I was gifted a "fashion watch"(?) - Appreciation VS Snobbery
My brother-in-law visited us last year. When we saw each other the first thing he said was "hey, i heard you're into watches now." At this point i was 1 year deep into the watch rabbit hole and purchasing an average of 2 watches (seikos) per month. He then proceeds to take this watch off his wrist and says "you can have this one. I barely use it since i wear an apple watch most of the time." I awkwardly accept the watch from him and in token of appreciation i removed the gshock i was currently wearing and told him he can have it in exchange and also as a thank you for his kind gesture.
I have been eating up youtube watch content by this point and have sort of gained a snobbery towards watch brands that have been deemed by youtubers as fashion or mall watches. Since i did not recognize this watch's brand name i had just assumed it to be a fashion watch my brother in law picked up at a mall somewhere because it looked like a rolex submariner. I wear it in rotation as a sign of respect for the good intentions my brother in law had towards me and my hobby but at times i cannot help to think that i should just chuck it in a drawer and use the space in my watch box for a "proper" branded watch. 😅
Am i an a-hole for having this thought in my head?😄
By the way anyone know if this is in fact a fashion watch or a well made and respected watch brand? They have a website and it is full of marketing fluff. My firsthand experience, the bezel and crown operation is pretty poor. Timekeeping is around +8 per day. The rotor also makes a sound when it is spinning - sounds like ball bearings grinding. Anyway, endrant. 😁
Hi, my name is Ryan and i'm addicted to watches 🫣
It looks pretty nice. It could’ve been a lot worse.
It looks pretty nice. It could’ve been a lot worse.
Imagine i could have been wearing my spring drive LX that day. Would i have swapped him? 🤣🤣🤣
You're not an a-hole for thinking that, but...
My thing about gift watches is that I'm obligated to wear them now and then when the giver can see them. Maybe that's just me, but I think gifts are about emotion and perception. When a person gives you a watch, the gift isn't the watch so much as the intention behind it. They're letting you know they care about you enough to give you something. In that case, I think you should let them know you care about them enough to use the gift they gave. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it's not.
So to your original question...if you don't want to wear it, don't. But be aware that the person who gave it to you might have feelings about that. That doesn't mean you need to wear it, just that you need to be willing to cause and live through those feelings. So is your idea that you're too good for this watch greater than your desire not to hurt this person's feelings? Only you know the answer to that.
The last thing I'll say, is don't let other people's opinions of watches influence what you wear. If I were weighing the fact that people look down on "cheap" watches vs. the feelings of a family member, well that wouldn't even be close. I'd ignore that watch a lot of the time, but I'd make damn sure the person who gave it to me saw me wearing it.
Also: that's not a bad looking watch.
You're not an a-hole for thinking that, but...
My thing about gift watches is that I'm obligated to wear them now and then when the giver can see them. Maybe that's just me, but I think gifts are about emotion and perception. When a person gives you a watch, the gift isn't the watch so much as the intention behind it. They're letting you know they care about you enough to give you something. In that case, I think you should let them know you care about them enough to use the gift they gave. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it's not.
So to your original question...if you don't want to wear it, don't. But be aware that the person who gave it to you might have feelings about that. That doesn't mean you need to wear it, just that you need to be willing to cause and live through those feelings. So is your idea that you're too good for this watch greater than your desire not to hurt this person's feelings? Only you know the answer to that.
The last thing I'll say, is don't let other people's opinions of watches influence what you wear. If I were weighing the fact that people look down on "cheap" watches vs. the feelings of a family member, well that wouldn't even be close. I'd ignore that watch a lot of the time, but I'd make damn sure the person who gave it to me saw me wearing it.
Also: that's not a bad looking watch.
Thanks for the perspective. Great advice. 🤗
Now i have to consider buying a new watch box 😆 (but my wife is against it🤪)
Could be worse, he could have handed you this
Could be worse, he could have handed you this
Hahahaha.
That looks decent actually 🤣
Oh thank you for that info. 😊
So the assumption was correct hehe
Hahahaha.
That looks decent actually 🤣
Then anything goes. Wear it like you stole it.
Thanks for the perspective. Great advice. 🤗
Now i have to consider buying a new watch box 😆 (but my wife is against it🤪)
While I'm a fan of you buying a new watch box, tread lightly. Wives aren't anything to mess around with. Then again, if you've been married more than a month you already know that. Good luck to you.
Could be worse, he could have handed you this
And by "handed" you mean passed it to you with a forklift right?
Then anything goes. Wear it like you stole it.
I'll wear it til the cogs fall off ☺️
And by "handed" you mean passed it to you with a forklift right?
I’d get tested for STDs if I was handed that Invicta 🤣
I'll wear it til the cogs fall off ☺️
And inevitably, they will
While I'm a fan of you buying a new watch box, tread lightly. Wives aren't anything to mess around with. Then again, if you've been married more than a month you already know that. Good luck to you.
I was thinking of getting a longines zulu time in its place. As of now there is no more vacancy on my 2 watchboxes, but i guess that's my sign to stop buying any more watches and focus on enjoying the ones i already have 😄
I’d get tested for STDs if I was handed that Invicta 🤣
Why bother, if you've touched that thing you clearly have all the STDs.
If you appreciate the gesture and like the watch aesthetically, then wear it and quit worrying what a bunch of watch nerds think about the brand. Doesn’t have to be your favorite watch ever. Plus if it’s quartz its probably more accurate than your mechanicals!
I do appreciate of course. White dial isnt really my taste but i still wear it on rotation. Its an automatic but i assume a cheap movement- the rotor is making noise when it spins haha
I do not have too many friends who are serious watch guys but quite a few who seem to like my watches( my wife suggests my love for some of my timepieces is almost creepy and it rubs off on people)one guy was gifted a 70s gold Calatrava by a condo neighbour. He immediately offers to trade with me for one of my Breitling chronographs which he has been eyeing, even offers to toss in cash! I explain that it is not a fair exchange from both of our perspectives: his Patek was a well intentioned present while my watch is already promised to a nephew. Fortunately for my friend, he has been unable to sell the watch and even wears it occasionally when he steps out socially with his wife and friends.
Its not everyday one gets gifted a vintage patek. If hes trying to trade or sell it, he must not know what that brand is hehe.
A true watch lover bears no prejudice to any watch based on brand alone 💙
I was influenced by youtube university 😅
(lame excuse but thats the truth 😁)
Heritor isn’t a fashion watch brand, just another Chinese brand that makes clones/homage watches. They’re not bad, just not exceptional
Thanks for clearing that up. 😊
You were given a gift. Be thankful for it and the person that gave it to you, for trying to be kind and thoughtful.
I am and i did. The thoughts lingering in my stupid head just comes and goes. Haha. I still wear the watch on rotation though. It was its turn today. 😊
My boss got gifted a gold plated Invicta screw down crown automatic watch by one of his kids.. as far as I remember he wore a beat down quartz… some context.. he is an older gentleman and not into watches let alone mechanical aspect.. out of respect he wore it 2 weeks.. 2 Mondays he asked me reset it because couldn’t figure it out and it looked awful.. this week he couldn’t.. stopped wearing the watch..
You should keep it out of respect but should not have obligation to wear it unless you want to match it with your clothes or theme of the day.. if you are those kind of things
Thats a funny story.
I keep it on rotation and yes i do ocassionally match my clothes to the watch im wearing for the day 🤣
Heritor is using Chinese movements, mostly PTS-Resources movements, like the 2650. Those movements aren't junk, but they're not spectacular, either. Mediocre, is the term that comes to mind. Don't pay more than about $80-$90 for one. So you got a good deal. This one was free. (Well, except for the value of the G-Shock that you traded him in return.) EDIT: Also saw one listed as having a Miyota 8215, which is a very good movement. So there's that. 😀 Can you tell what movement yours has? What's the model number?
I cant tell the movement since it came straight off his wrist with no box and papers of course hehehe. It does make a sound when the rotor spins. Sounds like ball bearings. I took a picture of the see through caseback if that helps.
Not really too concerned what is running it as long as it keeps running ill keep it in rotation out of respect. Once it starts to malfunction into the drawer it goes 😁
Its not everyday one gets gifted a vintage patek. If hes trying to trade or sell it, he must not know what that brand is hehe.
I told him in no uncertain terms that the Patek was worth more than a few dollars. However not all Calatrava watches are in high demand. Depends on the market. He did go to a buy and sell dealer. Wrong time. lol guy was not interested.
Could be worse, he could have handed you this
Or one of these!
I cant tell the movement since it came straight off his wrist with no box and papers of course hehehe. It does make a sound when the rotor spins. Sounds like ball bearings. I took a picture of the see through caseback if that helps.
Not really too concerned what is running it as long as it keeps running ill keep it in rotation out of respect. Once it starts to malfunction into the drawer it goes 😁
Looks like an NH35.. that’s never going in the drawer 🤣
Looks like an NH35.. that’s never going in the drawer 🤣
Just my luck 🤣
There's zero problem with liking brands you 'believe' in. I think that's the best way to put it. To me, it's not just the brand, but how you feel about the brand. After all, you're wearing the damn thing on your wrist, essentially as advertising for the world to see. If you don't like it/believe in it, don't wear it. And given the world is FULL of crappy watches, and life is short... wear what you want, when you want, and express yourself. Not what someone else thinks is a good watch and pushes on you, no matter what it actually is.
Which brings us to people inflicting watches that weren't asked for onto others. This was the inspiration behind this poll: https://www.watchcrunch.com/complication/posts/have-you-ever-liked-watches-being-bought-for-you-184275 which I think a few people misinterpreted as, literally, do you like getting gifts, moreso than, do you like people making watch choices for you. But oh well. That's online, I guess!
There's zero problem with liking brands you 'believe' in. I think that's the best way to put it. To me, it's not just the brand, but how you feel about the brand. After all, you're wearing the damn thing on your wrist, essentially as advertising for the world to see. If you don't like it/believe in it, don't wear it. And given the world is FULL of crappy watches, and life is short... wear what you want, when you want, and express yourself. Not what someone else thinks is a good watch and pushes on you, no matter what it actually is.
Which brings us to people inflicting watches that weren't asked for onto others. This was the inspiration behind this poll: https://www.watchcrunch.com/complication/posts/have-you-ever-liked-watches-being-bought-for-you-184275 which I think a few people misinterpreted as, literally, do you like getting gifts, moreso than, do you like people making watch choices for you. But oh well. That's online, I guess!
Makes sense, although there's the social aspect i also look out for since i tend to be a people pleaser hehe. I guess the solution i can work with is put it on once a month as part of the rotation. 😊
Makes sense, although there's the social aspect i also look out for since i tend to be a people pleaser hehe. I guess the solution i can work with is put it on once a month as part of the rotation. 😊
Whatever works for you, mate. Personally, I've been on a mission to stop people pushing stuff on me - whether watches, clothes, or whatever - since I was a teenager. I have zero issue with not being a people pleaser 🙂 If someone pushes something on me, unasked for, that I have no interest in, they will not see me wearing or using it, ever. And if they ask about it, I will say, hey, it's not really my thing. Simple as that.
Oh wow omegas and cartiers? Can i be your friend? 🤣
Sorry, just don't fancy you as much as my Mrs 🤣🤣🤣👍