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How often do you see ANY nice watch in the wild?

Cayohuesovespa
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Saw a tritium dialed speedmaster at the local watering hole just the other day.
Commented on it and we had a nice talk about it.
It was his father's who bought it new in early 80s and gave it to him. It looked new and was well taken care of. He wasn't an enthusiast, just likes the watch. He did like my planet ocean....
 
AngelDeVille
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I’m pretty much it where I’m at.

I have seen one 60’s-70’s DJ with the plexiglass so scratched the dial was barely visible, and a gorgeous 1920’s Elgin in the past year.
 
BAJJ
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Saw a rose gold Patek Phillipe aquanaut on a rubber strap in Schipol Amsterdam the other day, kinda took my breadth away, I thought it very obvious, but impressive, I was wearing my constellation pie pan at the time, I'm sure he didn't notice😁
 
cineaste
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I have only seen a vintage IWC at the waiting queue at my barber’s. Usually I see plenty fancy modern stuff at the airport l, but I pay no attention to them, they do not excite me at all. If it was Lange etc, I would definitely notice, but Lange owners are probably not using the same airport or facilities like the rest of us!
 
C
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cineaste cineaste
I have only seen a vintage IWC at the waiting queue at my barber’s. Usually I see plenty fancy modern stuff at the airport l, but I pay no attention to them, they do not excite me at all. If it was Lange etc, I would definitely notice, but Lange owners are probably not using the same airport or facilities like the rest of us!
They’re using the same airports, but the FBO for private aircraft is on the opposite side of the field. 👍
 
mrbreen
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Like all of you, I’m always alert to what people have on their wrists… and it sometimes leads to wonderful/brief exchanges. In the past year, a Patek, a bb58, vintage DJs, 1 vintage Connie.

I also see a lot of subs. And no offense to anyone here, but the number one watch of the typical “one watch bro” aka “that asshole at the bar” is a sub. Not even a competition.
 
C
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mrbreen mrbreen
Like all of you, I’m always alert to what people have on their wrists… and it sometimes leads to wonderful/brief exchanges. In the past year, a Patek, a bb58, vintage DJs, 1 vintage Connie.

I also see a lot of subs. And no offense to anyone here, but the number one watch of the typical “one watch bro” aka “that asshole at the bar” is a sub. Not even a competition.
And sadly, too many of those are decently finished cases & bands housing a super cheap Chinese movement. The prevalence of fake watches is gross. When I see a 20-something wearing a sub or GMT (especially a Hulk or a Batman) I pretty much assume it's fake. 🙄
 
Braindrain
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C ChiefMark
And sadly, too many of those are decently finished cases & bands housing a super cheap Chinese movement. The prevalence of fake watches is gross. When I see a 20-something wearing a sub or GMT (especially a Hulk or a Batman) I pretty much assume it's fake. 🙄

Like a cashier at a local McD's who was wearing a fake Daytona?
 
Doc Savage
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mrbreen mrbreen
Like all of you, I’m always alert to what people have on their wrists… and it sometimes leads to wonderful/brief exchanges. In the past year, a Patek, a bb58, vintage DJs, 1 vintage Connie.

I also see a lot of subs. And no offense to anyone here, but the number one watch of the typical “one watch bro” aka “that asshole at the bar” is a sub. Not even a competition.
Exactly.

I know many Rolex owners who are great people. Some people on this forum are Rolex owners. Not all R owners are douchebags, but every watch douchebag I have ever met has been a Rolex guy.
 
Doc Savage
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C ChiefMark
And sadly, too many of those are decently finished cases & bands housing a super cheap Chinese movement. The prevalence of fake watches is gross. When I see a 20-something wearing a sub or GMT (especially a Hulk or a Batman) I pretty much assume it's fake. 🙄
True.

EVERY time I see an Aquanaut or Nautilus in public, I also assume it's a fake.
 
C
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Doc Savage Doc Savage
True.

EVERY time I see an Aquanaut or Nautilus in public, I also assume it's a fake.

Unless I'm at a black tie affair... yes. I will be branded a classist, I'm sure, but the person who has chosen to wear a high-end or even mid-level timepiece will be person of a certain caliber; not that can be instantly deduced by a long distance observation; but one that can be deduced with observational skills fairly quickly and with decent accuracy. I'll just say that the method of discerning whether or not someone is wearing a genuine watch or a fake is the Potter Stewart method for a different purpose. 😎
 
Doc Savage
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C ChiefMark
Unless I'm at a black tie affair... yes. I will be branded a classist, I'm sure, but the person who has chosen to wear a high-end or even mid-level timepiece will be person of a certain caliber; not that can be instantly deduced by a long distance observation; but one that can be deduced with observational skills fairly quickly and with decent accuracy. I'll just say that the method of discerning whether or not someone is wearing a genuine watch or a fake is the Potter Stewart method for a different purpose. 😎
I hear exactly what you are saying. There is nothing condescending about recognizing that not everyone can afford a $50k watch.

All honest work is noble in my mind, so I don't look down on anyone for the legitimate job they do. But if you are wearing a watch that costs more than your industry likely pays you in a full year, you aren't fooling anyone with that Patek copy.
Edited:
 
C
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Doc Savage Doc Savage
I hear exactly what you are saying. There is nothing condescending about recognizing that not everyone can afford a $50k watch.

All honest work is noble in my mind, so I don't look down on anyone for the legitimate job they do. But if you are wearing a watch the costs more than your industry likely pays you in a full year, you aren't fooling anyone with that Patek copy.
I couldn't agree more! I love talking to a guy who is really into watches and loves the engineering and design that goes into them, and he's wearing a Seiko 5 or a Hamilton or a Vostok or whatever he could afford / wanted to spend money on.

The guy who is throwing his money away on a knock off watch from China is lying to himself every time he puts it on and then to everyone he meets. I have zero interest in that guy.
 
abrod520
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Not too many wild watch spottings even here in New York. But, last night at a whiskey tasting the guy running it was sporting a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor. Those models aren't my cup of tea but the kind of watch guy wearing one definitely is 👍 Had a good short exchange about it, then just nerded about whiskey of course.
 
timoss
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In New York? Are you kidding? A day doesn't go by you don't see SOMETHING. I mean, maybe Richard Mille's are rare but you can't spit without hitting an AP, Rolex, Panarai, IWC, JLC, etc. Plenty of vintage being worn, too, though not as common. I was surprised to see someone a week or two sporting a Linde Werdelin Spidolite--now THAT is uncommon.
 
C
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In New York? Yeah, they’re sold on the street. It’s an amazing place. AP ROs for $100…. ::stirthepot::
 
sxl2004
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C ChiefMark
In New York? Yeah, they’re sold on the street. It’s an amazing place. AP ROs for $100…. ::stirthepot::

Yup , bought my first Sub from a reliable dealer on Canal St. The battery lasted forever. 😁
 
timoss
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They make 'em with mechanical movements now. Crappy ones that you can hear the rotor grinding on when you move them, but mechanical...
 
abrod520
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timoss timoss
In New York? Are you kidding? A day doesn't go by you don't see SOMETHING. I mean, maybe Richard Mille's are rare but you can't spit without hitting an AP, Rolex, Panarai, IWC, JLC, etc. Plenty of vintage being worn, too, though not as common. I was surprised to see someone a week or two sporting a Linde Werdelin Spidolite--now THAT is uncommon.

Depends on the part of town you spend your time in really. Our new office is in the process of fully opening on 5th Ave right in the middle of all the watch flagships, so chances are I'll be seeing more soon! But in other parts of the city (remember New York =/= just Manhattan) it's not so prevalent.
 
marcn
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When our little one was really little, him propped up and strapped into the shopping cart's child seat thing. Us, groggy AF and riding bad-mood hair triggers even on our best days. Cart full of groceries. We were closing the last 3 feet of space for the check-out when a very elderly man ninja'd himself in front of us in a way I still can't recall or even begin to reconstruct. In his defense, he had like 4 things in his little hand basket.

On his wrist: a super loosey-goosey TT DJ, looking to be at least 40 years old and frankly looking great. The perfect watch for this age, IMO.

She: [to me in an uncharacteristic muffled tone] Are you actually kidding me with this?

Me: [tongue click] Rolex.
 
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