Community Stories

Asking Strangers About Their Watches

BeauW
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I appreciate watches, nearly all brands. I am an expert on none. I cannot, at a glance, always identify a watch of any major brand, nor can I successfully ID an Omega with terribly high accuracy. Most of the time whether in a casual, business casual, or more formal setting I am wearing an Omega. I’m not a high roller or wealthy man, and given my profession & socioeconomic status I am not often in the company of people who wear higher end watches for a variety of reasons. I don’t wear mine for status or attention but rather for a love & appreciation of the mechanical nature of the machine and quality of the brand.

All that said, I enjoy seeing all varieties of watches and often find myself wondering what watch a person is wearing. I am humble to a fault (per my wife) and subsequently refrain from asking a person about their watch because at times it feels like I’m leading the witness and only trying to draw attention to my own timepiece in the conversation. Prior to dipping my toe into the higher end watch pool I never hesitated to inquire.

I know I’ll likely get plenty of “suck it up buttercup” responses but I pride myself in being very respectful of others and don’t want to risk coming across as either pretentious or demeaning. Do any of you find yourselves hesitant to ask somebody about their watch for fear it will come across as comparing it to yours, or am I alone in this one?
 
Walrus
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I think with situational awareness and a little judgement it can usually go well. Recently a gentleman operating the cash register at a gas station I was at had an interesting watch with a Boston Red Sox logo on it. Obviously not a high dollar piece but it had this cool wooden bezel and the bracelet had sections of wood (apparently parts from a baseball bat). He was quite pleased I asked about it gave me the full tour. I’ve had similar incidents where something caught my eye and like you from a distance I can mix up an invicta with a Rolex (maybe you aren’t that bad) I have yet to have one go sideways or have the attention turned back on me so in my unpeered review study thus far it’s been going well.
 
BeauW
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Walrus Walrus
I think with situational awareness and a little judgement it can usually go well. Recently a gentleman operating the cash register at a gas station I was at had an interesting watch with a Boston Red Sox logo on it. Obviously not a high dollar piece but it had this cool wooden bezel and the bracelet had sections of wood (apparently parts from a baseball bat). He was quite pleased I asked about it gave me the full tour. I’ve had similar incidents where something caught my eye and like you from a distance I can mix up an invicta with a Rolex (maybe you aren’t that bad) I have yet to have one go sideways or have the attention turned back on me so in my unpeered review study thus far it’s been going well.

good stuff, and a great point that I won’t know until I try! And yes, I am bad enough that I can mistake an Invicta with a Rolex from a distance…
 
Nepomuceño
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I don't fancy myself an expert and I've only once asked a stranger about his watch in the wild before. Standing in line at a hardware store and I noticed the man behind me wearing a Speedmaster. Nice little chat about it and he told me his two kids bought it for him when his old quartz Seiko gave out. Quite the upgrade.
 
TimeODanaos
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I really like what you wrote, Beau - and there's nothing wrong with a bit of humility in the right place. As the other thread shows, the conversation can often go well. It may help you to remember, unless you get your first approach really wrong, the only people who might think you're trying to flex on them are the folks who would have done it to you first ("yah, an' those are real diamonds at the hour marks too...") - and frankly they really couldn't care what you have, and usually don't know their ALS from their watch-roll anyway.
With most civilians, the right way is to show genuine enthusiasm up-front, and just say, "hey that's cool, can I ask what is it?" The worst can happen is they'll be flattered and you'll have wasted ten seconds on a mall battery piece.
Just one thing to avoid, from my own experience: I got to the age where I am refusing bi-focal lenses, and if I am peering in vain at a guy's wrist from three feet away, it can be quite noticeable - and rather disturbing (apparently). So, yes, better to stand well back and ask!
 
Scarecrow Boat
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TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
and usually don't know their ALS from their watch-roll anyway
I've seen this played out a few times
Watch Enthusiast: Is that a Submariner? Very Nice!
Watch Owner: No, it's a Rolex.
Watch Enthusiast: (Politely smile and nod) 👍
 
kkt
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I haven't initiated a conversation about watches with a stranger, but I've been approached a couple of times. To be honest, it made me wonder if he was checking out the goods so three of his friends around the corner could jump me if it was solid 18k and not goldcapped.
 
Foo2rama
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Worst luck I had was with people wearing orange bezel PO’s.

you would think owning one of those they would appreciate the acknowledgment.
 
Walrus
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On those rare occasions I do try watch spotting in the wild it really is amazing how ubiquitous smart watches have become. I have never had one but I do ask my friends who say they just picked up the newest apple/android smartwatch to show me the features and one of them was a moonphase where you could see the craters and what not on the moon. That is pretty cool it’s just a bit weird how quickly they became so common.
 
Archer
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
I've seen this played out a few times
Watch Enthusiast: Is that a Submariner? Very Nice!
Watch Owner: No, it's a Rolex.
Watch Enthusiast: (Politely smile and nod) 👍

Yep. Last person I would ask is the Rolex wearer. I recall doing that once...

Me: Nice watch. Are you a collector?

Him: No!

End of conversation...
 
kip595
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I actually had a quirky one the other day. I had popped into the local sporting goods shop down the street from my house for a few spare shotshells (almost copperhead season here). Being the 'Deep South' and basically a hunting store, everyone who works there carries openly and legally, including the apparently new-ish clerk who rang up my .410s. While I was tapping my card the very nice guy, probably mid 20s I'd say, goes; "Woah man, is that a real Seamaster?" with more than a bit of exuberance. I laughed, said "Yeah, titanium Planet Ocean, check it out man.", then popped it off and handed it over to him. "Dude this is lighter than my G-Shock! I can't believe you just let me handle it like this, thank you!"

By then the other two guys there, another clerk and the owner, were watching their new clerk with amusement. I started laughing and said, "Hey, if the guys in the gun shop are gonna steal my watch, who can ya trust?" - to which the poor guy blushed and laughed.

So I've asked a few people in my day, but that was the most recent and definitely one of the most memorable of someone asking me.
 
STANDY
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Working at a Airport every so often my Speedmaster gets a comment. Last one was a young Singaporean guy who was into watches noticed it and said “one day I will get one”

Was buying a T-shirt a few months ago and the 20 something college guy commented and asked about my Speedmaster and the leather strap also.

Seems it’s a young guys dream watch nowadays……

Most watches seen on Aussie wrists I encounter is a Tag Heuer and usually always a birthday present.


Cruise ships years ago I saw two Gold Constellations with brick bracelets in one day 😲 (Rich old guys)
 
redpcar
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I always just say "cool watch" whether it's a Fossil or Rolex. If it's a fellow watch guy (person), they will chat with me about it. Not a watch guy (person), they just say "thanks". I hope either way it makes their day better. 😀
 
cicindela
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redpcar redpcar
I always just say "cool watch" whether it's a Fossil or Rolex. If it's a fellow watch guy (person), they will chat with me about it. Not a watch guy (person), they just say "thanks". I hope either way it makes their day better. 😀
Cool Porsche.
 
Dsloan
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redpcar redpcar
I always just say "cool watch" whether it's a Fossil or Rolex. If it's a fellow watch guy (person), they will chat with me about it. Not a watch guy (person), they just say "thanks". I hope either way it makes their day better. 😀

I basically just do this. If they're into watches, the convo will continue. If they're not really a nerd about watches, the exchange ends quickly but politely.
 
wrist time
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redpcar redpcar
I always just say "cool watch" whether it's a Fossil or Rolex. If it's a fellow watch guy (person), they will chat with me about it. Not a watch guy (person), they just say "thanks". I hope either way it makes their day better. 😀

A watch guy/person could also be in a rush or something. This approach is good because it let's the other person decide how much of a conversation is had.
 
A
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
I've seen this played out a few times
Watch Enthusiast: Is that a Submariner? Very Nice!
Watch Owner: No, it's a Rolex.
Watch Enthusiast: (Politely smile and nod) 👍
I have had this happen when I asked a gentleman "is that a James Cameron deepsea"
 
STANDY
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Funny but being a fisherman the conversation usually lasts about 3 beers with a complete stranger…….
3346DC8A-9447-4D71-838C-C939911D5298.gif
 
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