Really Expensive Stuff that is Definitely Worth the Money

Meh, reality is that functionality is only a part of any buying equation, expensive stuff adds looks, niche, finish and so on into the equation, think too many people try justifying their buys too much, if you want it, have the funds and aren’t hurting anyone, just buy what makes you happy.

A good quality, well screwed together watch.
You can wear it every day; maintenance costs are low – occasional service, replacement leather strap when needed, bracelets don’t (generally) need replacement.
Look good.
Good ones retain their value well; some appreciate in value.
They can be passed on to the next generation.
Definitely worth it.

+1 for Sebo and Exposure Lights.

Nice cutlery.  OK all mine is second hand and didn’t actually cost much but I eat every day with silver forks and spoons and bone handled knives.

My custom made Daleboot ski boots. I have nonsensically wide feet, and until I bought my Daleboots every ski trip was an exercise in either pain, or boots flapping around so much I couldn’t control my skis. I now have a pair of ski boots that fit perfectly, and are literally the most comfortable footwear I own. Seriously – I just tried them on in advance of a trip to France next month and it was like putting on a pair of thick socks.

They were eye-wateringly expensive, but they perform a function that was impossible with cheaper options – all of which I had tried. I have had them since 2011 and will get a few more years out of them yet. I fear I will have to shell out for another pair at some point, but if skiing still exists by then I’ll find the money somewhere.

And +1 to good bread!

A few years ago, HP calculators.

A good quality, well screwed together watch.

Applepay on my wrist is a killer app.

depends how you define “worth”.

Applepay – is that expensive and definitely worth the money?
Or are you just sniping with a pointless comment?

Shimano MW7 winter boots – may not be expensive to some people, but were the most I’ve ever spent on shoes. Have been a complete game changer for my winter riding. 

Gore Phantom Infineum jacket – spot on for my needs.

In both cases I see it as ‘buying well’ in that they should last well and I will get plenty of use from them. 

Paintballing birthday party for thirteen year olds. Was a truly excellent day but 10p every pull of the trigger and we took 12 young boys who exercised considerable restraint.

Removals men

 this weekend, three weekends into it, I am concluding a decorator would be money well spent

Someone mentioned handbags up there. Agree with this. My missis used to get through a 20 – 30 quid one every couple of months, either because they broke or just got replaced by another because of the relative low cost. Has a couple of Mulberry ones now which last for years as they don’t go out of style and are really good quality. 

Children

50 odd posts and no one has said coke and hookers. What’s happened to this place!

monkeysfeet
Free Member
Coke and Hooker’s

Having had a think I’d say nothing. There is certainly a value in buying better quality that works well or lasts longer but that doesn’t fall into the really expensive category. You are well into diminishing returns or just buying into the style or brand once you go there.

Cheese

Going part time.

Cost:- a fortune in lost income

Benefit: more time to go biking, walking the dog, swimming, and trying to reduce the likelihood of an early death.

Someone mentioned handbags up there. Agree with this. My missis used to get through a 20 – 30 quid one every couple of months, either because they broke or just got replaced by another because of the relative low cost. Has a couple of Mulberry ones now which last for years as they don’t go out of style and are really good quality.

MrsRNP and her business partner make custom leather goods, their handbags are many many thousands. A recent handbag comission was for £10k for a wife’s big birthday. They supply Royal family members in the UK and abroad.

Seeing and knowing how much work, skill, time, tooling, and materials goes into each piece (and the very modest profit levels) I’d say they are worth it but ‘worth’ has different values to different people.

Chris King headsets and bottom brackets

Meile appliances

Clothes that actually fit

Experiencing new things 

DT Swiss spoke key, Shimano chain tool
Pyrenex Made in France jackets and sleeping bags, Rab too.
Acoustic and electric guitars around a grand, Yamaha LL16 for example

Madame’s horse

Bromptons
I realise that I’ve failed on the really expensive part, the most expensive thing I own is the house I’m sitting in which is roughly the average French house price, so not objectively expensive.

It’s all relative isn’t it?

I mean a Rega Planar turntable would be considered entry level to some people.

Agreed, but forty years ago when I bought mine, it was an eye watering extravagance for a poorly paid 19 year old.  I’m sure I could easily afford something far ‘better’ now, but I’ve never been a hardcore audiophile and I now have to add age related hearing loss into the mix. So I doubt if objectively ‘better’ according to some hifi geek would equate to practically better for me. So I’ll be keeping it until my kids get to fight over it and my vinyl collection when I croak!

Applepay – is that expensive and definitely worth the money?

No but the hardware to do it is expensive and definitely worth the money.

Jumpers. I have quite a lot of cashmere, all bought in mill sales. £80 seems like a lot for a nice heavy jumper but it retails at £800 so actually a bargain and so lovely.

I have non matches cashmere socks at 50p a pair

And use unfinished seconds jumpers as base layers. Comparatively merino is a bit rubbish.

Currently sitting in cashmere shorts, absolutely ridiculous items of clothing but so go for dotting about the house.

Or are you just sniping with a pointless comment?

Not at all. I love watches, but since getting an Apple Watch with the ability to use Apple pay I don’t think I’ll have a watch without that functionality ever again. It’s also really useful for boarding passes and the like. I got mugged for my Rolex years ago. My friend sold his after getting an Apple Watch because it never got used.

I realise that I’ve failed on the really expensive part

Pyerenex jackets look pretty expensive.

Rolex 

Delvaux hand bags

Custom made shoes

Custom steel road frames 

Milwauke tools

YMMV

Nice cutlery

actually yes – I went to the David Mellor factory / museum just to road test some cutlery before buying

Has a couple of Mulberry ones now which last for years as they don’t go out of style and are really good quality. 

I think that with all leather goods you get what you pay for.

I’ve got a Mulberry wallet that I think has been going for decades without falling apart.

Heli skiing/biarding.

yep.
Alaskan style.

Jumpers. I have quite a lot of cashmere, all bought in mill sales. £80

Where are these “mill sales” of which you speak?

PB Swiss hex keys

Maps on my Apple phone

Clarks and Lake wide fit shoes

my friends Mercedes Estate (no idea if the model but it’s a new car). I am not into cars at all but when gives me a lift it is a really nice place to sit.

I would have said Fivetens but with the  sales at the moment they’re not even that expensive so I’ll say Purdy roller poles and brushes.

Northamptonshire shoes

Le Chameau wellies bought in 2005 – eye watering at the time for a pair of wellies but been to Glastonbury , raved in them, dog walks , shooting weekends still excellent and will probably outlast me.

Ducati motorbikes – anyone who likes the smell of petrol and leather will get this one.

We are one Carbon wheel rims… Outlasted all the other rear wheels I and various riding buddies have owned , slightly chipped cosmetically but never a worry about them letting me down. or the fear of having to bash the dents out of them to keep going.

 Exposure lights , purchased the big daft one 6 years ago… brilliant piece of kit.

A decent bed and mattress. Much to my annoyance at having to spend a bike worth of cash on one my wife was right.

A Norris smoothing plane ,

I bought one a couple of weeks back, and , my god, it’s brilliant! Nearly a hundred years old, a bit tatty looking, but it pisses over any other plane I’ve ever used. Now on the lookout for one of their jointers…

Ducati motorbikes 

Arai crash helmets. Amazed at how good they were when I first got one.

Really expensive is relative – my Rotring Rapid Pro (at £20) is 10x an equivalent plastic 0.7mm clutch pencil but the Pro feels solid and well weighted with its brass construction. I use it all day, everyday at work and enjoy each time I pick it up to write or draw.

Camera film.

**** me it’s expensive these days.

But way more fun to use and develope than string at a screen filled with thousands of shite shots you rattled off.

Plus the cameras are amazing.

Arai crash helmets. Amazed at how good they were when I first got one.

‘Good’ in what way?  Not a popular view amongst some of my riding buddies, but I’m a bit of a sceptic about Arai being so much better than other helmets or worth the significant premium.   I’ve owned Arai, Shoei, Schuberth and loads of other brands, budget and premium.  Arai are perfectly good helmets (with great marketing) but I don’t see how they are significantly ‘better’ than a lot of other brands. To me there are two main criteria for a helmet, it meets or exceeds all current safety regulations and it’s a really good, comfortable fit.  IME the best fit when trying on loads of helmets isn’t always one of the more expensive brands.  My current helmet, a HJC is the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever owned but is probably half the price of the nearest equivalent Arai. Personal view obvs, ymmv!