Hi Guys, I have been wearing my 565 caliber Seamaster f every day for the past week. I'm currently on vacation, but as an orchestral musician playing viola, I was wondering if the constant movement might cause extra wear on my watch, particularly when the bow jumps around and violently attacks the strings. I know my watch has an incabloc shock system, but should I take it off every time I play? I am in a large Opera orchestra, so when we play the ring cycle, or other large works, they often have sections which can get quite aggressive. I usually take a watch off to play anyway, as the extra weight on my wrist can be bothersome, but if our music stands are missing a small tray to hold personal effects, I don't want to just lay it on the floor either. Thanks!
I play a violin. (Fiddler, not violinist). Watches will usually let you know when you are wearing them beyond what might be considered reasonable limits. You say you take the watch off when you practice, but wear it when performing. I don’t have a watch that I wouldn’t wear on my bowing arm (right arm), either performing, or practicing. I don’t play Wagner, but fiddle music can involve plenty of vigorous bow movement. The watch will tell you when there is a problem in how you are wearing it.
My best mate is a professional clarinet player, and always wears an Omega Seamaster 300. The first violin wears a JLC reverso all the time. Both on the left arm, and have not heard any complains by either of them in the last 5 years.
Good idea. Leaving your watch on the stage floor sounds like a spectacularly bad idea, and leaving it backstage, unless you have a locker that locks, and maybe even then, is also a bad idea.
There was a time when I'd wear a watch while playing. But the bands kept getting gunked up with dried sweat. These days I take it off before the set and put it back on when everything is packed away.
For a question like this, we must ask WWJD, and by that I mean, of course, "what would John-Mayer do"?
WWJM do? He admits to wearing several of his watches when in concert; but he also stated that some, he won't... https://www.hodinkee.com/videos/talking-watches-2-john-mayer
I once sold a Cartier automatic in a steel case to a member of a touring rock band. Here today, gone tomorrow. I have often wondered how it stood up for him. It is usually the “roadies” that do the scut work for groups like this, so maybe he did okay with it.
Did you get to here https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/instruments/viola/viola-jokes/vacuum-cleaner/ There has always been a bit of tension between the two
For some of the funniest, meanest, and certainly the most, viola jokes you are likely to find anywhere, check out TwoSetViolin's youtube channel, hosted by two Australian violinists (not surprisingly). But I doubt either of them have such a nice vintage Seamaster. So there.
Just know over the years there has been Viola v Violin banter. Bring up fiddle and that’s even more fun.....
Where's the best place to store your watches to keep them from being stolen? In a violin case. you asked. have fun kfw
