Spirit of the Watch, Author at RK Watch Service

Why Overpaying for Watches on a Middle-Class Income Happens More Than You Think

Let’s talk about the sweet spot where taste, marketing, and FOMO meet your $70K salary—and convince you that a $6,000 watch “isn’t that bad.”

1. The Trap Starts at “Deserve”
You’re working hard. You’ve saved up. You’re responsible.
Then the logic sets in:
“I deserve something nice.”
You do—but maybe not a depreciating asset marketed as timeless.

2. Instagram Makes $5,000 Seem Normal
You scroll past 3 Omegas, 2 Grand Seikos, and a Royal Oak before 8am.
Suddenly, a $3,000 Oris seems like a…

Why Overpaying for Watches on a Middle-Class Income Happens More Than You Think

Luxury Watches vs. Index Funds on a Middle-Class Income: A Thought Exercise

Let’s say you’re making $60K–$90K. You like watches. You’re thinking about buying something nice—maybe a $3,000–$7,000 piece. But here’s a question:

What happens if you invest that money instead?

—

1. The Reality of Middle-Class Luxury

For most …

News from the Watch Industry Public Forum rk watch service

G-Shock and Pro Trek — Practical Tools in an Increasingly Expensive Watch Market

As prices for traditional mechanical and even quartz watches climb, Casio continues to offer something increasingly rare: well-built, functional, and affordable timepieces that don’t pretend to be more than they are.

Here’s why G-Shock and Pro Trek de…

Casio G-Shock News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

Thread of the Month | June | When Do You Expect a Nicer Movement, Price-Wise?

Sub-$1,000 Mechanical Watches — When Do You Expect a “Nicer” Movement?

Let’s talk about expectations for mechanical movements under $1,000. There’s a wide range of offerings in this bracket—from entry-level autos with surprisingly solid specs—but when…

Affordable watches News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

Would you give a grad a watch in 2025?

Not because it’s expensive.

Not for status.

But because it might actually help.

A thread:

Watches don’t just tell time. For a new grad stepping into adult life, they can shape how time is approached.

They help with:

showing up on time

managing …

Affordable watches News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

New Casio EFK-100 renders confirm Casio’s first mechanical watch is real and coming very soon

…

Casio G-Shock News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

New Casio EFK-100 renders confirm Casio’s first mechanical watch is real and coming very soon

…

News from the Watch Industry Public Forum rk watch service

Digital Beast vs. Mechanical Tradition: G-Shock Frogman vs. Automatic Divers.

Let’s talk about two radically different species in the dive watch ecosystem:

On one side: the G-Shock Frogman—a solar-powered, ISO-certified digital tank with more features than a space shuttle.

On the other: your traditional automatic dive watches—…

Casio G-Shock News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

MAY | Thread of the Month: Could You Go Without a Diver?

Imagine a world where dive watches are off-limits—maybe they’ve been outlawed by the horological overlords or just completely vanished from the market.

No SKX. No Turtle. No Seamaster. No Sub. Not even a humble Casio MDV106.

You’re left with field wa…

Affordable watches News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

Thread of the Month: Let’s Debate | Could Samsung build a non-smart automatic watch with their own in-house movement? What would that even look like?

Thought it’d be fun to throw around some affordable-watch hot takes and see what sticks. Feel free to answer or just jump in. Add your own questions too. Let’s keep it friendly

Affordable watches News from the Watch Industry rk watch service

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