[throwaway2037]

    > What's the appeal of collecting high priced watches?

It is the same reason that women collect high priced handbags. Men and women use these items to signal their wealth and status (in public).

[solenoid0937]

Sure, some people use them to signal status but I'd say the vast majority of the collector community does not buy expensive watches for that reason.

At the $100k range you get a lot of things that appeal to a watch enthusiast: true high-horology hand finishing (like handmade anglage and sharp interior angles), some of the more advanced complications, more interesting escapements, etc.