Watch spotting

Always.

Doesn't matter the watch, guy/gal, if it's not a smart watch I'll always compliment the watch.

Then, based on comments, will know if it's another enthusiast or not lol.

Nice!

Not everyone wants to be noticed. I once complimented an older man in the grocery store on his vintage GMT Master as I walked by him. He scurried away very quickly, probably afraid of getting mugged.

Agreed. I definitely hesitate and try to read them as best I can. Not trying to burden someone with my curiousity. If that’s possible.

I do if I notice something interesting/ colorful/ etc. But it does depend on the situation.

Def appreciate the same in return.

Same. Nice to talk watches with others interested for sure

How often do you guys find another watch guy/gal on the street? Me never and I live in NYC. I see the Rolex time to time but they are often not at a watch person.

My work is small, a few Apple Watches,

so no encounters there. Once one of my vendors noticed my wrist but that was about it.

I obviously don’t hang out in the right place/crowd. Where are you guys? Or am I not paying enough attention?

I pick my spots, depends on the brand of watch, guys who wear Panerai or pre Georges Kern Breitling models usually enjoy a fast chat. One time I noticed a gent wearing a Breitling Emergency having a coffee, I joked that he needed to be careful sending a signal for his rescue from the bland coffees being served. The guy mistakes me for a restaurant owner with a few popular places in Toronto’s entertainment district. He apologizes but I assure him it happens pretty often. lol.

Yes, absolutely 👍🏻

I work in a vape shop so see lots of wrists.

Only time I don't is if they look dodgy and I'm wearing my Seamaster.

I cannot help myself. I must comment on a watch I find interesting

I try to do it at work, but there is something else I try to think about, there is a great dispersion between compensation levels, so I try to be discreet when asking someone about their $30k watch.

Like @Inkitatus I work in a vape shop so I do occasionally ask if a customer wouldn’t mind me looking at their watch. It’s led to some nice chats with one or two other watch peeps 😊

I keep myself to myself on the street though…

So far I have had decent luck when I compliment someone’s watch. Two that stand out are when I had my hand surgery, the surgeon was a watch guy, spotted his Tissot and struck up a chat, and on the day of surgery the whole team was talking watches with me before I went under.

Last weekend I noticed my barber wearing a 2 tone 41mm DJ and we talked watches the whole hair cut, about an hour.

Good times.

Cool topic! I live in Venezuela, a not very safe country to wear watches, so I usually don’t compliment in-your-face watches. Also, chances of a person wearing a Two Tone Datejust of being a watch person are quite low. Another thing I usually consider is what I am wearing, for example, if I am wearing a Rolex, the complimented person shouldn’t feel unsafe… ultimately, if I see a cool seiko, Grand Seiko, a Tudor, Squale or any other nerdy brand I will most likely throw a compliment not giving a damn!!!

Last friday I was in an elevator, with my wife and kids, and another dude got in wearing a Seiko Arnie, I immediately said “cool watch”, the guy (who seemed to be at least as nerd as me) threw a firm THANK YOU, and nodded…

Panhandlers try to strike up conversations right before they ask you for something and everyone instantly throws up their guard. It's urban instinct.

Usually airports is where I see the most or on trips in general. Work is not a great place for spotting for me either.

Don’t want to accidentally set off any alarms’

Good call!

This comes up for me as well.

Very cool!

Nice on the Arnie. I hear ya on safety in certain cities. Makes sense and sad state we are in when that’s the case. I get it!

Was also listening to a podcast where the instinct for the watch lover when complimented was to take off their watch to show it to the other person. Obviously careful where and with whom, but I’ve had that instinct with friends and colleagues at least.

👍👍

Complement a guy the other day on his Rolex Sky Dweller at a work event and he looked at me confused almost as if he didn’t know his watch had a name other than Rolex. 😂

That watch is so beautiful, why did they have to go and call it Vacheron Constantini