don't like the watch, but just because I just indulge so much on myself at this kind of financial time. My lady is very supportive of it and really want me to have something I truly love.
Strangely, on other times when all is great, I don't think I will have that courage to get this piece. I know because I have tried to get it over a year.
I never truly understand where I get the courage from when all things around me seem pessimistic but eversince I did, I feel better in many things I do and many good things start to happen too :-)
This purchase is what my heart truly wants. It makes me feel like life is great when I choose to enjoy the moment , work hard for /look forward to the future and not to be greedy.
Please pardon my English as I find it difficult to express my thoughts in words.
One more thing to add, should I have bought the BlackShark before the crisis, I'm pretty sure I will feel remorseful.
Strange.
Lovesss*CL

For me the answer is yes. But this has nothing to do with a value orientation. I've always looked at many new releases of major brands with a bit of sceptisism. Some are 'overdoing' the hype for large watches IMHO. Some are staying more authentic in their design and added complications.

But i started with saying yes to the main question if i'd buy another watch today when compared with a year ago. This change is completely due to the people i've met during the first Horomundi GTG Wimster organised. Since that time Wim, Edwin en George completely spam eachother with emails to discuss watches. And they have shown me so many watches i actually never really looked at.

I've loved the Patek 5070 and Nautilus since the first time i saw them. Also the Lange 1 and Datograph are watches i absolutely admire... but unfortunately in my line of work i will never have the $$$ to buy such a watch.

Lately i'm conviced i NEED a Sarpaneva, but i've also devolloped a weak spot for some Girard Perregaux chronographs and even some older Daniel Roth watches. Of course i'd love many other watches, but i have to stay realistic about my budget

Yes, is the simple answer.
This time last year I had 2 Rolex watches.
Now I have a Patek Philippe. A year ago you would not of got me looking at anything apart from a Rolex.
Rolex are excellent watches and I have had the honour to own many over the years. But about this time last year, my eyes were opened to a whole new world of Horology.
I have learnt so much in the past 12 months and a great deal of it is down to reading forums, such as this excellent one.
So I say thank you for re educating me.
Though I suspect that my wife will not agree!!!!!