Anyone ever get 'defensive' about their watch/watches?

lindo · Mar 2, 2021

This thread has prompted the thought that there have been times I have looked at a good watch but decided I would not wish to be seen wearing it, because I associate the watch with particular types of people - namely, those who are keen to be seen wearing a success symbol.

I freely admit to being a bit of a watch snob: not in terms of having a watch on my wrist than is more expensive than a friend's cheap but practical quartz jobbie (my daily beater is in fact a robust military quartz), but more in terms of thinking 'only a flashy used car salesman or a wannabe gangsta would wear that watch'. And I don't mean an Invicta - I am thinking of a couple of Rolex models.

On only three occasions can I recall someone actually noticing a watch I was wearing. Two of them happened to involve Rolexes. On one of those two cases the person noticing happened to be a thief who came from behind, wrenched it off my wrist and vanished up a side alley. I love Italy, but if Naples were to be obliterated by a Vesuvius eruption I would shed no tears.

JwRosenthal · Mar 2, 2021

You should have told him that if he didn’t wear it much, you would be happy to pay him what his grandfather paid so he can go buy another watch he would like better

BlackTalon · Mar 2, 2021

He was probably worried you would think he had a lot of $$$, and therefore his company was doing really well, and that would result in you raising the prices of the goods/ services you were selling to him going forward.

Jones in LA · Mar 2, 2021

I've had experiences similar to that of the OP. Notice that I say 'experiences' ...plural. I haven't let those negative experiences stop me from trying to strike up a conversation with a random stranger about the watch they're wearing, but I have become conditioned to use discretion. Since Rolex watches are so ubiquitous, and for some of the reasons brought up here, it would have to be an extraordinary circumstance for me to comment on the Rolex a stranger is wearing. On the other hand, if a stranger were wearing something like an Omega Marine Chronometer, I'd be blabbering like a fool with him/her... in a heartbeat 😀

smoothsecondscom · Mar 2, 2021

kip595
Almost brought this up on the "how often do you see a nice watch..." thread, but decided it's a different enough topic basically: today in the course of work I met a gent wearing a vintage Sub date - the bezel was well-worn and even at a glance the dial was aged.

As I would to anyone I'm working with, I casually said something like; "Hey, vintage Sub, nice one!"

At first he grinned and responded with enthusiasm, "Been in the family since '82!" as we proceeded about our business - and that's when things got a bit odd. I realized he was looking at me, not really staring but sort of glancing back and forth, then he just blurted "It's an heirloom piece!" So I shrugged, figure maybe he doesn't get to talk about watches too often, said "Well hey that's a great piece to have in the family."..."My dad bought it before they were so expensive!"

He was acting outright strangely by now, I just sort of nodded, said his dad must've had good taste, and we finished our deal (my company is a vendor for his group). Then as I'm wishing him good afternoon, he randomly blurts "I really don't even wear it often."

By this point I was tired of trying to figure out what he was getting at and just said something like, "Well, enjoy it!" in what I hope sounded a cheery tone.

I'm still a bit confused about the encounter. Did he think I was mocking his choice? Calling his watch old? Envious? (I was, as I often do at work, wearing my Oris 65 during our meeting)

I've seen people get both haughty about their watch as well as protective, but I've never seen someone get almost embarrassed about wearing a lovely example of a classic, regardless of brand. Anyone else ever seen or experienced such behavior?

p.s. Yes, most people I work with know I'm a watch nerd, but it's actually often led to many enjoyable conversations - just last week a fairly new top-level customer and I debated the merits of Longines vs Breitling longer than we talked about his account balances.

Really weird. You should be proud of a heirloom like that, this seems weird.

JPE.88305 · Mar 2, 2021

He was definitely feeling self conscious.
Pre-"collecting" I never considered wearing a Rolex as I perceived the brand as showy & a sign of snobbery.
I feel entirely different now but a good portion of the general public will never consider spending that kind of coin on a watch--whether it's a shiny new sub or a well-worn heirloom--and have the same perception I once did, so I definitely consider audience when I wear my watches.

my wife on the other hand loves her dj and has no problem wearing it anywhere 😉

TimeOnTarget · Mar 2, 2021

I have been fascinated with watches since I was a young boy. Most people are not like us. They see watches as just an item because they don't know or appreciate what is going on inside these little machines.

Some of my co-workers are really into watches so, the subject comes up frequently. You will see everything from Smart watches to Rolexes on the flight deck. Some pilots don't even wear a watch anymore. Blasphemy!

I am happy to talk about watches or simply keep to myself as I wear my watches for my own satisfaction.

cvalue13 · Mar 2, 2021

TimeOnTarget
I am happy to talk about watches or simply keep to myself as I wear my watches for my own satisfaction.

now there’s - to me - the purest of pilots’ watch -> 24hr with 24hr GMT 👍

A few of mine say hello:

airansun · Mar 3, 2021

lillatroll
I don't care if others think it's insane to spend thousands on a watch

When I once made the mistake of disclosing to one person in my workplace that I was wearing a two thousand dollar watch, that information went around the office as the day’s gossip. Given the common, shocked, disdainful reactions to that disclosure, I learned to try to keep my mouth shut. And, I stopped wearing that watch to work.

Plenty of people will think less of someone who spends a thousand dollars on a watch, let alone ten thousand. I may discuss a watch I’m wearing with someone who expresses interest, but I’ll never mention value (if I can avoid it). If directly asked, I’ll be vague.

Yeah, I’m embarrassed at the value of some of the watches I own. I’m not comfortable with it, to be honest.

Not enough to sell them. Not enough to stop wearing them (I love wearing them). But enough to stop me from ever investing in a manual Daytona (for example) despite longstanding desire.

Or this, despite long standing desire:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154340637472

https://omegaforums.net/posts/1662982/permalink

Wryfox · Mar 3, 2021

I have found that around certain people, you become part of the 'club'. I was golfing at our local charity tournament last fall to benefit local school groups, and of course there are several business leaders trying to one up each other. One fellow from out of town was in my foursome was feeling richer than the rest and had to keep talking about his business holdings(Jesus...ugh). He commented on how nice the houses were on this PGA golfcourse, so I proceeded to tell him the current market conditions. We just happened to be coming around to the 15th, and he asked why I knew so much about this area, so I told him I try to keep up the neighbors and what's selling. He looked at me with a bit of shock and asked me 'what'? I said yes, that's my house right there.....he then looked down at my wrist and saw the Presidential, and suddenly he was my best friend. What a douchebag.

JPE.88305 · Mar 3, 2021

airansun
Plenty of people will think less of someone who spends a thousand dollars on a watch, let alone ten thousand.
Yeah, I’m embarrassed at the value of some of the watches I own. I’m not comfortable with it, to be honest.

I think to many people (both wearers and observers) it is class signaling, so it’s hard to distinguish the connotation of “elitism” from “horological / historical appreciation”… I live in the Midwest United States which is predominantly farm country... plenty of people spend not insignificant money on snowmobiles, four-wheelers, hunting gear, ice-fishing shacks, trailers and all sorts of regionally acceptable items, but wearing the equivalent money on your wrist is something city folks do or fancy doctors/lawyers/etc. Given I live in “the city” and my social circle is incidentally mostly doctors and lawyers, in that context I feel fine, but most everywhere else I take extra effort to be subtle.

if I’m grabbing a beer with @KeithS I’ll be sure to wear something appropriate and maybe bring a second, and I’ll wanna see what’s on his wrist ; if I’m grabbing a beer with “Keith who installs carpet” who I go bowling with on Wednesdays, I’ll wear my Timex.

airansun · Mar 3, 2021

airansun
I was wearing a two thousand dollar watch

For the record, it was this one, which I gave to my wife a couple of years ago, a 34mm Mark XVI.

Syrte · Mar 3, 2021

kip595
Y'know, that's just convoluted enough (to me) to make sense actually. Hrm...I think you might have something there, @Dan S 👍

@Dan S’s explanation doesn’t seem so convoluted to me.
To normal people 1000 dollars is a lot of money to spend on a watch. 5000 is beyond lavish, 8000 insane, and anything above is decadent.
(Edit /add- and that’s not including the many people who as @airansun noted find 2000 decadent indeed.)

cvalue13 · Mar 3, 2021

Syrte
@Dan S’s explanation doesn’t seem so convoluted to me.
To normal people 1000 dollars is a lot of money to spend on a watch. 5000 is beyond lavish, 8000 insane, and anything above is decadent.
(Edit /add- and that’s not including the many people who as @airansun noted find 2000 decadent indeed.)

then to have more than one...

MRC · Mar 3, 2021

Syrte
To normal people 1000 dollars is a lot of money to spend on a watch. 5000 is beyond lavish, 8000 insane, and anything above is decadent.

I have a friend who thinks that spending more than £20 on a wristwatch is approaching decadence. However he was prepared to bid on one (1) Delft plate that eventually went for £30.000 -- he dropped out at £5.000 🤨 Not a rich man, he's a retired local schoolteacher.

M'Bob · Mar 3, 2021

Dan S
However, I'm not particularly eager for coworkers to know the value of my watches.

Where do you work?

MRC · Mar 3, 2021

M'Bob
Where do you work?

airansun · Mar 3, 2021

Seriously? Parchman?

Very famous place.

MRC · Mar 3, 2021

airansun
Seriously? Parchman?

I think @Dan S is in a medical related profession somewhat north and east of there. There are lots of photos of the inside of State Pens around, but not many that show the name, so that's why I copied & posted that one. With a bit more time I'd grab a frame from Cool Hand Luke of course.

airansun · Mar 3, 2021

Anyone ever get 'defensive' about their watch/watches?

lindo

JwRosenthal

BlackTalon

Jones in LA

smoothsecondscom

JPE.88305

TimeOnTarget

cvalue13

airansun

Wryfox

JPE.88305

airansun

Syrte

cvalue13

MRC

M'Bob

MRC

airansun

MRC

airansun

Similar threads

Have you ever engraved a watch (I mean the case not just adding a date and name?

Got called out for my watch but it ended up positive

Asking Strangers About Their Watches

GQ article - Why True Watch Heads Never Set the Time on Their Watches

The watch that started my journey

The Timeless Watch Channel from YouTube won’t return Bogart watch [Watches now Returned]