When You Notice a Person's Watch, Do You...

I know I'm not the only voyeur in here 🙃

I start with a gentle yet firm slap on the butt.

Then I slip into their pocket my personal phone number written in pen on the back of a business card.

And as I walk away slowly I make sure that my watch is visible on my wrist. - Often caressing it gently just to make sure they see it.

As I leave the room, I turn around and I make eye contact. Then I wink seductively and slowly blow an air kiss in their direction.

Works every time.

Somebody wore a NTTD Seamaster at a funeral I attended. I struck up a conversation then.

Mostly in restaurants and airports when sitting around waiting, I often compliment the guy/gal on the watch. The reaction in the US and in Asia is reciprocal and we strike up a conversation, often they end up not being collectors but people who have one nice watch, usually a Rolex. I have see more variety in EU, but people are a lot more uptight, few times they did not even acknowledge my compliment and just turned their heads the other way.

I would almost never approach anyone to talk about their watch, unless we were both wearing the same obscure watch or some such extreme coincidence.

Perhaps in the EU they are more afraid of watch robbery and think your compliment is the precursor to such an action. Just a thought.

If they look friendly and were wearing something really interesting, or a clear enthusiast brand… maybe.

This past trip to the beach a couple of weeks ago, I encountered someone with an interesting watch on the open-air back deck of a restaurant on the marina and struck up a conversation with him.

What I usually say is something like this:

"That's a beautiful watch, are you a collector?"

Their response and demeanor drive the rest of the conversation.

I forcefully grab people by their arms to take a closer look, usually with a loupe.

I mean I won’t approach someone from a distance. But if I’m within arm’s length and it’s doesn’t seem too weird I’ll definitely make a comment. And based in the reaction I’ll decide whether or not to pursue the conversation.

Some folks have lovely watches through a gift or something similar and aren’t really into the whole watch thing, which of course is fine and lucky them.

But if the person looks back with a bit of surprise and joy, then I know he/she is a sicko like me and we can have a talk about it.

So it’s a case by case scenario and for the most part I’ve found most people just aren’t that into watches, at least not like I am, and I’m guessing most folks on WC are.

Most of the times I admire from a distance, although I'm open to start conversations.

I know it's a bit of a stretch, but this made me think of Louis CK's "awesome possum" bit.

Exactly! Just be sure you're actually wearing the watch before showing them your wrist like a weirdo.

Start a convo to show I appreciate watches and I’m into it too. Always makes others feel good when noticed, as most of us would agree if flipped.

Oh, so that was you! I think we've met once... 😘

I said "move in for a closer look" but if the watch happens to be something that's high on my "oh wow it'd be so cool if I got to see one in real life" I will legit start a convo, and have done it on a few occasions too 😂 once in an elevator (with other people around us...I didn't care)

Someone was wearing an Omega Speedmaster Apollo VIII Dark Side of the Moon in the black ceramic with the yellow accents and I just said "love the Dark Side of the Moon, nicely done!" He seemed proper happy that someone recognized what he was wearing, thanked me, and I got off on my floor 👍

Another time I was waiting for a table with my wife while at our local preferred sushi spot and someone was wearing a Rolex GMT Master II "Pepsi" on the jubilee, I said "love the Pepsi, looks awesome on the jubilee" and we chatted for a bit about watches in general until one of us got called in for our table 😜

First I see a person wearing a watch look and admire. then a closer look to see if it’s a legit watch. Something better that I’m wearing or worst.

Depends on the situation.

Example, I was at a recent board of directors dinner and during the pre-dinner cocktails I used the watch spotting to start conversations. I noticed one of the directors wearing a Rolex, so I complimented him on his watch, and a watch discussion followed in the group. One of the other directors flashed his watch quickly to see if I could identify it...it was an easy one as it was a Movado. He was impressed 😉.

Another time, I was in the elevator in San Francisco and another businessman entered the elevator. He was wearing a Monaco...I figured that was fair game to open the watch discussion. I complimented him on his Monaco and he enthusiastically entered in the watch discussion for the brief elevator ride.

So, if you pick your moments carefully, it can be a fun way to break the ice or just make someone feel good by giving them a compliment.

Omg did I just see you 2 weeks ago in Stratford? That literally happened to me as I was leaving a Thai restaurant there. Except the business card part. White guy, middle aged? I looked away and hustled out.

If I see something interesting enough; and it is appropriate to comment, yes I will start a conversation. The sad truth is not everyone rocking a nice watch is a geek.

I'll still say nice watch, but if not an enthusiast I'll leave it at that.

I try to look without being noticed.

Lol

No it wasn't me. I've never been to Stratford and I'm not a middle aged white guy.

I'm actually a small Taiwanese baby. That's why my G Shock looks so big.

I have to say A. Unfortunately my eyes are not what they used to be so, most of the time I can't even identify the watch, only that it looks good.

I might start going with a loupe on my pocket, grab their arm without saying a word, examine the watch, mumble a "very nice" if it's nice or a "bahh! - trash I say" if is something that I'll never be able to buy... :-)

I will give a simple "hey I like your watch" and based on their response I'll either leave it at that or continue towards striking up a conversation. I mostly just want to throw it out there assuming they don't have any preoccupation towards watches but getting a compliment might keep them wearing it, whereas over time they might stop wearing it.

I voted A but there have been 2 times this year where I made comment and tried to start a conversation about the watch.

1) 2 weekends ago I had dinner with an old friend and he had his sleeves rolled up and was rocking a Rolex Sub and I was like "Damn is that a Sub?" cause 1) he doesn't come from money and 2) he's not known to wear anything but an Apple Watch. We started talking about it and he said he came into some money.

2) One of my junior level staff came into work with a Nomo Zurich World Timer and I was like "Nice watch, didn't know you were into watches" and we struck up a conversation about that. Secretly, I was thinking that his one watch is worth 2x my entire collection and I need to rethink how much I pay him (KIDDING). He's a great dude who works hard so I don't begrudge him for that. Instead of nice watches, I have a mortgage payment and 2 kids so that explains a lot.

I've so far had 1 person notice and ask about my watch. Then as we were speaking another gent came by and nosed in. The former was wearing a HB and the latter an AW.

I was wearing my srpj13j1 on stingray.

Yes. I work in retail (vape shop) so see many wrists daily. Got a few customers who I chat to regularly about watches.

Had a chap in yesterday with a very cool Breitling Cosmograph.

Why not talk to the wearer? You both love watches, and might be a nice conversation. I’ve had the good fortune of having this exact experience a few times and it has ALWAYS been positive. Be nice, respectful, and polite is my advice. Good things tend to happen, in my experience.