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Happy Christmas all to those that celebrate it. Happy Monday to the rest of the world.
I have seen only one Rolex Sub in the wild. Talked with the guy about it as he also recognized my Speedmaster Pro as a fellow traveler.
I have a theory on why we see so few “nice” watches in the wild but “billions of dollars” worth have been sold. And honestly it’s a pretty awful theory but it’s early here and I’m waiting for the madness to start this day.
I think many people who own a watch worth $3,000 or $5,000 or $15,000 or more might feel it’s too nice to wear. They could be afraid of loss, theft, or damage. They keep it at home safe. My dad has a day date Rolex. Bought it when he turned 60. Never wore it much. Now says he prefers the Apple Watch. And feels the Rolex is too showy or makes him a target for theft It’s his only nice watch IMHO. So others may simply keep the nice ones at home to enjoy. Possibly....
I was at an IMF meeting here in DC to discuss an African country along with other US Government officials. The IMF Mission Chief had a Royal Oak Chronograph! I need to change employers.🙁
Rolex, Rolex, Rolex... boring.
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I have a theory on why we see so few “nice” watches in the wild but “billions of dollars” worth have been sold. And honestly it’s a pretty awful theory but it’s early here and I’m waiting for the madness to start this day.
I think many people who own a watch worth $3,000 or $5,000 or $15,000 or more might feel it’s too nice to wear. They could be afraid of loss, theft, or damage. They keep it at home safe.... Possibly....
Last weekend I spotted a younger guy (twenty-something) seated at a restaurant table next to my wife and I, wearing what appeared to be a Tudor Black Bay (the lighting was fairly dim so I couldn't be 100% sure). He looked like a pleasant-natured fellow so I asked him straight to his face "Wow -- that's a nice looking watch -- is it a Black Bay?" He broke into a grin and replied "Yes it is: it's the older ETA-powered version -- much thinner than the latest version with the in-house movement". He took it off his wrist straightaway and handed it to me to examine.
Holy cow! A fellow watch nerd, caught in the wild! Normally, when I attempt to strike up a watch conversation with a stranger I almost always end up embarrassing myself...horribly. This experience was quite an exception to the norm.
He went on to explain that he had actually worked as a sales person at two different Omega botiques and at one time owned several Omega watches; he said he recently sold them and now has just one watch that he really likes a lot -- his Black Bay.
I'm working out of China nowadays so I do see a number of nice Omegas on people: PO's, Globemasters, AT's mostly. I haven't trained my eye to recognize the other big brands. The only trouble is that on my first visit here in 2008, I went home with a beautiful "Patek Phillipe" that cost me $12.00, if memory serves. Now I'm suspicious of everything I see. I feel rotten about that...