How many female members now?

padders · Jul 31, 2022

blufinz52
Is this any worse than the comment about 'autistic box ticking'? My adult son has autism, and any comparison to ticking boxes to what my son goes through is more offensive than a Mae West quote IMO.

No offence was intended and I appreciate it might not have been the most sensible remark. I too am close to people with severe autism and I wasn't attempting humour or flippancy, merely noting that some traits seen in people on the autistic spectrum are much more prevalent in men rather than woman eg attempting to provide order by collection and curation and fascination with minutiae. I think you might be reading something into my remark that wasn't there...

M'Bob · Jul 31, 2022

I would enjoy seeing more women get involved here. I’ve been trying to stimulate a watch interest in my two daughters, with mixed results.

Every forum has a different culture, and the demographic and their collective tastes should be represented. I’m in orthopedic rehabilitation, and some of my females patients feel more content in women’s only gyms, and some would never set foot in one.

I can certainly understand a women’s section if that’s what would be most comfortable for who comes here, but also appreciate (in 2022) that women, like men, are diverse in what they want. Most of the young, successful, ambitious females I know in the big city where I live and practice wear “men’s” watches, work with men, compete with men, drink with men, curse with men, and just want a level playing field. They would likely find the need for a separate area completely offensive, but, as I said, we all are informed by our unique experiences.

eugeneandresson · Jul 31, 2022

Foo2rama
I know when I’m at the local high end mall there tend to be only men in the watch shops while the shoe stores that have moths Mens and womens shoes still skews female.

There are also a lot of non-stereotypical 'shoe shop' type ladies too, ones that generally wear jeans/cargo-pants/sneakers/other-stereotypically-strange-but-perfectly-fabulous-attire and do hikes/glacier-tours/snowboard/paraglide/climbing etc etc etc ... essentially all the women in my life ... who hate going to malls (I don't like malls either). You are thus not going to see them at the 'mall'.

I know as far as personalities go, I am a bit of an outlier compared to the 'norm' of the demographic for this forum, but I love watches all the same...due to growing up in a family with role-models that liked watches. I am willing to bet salary money that is a common enough thing and a large reason why most people here are into watches, and there will also be ladies who have the same door opened. My goddaughter (currently 5), likes firetrucks and technical toys that have functioning technical parts...typically stuff for boys... and NOT Barbies/Kens and make-up...her mother does not try and 'girlie' her, but lets her follow her own interests...seems like a good candidate for watches to me, and I will gauge her interest in them when she gets a bit older (I am trying hard with her father). But maybe I am trying to fit her into a stereotype.

I appreciate the fact that there are ladies who share this hobby with us at a similar level of pedantry. And said ladies look fantastic with their 'manly' watches (that too is another silly stereotype), whether it be a G-shock, or a Speedy, or a Sub/Explorer/Daytona, Zenith, vintage milatary XXX or longines...or tiny and elegant ladies watch. The non-stereotypical ladies I spoke of earlier do like to dress up now and again, and look phenomenal in a dress with minimal make up...and watches. Speaking of which, definitely not enough ladies watches in this thread, and I do possess a beautiful tiny and elegant ladies watch (the only one in my collection, although every watch in my collection is a ladies watch and looks amazing on ladies) ...

AML...check.
Beatiful and flawless silver sparkly dial...check.

Condition...check.
Factory original finishing all round...check.
Original crown...check.
Automatic movement (that needs a service)...check. Smallest volumetric automatic movement at the time (caliber 661).

It comes with its original (9mm if I recall) vintage Omega strap and buckle...I just took them off as the strap has started to separate into different layers. Diameter is 18mm.

If there are any members who have any interest in this watch, please feel free to drop me a DM. When I say 'interest', I mean 'to wear' (and you must be a member).

And here it is on another watch that looks great on a lady and I consider a ladies watch...

Lastly : any of our female members care to share how they got into the hobby (edit: if it differs to how the most of us got into it)?

Omegafanman · Jul 31, 2022

A little teaser but the next pilot / watch story I hope to get published features a former RAF pilot - who also happens to be a lady. She loved her time in the forces and felt it was the best job in the world. I need to spend less time on OF and more time finishing the article :0)

Syrte · Jul 31, 2022

Omegafanman
A little teaser but the next pilot / watch story I hope to get published features a former RAF pilot - who also happens to be a lady. She loved her time in the forces and felt it was the best job in the world. I need to spend less time on OF and more time finishing the article :0)

I’ll be reading with great interest. By all means finish it!

Dan S · Jul 31, 2022

M'Bob
Most of the young, successful, ambitious females I know in the big city where I live and practice wear “men’s” watches, work with men, compete with men, drink with men, curse with men ...

Personally, I hope that people of all ages and genders are welcome and accepted here, even if they don't choose to adopt an old-white-man persona.

Shabbaz · Jul 31, 2022

Syrte
Do we think it would make a difference?
I’m a moderator on the Military Watch Ressource Forum, I can assure you it hasn’t brought any new female membership 😁

In the long run I do think it would make a difference. Even if it's a small difference.

M'Bob · Jul 31, 2022

Dan S
Personally, I hope that people of all ages and genders are welcome and accepted here, even if they don't choose to adopt an old-white-man persona.

Interesting. Liberal use of all-inclusive sentiments, but not shy about trotting out race and age stereotypes.

connieseamaster · Jul 31, 2022

eugeneandresson
Lastly : any of our female members care to explain how they got into the hobby (edit: if it differs to how the most of us got into it)?

My father is a watchmaker and I've had a watch on my wrist nearly every day since I was 3. No real choice in the matter 😁. Most of my summers, until I started developing my own hobbies/sports interests were spent helping him in the shop and going on house calls. I still hold the title "Senior VP of Shipping and Logistics" (aka I did 90% of his packing for work sent in).

After a while and seeing the nitty gritty of the watch industry from near the bench, I developed a collecting interest in vintage ladies sports and dive watches. I have watches that don't fit those parameters, but those I buy out of enjoyment of the aesthetic rather than an interest in the forces that allowed them to be created. Omega in the 50s-70s was fantastic for this as they put equally capable watches on the market for both men and women (Seamaster and Constellation lines being prime examples). Modern Omega falls flat in this respect somewhat (quartzifying and gemifying watches without providing alternatives for those who want the Master Chronometer spec and/or a watch without mid grade diamonds).

Having read through this thread and being a member for several years, the big thing I've noticed is a lack of reflection from most members when someone calls them out as being sexist/ablist/racist/etc. Even in this thread there are multiple examples of this interaction:

Person 1: Hey, what you said is offensive to _____

Person 2: It's fine, people around me don't care

😒

What would make this forum, and the world at large, a more welcoming place is if instead of the knee jerk reaction of "nuh-uh, stop trying to police my thoughts" there was an attitude of "this person's experience is different than mine and maybe they see/know something I haven't been exposed to and maybe I should consider their point."

noless · Jul 31, 2022

connieseamaster
Omega in the 50s-70s was fantastic for this as they put equally capable watches on the market for both men and women (Seamaster and Constellation lines being prime examples). Modern Omega falls flat in this respect somewhat (quartzifying and gemifying watches without providing alternatives for those who want the Master Chronometer spec and/or a watch without mid grade diamonds).

So very much this, I've accidentally instilled the mechanical watch only sentiment into the missus and she was quite disappointed to notice that all of the newer mechanical women's offerings from omega are all rather large, a far cry from the 50's-70's women's pieces.
Mind you this means I haven't had to save up to get her a brand new omega which would put a significantly larger hole in the wallet than the vintage ones I have been hunting.

Canuck · Jul 31, 2022

I’ve been married to the same girl for 56 years. I’ve been into watches for all of those years. Collecting, restoring, building a library, etc. Over those years I have given her about a dozen watches (including Rolex, Omega, Longines, Gruen, Citizen, Lassale, etc.). I mistakenly believed that she would develop an interest in watches by osmosis. She has three favourites among her watches. One of her Omegas, her Rolex, and her late grandmother’s 6-size Elgin, four colour gold hunter case which she wears as a pendant watch on a 24-inch chain. As I type this, she is engrossed in her quilting message board! How have I failed?

Her favourite Omega. Circa mid 1960s. 14-karat white gold Sapphette, manual wind, synthetic sapphire crystal tinted pastel blue. Bought for scrap in distressed condition. Spent much time on it, bringing it back to life. All original, but dial re-finished.

p4ul · Jul 31, 2022

Scooterino36
Lol it's a family nickname that's unfortunately stuck.

So…is your correct name Scott Twelvetrees?

@JimInOz

Dan S · Jul 31, 2022

Canuck
I’ve been married to the same girl for 56 years. I’ve been into watches for all of those years. Collecting, restoring, building a library, etc. Over those years I have given her about a dozen watches (including Rolex, Omega, Longines, Gruen, Citizen, Lassale, etc.). I mistakenly believed that she would develop an interest in watches by osmosis. She has three favourites among her watches. One of her Omegas, her Rolex, and her late grandmother’s 6-size Elgin, four colour gold hunter case which she wears as a pendant watch on a 24-inch chain. As I type this, she is engrossed in her quilting message board! How have I failed?

How is your quilting coming along? 😉

connieseamaster · Jul 31, 2022

noless
So very much this, I've accidentally instilled the mechanical watch only sentiment into the missus and she was quite disappointed to notice that all of the newer mechanical women's offerings from omega are all rather large, a far cry from the 50's-70's women's pieces.
Mind you this means I haven't had to save up to get her a brand new omega which would put a significantly larger hole in the wallet than the vintage ones I have been hunting.

My first best guess for market value of a watch I'm interested in is "price of the men's version"/3 😁 Pretty easy on the budget frankly.

My long time partner is bemused by my interest in watches, but I'll never be able to get him into a watch show or store. Watches he's been given by me (and my dad) include a Seiko Pogue and a Spaceview. But his favorite is a mechaquartz racing chronos I got in exchange for help out at a local microbrand showcase. 🙄

pdxleaf · Jul 31, 2022

connieseamaster
...Modern Omega falls flat in this respect somewhat (quartzifying and gemifying watches without providing alternatives for those who want the Master Chronometer spec and/or a watch without mid grade diamonds)....

Most watch brands are guilty of this. Many brands that feature a mens vs ladies grouping will have watches in the ladies group that are emblazoned with diamonds. For a woman who dislikes diamonds (such as my wife), this doesn't leave much to choose from. Even the models wearing the watches are often waif like teenagers. Point being the whole industry seems stuck in an pre-50s world view of what women want in a watch. Hence, this might influence what women think a watch forum is like.

Any-who, this is a fun and interesting thread. Thanks to all the participants. More please!

Waltesefalcon · Jul 31, 2022

My last two girlfriends both took an interest in watches. My previous one took a fancy to one of my 30s Bulovas which I gifted her. My current one got very interested in the radium girls, and so I bought her an old radium dialed Helvetia. I couldn't ever get either actually interested in joining the forum though.

omegawatchlover
Omega forums has been great and helpful. If you take a look at the Rolex subreddit, that’s where you get sexist lol.

The Rolex sub can be that way with men too. A couple of years ago I was considering buying an old Speedking like the one worn by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, and went there to ask for advice about them. There was one guy, I forget his user name, that was very disparaging about a grown man wearing that small of a watch and made several sexist comments about me. To the point that he shut down any productive conversation.

Syrte · Jul 31, 2022

I had zero interest or exposure to watches until I decided to buy myself a «nice » pre-owned watch on Ebay. I made mistakes and learned, had to resell, and when I looked for a nice strap I stumbled upon so called vintage pilot watches and found out American WWII pilot watches could be obtained for a reasonable sum. My interest in that time period led me to the Military Watch Ressource forum.
The members were very welcoming even though I was clearly landing from planet Mars, and while doing research I soon developed an enthusiasm for Longines pilot watches and vintage watches in general.
One thing leading to another, I learned about many other types of vintage watches, the first military dive watches, early chronographs and others, met through that forum (and later this one too) some great people in France and then elsewhere who introduced me to watchmakers, watch fairs, watch dealers and more watch pals.
I took a one day workshop to learn about history of watches and how a movement works and how to dismount one and developed a fascination for how the development and marketing of watches in the 19th and 20th century went hand in hand with economic and societal development.

No one in my surroundings ever held an interest in watches, and in fact all were flabbergasted of my newfound interest. But I had received from my mother an early appreciation for the decorative arts and design, which watches also embody.

I must admit I was also appalled to see in the watch world more evidence of corruption and sleaze than I had ever been exposed to. I also learned to see in the evolution of the watch market some signs of the economy at large.
It’s been a formative experience but in all of it I never forget, as someone put so aptly, that the ability to own more than one watch, be it a Timex or a Rolex (or in my case a Longines) is a privilege that few are afforded on this planet.

sheepdoll · Jul 31, 2022

I noticed that the online goodwill web auction pages places watches under the category 'Jewellery and Gemstones.' There are three sub categories Children, Men and Women.
I had gone into a goodwill brick and mortar the other day, as I had not been in one for a number years. The only watch I saw was a 'projector' watch for a modern kids spy film franchise. Not sure how well something like this would work. Such a thing does not really fit into my collection, and I have too much as it is. A curious novelty. I attach an image from an ended online auction.

Watches do not seem to be marketed much to children. So I had not really given much thought to think of their being a kids subcategory. I still do have a watch I got in a box of breakfast cereal. I also have some other advertising or promotional watches. (which is a subject unto itself.)

The only suggestion I was making would be to have a thread that features more examples of ladies or smaller watches, and I see this starting to happen. Whether such threads belong into a separate 'forum' or not is still up for debate.

-j

Screen Shot 2022-07-31 at 10.44.03 AM.png

pdxleaf · Jul 31, 2022

sheepdoll
...The only suggestion I was making would be to have a thread that features more examples of ladies or smaller watches, and I see this starting to happen. Whether such threads belong into a separate 'forum' or not is still up for debate...

i think this would be the 'Hamilton' forum 😉

Vintage Hamiltons are numerous; inexpensive; diverse; often distinct from modern brands; solidly built; historically relevant; and albeit smaller, can be comfortably worn by men or women.

eugeneandresson · Jul 31, 2022

connieseamaster
My father is a watchmaker and I've had a watch on my wrist nearly every day since I was 3. No real choice in the matter 😁. Most of my summers, until I started developing my own hobbies/sports interests were spent helping him in the shop and going on house calls. I still hold the title "Senior VP of Shipping and Logistics" (aka I did 90% of his packing for work sent in).

After a while and seeing the nitty gritty of the watch industry from near the bench, I developed a collecting interest in vintage ladies sports and dive watches. I have watches that don't fit those parameters, but those I buy out of enjoyment of the aesthetic rather than an interest in the forces that allowed them to be created.

Thanks for sharing. That is a great story and a very nice way to get into it 👍 I am sure he must have been thrilled to see you continue down this avenue...

connieseamaster
Modern Omega falls flat in this respect somewhat (quartzifying and gemifying watches without providing alternatives for those who want the Master Chronometer spec and/or a watch without mid grade diamonds).

100% my sentiments. I think I know which ones you are talking about...these also appealed to me, and would have been gift worthy if it wasn't for 1) the blingy diamonds 2) the quartz (I mean, really, if they could make tiny mechanical movements in the 50s/60s/70s, they could surely do it better now) 3) the price (because quartz).

(If I guessed it wrong, feel free to correct me)

omega-de-ville-mini-tresor-quartz-26-mm-42817266004001-l.png

...although this particular model is 26mm...must be a new addition since I last looked because they were round 39mm. I love the aesthetics and design, just subtract the diamonds and slap in something mechanical (or if not, make the price more in line with quartz)...