Dear all, I have been working as a consultant for 5 years now, straight fresh from uni. I have achieved a good rank, I work hard and I believe to achieve some decent results. Financially I am OK - not earning 6 figures yet but on my way to them!I have decided to give myself a present; a watch for Christmas. I have never had a 'real' watch and I would like to treat myself to something that will last - hopefully a long time. I envisage to spend around 3.4 to 5k. I know this is towards the bottom of the range - but in comparison to my current Seiko its quite a jump!I was thinking on brands such as Jaeger LeCoultre, Rolex, Omega, Gerrard etc.Can anyone share experience? Taste ? Suggestions? Thanks!

http://www.breitling.com/en/Get a Breitling watch. It just says quality and is not as tacky as some of the other brands you have mentioned

You can tell you're a career consultant when you don't have time for a girl/boyfriend and so have to buy your own presents.Go for the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase - not only will it match the LCD tan but the leather strap will scratch your touchpad less than a metal one.

go BLV or RADO that is class sir/ma

Personally I think Breitling's are too ostentatious. Ifyou want to extend the budget, I'd look at Patek Phillipe, and I think Cartier make excellent watches at reasonable prices, at Tank Francais will (only) cost in the region of £2000

Casio do a nice range

Keep the seiko; give the rest of your budget to charity to change the lives of people less fortunate than yourself; get a sense of perspective.

Don't do it - get the watch - far more exciting. Plus, you can show it to your less fortunate friends who couldn't afford such an item, giving you an ego boost. Remember that a charity donation will make you feel good for a while, but you will forget that feeling. Getting the watch will make you feel good for alot longer.

He's right you know. I've had a Rolex for years now whereas a charity would have just blown that on, like, one Christmas dinner for 50 homeless people, 20 goats for Africa or a new trombone or something.I think a Patek Philippe would be much classier though.

You've restored my faith in humanity.Happy Christmas.

For that amount of money surely you could get a clock?

Thanks for the advice.As per the charity: a) I already donate and b) and as economist, I could argue relentlessly about thier efficiency to solving poverty. Breitlings are very nice, albeit a bit too much for me - I dont want a crono / function of any kind. The Patek which shows the times in other countries is fantastic, built for a travelling consultant - but with a prioce tag of 15k i need to wait to make senior manager....No one mentions Jaeger : just a no no?

For that amount of money surely you could get a clock?

"As per the charity: a) I already donate and b) and as economist, I could argue relentlessly about thier efficiency to solving poverty."a) Sounds like you have thousands to blow - apparently you don't donate enoughb) Sorry my little AIDS-racked orphan, but I have academic arguments as to why I shouldn't give you any anti-retroviral drugs, thus condemning you to death within weeks.You sound like a nice guy.

and - you totally miss the big picture...what watch do you recommend?

Are you trying to make him feel guilty for buying a watch? Really? Is this why you come on this board? Really?!Ha! Im sure you live in a tent on the Thames, ride a bike, dont own clothes or a car, and spend your holidays building shelters for tsunami relief. Get real. He asked about a watch. You want to be stupid, go somewhere else.

IWC. With your budget you should be able to get a classic model from their Portuguese range.

you could kill two birds with one stone here. Buy an orphan and get him to tell you the time.

Great Post Magic

chuckle.No - I'm not trying to make him feel guilty, but to get him to come up with proper reasons for not using his money in another way. The 2 reasons given just don't stack up.By the way I don't live in a tent, I do ride a bike, I don't own a car, I wear clothes and I have a seiko kinetic I bought in Singapore (cheap) on the way to Cambodia to do some work for the UN.

I bought a Rolex for 5 YTL (about £2) last year, while on assignment in Istanbul.Still does a great job, perfectly accurate, and everyone admires it !!!

Enough talk about charities, yes they do alot of good but that won't help when you have to catch the train at 4.00pm and you don't know the time. There's only one candidate here. Swatch.

Swatch is the way forward - they even make them in metal these days, as chunky as you like.I would suggest the following:£100 on Swatch + £4900 on something else. A small, second hand car, perhaps, or a huge scooter, a new leather lounge suite and big TV, a holiday for you and 4 friends... the list goes on.As a procurement consulting with an engineering background, you can see I reject all notions of luxury, but will spend on gadgets.

Watches; now you're talking.I'm tempted to blow my joining bonus on a 2nd hand rolex datejust (gold/silver). You could get a nice rolex for your price-range.Frederique constant do some great watches in your price range such as the heart beat and classic automatic chronograph.Jaeger-lecoultre might be a bit outwith your price-range for a good one.

how sad

Thanks Nick. Incidentally I noticed you have joined this thread rather late. Does someone need a new watch?

I'd get a Rolex, but don't wear it in front of a client

I thought consultancy was all about borrowing the client's watch?

Zing!

Blancpain - £526,000Vacheron Constantin - £179,000Audemars Piguet - £140,000Roger Dubuis - £130,000Anything less than these are not worth. :-)

My boss had a Mont Blanc pen.He lost it.It was very funny.Enjoy your genitalia-enhancing bling?I hope the muggers in your area don't have rolex radar like they do in mine.

These replies must be from people that think they are consultants. As a 28 year old on 260k, the mean salary for this age at my Firm, I believe a watch is a normal expenditure - much like the montblanc and the Porsche.I would personally go for the Patek, there is the world time one at around 14k. It is a lot of money, but your coming bonus should ease that!

How modest!

He's a big man at the cashpoint, but a little man in the showers

What watch to pick? You shallow, pitiful cretins.

@, go whine on another thread or start one titled 'which charity to pick'. People are entitled to spend something on themselves. I even think you drive a gold plated ferrari and have a summer home on the moon.

What was the final decision on this. Which brand won?

I bought a gold Rolex, took a picture of it, stapled the price to it and sent it to the orphans of Africa. McKinsey Style.

which underpants should i buy now i'm a consultant and wheres the best place to adopt an orphan from?

hahah,some really funny replies, which shows under that tough skin, there are some mushy funny tigas! About the only post i have liked to date!I believe in c*ck jocks all the way yoko. i have spent the clients money getting designer jocks but they just feel so not right. good old aussie co*k jocks do the trick everytime! Fair dinkum!

Wise, wise words. Whatever they meant.

strat man,280k? Hah you must be kidding unless i've missed something here. What firm do you work for?

Im at director level in a strategy house. 280k (including bonus) is actually a very low salary for my position ( i have just been promoted.)it works around 115 base plus 170 bonus. Why, does this seem a lot to you?

Yeah it seems a lot, that's probably partner pay at my firm.What firm is it you work for?

Im sorry but its your salary level that is low. Average partner pay at Deloitte was close to 800k, EY 650k, Bain well over 1.5 million, MOW in the 7 figues too...A friend of mine just started as a Director at EY BAS and he is on 190k, another started at marakon same position and he is on aroun 210k. These are people with 8-10 years exp in strategy with an MBA. Im sure if you check vault you will see some supporting figures.

So does Strat always pay more than IT consulting?I work at Acc and have been considering doing an MBA (currently have 4 years experience). Would i be able to leverage a move into Strat if my experience is in Systems Integration?

No. Its like comparing banking and mecchanical engineering.

Not huge money for a watch. Certainly not one to wear in front of the client. Probably go for something understated for the office - silver, not gold - to wear with your suit. Swatch has been mentioned - their Irony range is pretty decent - doesn't look like a kid's toy. Also look at the Citizen Eco-Drive range. Some nice ones there. Hardwearing, reliable timepieces.Importantly, they don't say to your client you've got more money than they do - a bit ostentatious, arrogant, flash over substance messages that go into the client's subconscious, etc.As for the tasty watches just for you, I'd go with the Breitling. Not too chunky, but good to wear for casual around the barbie, etc.Omega make some good stuff too, but for both of these, the maintenance costs are pretty damn alarming!

Get the new date Omega Speedmaster in Black / Black and ALWAYS negotiate. You can get at least 15% off, 25% if you barter properly and time it right (about now is about right...). Procurement Consultant? Who me?