Watch Snob

They bore the sh&t outta me…… yawn

Right on...watch snobs can go either way in my book.

It doesn't take long to find the "Archie Luxury" types who call anything they deem unfit $hitter$ or the folks who decry any expensive watch and worship at the church of Casio, Timex and Aliexpress and turn their nose up as overpriced anything else.

Why do we have to make these distinctions?

It all smacks of class warfare to me. I just don't have much patience for that. It's as bad as the class and royalty snobs who try and claim superiority because of who birthed them or what education level or "pedigree" they have.

We were all created equal by our Creator and it's arrogance to assume that the blessings we have received and benefited from have anything to do with superiority.

Probably just the Sicilian and Irish anarchistic rebel blood in me that won't let me bow a knee to anyone but my Creator.

I love all watches as long as they are not produced to deceive. I am equally enthusiastic about my $100 finds on Catawiki as I am about any of my "luxury" brands I am fortunate to own. Many sit in my watchboxes shoulder to shoulder.

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”― Franklin D. Roosevelt

The term watch snob does bother me a bit -

I'm in my 50's, financially stable & like posh watches.

I've had my time, done my "apprenticeship" climbing up the tiers since the 1990's.

"Cheap" watches really don't interest me in the slightest (been there, done that) , I dislike Casio, Vostok, AliExpress brands etc, just not my thing anymore.

Love the hobby and the community, I'm just more attracted to more expensive stuff now I have the means.

Does this make me a snob?

A person that goes out of their way to sh*t on my watch parade for no other reason than to show contempt for a brand or class of watch is a snob. To be clear I’m not talking about debate, an opinion in the course of a conversation or even alternate suggestions. I can’t stand when someone attempts to belittle a person based on a watch and a different viewpoint.

I used to be one guy in a casual coffee klatch of random drinkers who would pull up an extra chair before we all parted to start our working days. There was one young guy who often accused my ownership of a few luxury timepieces as evidence of me being a “snob”. Nothing could be more inaccurate, but I learned a long time ago also that altering other people’s notions to be a waste of time. The guy loved ice hockey, talked about the local hockey mercenaries endlessly. I joked that he was a hockey snob! He protested but was pleased, you could tell! Are there persons in the watch community who abhor the word but secretly would enjoy being called a watch snob?

Preach!!! Preach Brother!!

I agree 100000000%

The debacle over at the other threads is just plain snobbery imo …

Me I ❤ them All 🍻…

Ah, splendid - I'm not a snob then 👏🏻👏🏻

Cheers 🍻

I must have missed those threads. But I tend to ignore snobs anyway.

Probably me, considering the amount of trouble I get into, but I’m one to try and at least educate rather than insult. Crack a book, for all our sakes.

I think "homage" watches like Pagani Design are garbage. But there are plenty of other $100 watches and brands I like. Snobbery? Maybe, maybe not.

"Hello, my pretend name is Aurelian and this isn't my first meeting."

"Hello Aurelian, you are welcome here."

"I am a watch snob, not for luxury or economy, but for knowledge...."

"The first step is admitting that you have a problem..."

As @Porthole says "crack a book", or to be more accurate, search the internet for a minute.

You are an adult and really like the look of a Hamilton Khaki Field watch. You are surprised to learn that they were once an American company.

Me:

You are an adult and you really like the look of the Tissot PRX. You are surprised to learn that Tissot has not been an independent watch company since.....1930.

Me:

We all have strong opinions about things that don't matter. We are all going to be wrong about little things from time to time. A simple internet search is all that I ask.

Well written 👍

When I've been on the receiving end of snobbery I tend to ignore the comment, and will possibly put that person on the ignore list. I think that's only happened once on here, several times on a different forum.

In every case the snob was quick to point out that their ownership of The Rolex or The Omega gave them an edge over my watch collection. Not because they owned in general more expensive pieces, or because they owned JLC or Cartier, but because of their Rolex/ Omega.

That certainly doesn't make all owners snobs, not by a long shot as many own them because of the history or because of the movement or because it's been passed down through the family, but there's definitely a correlation between "aspirational" brand ownership and protection and snobbery about those brands - once you have one you need to feel the exclusivity of that club. Same with cars and probably most luxury items.

I never post anything of mine >£1k because I'm just not interested in having discussions about them, I prefer to chat about affordable watches. I don't care for certain makes or types but I don't look down on others for owning them - it's their preference. The fact that I own expensive pieces doesn't stop me from fully enjoying my many sub-£100 watches.

I find watch snobs are also the ones who barge into ADs with an, "Aaayyy..." like they're freaking Fonzie, making pistol hand gestures at everyone in sight, like they're all best mates, when you just know the AD staff are like, "Oh god, it's this wanker again..." and they'll then spend an hour trying on watches, taking photos for Instagram, talking the assistant's ear off the whole time, then not buy anything at all.

Spot on, couldn't agree more 😁👍🏻👏🏻

I think watch afficionados / enthusiasts are straight up crazy. Of course that includes me. I mean to some degree --some more than others.

some of us like to brag about HOW LITTLE we spent on a watch. I do that. 🙂 Spending over 1K is not much braggery since most people who spend that kind of money -- can easily spend $3,000 on six $500-dollar Tequila bottles in a single night.... the price of a used Speedmaster! But scoring a Pagani Design PD 1701 red Speedmaster homage with a Seiko VK movement, sapphire crystal for $80 is smart as hell!

GS is ULTRA God Tier!!

I was like that. All my first mechanicals were Rolex. I just didn't know enough about watches to know why there even existed other brands. lol... it's called ignorance. All my family members had one so I just played along.

Welcome to the world of variety and choices 🤣

Apparently some (or most) people only know or consider Rolex as top of the food chain. Every brand sits below it. Especially a brand with Seiko in its name. 😂 I wouldn't be surprised if he had no idea about VC, AP and PP. 🫣

A watch snob thinks that you should not own the watch you do. A watch enthusiast wants to own the watch you wear.

don't be surprised --I thought any name of a person on a watch meant it was garbage.

I think saying homage watches like PD are garbage is a snobbish statement. I just went to their website and see that they are very inexpensive but fancy looking. I expect there are many people who like flashy stuff who think $150 for a shiny chunk of metal that tells the time and may be confused by some to be an expensive watch is a worthwhile investment, certainly not garbage to that buyer.

For someone wanting strictly a look, its fine. For someone who has watch knowledge, it's garbage.

After reading some comments and doing about a minute of self reflection I think I might be a watch snob of the opposite sort. I'll never fork over the cash for a luxury watch because I'm on my high horse of economic watches. I'm a quartz kinda guy and have some prejudice for excessive displays of wealth. There's an opportunity for character growth here.

I’m on it with the back to school sale right now and already dreaming about the 11/11 baybeee!!

No no, it's fires around the AtoZ logo and sacrifices to Bezos 🤣

You are one of us brother 🍻