Compliments in the wild... is there a protocol?

I mind my business.

I'm a bit of an anomaly, socially. 

If in public and a conversation can be started and there's a high chance I'll never see the person again, I'm much more likely talk to them than if I know the person. 

I'm just starting to really learn about watches, so I try not to go too deep. 

One place I will never compliment a watch though? The public bathroom. 

I don't like interacting with other human beings, because...

One time, I was waiting for a table at a restaurant with my family - it was a stressful experience, because my children are savages - and some guy came up to me, like super close...  like uncomfortably close...  and whispered, "Hey, dude, nice watch," into my ear.

Reminded me of this...

I'll usually say "Cool _____", or "Nice watch", and leave it at that. If the other person reacts, cool, if they act like I said nothing, cool. On a rare occasion someone will talk about their watch, or watches in general. 

Back when I used to wear a lot of Iron Maiden t-shirts, I got comments/compliments all the time. I'd just smile, say "Thanks!", and carry on my way.

I don’t like getting compliments about my watch in person, I know its weird I don’t like that kind of attention, freaks me out and it feels fake when someone compliments my watch… I know I’m weird 

Nice watch... is that a Moonswatch?

 

Hard "nope" for me these days cuz it's way too sketchy IRL. Now I just watch-spot and if my wife happens to be with me, I'll turn to her and whisper, "Homie over there has a Royal Oak, noice!!!"

 

I used to work at a cafe. Would do a lot of watch spotting there. Some maniacs would let me handle their watches; held my first speedy, snowflake, and even a Rolex day date. That one kind of blew my mind a bit. The guy, who I had served lots of times so we were not really strangers, I see is wearing a Rolex with a light blue dial. This as most of us may know means its platinum. I compliment him on the watch, note the color and ask about it. He seemed eager to show it to me and handed it over. Looked it up later and that watch was trading at around $100k. Why. Why in your right mind do you just hand that to someone you barely know. 

He knew how to find you if the worst happened

Same. I'm usually too busy on my way somewhere to have a conversation anyway. 

Most of the time, it's just as you describe.

Us: "Nice watch."

Them: "Hmmm? Oh thanks."

And that's it. 

Okay social retards, gather round and learn how it is done. Up until recently, I would just mumble "ooh is that a (suspected watch model) while pointing and eyeballing the watch. There is a better way.

Walk up to the mark, smile and tip your hat. Present your calling card and say "Good day sir, lovely weather we're having isn't it? My name is (name on calling card) and I'm a bit of an horologist myself so I couldn't help but notice that fine timepiece of yours! Is that a (name a comically incorrect make and model) I see on your wrist?"

This is key. If you correctly identify the watch, you've become intimidating by knowing too much, but more importantly he (yes, it's always a he and I highly advise against approaching strange women on the street) has the ability to mumble "uh, yeah thanks" and look away. By disarming him with an absurd misidentification, he is put at ease by your ineptness and he feels the need to correct you or say something. Should he merely reply in the negative, feel free to prattle on about the watch you mentioned instead. If he still seems reticent, the last trick is to say "So old chap, could you be so swell as to tell me the time as I have an appointment (insert excuse here - returning videotapes is good, or claim to have reservations at Dorsia)?"

Should he consult a cellular telephone, nearby clock, or otherwise evade your ploy, feel free to pummel him with your walking stick, as the ruffian is clearly being anti-social.

But, in all fairness…it depends if you were having liver and wine for dinner.

It could be that 100K means little to him. I had a guy at the NASA race at Utah Motorsports Complex last month hand me his Daytona like it was a DW 5600. Of course, he had also pulled up in his GT3. 

I like talking to crashing boors about their expensive watches I can’t afford. 

I’m of the opinion of leaving other people (strangers) alone. It’s stressful enough for some people to be in a public setting where they are forced to be close proximity to a random stranger, e.g. on a plane, or bus, or elevator, without having attention drawn to their valuable possessions. Would you ever comment on someone’s car in the parking lot? Or call out the jewellery they are wearing?

If you are already in a conversation with someone and it is clear that the other person wants to talk to you, then it’s a different scenario and I think it would be more appropriate to talk watch or anything else.  

My 2 cents. 

i admire it and try to name from far away. as i love the wristwatch i dont made the converstation with a stranger, and i dont think its made people comfortable. except i knew that person or we are on some watch event, that would be appropriate

And whatever you do,don't cross the streams😖

This is an example of my spotting skills(bought to replace the cracked alloy on the car), so  that's why I don't go out much and if I do always accompanied by a responsible adult whose common sense prevails.

“That’s a nice watch”

”Thank you”

”Can I have it?”

”No, sorry 😂”

”Ok… 😂 bye bye”

<follows them home>
 

Something like this? This is normal right?

When in the Wild and encountering a Wildthing. Never make eye contact, Make your wrist's big and slowly back away as you avert your eyes. Especially panda's, they're notorious for liking  chronographs 

I have started many conversations by complimenting another persons watch. It can go very far. 

Guess it all depends on my mood. I'm not a big people guy in my older years.

Yeah, that's not cool. There is no reason to whisper something like that. If he said "hey I saw a little savage that must belong to you pulling TP off the roll in the bathroom", that would be whisper-worthy. 

Car, yes. Jewelry, no.

I get compliments on my truck all the time. I literally never expect to be at risk because of it. If I'm in my hometown (not a city) I never mind a watch mention.

I really just watch spot and freak out to my Wife if I see something cool.

I was on an Emirates flight from Dubai to London a couple of weeks ago and one flight attendant complemented me on my rolex explorer 1. I noticed he was wearing the new IWC 41mm chronograph. We had a brief chat and tried on each others watches. It was a very friendly interaction and I got to try on a watch that I had genuinely been curious about and interested in.

That's almost a close enough match 😀

I did a poll on this a couple of weeks back. Interestingly 87% of us will strike up conversations if it feels right, which I find quite encouraging. 

https://www.watchcrunch.com/SeanS79/posts/do-you-strike-up-conversations-when-you-spot-pieces-in-the-wild-14256

For me, it’s all about sincerity and confidence. If I get a sincere “hey, cool Samurai” from guys at work who know their stuff or even a “mate, good shout on the Breitling” out in the wild, then that makes my day. So I figure “why not go first?”

Ill never say “nice watch” cos that’s kind of the equivalent of “nice tits”… ie. Bland, creepy, uninspired. 

But if I clock the model and can open up with “Dude, that looks like a Monaco… they’re really lovely, have you had it a while?” then things go MUCH better. 

Me thinks you need a little tiny bit of therapy ...😉