Do you attend watch meetups o social events?

I live in Norther Va - USA. I know of two meetups that happen regularly. I have attended one many times. The other I just learned of recently and I am trying to figure out it’s schedule, I hope to attend in the future.

I’m in Northeast Indiana, and as far as I know there’s nothing of the sort around here. It would be cool, though!

I found the one I have attended via meetup.com. The other I learned of at a watch shop. I think I got signed up for the event mailing list.

I said no, because I like that I am free to click and disappear from anything I don't want to be a part of online. In person, exiting is a tad more awkward.

But I'm fascinated by what the hell people do at these things. It seems like a lot of show-and-tell for adults, which just strikes me as really odd. I guess there is some subset of attendees that are charming and sociable and all, but I get the idea that this is sort of like car meets where men kind of grunt in approval at each other. Or I get stuck while some boor prattles on about the history and minutiae of some watch in which he's really interested. My fear is that the entire experience would be like when some birthday card gets passed around the office for signing and one utterly doesn't care but has to put on a forced agreeable facade.

The one I attend we discuss watches and share parts of our collection. We have a watch maker who shows up, I have since used the business he works for to service a few watches and a clock. The youngest to participate is a 9 year old girl. We give advice and opinions on future purchases and share research resources. A few watch sales have been made at the events. But mainly we socialize and a few member even have a cup of coffee.

In person, exiting is a tad more awkward.

Please sir, allow me to teach you the wondrous ways of the Irish Farewell.

I am interested in this Irish Farewell.

It can be hard to master the technique, but here is how one does an Irish Farewell:

Just leave. Don’t tell anyone. Don’t say goodbye to anyone. Just leave. Fin.

I've been to a few.

For the most part it's much better to talk watches with internet strangers. I've met some fine people but it's not because of the watch talk.

It would be a pleasure however I still have yet to find on in the Detroit area.

Maybe this post will shake some info free!?

Open to it but don't know of any within the Toronto area (Canada).

I'd go, schedule willing. But if it turned weird I'd bounce. Makes more sense to treat it like a night out. Social event, hit some Topgolf then dinner, etc.

Or have the atmosphere of Wind-up, which is dare I say, exactly like SHOT show from what I've gathered.

The ones I now of are earlier in the day as they try to make sure the meetups do not interfere what normal business activities. I have experienced the same with cars and coffee meets.

I'm in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.

Haven't heard of anything around here. But I am going to visit Wind Up in Chicago in July.

Love to, live in Fenland & would rather chew my arm off than visit the cesspit London 😂

I think people are respectful but honest. Something like nice watch, not my personal taste but still nice.

Hey, I'm in Detroit too. I've thought about trying to put something together. But like many of the comments, I have no idea what would happen at one of these meet ups.

I’ve hosted watch meet ups and gone to many more. I’ve always found a lot of interesting people and even more interesting watches. Everyone has always been gracious and kind. It’s doesn’t matter what type of watch you collect or the price point.

I’ve also gotten to try on stuff I would never have normally seen. Like this MB&F

Exactly

For those who want to have a watch meet up, but not enough Crunchers in their area. Should look in to their local RedBar Chapter. If you haven't looked in to it, you really should. Milwaukee had a new chapter and I just reached out and joined really easily. They're great people from all over the watch collecting world. They're a great group of ppl. And if your area doesn't have a RedBar Chapter, you could easily start your own chapter.

Felt the same way as @PoorMansRolex but I try to be open and meet people and connect you will never know what to expect… I try not have expectations, if you already have one don’t and get rid of it in your head… be yourself ! I find it better that way…

Also never attended any meet ups cuz I’m shy ..

Yes. In the Boston area there were meet-ups every year. It's a really good time. Chatting watches and seeing watches you might not be able to see at your local AD.

I live in a small city with a local watch enthusiasts group that runs an online forum and holds formal meetups once per quarter. The group has several hundred members, but we usually get around 30 people showing up for those meetings, which are held in a private room at a local restaurant. There is a small cover charge to cover off the room rental and food, and the meetings are a mix of a semi-formal agenda, and just general camaraderie. There are usually some door prizes, and lots of folks bring along watches they are interested in selling or trading. It's a great opportunity to meet like minded individuals, and see lots of watches in person that we otherwise wouldn't have a chance to see. As an introvert, I was nervous when attending my first meeting, but found the group to be very welcoming to newcomers. In addition to the formal quarterly meeting, a small group of us get together informally almost every Sunday at a local micro brewery to talk watches and life in general. As far as I'm concerned, the best part of this hobby is the great people that I have met and become friends with through these meetings.

I'm fortunate that I have many regular gatherings to choose from and have attended at least five in the last two months with two more on the immediate horizon. I've been able to handle watches that otherwise would've been unobtanium to me and despite no cost for admission there is often food, drink and raffles at interesting venues like breweries, car museums, restaurants, wineries and private homes. The conversation can be whatever you steer it towards and is never exclusively watch related. There are many younger people in their 20's so the stereotype of an old geezer droning on about boring stuff hasn't been my experience at all. I've met watchmakers, company owners and YouTube personalities and have even made a few real friendships that my wife and I sometimes nurture outside of the meet ups. Some of the people I've met have reached out and offered me amazing deals on preowned watches because they would rather see it go to a fellow enthusiast rather than wring out every possible dollar. In any of my hobbies it's always people before possessions and this has been key to having satisfying social interactions. Hope your prospective experience will be similar to mine.

I am a master of this. From my perspective, it works flawlessly every time … though I suspect my dwindling pool of aquantainces may disagree.

SAME

Windup please come to Charlotte NC!

I'm more than willing to help begin one. Has to start somehow and hard to believe their aren't more folks from the Detroit area that wouldn't want to discussion their watch passion.