Do you believe that wrist watches reflect your personality. What watch you wear or is in your wish list , share your thoughts as to what makes them so special. Is it worth spending so much just to know the time or is it a statement .
Over to you .
Wrist Watches - Are These a Power Statement to You
Dpkmax on 24/03/2017 - 14:22
Last edited 24/03/2017 - 18:35 by 1 other user
Last edited 24/03/2017 - 18:35 by 1 other user
Comments
Read or watched somewhere when a senior banker mentioned to a junior:
"If you really wanna to impress people with your watch, wear a priceless 30 years old Omega (or some famous brand) that no one could buy. A brand new 20K watch means absolutely nothing since it can be bought anywhere."
Well I totally agree with him. I can go buy a 20K watch tomorrow but I just don't see the point.
that is so true!
I'm lucky enough to have a watch passed down from my grandfather, but still can't follow the logic of old stuff being cool just because it's unattainable.
A 30 year old watch can be priceless if its history means something to you, but not solely because it's vintage. Otherwise, there's plenty of old pieces around. In addition, buying something old may be a recipe for disaster, especially if you don't have the history of the watch - it's not unusual for restorations to double the cost of owning a watch, if not more.
So, if you're not lucky enough to have a watch passed down to you from a loved one, take matters (watch) in your hands and fix that for future generations. Be the person that starts the tradition, that passes that special piece down the generations to your loved ones.
It's a different feeling buying something for today, for now, for yourself, as opposed to the responsibility of getting a heirloom for the next generation and hopefully the one after that…
Why are there analog watches still when digital has been invented…?
I just bought a Hermes Apple Watch.
In the 80's we a had a beautiful, succinct concept of the "try hard", a fried of the poseur and a close relative of the total whanker.
A try-hard would believe they could acquire status and admiration by simply buying the latest brand or "power accessory". This kind of tragic "hope people like will like or respect me because of what I bought" thinking is at almost perfect right angles to the traditional Aussie character.
The "power accessories" usually had the exact opposite of the planned effect on the audience. Mostly try-hards had the piss mercilessly taken out of them. Sometimes people laughed in their faces. Sometimes more.
Wearing a "power statement" wristwatch is deeply into the try hard zone.
Please don't be a try hard.You could say that about any flog who drives a Ferrari / Top end luxury vehicle.
Why buy a $50,000 handbag or $10,000 bottle of wine?
Same shit really. What makes a watch suddenly try hard?
Sounds like someone is jelly of the guy with the nice watch..You are right and wrong.
Right in that pretty much anything bought as a "power statement" is posing in my book as it comes in from the hoped-for effect on others, thus is childish and pretentious. It doesn't mean that there are not some people who genuinely have a love and appreciation of the object. I am sure there are, but they are unlikely to be wearing them for effect. It's the same with top end cars. There are some people who really understand and love their vehicles. Most have their hand firmly on it and are posing but if you get into the clubs their are some true enthusiasts.
Me? No, I really have no interesting in watches. Never notice them and don't wear one..
I've got a Rolex Datejust, absolutely love wearing it. I appreciate it - the quality, design and I wear it for my own satisfaction. My colleagues don't know I have one, as I normally have my shirt covering it. Wouldn't mind adding a jaeger.
Used to wear mechanical time pieces however once I got an Apple Watch my mechs don't see the light of day. The activity tracking and notification is too addictive for me
I have about half a dozen nice watches. Tag, tissot, longines among others. Never bought one, all were gifts and some from people dear to my heart. I wear them when I wear my fine suits because I like that kind of style. I also wear a pocket square. What of it?
I always resisted wearing watches until I had my phone stolen overseas so I wore my plastic surfing watch. But wearing it outside the surf made me want to wear watches and then I have since bought a few Citizens and Seikos thanks to good deals posted here on OzB.
I like ones with a metal band. Currently I have two Eco Drives and one Automatic with a clear caseback so you can see some nice internals. But I still have my old plastic surf watch too.
I think they do reflect my personality. And surely the average Aussie wouldn't even notice whether someone has a $5000 Swiss watch or a $200 Citizen? You certainly wouldn't notice unless you were up close.
I sometimes wear a quite expensive Tissot watch, new I think it would have cost about 1k
Incredibly it was in my post box when I went to check for mail
No…I just buy it because my wrist felt naked.
I'm 27, occuption is simply furnace operation and chemical analysis, even my gf asks why such an expensive watch till i brought her a tag as well, now seeing all her aunties, cousins envy her when she wears it to family function, just LOL. Currently own Tag F1 special edt and looking in obtaining a rolex master II black/red or blue/red (still deciding)
I started awhile back owning a gshock and seiko in highschool so it kinda started there and just build up.
I think putting in research and learning about the movement and the company is what makes watch ownership rewarding. I've recently begun to appreciate them and have plans to own a few different varieties. Sadly, as a student my choices are limited at the moment.
I have a Casio W59 (daily wear), Timex Expedition (casual) and am waiting for the Curren 8215 in the mail. I'll be buying a Casio W800 soon to replace the W59.
I'm definitely looking forward to owning my first auto Seiko. That feeling of a working machine on your wrist is quite exciting. Really interested in Orient dress watches too. I'd like to try out Chinese autos like the Rhodina too.
Still learning the intricacies of it all. I understand how some might feel them to be unnecessary which is fine. If watches interest you and empower you then go for it I reckon :-)
To partly answer the question, the only correlation I've found is that when a poor person buys a watch they can't afford they often overspend in other aspects of life. They buy the largest available TVs, the latest technology the week it comes out, rent a property well beyond their means and "need" to drive a new model sports car. Oh yeah, and borrow money from friends and family that they'll never pay back. Chances are they work in sales (when they work) and are probably a good fit for that type of role (prioritising image over necessity). This is a just a summary from all the people I know. A stranger in a suit and flashy watch just looks like a real estate agent.
I don't recall anyone dressing up in academia. If anything you dress down.
In other news, I don't know if anyone here read about that Indian guy who was escorted in the streets by a team of bodyguards as he wore shirts made of real gold, but apparently he was murdered last year (http://m.abplive.in/crime/punes-gold-man-datta-phuge-attacke…).
I hate "anchors" on my arm that just drift away and need constant synchronising.
At least my crappy Chinese car radio has a satellite antenna even the nav software is useless it does set the time after power loss and it is always spot accurate.i have a $5k tag, and several other watches, but my favorite is my $30 casio calculator watch, which i wear on a daily basis. you shouldnt need expensive items to justify yourself to others.
I wear a watch… but I still pull out my phone to check the time occasionally because I just forget I'm wearing the watch.
During the week, I'm in a suit with a briefcase.
During the weekends, I'm the complete opposite in a singlet, shorts and thongs.There's no doubt that people judge by looks. I'm relatively young and I've been told on numerous occasions that on weekends when I'm not in a suit, I look like a bum.
Sometimes when I have to go places where I think people are likely to judge me based on appearance, I'll wear my dress watch. It's very subtle, but people do notice it. (and no, I don't go around shoving it in people's faces).
Do you believe that wrist watches reflect your personality.
Is it worth spending so much just to know the time or is it a statement .Yes, surely says something about personality.
I personally believe that everyone who spends more than $1000 on a watch is a pretentious idiot who desperately tries to show off his wealth (real or not).Needing a watch to know the time isn't really an excuse any more. The average person carries at least one device on them that shows the time (usually smart phone) and if you really need to be able to check it all the time, you surely find a watch that looks good enough for a couple of hundred dollars.
Only if you bother to have your phone in hand 24/7. I know these days that is true for a lot of people but not me. Nice check if the wrist and I can check the time, regardless of whether my hands are free to even get my phone out of my pocket.
There are some jobs where wristwatch would still be useful such as a sports coach or anybody who needs to very regularly check the time without the added movement of getting their phone out, but totally agree with the above, if you are spending more than $1000 you are most likely buying it for its perceived effect on others… (cough, tosser, cough)
Sure, but a $100 watch does that job perfectly fine.
The most I have paid for a watch is $10. I don't like wearing them.
Does an expensive diamond ring, necklace or earrings have the same connotation as an expensive wrist-watch or time-piece, to those deriding the 'whaynkers' and 'try-hards'? Looking at a watch from a purely functional perspective is naive and ignorant. The entire multi-billion-dollar fashion industry is built on the same premise with luxury brands also. You may not be into fashion, it may not be functional, but it still exists and it can be just as expensive. What's functional about a bouquet of flowers? Yes, I have some expensive watches. No, you wouldn't even be able to tell if the watch was working if you walked past me.
Haven't owned a watch since i got my first phone … cant understand why anyone needs more than 1 device to tell them the time.
ever had your phone run out of battery?
I guess everybody doesn't just wear certain items because of they are practical… My silver necklace I got for my 21st doesn't tell the time anywhere as well as my mobile phone.
i know the OP is talking about analogue but a lot of new digital watches have GPS features so you can track your running distance, speed, calories burned, heart rate etc etc etc
mine even tracks my sleep patterns including light and deep sleep levels
and i think if someone is going for the status symbol look you have to go the whole hog
no point having a $2000 watch on your wrist if you are wearing $20 sneakersNot a power statement to me as I can't really tell an expensive one from a cheap one. I went years without wearing a watch, but decided I wanted to start wearing one again so I didn't have to always pull my phone out when I wanted to tell the time. Ended up with a Citizen Ecodrive BM8470-11E because I wanted a sub-$100 all-rounder that could be worn on my outdoor adventures, to the bar and in the office. I guess you could say I chose mine to reflect my personality - cheap, simple and rugged-looking, but mostly just a tool.
"I chose mine to reflect my personality - cheap, simple and rugged-looking, but mostly just a tool"
You are missing a word, somewhere there. :)
It was a joke :P
Lol… That must of went fwoosh over my head hahaha.
Tells me not to comment after 9pm haha
I have a leather casual dress watch that's from a fashion brand, was only $250. I bought it without having even heard of the brand, I just liked the look of it. Everytime I wear it someone (random strangers included) would comment on how nice it looks, how they like it.
For me watches is a style accessory, just like necklaces and earrings.i don't see the point of watches after owning a smartphone. it's also just one more thing to take on/put off/worry about losing/fixing
i feel the same way about wearing clothes in public
i come to work naked and it's totally fine
you have the best workplace ever.
I can see many people are wearing Fitbit fitness band/watch nowadays. Does Fitbit count as a watch ?
However, I wear an Apple Watch.
I knew a guy who had a family and they were pretty poor. He bought a $5000 watch. Ever since then I've thought of $$$ watches as a selfish flag.
Obviously I'm aware that most people just like to spend their hard earned money on nice things and aren't hyper superficial, it just makes me wonder though.
I agree. Unless you already have the house, career and proven success, a super expensive watch as a power statement is just meaningless.
I too know someone like that, borrowed to buy a Rolex and all he has a part time job and he has a family to look after - very selfish.
Well another way to look at it is a almost a decade ago I spent a bit of money on my first nice watch. At the same time I also shelled out $700+ for an original iPhone.
Guess which one still brings a smile to my face to use to this day and which is in a box somewhere around the house. Plus a new iPhone is far more than that these days…
i have a rolex. i bought it by making smart real estate moves young but i only earn around 50k a year
people get intimated when/if they notice.
unfortunately most people assume rolex watches are fake because there are so many.
especially when you work around other 50k earners
i have the receipt picture taken in my phone to prove it
they str8 away assume im a drug dealer :(
nah 50% will assume Bali, 50% wont notice/care
Yeah, it's true isn't it.
Most can't pull off wearing expensive watches.
I would love a brown Cartier ballon Bleu watch, no way would I spend nearly $30000 and no one would believe me if i did.
http://www.au.cartier.com/en-au/collections/watches/mens-wat…
I think it's one of the best looking watches I have ever seen.
I wear a Samsung smart watch most of the time for health & sport features. If you are gonna get a nice watch, here is my tips
- Always get Chronograph.
- Avoid dress watch brands like Armani, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors. Totally worth less
- Avoid TAG - too common and cliche.
- Can't go wrong with timeless (no pun intended) classics like Omega speedmaster, Rolex submariner, Breitling Navtimer.
I have a Rolex two tone date just oyster perpetual 36mm
i have 2 fakes of the watch and 1 original
i have never worn the fakes
I would respectfully disagree on many points there.
IMO Chronographs are pointless. Who really needs a stopwatch really? A typical $50 Casio stopwatch kills a Chrono. They add un-necessary weight thickness complication for nothing.
This feeds onto my next point. The only watches that are kind of worth it are automatics. Sorry but the vast majority of quartz is worthless unless its certain models like the Omega X33.
Chrono autos are usually very expensive, Chrono quartz is worthless.
Vast majority of fashion brands are worthless EXCEPT something like Cartier.
Most 2nd tier brands buy with care. I do like Tudor, some Tissot, Oris etc. but careful.
The Tudor black bronze is a very nice watch.
Also Tag make a few classics like the Monaco etc. Regatta Aquaracer etc. but you're right, I dislike Tag as a rule.
Who the hell needs a watch anyway when you have a phone? The whole concept of watch as a timekeeping is outdated.
Automatic watches themselves are terrible timekeepers, they are inaccurate, need to be constantly wound if not worn.
People buy watches for the intricate precision and construction and as a fashion statement. I like chrono for that fact.
Quartz watches = dont bother.
Disagree with all of that. I have a phone but its in a case and I often have it in my bag so its painful trying to get it to read the time.
Automatics are accurate enough. I dont need more than a few secs. accuracy a week. Also I can set time very quickly so a dead auto doesnt bother me.
I also see a place for quartz. I have that $100 Wenger. It uses a $2 battery. You can do it yourself with minimal skill.
36mm, I assumed you were male. ( sorry)
36mm is not too bad especially for a dress watch. My Patek Calatrava is only 36mm and it's perfect for my skinny wrist. Most of my watches are under 40mm because anything bigger will just look ridiculous on my wrist and that's why I never consider Panerai. My only large watches are my 42mm IWC Ingenieur, I bought it because it's made of titanium and it's quite light for a watch of that size and it was a good price. The other one is the JLC Memovox International, its dial and alarm sound are just mesmerizing.
@Jaeger LeCoultre: 40-41mm would be my sweetspot, but a lot of brands now have tapering lugs which makes a slightly bigger case also sit closer to the wrist. After reading this article it got me thinking about the 36mm DJ, Rolex makes very chunky lugs so even a 36 feels more like a 40 on a bracelet.
I think you only know if you can feel it… you may get some inkling from pics but IMO 36-38mm is way fine for most avg. males.
40-42 is getting questionable. 45mm plus is where you have to really worry UNLESS you really dig the TW Steel whatever motif.
I have the big 47mm invictas that are fine with leather straps.
@tonyjzx: My boss wears a massive rose gold Hublot with all the crowns sticking out (I think it's about 48-50mm) and the watch is so huuuuuge and thick that unless you have some custom made business shirts there's no way you can tuck it under a shirt cuff.
@chingy213: yep. buy what you like and what suits. I just though 36 was female size but, hey, I don't own one so wouldn't know.
@Jaeger LeCoultre: Ditto, the new Omeag Speedmasters as good as they look at 44mm are way too big. They felt like a mini clock on my hand when i had tried it on. I cant even fathom what a 48 would be like.
This is my rolex. You can wear it with a suit or your t shirt
I love it. I never take it off.https://www.google.com.au/search?q=rolex+oyster+perpetual+da…
Enjoy.
It's amazing how different you feel and how differently others treat you when you suit-up and get a chunky watch. Once I met an indigenous job-seeker, and he said he felt intimidated to talk to me because I was wearing a suit. I told him he should give it a try, but he was almost shocked by the idea. I love how this kind of role-playing and dressing up alters perceptions. Of course you can take it too far. I saw a presenter who had coiffured hair, polished fingernails, and shoes with a mirror-like shine, but he just came across as a total (profanity).
Edit: Funny coincidence… Straight after posting this comment, Barney in "How I Met Your Mother" sang the "Suits" song (Season 5, Episode 12).
I'd put that at 95% suit, not sure how much the watch figures in that lol.
Pity no girls cared when I did either way :(
I always wear a watch, including to bed.
It reflects my rampant heterosexuality and surging masculinity.
Without it I am nothing.
It also tells the time.
Swapped some old stock for an iwatch. Used for a day, sold for a profit. Thinks that says more about my personality.
Expensive watches are a pain in the ass.
I was gifted a $4000 watch as a graduation present. It's uncomfortable to wear most of the time, and if you take it in for service, it's sent to Switzerland which means you have no watch for 6 weeks.
Much prefer a cheapo watch as I'm a practical man. Will still wear watch to interviews and occasionally on dates/to work, but generally it's just a statement piece for people who I think feel a bit insecure and want to try and show off.
Do you want to sell it
Not sure I'd feel comfortable given it was a gift from my parents and they spent quite a bit of money on it, sorry. Even though it's not that useful to me, it personally doesn't sit that well with me and I don't need the money at the moment.
don't sell it ever, unless you are desperate. It is more a gift for graduating.
What brand watch get sent back to swiss land.
Never buying an expensive watch again. Two of mine have to go overseas to replace the battery because the Australian watch dudes can't take off the backing.
What kind of idiots (yeah, have to use this word) makes the backing impossible to get off? I guess it keeps them making money. But it's not reasonable or logical.
So, probably sell them to avoid the headache of $30 replacement for battery, wait 2 weeks and get the watch back more scratched then before.
I love the Citizen solar watches, Switch watches and watches with screw backings, I can change the battery myself for $2 instead of $30. The expensive watches look great, but a pain.
I think watches do reflect your personality. I like the look of them and functionality. Love glancing at the time without looking at the phone or blue light distraction in bed at night.
what brand are the ones with that backing?
Marc Jacobs and Armani. Not sure if all are the same.
Marc Jacobs and Armani?
No offence but they aren't real watches (nor expensive), they are clothing brand accessories like belts.
Real watch manufacturers actually have more input into the watch than sticking their logo onto the dial.
@JB1:
Not sure what this even means? It's a real watch. And it might be true they may only stick their logo on them like branded sunglasses (still sunglasses), but I picked those watches that I loved the look of, especially Armani watches (I think they have a great deal of involvement with their line of watches, they're quite unique in design, unless you can find evidence saying otherwise). That says something over whatever a real watch is, since I picked them over the others.
A watch doesn't need to cost $5,000 to be expensive, a $700 'brand accessory' is expensive, when you can get a perfectly nice Timex watch for $30.
FYI, I saw on YouTube the backing of a Rolex, looks almost exactly the same as the Armani backing, not much thought for the consumer.
As I said, don't take offence. Both are overpriced fashion watches.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Group
Fossil designs, manufactures, and distributes include Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Columbia Sportswear, Diesel, Frank Gehry, Karl Lagerfeld, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Callaway Golf, Davis Cup, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Skagen Designs, Michele, and Adidas. When referencing Fossil's watch lines, they are generally regarded as a "manufacturer"; Fossil also designs and manufacture their own movements under the Fossil Twist Line.
Personally for the money, you could buy a much better Seiko.
Backings of the Rolex's have always been plain.
@JB1:
Thanks JB1 for the time to write your post and advice.
Much appreciated!
I agree with the above and I didn't know about Armani falling under Fossil Group for their watches.
I didn't want to offend you, but for the price, I think you can buy much better watches which will still work and be in style in 30 years.
You don't have to spend $1000's to get a good quality watch either. You can buy a great Japanese made automatic watch for under $500 i.e. https://www.seiyajapan.com/products/s-sarb065?ref=yotpo_94&v…
You're getting a finely crafted watch without paying for the brand unlike most Swiss made watches. You can pass it down to your grandchildren and it won't be out of style.
if you are in Melbourne i know where you could go in future….
I am in Melbourne, would love to know where I could go locally :)
I personally like watches that hold sentimental value rather than getting watches as a status symbol.
At the moment I have a Seiko - not because it's cheap but because it holds a lot of sentimental value to me (got it with my first full time job after uni and first item I tried bargaining on). I'll be getting myself Tissot automatic as a wedding gift and an Orient one for my birthday a few months later :)
Interesting quote from a movie… "Time will tell how much I love you" haha……
I feel 90% of the people who flesh a fancy car, watch, suit etc are simply insecure and trying to impress others.
I dont pretend to understand what 90% of people feel but I can speak for myself… I buy things to largely, please myself.
90% of the time I love driving high performance fancy cars but of course, the prestige is there.
If you're immune to such things then you are free to buy the cheapest casio and the no frills food and the cheapest corolla car and the $9 telstra cruiser phone.
You dont need to go thru life with the cheapest stuff available.
Well then I would say you are not that 90% but rather the 10%.
Its the old saying "People spend money they don't have to buy things they can't afford to impress people they don't know"
Hey hey hey, lets leave food outta this!! :P
I dont think food has any correlation to fancy suits, cars and watches. Wine maybe, but even people who give no shits about expensive watches, suits and cars will definitely appreciate good food/dining i'm sure. Probably more for themselves and not as a status thing…
+1
According to my credit card web portal, 70% of my spending goes on food.
For me is style and knowing the watches have history.
here is my collection
those Olympic ones are interesting.
Do you where any of those watches you posted?
I got a couple of friends like that. Got the decent brand car (BMW, Audi, etc) but only for the brand. Oh that and the Meyerhoff lifters. lol