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Watches others love…that cause you to scratch your head

Waltesefalcon
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There are a whole lot of watches I do not particularly like that are beloved on this forum. I like vintage watches, with clean designs; to the point that I often don't like owning watches with date complications, because I believe that they often look tacky. This esthetic, which I enjoy, competely eschews Daytonas, Speedys, El Primos, and pretty much any other chrono. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. I find many Longines chronos to be beautiful watches, like these three 13ZN chronographs:
34.jpg Puls-3JPG-x-lrg.jpg DSC01037.jpg
 
Pastorbottle
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Mouse_at_Large Mouse_at_Large
Apart from the obvious, GMT watches that only manage two timezones using four hands. I own two three-handers that manage this task with a simple moveable bezel. For three or more timezone tracking there is my phone. Or even mental arithmetic 😉

I own no GMTs.
Or get a Flightmaster it has both a gmt hand and a movable bezel
 
hen
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M'Bob M'Bob
This.

Was totally meant to be a fun, rib-poking exercise and not to be taken seriously. I thought the inclusion of Larry David and the Mole from Austin Powers was tip-off enough; apparently not for some.

I am sorry my rambling was taken seriously . My point is that I do not use "hate" in a setting like this, I save that for things I really hate, like nuclear war or liver.

Secondly I expressed my liking for banter, witch I belive is the same as rib poking. Maybe something got lost in translation, since I am not an English speaker by birth. Anyway here are some wink emojis to clearify.😉😉
 
ATR
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Well,I like banter,I like rib poking!
There has been too many positive advertorials of watches already,why not do the opposite a bit?

I like livers too!
Delicious,as long as they’ve not been poisoned.
 
M'Bob
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How ‘bout a watch you thought was cool, then ugly, then cool again? The point being: our opinions can change and morph over time.

IMG_3531.jpeg


I had a similar Rolex ref. 1602 many years ago, with the florentine finish. I thought it was cool, then i felt it started to look kitschy, and I approached a dealer to sell it. He also felt it was over-stated and unattractive, and it was sold for cheap.

Years later, as more info became available on the internet, it turns out that this reference is fairly uncommon. So then, it started to look good to me again. From a purely objective standpoint, I don’t think it’s that attractive. But it’s ugly/nice. Like a Pug.

I was pissed that I sold it, but could not find a replacement in similar condition. So I settled for its cousin, a ref. 1806 Day-Date. Still looks over-the-top to me, but it’s a keeper. Oh well. No rational behavior here…

IMG_1096.jpeg
 
140dave
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For me it’s the AP Royal Oak, I find the octagon bolt look very unattractive. It’s okay on a $200 gshock but not for me on a $20,000 watch.
 
Dsloan
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M'Bob M'Bob
How ‘bout a watch you thought was cool, then ugly, then cool again? The point being: our opinions can change and morph over time.

My tastes sure have changed. I used to not care for speedies at all, but now I like them. And having 'closed' lugs used to be very off-putting to me for some reason.

For example: I wouldn't have enjoyed this 2-3 years ago, but now I love it now.

PXL_20240406_173552740.jpg


In many cases, if I look at a design long enough, I can start to find something charming about it.

And I find myself sometimes buying really silly, funky designs that I don't even wear, but I just think they are fun little time capsules of perhaps outdated design.

PXL_20240406_173846864.jpg


I do find it a little fascinating to think about this: tastes and design change so much over the decades. So, what is it about 60s tool watches that so many of us are drooling over? Given the grand sweep of human 'taste' over the centuries, I'm reticent to believe that there's any truly 'timeless' design that will resonate with people forever across time and culture.

So, given that, why do so many of us seem to see so much design perfection in 5513 subs, crisp Omega dogleg constellations, and the like?
 
M'Bob
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Dsloan Dsloan
My tastes sure have changed. I used to not care for speedies at all, but now I like them. And having 'closed' lugs used to be very off-putting to me for some reason.

For example: I wouldn't have enjoyed this 2-3 years ago, but now I love it now.

PXL_20240406_173552740.jpg


In many cases, if I look at a design long enough, I can start to find something charming about it.

And I find myself sometimes buying really silly, funky designs that I don't even wear, but I just think they are fun little time capsules of perhaps outdated design.

PXL_20240406_173846864.jpg


I do find it a little fascinating to think about this: tastes and design change so much over the decades. So, what is it about 60s tool watches that so many of us are drooling over? Given the grand sweep of human 'taste' over the centuries, I'm reticent to believe that there's any truly 'timeless' design that will resonate with people forever across time and culture.

So, given that, why do so many of us seem to see so much design perfection in 5513 subs, crisp Omega dogleg constellations, and the like?

Excellent post, you bring up some great questions.

For me, a “timeless” design evokes an aesthetic that’s not related to a particular era, but has certain features that reflect symmetry, balance, etc. I really like the pieces above, yet they can be attributed to a certain time-period design aesthetic. To me, something like a Patek Calatrava or Ed White represent dress and tool/sport watches that could potentially span generations of time yet still appear tasteful and relevant. I’m sure there are many others to mention.
 
Deafboy
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No fan of Bell & Ross. They obviously look like aircraft cockpit instruments.

upload_2024-4-6_13-47-23.png


Get the real deal, like my Hamilton 37500.
These were made for Corsair F4U during WWII. Now that pretty bad-ass, imo.

IMG_8584_1712425926039.JPG corsairmorro2.jpg f4 cockpit.jpg
 
jsducote
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reverbtime reverbtime
Never understood the appeal of the Monaco.

Because that one's got the crown on the wrong side. Left-hand crown makes all the difference!

20240406_140046.jpg
 
rootbeer7
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Nupero Nupero
Anything with teardrop lugs... 🥱

10778772_fullsize.jpg

Oh, and 99% of modern Omega watches, especially wavy dial Seamasters. Ugly, cheap looking and those hollow hands are just stupid and unnecessary ::stirthepot::

ddd_big11_nominal.jpeg
Thank goodness, I thought I was the only one who hated these Seamasters. Awful.
 
STANDY
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reverbtime reverbtime
Never understood the appeal of the Monaco.

IMG-20240406-064317-236.jpg

Love mine, one of the hardest watches to take a good photo of due to the curved crystal. Don’t wear it much, but always enjoy it when I do. Have the 35th anniversary black ( bought for my 35th birthday coincidentally)
IMG_7797.jpeg
 
IMG_7797.jpeg
SC1
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So many...

Modern Tudor ~ The Thiccness
Mille ~ obvious innit?
Cartoon Characters on watches that aren't less than $25USD and on a child's wrist... I do miss my OG Mickey Mouse Timex from the 60's.
Diamonds/precious stones on watches, any watches.
Large watches on small wrists.
Loose watches on wrists.
Watches worn *below* the ulner.
Exhibition casebacks period.
Non-taper bracelets.
Crown guards.
Bronze cases.
Pillow cases ~ they are useful on pillows though.
HEV's... they remind me of moles that need surgically removed.
Textured dials in general.
Skeletonized anything.
No lume or shitty lume


Sorry, I veered off course from solely watches and into pet peeves/aesthetics in general... forgive me, haven't had coffee yet.
 
M'Bob
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SC1 SC1
So many...

Modern Tudor ~ The Thiccness
Mille ~ obvious innit?
Cartoon Characters on watches that aren't less than $25USD and on a child's wrist... I do miss my OG Mickey Mouse Timex from the 60's.
Diamonds/precious stones on watches, any watches.
Large watches on small wrists.
Loose watches on wrists.
Watches worn *below* the ulner.
Exhibition casebacks period.
Non-taper bracelets.
Crown guards.
Bronze cases.
Pillow cases ~ they are useful on pillows though.
HEV's... they remind me of moles that need surgically removed.
Textured dials in general.
Skeletonized anything.
No lume or shitty lume


Sorry, I veered off course from solely watches and into pet peeves/aesthetics in general... forgive me, haven't had coffee yet.

Now you’ve got me intrigued. What are your top three “likes”?
 
Aroxx
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SC1 SC1
So many...

Modern Tudor ~ The Thiccness
Mille ~ obvious innit?
Cartoon Characters on watches that aren't less than $25USD and on a child's wrist... I do miss my OG Mickey Mouse Timex from the 60's.
Diamonds/precious stones on watches, any watches.
Large watches on small wrists.
Loose watches on wrists.
Watches worn *below* the ulner.
Exhibition casebacks period.
Non-taper bracelets.
Crown guards.
Bronze cases.
Pillow cases ~ they are useful on pillows though.
HEV's... they remind me of moles that need surgically removed.
Textured dials in general.
Skeletonized anything.
No lume or shitty lume


Sorry, I veered off course from solely watches and into pet peeves/aesthetics in general... forgive me, haven't had coffee yet.
So you hate like everything lol. Good to have you back!
 
SC1
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M'Bob M'Bob
Now you’ve got me intrigued. What are your top three “likes”?

39mm and under with a low profile so it melds into the wrist.
High legibility... black on white or the opposite.
Classic design, great lume and broad arrow hands never ever hurt.

**EDIT**... Had to go potty super bad while writing that above... L2L is perhaps more critical than diameter: as such, 47mm and down for me otherwise it's a No Bueno.

More than three there but I wrote them out as three sentences. 😉



Aroxx Aroxx
So you hate like everything lol. Good to have you back!

Mostly everything but not exactly everything. How ya been?
Edited:
 
ghce
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
It’s this one for me

IMG_5207.jpeg

I'd wear that one most days but unfortunately it's a price point that makes it very unlikely.
I do like it's deliberately gaudy appearance, if it didn't say Rolex I would still be as exactly pleased to wear it.
Bling to the max without being at a rapper sized watch, something that would comfortably slip into a shirt or jacket cuff so not necessarily on full display, just peeping out to create some intrigue.
Edited:
 
SC1
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ghce ghce
I'd wear that one most days but unfortunately it's a price point that makes it very unlikely.
I do like it's deliberately gaudy appearance, if it didn't say Rolex I would still be as exactly pleased to wear it.
Bling to the max without being at a rapper sized watch, something that would comfortably slip into a shirt or jacket cuff so not necessarily on full display, just peeping out to create some intrigued.

You, Nic Cage and Steven Tyler.
 
Larry S
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SC1 SC1
So many...

Modern Tudor ~ The Thiccness
Mille ~ obvious innit?
Cartoon Characters on watches that aren't less than $25USD and on a child's wrist... I do miss my OG Mickey Mouse Timex from the 60's.
Diamonds/precious stones on watches, any watches.
Large watches on small wrists.
Loose watches on wrists.
Watches worn *below* the ulner.
Exhibition casebacks period.
Non-taper bracelets.
Crown guards.
Bronze cases.
Pillow cases ~ they are useful on pillows though.
HEV's... they remind me of moles that need surgically removed.
Textured dials in general.
Skeletonized anything.
No lume or shitty lume


Sorry, I veered off course from solely watches and into pet peeves/aesthetics in general... forgive me, haven't had coffee yet.
“Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”
 
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