Have you ever stopped and wonder you may be a watch snob?
I sometimes find myself wondering if I’m one myself. Like I rarely checkout anything under $500 not really snobbery territory but for some spending anything over $50.00 is a lot. My three most expensive watches I purchased were my Shinola Runwell , Farer Chronograph and my Orient Star Star Seeker GMT only the Shinola was bought at a local AD. I’ve always been obsessed with highend Horology since I was in HS. Sure I’ll still look at brands like Seiko, Citizen, Casio and Invicta if I’m having that urge. But deep down and this is just my personal opinion cheap watches are fun but usually hold no real value. There’s probably a reason why we don’t see Timex or Casio at Auctions unless it was worn by someone famous. And if you really think about it people like to show off rather that’s cars, boats or watches. Us humans are obsessed with shiny expensive things.
Hi Everyone Im just your average watch collector I wouldn’t say I own or even have anything “Expensive” I usually collect brands like Citizen, Seiko, Mostly Invicta and other brands. Besides watches I...
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Most, if not all, watch collectors are watch snobs to some degree.
And price range isn't the biggest reason.
I've never owned a watch worth more than $250. I have fountain pens worth more than those watches.
Value is in the eye of the beholder. I could buy a $10000 watch but would I wear it and get use out of it or would it sit in a watch box like a museum piece because I would be too afraid to wear it and mess it up, lose it, or get it stolen. Be selective about what you buy and know who you are. Humans desire what we can’t have. It’s the explorer mentality when you’re always looking to the horizon or over the next hill to see what’s out there.
It is said by many that even high end collectors have a Casio F in their collection. We are all on a budget, just some are bigger than others. Many save up for a grail watch and that's great. For me personally its about design more than money. Some of the more affordable brands do some awesome stuff. If you see a watch on someone that just works, my first thoughts are "that's a cracker", my 2nd thought might be how much is that because I might want one myself. A few students and younger people on here saving up for their first watch, perhaps a humble Orient or similar and I can only applaud them and wish them well. I would never even think "well, that's only $200ish"
Cheaper watches are fun and they DO hold value, just perhaps not in monetary terms. Great post though, gets you thinking.
Snobbery isn't defined as not wanting to look at particular watches.
Snobbery is telling others that they shouldn't look at particular watches based on your biases.
Snobbery isn't defined as not wanting to look at particular watches.
Snobbery is telling others that they shouldn't look at particular watches based on your biases.
Exactly, and I can confidently say I've never steered anyone away from a brand. We have a running joke in my office about them gifting me a Casio for whenever I retire, but its all in fun.
Judging myself by the watches I own, not a snob.
Judging others by the watches they own, is a snob.
Hmmm.. I own some expensive pieces but I do not show off except while posting daily pic in this community.. not sure it that qualifies for being a snob..
I own from casios to Apple Watch to few Omegas. I just love them and am grateful to be able to afford them.
I appreciate watches from every price point. I have had fashion watches. Still do but I don't wear them. Would this make me a watch snob? Some might say yes... I don't care!
I have stopped and wondered... wondered if I had a watch problem. The answer is yes. Yes I have a watch problem. And then I found this place.
I've never owned a watch worth more than $250. I have fountain pens worth more than those watches.
I actually thought about collecting Fountain Pens.
I have quite a few under £100 so I'm not a snob financially. But there are brands I look down on (usually in the 4-figure bracket) so I guess I am really.
Never once. I buy watches from $5 to $100 max. I buy what I can afford and what looks nice to me which leaves me at the lowest end of the market. I feel no shame in this and get a good chuckle when I see snobbery on forums. Fortunately I have never seen any snobbish behavior on this site.
Great answers keep them coming.
I think people should wear what they like. I like variety in my own collection and really enjoy seeing other people's original or unusual watches even if I wouldn't wear them myself.
What I really can't stand is the current "flexing" trend where people imply that their expensive/big brand watch makes them superior to others. I find it vulgar, loathsome and generally ghastly. It's different to snobbery but equally odious imo.
Snobbery isn't defined as not wanting to look at particular watches.
Snobbery is telling others that they shouldn't look at particular watches based on your biases.
i love this. we’re all allowed to have preferences. and that doesn’t make us snobs. but when you impose those biases on others is when snobbery rears it’s ugly head. well said. 👏🏼 👏🏼
It's a hole as big as and as deep as watch collecting.😭
Esoteric Japanese brands...✔
Major "luxury" brands...✔
Microbrands...✔
Conglomerates that own multiple "old" brands...✔
Vintage odd ball collectors...✔
Yeah, don't do it.
(I have a 50 year old short Sailor (14k f nib) coming to me as we speak.)
Judging myself by the watches I own, not a snob.
Judging others by the watches they own, is a snob.
I never judge others. I do assess their lifsestyles though!
Actually I am pretty much the exact opposite in that I have never been able to bring myself to spend more than $500 on a watch. Its not that I don't have the money, but to me there are so many other more appropriate places to spend my money.
I also am happier to have a greater variety and number of less expensive watches, then just a few pricey pieces. To each his own I say.
It's a hole as big as and as deep as watch collecting.😭
What until you discover dip pens....... 😂
"Snob" has a negative denotation but its, admittedly deserved, connotation is used so generally and frequently it's hard to take it seriously.
Imho, starting a sentence with "Imho" leads to some level of snobbery haha. We, denizens of Watch Crunch and everyone into watches, are all more educated on the subject than the average person. More often than naught, that can make us come off as "snobs."
Was I trying to be better than someone because I knew the second hand sweeped rather than ticked? No, I was just overly enthused to share what I did know. In the same vain, I think it's presumptuous to think someone is a snob because they think X brand is better than Rolex because... well, let's be honest 😂.
I will say though that more often than naught, the word "snob" is interchanged to elevate "*ssh*le," in which case, just call a spade a spade!
I'm not a watch snob at all. Invicta excluded and even they make one watch I like.
Esoteric Japanese brands...✔
Major "luxury" brands...✔
Microbrands...✔
Conglomerates that own multiple "old" brands...✔
Vintage odd ball collectors...✔
Yeah, don't do it.
(I have a 50 year old short Sailor (14k f nib) coming to me as we speak.)
"Vintage odd ball collectors...✔"
Guilty as charged.
I feel like there are two different kinds of snobs. One kind is acceptable, the other is not. The acceptable snob is one that knows what they like and builds their collection based on their values. The other kind, the asshole kind in my opinion is the one that judges others or compares their personal standards with others and makes a thing about it.
I don't consider myself a real watch snob when it comes to someone else. But when it's for me, the watch becomes a reward for an achievement or milestone. Do I appreciate the design of inexpensive watches? For sure! Would I seriously consider buying one for myself? I really doubt it!
For me, it's more about celebrating success and buying myself a $100 Casio just won't cut it. I believe that a reward for working hard should have some decent value. In other words, I would want each subsequent purchase to be better than the previous one or at least not lower my standards too much
Yeah I feel you bro, I love all kinds of watch, but deep down I love high end watches. But I wouldn’t use the term snob, we also enjoy cheaper watches too right? Snob is for people with biases IMO.
*Yes* 😱
Not interested in Casio or digital at all, don't look at watches below about £500. Don't do homages (tho have a Steeldive Ploprof) or microbrands (if you disclude Christopher Ward)...
Tho I don't judge others coz we've all got different tastes and financial limitations .
Also as an Omega fanboy I obviously look down on anything Wilsdorf 😂 (kidding!)
The only watch that I do not want to be even seen with is the Moonswatch , so yep I guess I am a watch snob to a certain extent. That’s more about a fool and his money are soon parted kind of judgment on my part , love Casio Gshocks all day long though !
What until you discover dip pens....... 😂
Oh, that's water under the bridge. I actually do not have a lot of interest in them other than to test out inks.😮
Oh, that's water under the bridge. I actually do not have a lot of interest in them other than to test out inks.😮
Yes until you start seeing them in antique stores.....I warned the wife lol.
Back on topic, I am prolly a snob when it comes to the garish looks and pricing of the crazier Invictas and some fashion watches.
Mainly because I'm a nerd, and I realize for the same money you can have a functional better watch in every aspect. Yet to non watch people they want to go to a store, pick out something fancy and have others recognize. And to the non watch population, Invicta or Fossil carry more weight than Orient in the US. It's just a fact. 😐
I'd rather wear a vintage 30mm Santos in solid gold than a steel modern GMT-Master. I don't like how the modern luxury market is flooded with big and flashy. I'm just grumpy and have an old soul. I've been looking at vintage Constellation with an integrated style bracelet in 36 mm and man, do I like this watch a lot. I can get a 2 tone constellation in a decent condition for less than a 2k$. Those watches carry a lot more value for me than some hyped Daytona or even Nautilus. Why? Because I can actually get them and I would be happy to actually wear them.
If I'm getting something I want to use it. That's a value for me. If I can't wear a watch because I afraid to lose it, it has no value to me personally. Yeah, it could make an impressive insta photo, but I'm just too old to be pleasing others.
I'm not gonna judge anybody based on a price of their collection. Watch can be beautiful or not. RM are a crazy expensive hyperwatches and I think they are ugly. But beauty is a highly subjective category. I'm trying to keep my mind open