So I'm just thinking aloud here;

What watch would genuinely impress you if you met an acquaintance (e.g co-worker's husband, new guy at the office...)?

For me,
- A Universal Geneve polerouter/tricompax will make me go "This guy knows his shit".
- For Seiko aficionados, a 6105 or 6306 diver is pretty cool.
- Omega 165.024, 165.014, and/or any previous models of the Seamaster is cool with me.
- Rolex 5512 or vintage milgauss

That's just off my head at the moment.

Share yours!

 

If somebody was wearing a Roger Dubuis Simplicity Guilloché Main or an Urban Jürgensen Reference 8, I'd be pretty freaking impressed.

 

If he wears a Cartier Tank.

And pulls it off.

Because 9 times out of 10, a bloke who wears that would have his friends telling him to get a "manlier" watch But what do people know...

 

Impressed by anyone with a tool watch that is rugged and used as a tool watch.

Met many yachties clearing yachts at work, with old weather watches that you know have been worn hard for years at sea.

 

And if he wears a vintage Rolex Prince, you just know, this guy is no f****** ordinary guy.

 

Interesting question, one that's occurred to me on a few occasions.

For me, pretty much any old Heuer means "watch guy" to me. With the exception of 2446 Autavias, which have become yet another banker watch. But a '60s Carrera is still a watch nerd's watch. And if I ever see a cushion-case Carrera or a Camaro in the wild there is no way I'm not gonna ask about it.

I also agree with the Seamaster 2913 / 14755 / 165.014 theory, though I'm less sure about the 165.024 /166.024. The Railmaster (2914 / 135.004) also for sure. Hell, let's even throw in last year's reissue Seamaster 300 and Railmaster - I think they have too narrow appeal to be picked up by the "Goldman just increased my bonus and I need everyone to know" set

Along the same lines as Heuer, any Enicar other than the Sherpa Graph.

 

I've always wanted a Cartier Tank, but I'm always dressed in t shirt and shorts. Tried to convince my wife to wear one (I've even offered to buy it for her) but she likes speedmasters (purely aesthetic)

 

Like Wise!

If I meet someone with a Camaro, I'll definitely be asking about it.

I think locality seems to play a large part too. The local Heuer community is very very very small. Seeing someone wearing a 60s Carrera / Camaro is almost impossible.

I was just at the local wet market and I've seen at least 2-3 Rolex Ceramic Subs, a Full Gold Sub, another 2 Explorers.

 

If I saw any vintage watch that wasn't a 60's Omega Geneve/Seamaster dresswatch or similar style, I'd be impressed. Outside of my own family, no one I know is a "watch person"

The Speedmaster 38 Co-axials (2017 Basel release) are awesome to look at, super wearable, and a great movement. I just wish that the orange and gray one had an orange hand at the 9 o'clock subdial.

 

Fits nicely with a polo T shirt still.

Here is my unsolicited opinion of the day: a Cartier Tank will always, always beat a JLC Reverso.

 

It would always depend on the person. But as long as they are wearing shoes too I'm typically pretty impressed.

 

I am a big high jump fan, so if I met Yuliva Levchenko or Mutaz Barshim (soon to break world record) could probably be convinced to check out Richard Mille.

 

Zenith and JLC, vintage or modern, are most impressive to me. Tend to be the the most enthusiastic, but not snobbish, owners.

Three yrs ago, I was working with a client and complimented him on his Zenith. I work for him now and get a new watch at the end of the yr as an Xmas gift. Last yr was a new PO picked up at the OB with full red carpet treatment, champagne, pen, etc. I always keep an eye out for Zenith wearers now and I asked for an el primero this yr.

 

HEYYYYYYYYYY NOW

 

Agreed!

 

Any vintage watch that the person is passionate about it.

I rarely see any in the wild, and when I do, I usually engage as you never know who may be interested in selling.

Dipshits that aren’t passionate or those who are clueless look at you like you are nuts, but those who get it, get it.

I was really impressed with a co-worker who showed me the watch his wife bought him for their wedding last weekend. It was a Citizen, and a damn fine looking watch. He was ecstatic about it, and that made me like the watch even more.

 

That subdial intrigues me

 

That model of Rolex (and Gruen which used the same movement) was often called a “doctor’s watch” because of the prominent seconds bit. I don”t know just when the center sweep seconds hand became popular on wrist watches.

 

Watches don’t impress on their own when I see them. What gets me is the enthusiasm/interest someone has in the watch they’re wearing. A few times I’ve seen someone ‘in the wild’ wearing a Speedmaster they received as a college graduation gift and they’ve worn it proudly ever since.

Note: the actual watch didn’t matter as much as the connection they had with it and that what wore it proudly.

I recently bought my daughter a cheap Swiss quartz chrono (old, maybe vintage?) to see how well she’d take care of it (before buying something of higher value) and she wears it proudly! That makes me smile more than if she was wearing just any expensive watch that meant nothing to her.

 

For me, I would be glad as long as I see a mechanical piece on his/her wrist.
That being said I would be really impressed to see a vintage piece, especially

Non speedy Omega chronograph (320, 321)
Boy sized vintage rolex (bubble backs, speedking, etc)