What to think?
My wife, who also owns many watches, has been extremely supportive of me and my overly ambitious collection. One of the spots I would like to fill is for a World Timer. I would like it to be this watch:
My wife has been leading me towards this watch:
but due a lack of money to buy an expensive watch right now I discussed with my wife settling on this watch as a place holder:
Then my wife goes grocery shopping, buys this and gifts it to me:
I don't know how to react to this. I liked the previous watches due to their beautiful globe images, their mechanical movements and mostly because I could show someone how watch designers invented a way to figure out the time in another place in the world long before we all carried electronics that you can just ask and it will tell you the correct answer. I don't want to be ungracious especially to the woman who agreed with me that I should spend a crazy amount of money and buy my grail watch. I just don't know if she is serious and thinks that the Casio is a realistic collection piece.
My name is Rich and I am building a collection of unique complications. I know it sounds more like the way you start a watch museum and not a personal collection. So far I have a Tourbillion, Retrogra...
Had you explained to her the reason for wanting a world timer?
Only you will know if she's liable to buy you a gift such as this as a bit of a joke.
I'd graciously accept the gift let her see me wear it a few times and return it to the watch box from where it came and shall ever more remain living.
Wow this is a tough one,and you don't want to upset such a supportive wife. Now maybe she hated the thought of you wasting your money on your placeholder or even just hated that watch,so she bought you that digitally thingy, I think you might have to take one for the team here and just wear it 'occasionally'(you might even get to like it) and just think the money you saved on your placeholder can be put to one side as the start of a fund for your true love.
What did she say when she gave it you?
Did she see the Casio, thought it was a cool watch (which it is!) and bought it for your collection separate from any discussions related to your grail or the place-holder??
Or did she say "Here... shut up and learn to love this because you ain't getting anything else mate"?
If she said nothing at all, then have you tried a few exploratory statements like "I'm still torn about getting this Agelocer as a placeholder till I get my VC". And seeing what she says?
If her response is "F*** off, that's what I got you that Casio for!" ... then you have your answer.
I hate, hate, hate taking the woman's side. Ever.
But she is brilliant and this is the best choice. Appreciate this. I am in no way commenting on any other decisions beyond this.
I would wear the f out of that Casio. She listened to what you wanted, looked closely enough at this (very cool Casio) to clock that it did the same thing, and brought it home on a whim.
Mine cannot fathom this hobby and doesn't support the purchase of anything other than real estate and index funds. 😉
Oh, and lots of life insurance (I'm starting to wonder if I should be worried).
Maybe she saw it and thought to herself, “I think he’d like that” and you are reading waaaay to much into a simple act of kindness.
I hate, hate, hate taking the woman's side. Ever.
But she is brilliant and this is the best choice. Appreciate this. I am in no way commenting on any other decisions beyond this.
You’re treading on dangerous ground here..
And I’ll take that Casio if you can’t bear to wear it.
Velomax, I’ve been itching for a worldtimer too, but it’s definitely a watch you may want to try on if you have a smaller wrist.
If you are looking for one that would be a little more than a placeholder? it’s not a VC, but the Frédérique Constant Workdtime is a beautiful piece.
If the cheapness is what you are objecting, you could send a retaliatary message with this little gem, which cost me £2.07 on AliExpress. The plane acts as a seconds hand.
She's telling you there's no substitute for the "real" thing and if you want to throw something on your wrist with a graphic of the world, then Casio (e.g. go cheap). Any "placeholder" can't hold a candle to what your heart really wants and may take funds away from either the VC or Omega. The VC world timer is 👌. But the Omega world timer is a very nice watch too btw.
Maybe she's slightly and lovingly joking with you. Also that casio is a true icon, arguably doing the same things any world time watch does, plus it has an alarm and it lights up!
Rock the Casio as your ultimate beater/80s/casual nerd watch because it’s rad AND a gift from her. Skip the placeholder world timer because it won’t ever satisfy your desire for the Aquaterra or VC, and keep saving/dreaming!
What did she say when she gave it you?
Did she see the Casio, thought it was a cool watch (which it is!) and bought it for your collection separate from any discussions related to your grail or the place-holder??
Or did she say "Here... shut up and learn to love this because you ain't getting anything else mate"?
If she said nothing at all, then have you tried a few exploratory statements like "I'm still torn about getting this Agelocer as a placeholder till I get my VC". And seeing what she says?
If her response is "F*** off, that's what I got you that Casio for!" ... then you have your answer.
She said "here I got you this." I was extremely surprised that she would buy me anything quartz because when ever the subject arises I often quote Kevin O'Leary and say "That isn't a watch it is consumer electronics." I am a bit afraid to talk to her about the Agelocer because if I get the response you mentioned, I have hurt her feelings. She thought about me enough to buy me a $15.00 Casio when she didn't have to.
If the cheapness is what you are objecting, you could send a retaliatary message with this little gem, which cost me £2.07 on AliExpress. The plane acts as a seconds hand.
Beautiful watch but what time is it in Tokyo and Paris when it is set on NY time?
Velomax, I’ve been itching for a worldtimer too, but it’s definitely a watch you may want to try on if you have a smaller wrist.
If you are looking for one that would be a little more than a placeholder? it’s not a VC, but the Frédérique Constant Workdtime is a beautiful piece.
That Frederique Constant has been in consideration. Thanks.
Ok the Casio you wear while working out, camping, hiking, chores, working on cars etc. Every now and then you wear it so she knows you wear it. I'm a Vacheron and Omega fan boy. I am also intrigue by the Frederique Constantine.... so I'm confused and not helpful on that end
Beautiful watch but what time is it in Tokyo and Paris when it is set on NY time?
You do the math. Obviously not a worldtimer, but it has that picture of the globe Velomax was craving for...
Definitely challenging, but I'm sure she'd appreciate you approaching with candor about the subject. I wouldn't go up and say "is this a joke watch?", But being honest about your desires and intentions will only help in the long run.
What? You said you wanted a placeholder and that's what you got. What a nice thing she did for you!
And I’ll take that Casio if you can’t bear to wear it.
First there's no comparison. But I will take the other half, if you're willing to share. That's the best watch no one with a bank account will ever desire and 50% of one still tells the time in multiple time zones either with a time zones with a digital version of all that, um, kind of.
The follow up
So today after walking on eggs for two days over this quartz Casio, I decide to take the advice of my fellow Crunchers and put the watch on. My wife arrives home from work while I am preparing dinner(yes I do this almost every night. I spoil her). As I am working in the kitchen and she is unwinding , she starts talking watches. I don't know if she read this arbitrary question online but she asks me, If you could only keep one of your current watches which one would you keep. Without even thinking a second I lifted my arm and said I would keep the Casio World Timer because you were thinking about me and it is so special to me. She burst out laughing and couldn't believe I had it on.
Then she says, I bought it as a joke. I figured you would go on WatchCrunch looking for sympathy from the others. I said oh I guess you didn't read my post today. She went on Watch Crunch and read the thread and got the best laugh. She totally set me up. Like many of you predicted, she doesn't want me to get the Agelocer as a place holder because she knows that I will never be happy until I get the right world timer.
The Casio AE-1200WH is a real collection piece... well, not that one, but the AE-1200WHD must definetly is!!!!! 😂
If you said Thank You and wear it now and again then you are doing fine. I would say this is a case of "its the thought that matters". There are a lot of factors that obviously go into this..
"Is this the first time she has ever bought you a watch?"
"Do ya'll have a brutally honest relationship?"
Me and my Lady have a very honest relationship and have no issues telling one another that we did/didnt like something one of us did (as long as nobody is being an a$$, you can do so politely). In a situation like that I would say that I appreciated her thinking of me but that isn't exactly what I was looking for and if I didnt want it ask her to return it. In fact I did do that with the first watch my Lady ever bought for me and it was totally fine but that is us and everyone is different.