Don't Listen To Watch Influencers!
Entering the captivating world of watches, I soon found myself navigating the tumultuous waters of influencers and their persuasive sway over what timepieces adorned wrists. It took a journey, a few missteps, and some introspection to realize the importance of not letting these influencers dictate my horological choices. Let me share the lessons I've learned.
Watches, I discovered, are not just about telling time; they're an intimate expression of personal style and values. Initially, I succumbed to the influence of watch aficionados, swayed by their enthusiasm for the latest trends. It took time, but I came to understand that the real joy of collecting watches lies in the connection between the wearer and the timepiece. Each watch is a story, a statement, and succumbing to the recommendations of influencers risked diluting this personal narrative.
The diverse landscape of the watch industry further unveiled itself as I delved deeper. There were Swiss classics steeped in tradition and avant-garde creations from independent watchmakers pushing boundaries. It was a realization that influencers, with their brand affiliations and biases, might inadvertently limit the scope of exploration. So, I decided to take the reins of my horological journey, exploring various brands and styles to unearth timepieces that resonated with my authentic tastes.
The sponsorship game within the influencer realm was another revelation. Behind the seemingly genuine recommendations lay financial ties that sometimes overshadowed objective opinions. It was a vital lesson to question motives and be wary of falling for the illusion of authenticity. Learning to trust my instincts and discern the genuine passion from the promotional buzz became integral in curating a collection true to my preferences.
Trends, with their ephemeral nature, proved to be the most transient influence of all. The watch that was hailed as a must-have yesterday could be forgotten tomorrow. It was a realization that chasing trends risked sacrificing timeless appeal for fleeting fashion.
In retrospect, choosing a watch evolved from a process influenced by external voices to a more personal and introspective journey. It became a lesson in celebrating individuality and authenticity in my wrist wear choices. So, here's to embracing the learning curve, acknowledging the missteps, and cherishing the evolution that transforms a watch enthusiast into a discerning curator of their own horological story.
I am a Florida based Web Dev/Entrepreneur that got pulled into the world of watches and won't escape until I die.
Use the content on youtube as another tool for research prior to a purchase and nothing more.
Their opinions are worthless but the service they provide from dynamic lighting on a watch at different angles and anything more than a static image online is useful.
also you would be surprised at how many channels buy subscribers to pretend like they have influence. It's not difficult to see. Just look up their channel on Social Blade and see if they have a spike in subscribers without a spike in views. That kind of organic performance is impossible yet they feel the need to project this false sense of influence for whatever reason.
Some good points. I'm always surprised at the outsized influence of YouTubers on so many watch "enthusiasts". I suppose it broadens the appeal for newcomers but I have no interest in the opinions of random internet guys who are self proclaimed experta. I enjoyed watches before them and can't imagine following them so closely that I'd let them guide me on what I like or promote them.
I don't take watch collection that seriously. I buy what I like and change my mind regularly.
I watch YouTube to get a better grasp of how the watch looks in different lighting and on the wrist. Mostly just a visual aide.
I've always been interested in watches, but really only got invested in collecting them and learning more about them this year as well, so I'm also pretty new to this hobby. I also like collecting firearms and shooting, and when I first got into that hobby, there were very similar voices saying almost the same things.
Needless to say, I too learned a lot of similar lessons from entering that hobby, that I saw when I began diving into this one. "Don''t ever buy this brand, spend the extra $500 on this brand, why even wear a watch if you don't spend at least $xxx on it, etc., etc."
In the end, the hobby is what you make it. No one else is going to wear the watches you buy and more importantly, the only one spending money on your watches (gifts aside), is you. Influencers aren't buying your watches, so their opinions are generally irrelavent. Sure, they can be good for learning and seeing a fuller picture of an item, but the only opinion that should matter when it comes to these hobbies, is your own.
Very well said 👏
I'd love to say I'm free from the YouTube influence, but I'm not. This I carefully curate who I watch/listen to on that platform and limit myself to those who's interest broadly follows my own.
Use the content on youtube as another tool for research prior to a purchase and nothing more.
Their opinions are worthless but the service they provide from dynamic lighting on a watch at different angles and anything more than a static image online is useful.
also you would be surprised at how many channels buy subscribers to pretend like they have influence. It's not difficult to see. Just look up their channel on Social Blade and see if they have a spike in subscribers without a spike in views. That kind of organic performance is impossible yet they feel the need to project this false sense of influence for whatever reason.
This is great point. I find myself going to YouTube to see videos of watches that I’m interested in. This give me a bit better idea than just looking at pictures. However, I sometimes get sucked down the rabbit hole of YouTube.
I've always been interested in watches, but really only got invested in collecting them and learning more about them this year as well, so I'm also pretty new to this hobby. I also like collecting firearms and shooting, and when I first got into that hobby, there were very similar voices saying almost the same things.
Needless to say, I too learned a lot of similar lessons from entering that hobby, that I saw when I began diving into this one. "Don''t ever buy this brand, spend the extra $500 on this brand, why even wear a watch if you don't spend at least $xxx on it, etc., etc."
In the end, the hobby is what you make it. No one else is going to wear the watches you buy and more importantly, the only one spending money on your watches (gifts aside), is you. Influencers aren't buying your watches, so their opinions are generally irrelavent. Sure, they can be good for learning and seeing a fuller picture of an item, but the only opinion that should matter when it comes to these hobbies, is your own.
Couldn't have said it better!
You need some de-influencing, and the courage of your convictions.
If you watch YouTube channels with a critical eye it won’t take long to see that most of these channels are shills for the watch industry. You see these guys claiming that they own the watch they are reviewing, and you look back 12-18 months and that’s their claim on all these watches . . . Take out a calculator. Even figuring in trading watches in the real finance loss has to be many thousands of dollars! MOST YouTube watch channels are lying shills, imho. I am lucky that while I did get pulled into a lot of these channels early on, I never bought a watch because of the noise.
The other option, and at least they admit it, is when watches are “loaned” for review. Why do you think watch companies keep sending these guys watches? The most obvious reason is that these ‘reviewers’ only give positive reviews! Look back 12-18 months on these YouTube channels and look for a truly negative review. Never happens. On occasion these YouTube ‘reviewers’ will nitpick some minor point. But if you don’t think the reviews are influenced by access by the brands . . . Think again.
I've been a watch guy for over 55 years and none of what you say applies to me.
The first thing I thought after reading your post was Chatgpt.
I educated myself on Youtube and yeah there’s a lot hype on a lot of watches. I take it like a grain of salt. I take what applies to me. Just because it’s a must have I’m not gonna go out of my way and be like them. Hell nah! Gonna make this a fun hobby that’s what’s important.
The eco-system of YT reviews created a huge echo chamber were the same watches are reviewed at the same time by different people who tells the same story. It's passably bearable when you know that if you missed a review you can always catch the same story from another talking head. It becomes downright annoying when it turns into a push to force feed you the reviewers opinions on what you should buy.
Such an insightful post joeylawrence! I agree with all your points, YouTubers (especially those who are themselves ADs) are mostly sales people. That’s not to say they are not upstanding people but their financial interests are definitely pointed towards convincing people to buy X and Y watch.
I will say though, I appreciate the service they provide e.g. detailing a watch’s specs or the horological aspect of the piece (think The Urban Gentry who doesn’t just review a watch but also discusses the brand’s history, any design inspirations the piece may have, etc.)
Ultimately, watches are very personal. The very first watch I ever bought was my Casio A700. What I love about it is it wears amazing (it’s just 6mm thick), is handy with a stopwatch and alarm built-in and costs less than a typical night out with friends.
Funnily enough, I would never have come across the A700 if it weren’t for a YouTuber (Ben’s Watch Club) so I appreciate him and other YouTubers and fellow Watch Crunchers for showing me how I can appreciate watches that are out of the norm and not what some people think as “good” timepieces.
The only influencer I listen to is my wife.
Use the content on youtube as another tool for research prior to a purchase and nothing more.
Their opinions are worthless but the service they provide from dynamic lighting on a watch at different angles and anything more than a static image online is useful.
also you would be surprised at how many channels buy subscribers to pretend like they have influence. It's not difficult to see. Just look up their channel on Social Blade and see if they have a spike in subscribers without a spike in views. That kind of organic performance is impossible yet they feel the need to project this false sense of influence for whatever reason.
Totally agree. I can't believe how seriously people take Nico with the whole Casio being God Tier. They are good, but God Tier is just a stupid marketing campaign. I know Nico doesn't really sell Casio, but he does sell God Tier merch. His whole shtick is wearing thin, especially after that staged slap-fight he had with Trax.
I like what I like. Mostly Casio. But also Rado, and Wenger. And seiko. That’s pretty much my name collection. I have some others I like. One I kind of regret buying - not because of YouTube. It was a jewellers brand. Now it doesn’t work. I might see if I can teach myself how to fix it.
But I don’t mind watching opinions on watches. I know most of them are worthless, but an articulate reasoned review counts a bit. Even from someone selling. I’m probably never going to own a Rolex or a tag or a breitling. But that’s ok. I can watch them on YouTube.
If you watch YouTube channels with a critical eye it won’t take long to see that most of these channels are shills for the watch industry. You see these guys claiming that they own the watch they are reviewing, and you look back 12-18 months and that’s their claim on all these watches . . . Take out a calculator. Even figuring in trading watches in the real finance loss has to be many thousands of dollars! MOST YouTube watch channels are lying shills, imho. I am lucky that while I did get pulled into a lot of these channels early on, I never bought a watch because of the noise.
The other option, and at least they admit it, is when watches are “loaned” for review. Why do you think watch companies keep sending these guys watches? The most obvious reason is that these ‘reviewers’ only give positive reviews! Look back 12-18 months on these YouTube channels and look for a truly negative review. Never happens. On occasion these YouTube ‘reviewers’ will nitpick some minor point. But if you don’t think the reviews are influenced by access by the brands . . . Think again.
People buy and sell watches all the time. If they’re crazy enough to have a YouTube channel about watches idk why it would be far fetched to think they have a massive collection or turn over watches regularly.
Do you expect a watch critic YouTuber to have a 3 watch collection?
This is a good video on this: https://youtu.be/cEitW7L6UyA?si=tCnrjazDmFvbfqOT
I’m telling you. Big Horology, the auction houses, influencers, watch YT and the secondary market are all in on this. There is no scarcity, only hype. Getting you to go to extreme lengths, just to be deemed worthy. And then asking you to pledge your allegiance to a brand or else be banished to the watch underrealm. Good for you for taking the red pill and going your own way.
Just don't buy DW and Vincero and such.
Watching reviews is not a passive process. We all know that when buying a watch you buy the seller, not the watch, and the same is true with reviews. Watch a few reviews of watches that you own and make note of the comments and conclusions of the reviewer. If their thoughts align with your own on these, you can trust them a little more on watches that are unknown to you. Get to know what your favourite reviewers care about and done care about. If they love lume and you dont care, or vice versa, keep this in mind when watching their review. On of the big problems with YouTube is that it has opened up reviews to anyone, and its not as easy as it looks, although it does look super easy. A review is supposed to be biased, and the viewers are supposed to know how the bias is presented.
You've had quite a journey there and have come to a fine realisation - good on you. Personally, I wouldn't trust half the watch YouTubers out there to come inside if it was raining, let alone be a trusted source to tell me what to do. What I find myself doing most of the time is coming across a watch I find interesting, then I will watch every video I can find on it - including in foreign languages - moreso to just see as much footage as possible, on as many different wrists as possible, and the actual commentary is secondary. And indeed, in the case of the foreign videos, I have no idea what they're saying anyway.
There are certainly some gems hidden under a lot of noise of YouTube reviews. Factory tours are always great to watch. There is also a basic service these videos provide, for example that you get to see the watch from different angles. And I know one YouTuber who has the same wrist circumference as I, which also helps a lot.
While they are certainly a resource, it cannot be overstated how eye-opening it can be to see a watch in the metal. You walk into a boutique and the reaction is "hell to the no", no matter what a YouTuber said. Not only is the taste in watches very personal, but a lot of what is being said online doesn't transfer. You are always looking at "just a watch" in the end. If you don't like what's on your wrist the rankings and heritage don't matter.
I curate YT creators like I curate my watch collecting - you need to have criteria. The geekier, less pretentious, and more authentic ones get my views - and help get my eyes on certain models and trends. I typically go against the popular trend(s) - as buy what I like and what fits my aesthetics. Not to say my tastes don't sometimes overlap with what is popular - but that is happenstance more often than not.
I educated myself on Youtube and yeah there’s a lot hype on a lot of watches. I take it like a grain of salt. I take what applies to me. Just because it’s a must have I’m not gonna go out of my way and be like them. Hell nah! Gonna make this a fun hobby that’s what’s important.
We have a rebel here 🖤.👏
People buy and sell watches all the time. If they’re crazy enough to have a YouTube channel about watches idk why it would be far fetched to think they have a massive collection or turn over watches regularly.
Do you expect a watch critic YouTuber to have a 3 watch collection?
What I am talking about is YouTube channels where they claim to love and have bought the watches new, give these glowing reviews, and trade them out shortly thereafter. When you go back in the history of their posted videos, and factor in what typical trade in values are, some of these people expect the audience to accept a trade loss of tens of thousands of dollars a year. Or, maybe they are just lying and never really bought the watches.
My skepticism has nothing to do with collection size. I just noticed this on a number of YouTube channels, and when I put the pattern together it puts the objectivity of the reviewers in question. I am not, and have not, said that all YouTube channels are suspect. But if you find a channel, and want to get a feel for how truly objective the reviews are, I argue that an examination of their past 12-18 months of material is a good measure.
The one thing I have to say about youtube watch reviewers is that just about every single one of them has really thin wrists, and that really biases them against bigger watches and watches with longer lugs or male endlinks.
I'll admit I did yield to some FOMO with the Urban Gentry/Long Island Watch Rangemaster Mechanical and Jody's Erebus Origin, but I regret nothing