Total curiosity, do you have a guess on when you read that? I see a lot of folks complain how Seiko prices went up so much from ten years ago, for example. And I see a lot of pieces at that $500 price mark where it has all the features I’m looking for, but it’s definitely not in that luxury space yet.
I’m a well established professional with two kids in college. I’ve given myself a budget of $100/wk for ‘fun stuff’ just for me. So the answer to your question is, how long am I willing to go without fancy coffees, upgrading my suit game, picking up something on steam, etc.? My current watch probably costs about $500 (self-assembled, so literally $100 at a time!)
Make a budget for yourself. Figure out your discretionary funds. If you’re spending on a watch, cut somewhere else to keep yourself balanced. Easy :)
solid choice! You’re going to enjoy that for a long time!