Why Does EVERY Watch YouTuber Do This!?!

I think there are two big reasons:

1. Other successful YouTubers do it, so it's seen as popular.
2.  Their video might be the first time someone is exposed to a particular watch/brand, so they give some context. 

Personally I find the history lessons boring, if I want history I'll go watch a dedicated history channel like Dr. Mark Felton, or History Guy. 

I have no doubt that many of them do it because others do it and they’re just following the template...I’d like to officially start my protest now, ha!

I suppose it also adds to them seeming more knowledgeable, and a "real" enthusiast. Honestly, I don't mind it too much unless they drag on. Unless I'm trying to learn the complete history of a watch.

I am ok with the history lesson if they could drop the "drama". I don't need a YouTube "journalist" to mimic the tabloids at the grocery checkout by exaggerating and blowing things out of proportion with their pointless hot takes.

Perhaps this is another watch collector's trope. Why we should care enough about the history of a watch to have it factor as a variable in the buying decision.

As a youtuber (that does bugger all reviews and barely talks about history) here goes:

1. you never know how much a viewer knows, is this their first video on the topic or their tenth?

2. according to polls on my site history/brand/story is at least as important to people as movement/lume/bezel alignment.  For every person bemoaning a history lesson there's another person screaming 'I dont care about lume'.  What I do find however is that one group is far more likely to complain in the comments.

3. few reviewers actually think hard about what they are going to say and why - they mostly take what others have done and modify it until it becomes a habit

4. its uncontroversial and pretty easy - a quick google search and no one really fights you over it

5. pretty much everyone in this space is really uncomfortable talking about aesthetics so they swing over to more 'manly' topics like bracelet micro adjusts and when the first watch went to the moon.

6. YouTubers are enthusiasts themselves - what they talk about is 99% of the time what they care about

Most importantly - if you think there's a spot in the market for a better type of YouTuber welcome aboard, there's no limit to people willing to have a go.

That raises questions though:

1. why should you care about anything
2. who gets to decide whats important and whats not

 and before you say each person chooses that for themselves

3.  how is the reviewer supposed to know what you care about

4. why does the reviewer have to care about what you do?

History is important! just skip it if it bores you. 

The history of the watches are kinda important I think, in order for the watches to make sense on why/ how they're made like that

I think we have to acknowledge that increasingly, as new collectors and enthusiasts enter this hobby and as existing collectors tastes evolve, there will be a need to provide content that touches on what they find important/care about at that point in time. Whether existing YTers cater for this need or the need is filled by new watch YTers remains to be seen. Of course, this form of content may not be every watch YTers cup of tea - perfectly fine. You can't know everyone's tastes and preferences beforehand. But what you can do is pick the audience that you do want to target and cater for them. In the end the hope is that this creates a diversity of content and views that helps keep people in this hobby rather than trying to get them to align to what others feel is important.

Of course! But you've summed it perfectly - a section of watch enthusiasts. There is also a section of enthusiasts where the history of a watch is less important. But they are still collectors/enthusiasts.

i think a little history can't hurt and need to be told. as we cant know how many "first timer" click that video. this is important to invite more people to the hobby. but thats just my opinion. cheers 🍺

I don’t mind a little (quick) bit of history especially when pertaining to some particularly  notable history as with the Cartier Santos. What does grate me, a lot, EVERY time, is people wearing silly gloves to handle a watch! increasing the risk of dropping it, protecting it from literally nothing (it isn’t ancient paper scrolls) and generally being distracting. Its like an appendage in a sock flapping about a watch face. Just stupid. I have even seen one glove on and one glove off!! 

Second to the glove wearers are those who literally get nothing right when discussing anything about the watch they are talking about, like they make it up. Closely followed by those with silly music. 

I hope you didn’t think I was putting down those who think it is less important, and I would go so far in saying that nowadays heritage means very little as many watches have similar movements and ideas, and only a handful of brands are pushing the envelope. Plus look at the restructuring of the watch industry post quartz-crisis: Swatch Group, Fossil Group, Richemont, LVMH… it’s interesting to know who owns your favourite brands.

A lot of good points. Also, they make more money based on how long the video is, and it gives them a way to extend the run time.

The good news, is they almost always talk about the history in a block, and do not weave it into the entire video. For this reason, you can just skip it :) 

Or conversely, since every watch is basically the same  - all the same steel, all the same movements, all the same crystals and even where they are different they are functionally so similar they may as well be the same then heritage and design is all that separates watches and perhaps more important than ever.

but there is not realistic approach, a rational approach - you are just choosing between irrationalities (unless you buy one 50usd g-shock - the only objectively rational watch purchase I can figure)

Im not for an instant saying that valuing heritage is sensible, rational or makes sense - all Im saying is its no worse than any other story you tell yourself to justify spending more than 50 bucks

I’ve done a few watch videos and usually I don’t even talk about dimensions/measurements. There are tons of videos covering mere facts about watches. History is also just a bunch of facts. What I really enjoy is hearing and talking about personal opinions, experiences and perspectives about watches. I’m more interested in the “why” than in the “what”. E. g. why is a watch special for somebody, how does it work for them, what is it they find fascinating about its features and its history etc.

Dr. Mark Felton comes up with some truly rare and unique stories.  I don't bother with History Guy.  I can practically read his scripts verbatim off of Wikipedia.  LOL

This is exactly where I stand.  I can read the specs off the manufacturer's website if I'm that interested.  I remember the Shinola saleslady telling me that Shinola had a great story about the rebirth of Detroit.  I told her I don't wear a story on my wrist or pay extra for that privilege, although I guess that some people do.  

I really only watch YouTubers who I think will give an honest opinion of a watch, like how it feels, is it well finished, does it meet expectations.  I also like to see the watch in motion on the wrist, not like a slow wrist roll but rather how you would see it as you actually move during the day.  Static shots of the dial straight on from the front tell me nothing about how the light hits the reflections, how the proportions balance from different angles or how visible some features are.

First, I'd like to respond to this:

Most importantly - if you think there's a spot in the market for a better type of YouTuber welcome aboard, there's no limit to people willing to have a go.

I am in the process of starting a YT channel, but it's not because I'm trying to compete to be "better" I just want to use it as an outlet to talk about watches and connect with more people.  I'm not sure if you were offended by my post, but there's no need to be if you are.

Moving on...

Each person absolutely can make videos about whatever they want, and/or whatever they think their viewers want to see.  I'm simply stating EXACTLY what you said...

If I wanted to learn about the history of a watch I don't need a generic 2 minute history lesson when it's obviously clear that they did exactly what you said...a quick Google search and a history "lesson" that contains no new/interesting information at all.

IMO this would make a lot of videos better and more interesting.

I have no problem with real "history" I have a problem with people doing 15 minutes of "research" and then saying exactly the same thing that everyone else says...it's boring and provides no value.

I'd rather hear their opinion about the watch (how it feels, how are the colors in person, do they have a connection with the watch, etc.) rather than hear the history.

When it comes to watches I'd rather hear the color commentary than the play-by-play.

I COMPLETELY agree!

I usually don't care about the lug width, case dimensions, etc.  I usually already know that info before watching the video.

If it's a brand new release then I get it...talk about the features of the watch so that people know.

When it's a watch that's been around forever (like the Santos I referenced in the original post) I wish people would spare the history lesson and specs and speak more about their own thoughts on the watch.

I enjoy his presentation style, but yeah, he does do very surface level stuff. 

I'm pretty sure this is done to avoid fingerprints, which show up like crazy when doing well-lit macro stuff. I also prefer some gloved hand to the seeing a poorly manicured fingertip. 

As for the history thing, there's a certain amount of recap that  needs to be done to be accessible to the beginner, but waxing poetic like Commander McBragg is insufferable.

I think they don’t know why they wear them other than maybe they think its elevates their importance. If they were to wash their hands and dry thoroughly this would minimise fingerprints. Agree badly manicure fingers offers no aesthetic! But I’ll keep my eye on the watch. It is all opinion of course. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG0iSJFrZvy7AwMqdO44maA

Check this channel up, its mine ;-) Talking watches every week! And hopefully straight to the point haha

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Thank you brother. Appreciate it!