What watch to wear watch shopping?

Posts

1,128

Likes

6,527

Felix_La_PuBelle

·Sat. 10:30am·A lot of room for comedy in there, gang.

Is anyone particular about what watch they wear when going watch shopping? I’m thinking about in-person watch shopping (visiting a dealer, a watch fair, etc.).

All other things equal, I’m most likely to wear my Max Bill Chronoscope. Somehow it’s a neutral “palette cleanser” watch when I’m faced with the prospect of looking at other watches.

Are there other factors that enter the equation? If visiting a brand boutique do people wear the same brand watch if they already own one?

 

Posts

397

Likes

1,238

Mediocre

·Sat. 10:39am

My watch shopping is rarely planned. Usually a "you know what sounds fun right now?"...or "since I am on this side of town"

So I wear whatever was on at the time

Most recently I went to inquire about ordering a square MR-G at our local AD. Happened to be wearing a Damasko. They had no idea what it was. Fine with me. Now I await the call for availability time and negotiation

Time before that I went to local Omega/Oris/Rolex/Tudor AD. Wanted to check out a small seconds Trésor; they only had date model in-stock. Had my kids out for the afternoon just doing whatever we decided. Was wearing a Seiko SPB147

 

Posts

16,918

Likes

48,150

STANDY

·Sat. 1:15pm

Whatever I’m wearing, 9/10 a Speedmaster.




In the high end part of San Diego this year I happened to have my Seiko Submariner.

Two salesman at high end shops loved it and we chatted for a bit. Ended up being an ice breaker and was shown several old stocks sitting in the safe. He even tried it on and took a heap of photos to show his watch buddies.
(Rolex salesman didn’t even notice as he said “see you already have the submariner”

 

Posts

1,128

Likes

6,527

Felix_La_PuBelle

·Sat. 1:35pm·A lot of room for comedy in there, gang.

Mediocre

So I wear whatever was on at the time

STANDY

Whatever I’m wearing,

This would be my normal approach. And frankly, since 99.99% of my watch purchases occur online I suppose this is more of a thought experiment.

I happen to have some work travel coming up so what I’m really doing is deciding what watch to take on a trip, but coincidentally I’m going to a destination where there may be some vintage watches I’ve been hunting online. So if schedule allows, I hope to see them in person.

As discussed above, my instinct also would be to wear something that the watch dealers might be interested in having a little chat about. Just as amongst watch enthusiasts.

STANDY

Rolex salesman didn’t even notice as he said “see you already have the submariner”

🤣
If I ever find myself going to a Rolex store, I do have half a mind to wear this:

 

Posts

4,107

Likes

7,066

Vercingetorix

·Sat. 1:57pm·Spam Risk

You don’t wear any watch. Then you have a legitimate reason to buy another.

 

Posts

1,128

Likes

6,527

Felix_La_PuBelle

·Sat. 3:23pm·A lot of room for comedy in there, gang.

Vercingetorix

You don’t wear any watch. Then you have a legitimate reason to buy another.

The people who know me would know that’s just a ruse.

 

Posts

3,616

Likes

9,183

MRC

·Sat. 3:30pm

Meeting a seller face to face I wear something special, normally my 1970 Carrera which I'll let them try on the wrist. Normal comment is something like "it wears bigger that it looks at first".

Visiting an AD it's a generally waste of time to wear something interesting. For instance yesterday with half an hour to kill I wandered into a TAG-Heuer "Boutique" (part of Beaverbrooks). As I was wearing the Seiko GMT purchased earlier this year I thought I'd ask if they had a GMT in the range. Blank look on the sales assistant's face. I explained the twin time-zones. Still looking blank she said she had not been working there long and went off to ask a more senior member of the staff. For the record T-H do have a GMT at more thousands of beer coupons than I have thumb and fingers on one hand. I did like the modern Skipperera and next to it the Mareograph but thought that mentioning either of those words was a waste of breath.

Oddly though when I bought this Seiko I was wearing my Speedy Reduced and when I took it off and put it on the counter to try the GMT the store manager (also called from the back to help the SA out) did say something about clearly knowing what I was looking at.

 

Posts

13,999

Likes

54,300

Larry S

·Sat. 3:40pm·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

If AD….JLC or Rolex. If vintage, whatever my mood is.

 

Posts

4,107

Likes

7,066

Vercingetorix

·Sat. 3:46pm·Spam Risk

Felix_La_PuBelle

The people who know me would know that’s just a ruse.

But there is a hint of plausibility.

 

Posts

1,128

Likes

6,527

Felix_La_PuBelle

·Sat. 11:08pm·A lot of room for comedy in there, gang.

So it’s a crap shoot in the boutiques if you get a green SA or an old fox who knows a thing or two about watches.

Do we dream of that dusty old vintage dealer who has stories to tell about being in the room when Gerald Genta sketched an octagon on a napkin? Who then opens a box to show us a 1920s Cartier Tank à Guichets. But only if we’re wearing the right watch when we walk into the shop.

 

Posts

3,237

Likes

6,783

Fallout Boy

·Sat. 11:59pm

Since I can pass by watch stores completely emotionless, I at best search for them at flea markets. And in doing so, I turn the buckle side of the strap upwards, so I always wear the watch hidden. Actually, my whole life is based on understatement: I don't show my capabilities - except when I drive my classic car.

 

Posts

13,999

Likes

54,300

Larry S

·Sun. 8:08am·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

Ps… good reminder to send my Chronoscope out for service.

 

Posts

1,478

Likes

6,782

mydeafcat

·Sun. 12:04pm

I'm not really looking at adding any to the collection these days (a few catch my eye periodically, of course) so I mostly go in to see what's new and perhaps try something on that just may activate my gotta-have-it gene. I wear whatever I'm wearing, usually an Omega: 3570, 2254 or AT41; or a Tudor Black Bay. But....if ever I feel the need to visit one of the two local exalted palaces of the Crown, my late father's Gruen will get the call. 😉

With the exception of one AD here in Vancouver and a couple of boutiques, I've found few, if any, of the salespeople could give a toss what you're wearing; they're into sales, not watches. Now, the aforementioned AD has been around for many decades and is staffed by committed, passionate watch folks. THEY would absolutely notice, as would my preferred associate at the OB and the recent hires at the Tudor Boutique. Those lads have a good, and appreciative, eye.

 

Posts

2,669

Likes

2,851

ErichKeane

·Sun. 12:53pm

I typically only go to the OB for watch shopping, rest of what I do tends to be online. BUT both sales associates I've had are watch guys (as are quite a few of the folks that work there!) so I tend to wear whatever is 'new'/'interesting'/'cool'.

For example, I bought an Apollo Soyuz meteorite Speedy from an OF person who is local, and actually met right near the OB! I went into the store for other reasons, and they even sized it for me so I could wear it home 😁!

Anyway, I texted with my SA who had not been there that day about the shards for my Ploprof that I'd ordered, and he asked if I'd be wearing that watch into the shop when I came in.

My previous SA invited me to an event they hosted a few years ago (a wonderful dinner with an Olympic runner!), and had 'politely' asked me to wear my Tokyo Speedmaster that night since a few folks there would appreciate it. WHICH was a tough ask, since he had just sold me an Ed White like 2 days before!

 

Posts

30,276

Likes

78,129

Archer

·Mon. 9:09am

mydeafcat

With the exception of one AD here in Vancouver and a couple of boutiques, I've found few, if any, of the salespeople could give a toss what you're wearing; they're into sales, not watches.

I've had that experience. At probably the most well known store in Toronto (RDV) and the girl at the JLC counter had zero clue about watches. Not really her fault as it was her first day, but why would they put someone out there basically cold is beyond me.

But back when I was buying somewhat regularly (which I admit is some time ago), I would hold my hands behind my back as I browsed - just a habit. I noted on several occasions the sales guy trying to see what I was wearing. Not because he's a watch guy, but because he wants to see if I'm a watch guy, and if so what I have already been willing to spend.

In my experience, if I'm trying to appear as a serious buyer and I want to actually make a deal on something, I'll wear something like my GO, or the remaining JLC I have. Otherwise it's just whatever I have on. That is usually vintage and I find most sales people are pretty much bamboozled by vintage...

I recall being in the OB in Honolulu 10 years ago or so, and they had no idea what my SM300 was (it's a Watchco but they wouldn't have known the original anyway). But then once they learned what I do for a living the rest of the conversation was about trying to hire me...

 

Posts

2,472

Likes

11,942

bsowers34

·Mon. 9:13am

At the OB i wear the last one I purchased there. Locally I wear my Snoopy 50.