Time for some light-hearted controversy!

I don't care about

sapphire vs mineral vs acrylic

finishing -- I don't know how one type of finishing is better than another and at this point I'm afraid to ask

screw down crowns

lume

watches over 41mm

accuracy

pineapple on pizza

I must admit, I agree with all of these you mention!

Especially hacking/hand-winding. Me and 7S26 SKX get along just fine.

A few of my own I'll add:

Magnetic resistance - unless you're working next to an MRI or industrial induction range, fine

Decorated movements

COSC or METAS certification

Accuracy - if you want that, wear quartz.

Precious metals

Two-tone

Other people's watches

Rolex - it's been the same watch since 1953...

Wow, it's like you looked directly into my mind!

"finishing -- I don't know how one type of finishing is better than another and at this point I'm afraid to ask" That one was definitely my favorite!

Hah, perfect!

Whomever said do not change the time between 9pm and 3am with a mechanical watch, means absolutely nothing to me when I hear it. A complete- nothing burger! I will never care about that. Ever.

Things I don't care about:

Others opinions...👀🤏🏻😆*

*Hehehehe 🤣😂

Gah! No thread is safe!

Great conversation starter for this group 🙂

I'm with you on most of your choices, with a few exceptions:

"Automatic vs hand-wind mechanical?" Can I buy an manual wind? Sure, do I want to ? No. To me one of the most interesting things about these little machines is their ability to wind themselves with our help, and I like a well decorated rotor.

"Mechanical mechanisms I can’t actually see." Does this mean that you will only buy display case backs? In general I prefer that, but for a great watch, it's definitely not a show stopper for me. Case in point is my Credor GCBG987.

"Purchasing any watch that costs more than 1/10 of my car’s MSRP." I think this needs more qualification, and varies greatly depending on each person's financial situation. For example I know people who are very well off (millions in net worth) that drive $100k cars. By this logic, none of them should own a watch worth more than $10k. On the other hand a person making $50k a year and driving a $20k Honda, probably should put a cap on their watch spending per year.

I don’t care about water resistance over 100M or watches over 47mm lug to lug. I don’t care too much about single vs double domed sapphire. I tried thinking a bit harder but honestly I do care about most things.

Ready to make some people's blood boil:

I think fake watches are better than ali express "homages" that literally copy everything about another watch but put a different name on the dial - at least the fake isn't lying about the watch it's trying to be

Well, why not! If I was trying to make a point with this mostly tongue-in-cheek post (and that's questionable even in my own mind), it's that each person's "don't care" list can be so different from everyone else's. That's interesting to me.

But here are two more of mine:

Watches that resemble school cafeteria clock faces.

Whether Tudor is, or ever will be, better than Rolex.

That's a unique perspective, and I can't argue with your logic! However, I think many jurisdictions around the world would disagree, since legally, fake = fraud = crime.

Thanks!

I have nothing against self-wind watches. My first one was a Caravelle back in the 1970s, when I thought it was a fun gimmick. Probably most of the watches I purchase moving forward will be automatics, for the reason you state, and because they seem to be more common. But if I see a hand wind watch I like, the absence of a rotor won't be an impediment.

Yep, I much prefer display backs. For me, just knowing that a mechanical watch is mechanical is less fun than being able to see the movement. But like you, I will make exceptions for watches I otherwise adore.

My interest in high-end luxury watches will probably always be limited to admiration. I wasn't proposing a spending rule for others to follow.

Agree with nearly all your points, except for "Copy vs replica vs homage – only fake matters." A real Homage should be down to the brand that originated the design. The clones we're seeing in crazy numbers atm, are just lazy cash grabs using someone else's creative work, in my opinion.

Fair point. But I view all timepiece designs as being related, with varying degrees of relatedness. Is my Victorinox chronograph that looks pretty darn similar to a Speedmaster a clone or an homage, or something else, I really don't know or care. Those definitions, and thresholds for classification, differ among individuals, and to me the decision to consider a watch to be in this or that category is really a matter of opinion. Meanwhile, if the name on the watch is some other watch's brand, that's legally a no-no.

I know J but its a light hearted thread on things we dont care for, and that is my response to this overly cautious need when having a mechanical auto. Knowing these complications are just that, too complicated:) ha!

I think I could drink to that!

Huh, I'm not a fan of clone homages myself (nothing against them I just an not super interested, had one in the past) but fakes are quite literally lying about what they are, aka the watch they are faking

Caller vs Traveler GMT.....We are all smart enough to use the GMT hand as needed. WTF 🙄

I appreciate your response, not only because I agree, but because it made me to go back and relearn which does what!

Hey Jeff,

Interesting thread. I agree with a good number of your points. Some of mine are (and this will probably cause even more controversy so hide your knickers everyboday haha):

1. Quartz has no soul - this is a ridiculous position that’s more the result of clever marketing than it is anything else. You know what else literally has a soul vs something that is just a machine? A horse, not sure any of us wants to go back to riding horses vs driving cars 🤪.

2. Screw down crowns/>50m water resist - this is the very definition of being ridiculously risk-averse. But hey, I dig it, I overinsure myself so let’s go.

3. Sapphire glass - I have never scratched a mineral glass ever. Acrylics do however scratch rather easily but mineral glass is perfectly fine.

4. Homage watches as “fake” watches - I think all watches are homages in some way. I think some homage watches look even better than what they’re copying e.g. the Lorier Falcon and Neptune both look amazing.

5. Dial and Bracelet/Strap Combos - this is something I actually care about, I don’t understand why it’s always the black dials with the steel bracelets. There is no reason not to have the white Hamilton Expedition with a bracelet, it’s the exact same watch with the same dimensions just a different dial color XD.

I especially like your first point. It reminds me of the quote I heard recently (badly paraphrased I'm sure): "I never hated quartz watches until somebody told me to".

so are clone homages, and on top of lying about what design they are they don't even have the decency to give credit where credit is due and copy the right name on the dial. I feel it's disingenuous.

I understand legal reasons why they do it

I agree on every point. Hence this. 👇

Huh, that's an interesting take. I do see your point. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Gotta have hacking! I’m kind of an accuracy nut, so if I can’t stay within a second or two my head might explode. My main retirement goal is to stop caring about the seconds. Maybe I’ll get a Meistersinger or two!

Otherwise I’m entirely on-board with your list.

That seems exhausting! I can understand, but at the same time I can't relate. I'm not retired yet, but even so, there's nothing about my life that currently requires pinpoint accuracy. But hey, all the hangers in my closet have to be black, so there you go!

Simple, clean, unfussy. I like it!