Approaching potential watch nerds
Have you had any positive or negative experiences when approaching people that might be watch nerds, but you don't know for sure?
I just started a new job in the financial sector. Many of the guys in the office are wearing (what I consider to be) heavy hitter pieces; Daytonas, Subs, Omegas, Pateks. I've started conversing with a couple of these guys in downtime about their watches, but most of them aren't into it at all and I ended up feeling like a dork haha.
It's fine, I mean it's always a positive to show interest in other people and it's taken in good spirits.
In my previous job, a senior exec and I were talking after a meeting. I was wearing a Tudor BB58 that he spotted and we had a great conversation about new pieces and brands we were excited about. It was so cool to me that this little hobby could bypass all the corporate hierarchy in a split second, and we were just two guys talking watches.
I got into watches during the pandemic. I listened to Pusha T 'Daytona' and that was the beginning of the end
Meh… I don’t speak to subordinates
Kidding… but am I?! 🤔
I only talk about watches on the internet. I never try to engage an unsuspecting person wearing a nice watch into a watch discussion. More often than not would bore them to tears
I usually hit them with a brief “nice watch”
They usually hit me back with a “thanks”
I follow up and hit them with “ no problem “ I am a huge Watch Nerd”
Some laugh, some awkwardly just say ok? Some snear at me… that’s when I hit them in the face. 🤣
I had a great conversation with a woman who had the pistachio green IWC. However the woman with a GS looked confused, then said... it was a gift... She wasn't rude but it was very clear she didn't care
Usually, a nice way to start is glance at their watch and flash yours. See if they look. Someone then usually says "nice watch" and go from there
Obviously a generalization but most of the people wearing a “heavy hitter” watch are not really into watches and are wearing those to complete their professional outfit. I think if you spot someone with a microbrand watch on the wrist or a vintage from around their birth year you might find a like minded person :-)
The other day I was on Teams call and noticed our medical director was wearing a very nice green Rolex Date Just. I asked him about it and he was surprised I was into watches. He was sweet about it and my colleagues joked that I should get a Rolex for a bonus next year. @Ichibunz @SpecKTator you guys can do watch bonuses for your subordinates. 😆
The other day I was on Teams call and noticed our medical director was wearing a very nice green Rolex Date Just. I asked him about it and he was surprised I was into watches. He was sweet about it and my colleagues joked that I should get a Rolex for a bonus next year. @Ichibunz @SpecKTator you guys can do watch bonuses for your subordinates. 😆
I fired a few subordinates today cuz I didn’t like the watch they’re wearing ….
Kidding… but am I ?
I fired a few subordinates today cuz I didn’t like the watch they’re wearing ….
Kidding… but am I ?
If they are not buying and wearing your creations then that is grounds for termination.
A few folks in my office wear the usual trinity sports watches. Nautilii and royal oaks everywhere. None of them are into watches. One guy saw my watch and asked if it was a perpetual calendar as he only collects perpetual calendars.
Ive never heard that line before, but it's only about the fact that he can afford heavy hitters. If he was a real watch nerd, he would've said, I only collect "minute repeaters", "fusee and chain constant force movements", or microbrands!
I find that my watch enthusiasm is exclusively reserved for the virtual space and I have no interest in talking with strangers about watches. However I will look at every single wrist around me anywhere I go.
I usually hit them with a brief “nice watch”
They usually hit me back with a “thanks”
I follow up and hit them with “ no problem “ I am a huge Watch Nerd”
Some laugh, some awkwardly just say ok? Some snear at me… that’s when I hit them in the face. 🤣
Dude that’s why you hit me in the face ?! That wasn’t a snear!! It’s just my face!! Rude !!
The other day I was on Teams call and noticed our medical director was wearing a very nice green Rolex Date Just. I asked him about it and he was surprised I was into watches. He was sweet about it and my colleagues joked that I should get a Rolex for a bonus next year. @Ichibunz @SpecKTator you guys can do watch bonuses for your subordinates. 😆
Only the best Invictas for my people
I saw a Citizen on a wrist at a football game & asked the guy if it was a Garrison. He said, "No it's a Citizen!"
Did that exchange twice more & gave up. LOL
My wife decided to join a small group of tourists on our Paris river cruise to take in a performance at the legendary Moulin Rouge a few years ago before Covid, there was a decent dinner served before the show when I noticed the American couple seated at the same table as my wife and I both wore nice watches, in fact the ladies were already comparing Cartier watches as servers were quickly clearing the tables. The husband had on a Breitling Avenger fitted with the brand’s pro style steel bracelet. He smiled when I complimented him on his robust watch. He admitted he was not at all a watch guy, his watch and his wife’s watch were gifted to them by his mother in law on a previous vacation from some duty free shop. Apparently they had a custom of taking the mom in law on some annual vacation and she would buy them watches since her late husband was a massive watch fan. He was surprised that there were other guys who collected watches. He was even more surprised when certain performers danced the Can Can, topless.
I usually hit them with a brief “nice watch”
They usually hit me back with a “thanks”
I follow up and hit them with “ no problem “ I am a huge Watch Nerd”
Some laugh, some awkwardly just say ok? Some snear at me… that’s when I hit them in the face. 🤣
You look a big guy too so that hit would hurt ;)
A few folks in my office wear the usual trinity sports watches. Nautilii and royal oaks everywhere. None of them are into watches. One guy saw my watch and asked if it was a perpetual calendar as he only collects perpetual calendars.
Ive never heard that line before, but it's only about the fact that he can afford heavy hitters. If he was a real watch nerd, he would've said, I only collect "minute repeaters", "fusee and chain constant force movements", or microbrands!
That is…sad. Shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for an Oak or Nautilus and NOT being into watches. Just showing the world you’re a successful hotshot with “style”.
I sort of assume now you work in investment banking @Beanhead 😛
That is…sad. Shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for an Oak or Nautilus and NOT being into watches. Just showing the world you’re a successful hotshot with “style”.
I sort of assume now you work in investment banking @Beanhead 😛
Haha. Close, but not exactly
Of all my friends only 1 is a true watch person. A lot of them have nice time pieces but it’s basically for flexing lol It really is a small community. I’ve tried several times to start a convo about their watch but all I got was “thanks”. It’s a waste of energy that’s why I join watch forums for like minded people.
I approached a guy and said "That's a nice Aqua Terra"
He replied with "Oh, no, it's an Omega"
Roght, cool, we'll leave it there then.
ABORT ABORT ABORT
The best examples of watch nerdery I've found are with students in school (I'm a state secondary school teacher - so ages 11-16). I sometimes notice a watch a student is wearing (these are not well off kids, so the watches are fashion watches and cheap flashy steel in gold or silver colour - usually Sekonda, Lorus, Casio, the occasional Armani or Rotary etc), they sometimes notice mine. In fact, this happened twice last week (which was kind of weird). A Year 10 boy (15yrs) who is a bit tricky behaviourally was leaving the classroom as I was waiting to enter and he noticed my Tudor 79220N and said "class watch, sir." I thanked him, and he immediately asked if I liked "Tags." We then had a very brief discussion about how he wants to get a Tag sometime. Another boy got very over-excited about the same watch (odd because I've worn it hundreds of times without any comment, then twice in one week): "Woah, sir, is that a Roley?" Of course I explained that a teacher couldn't afford a Rolex. I've noticed that watches are making a bit of a comeback with teenage boys (in my bit of southern England at least), with a good 10% wearing them now. This may just be a trend with one year group, or it could be more widely spread. When asked, most of the boys don't have a huge amount to say about their watch but they tend to like that it has been noticed and it is clearly a bit of kit they are proud to display.
that's great that watches are becoming more popular with this age group.
I can't help but feel it might be the andrew tate influence though... 😕
I don't do this at work. I remember when I talked to somebody about watches, and he liked his Omegas. Then he talked about his car collection, and how he was still missing an RS. (He had 11 cars overall.) This can easily turn into a golf and sailing discussion, also. I don't golf at all, and while I know how to sail, anything that floats is a slippery slope.
Spotting somebody wearing a Seiko outside of work is a much safer bet.
The thing about the brands/models you list is that they could just be a dude who bought an expensive thing bc they could and they thought it’s a thing to do . . .or they are a watch nerd. Hard to say since they are big names and hype models. With some other brands/models I think there would be less hesitation on my part in determining if someone actually cared about watches. If I saw someone wearing a SeaQ instead of a Sub? That person is 100% a watch nerd. The sub guy? 50/50 chance.
Also the thing about the real world . . . Do you give a shit enough about the other person to ask them about the watch you are really interested in? Haha . . . Of course, I hear some people actually like their co-workers. Must be nice! A week after I was hired I was pulled aside for secret lunches to get the 5-0 on who might stab me in the back. Academia is weird and toxic like that.
Haha. Close, but not exactly
Derivative's broker ??
that's great that watches are becoming more popular with this age group.
I can't help but feel it might be the andrew tate influence though... 😕
Gosh, I hope not. Tate definitely has/d traction with many boys in this age group.
Obviously a generalization but most of the people wearing a “heavy hitter” watch are not really into watches and are wearing those to complete their professional outfit. I think if you spot someone with a microbrand watch on the wrist or a vintage from around their birth year you might find a like minded person :-)
I was thinking around the same line of reasoning.
Awww I’m soo jealous!!!
I miss hanging out with fellow crunchers
Sigh, we have a Red Bar group in Minneapolis where I am but the upper Midwest is a tad quiet as far as watch happenings :( Didn’t even bother with signing up for the GS9 etc since it’s all LA and NYC. Watch people are in fly over country, too!
Sigh, we have a Red Bar group in Minneapolis where I am but the upper Midwest is a tad quiet as far as watch happenings :( Didn’t even bother with signing up for the GS9 etc since it’s all LA and NYC. Watch people are in fly over country, too!
I’m usually a hermit … and don’t venture out of 20 mile radius of where I live lol but since I’m getting older I told myself I would like to associate myself with more like minded folks and enjoy and as soon as time allows and my pockets. I would love to venture out to other countries and states to meet up a bunch of nerds and talk about these little mechanical gadgets we all love… 🍻… btw I was pleasantly surprised meeting Crunchers in person except @DeeperBlue and @Mr.Santana these two are such rude crunchers …
😉
https://www.watchcrunch.com/SimonB/posts/g-shock-s-in-the-wild-29232
This is one of the only times I have had an offline random encounter with an enthusiast. I was delivering building materials for one of the many contractors and noticed him grabbing 2x6s with his pretty metal G-Shock.
The conversation was pleasant and natural. Nothing like that has happened since. This was very early in my still relatively new watch journey. At the time I had not realized how rare of an encounter it would be. I hope it will not be the last. 👍🏾
The best examples of watch nerdery I've found are with students in school (I'm a state secondary school teacher - so ages 11-16). I sometimes notice a watch a student is wearing (these are not well off kids, so the watches are fashion watches and cheap flashy steel in gold or silver colour - usually Sekonda, Lorus, Casio, the occasional Armani or Rotary etc), they sometimes notice mine. In fact, this happened twice last week (which was kind of weird). A Year 10 boy (15yrs) who is a bit tricky behaviourally was leaving the classroom as I was waiting to enter and he noticed my Tudor 79220N and said "class watch, sir." I thanked him, and he immediately asked if I liked "Tags." We then had a very brief discussion about how he wants to get a Tag sometime. Another boy got very over-excited about the same watch (odd because I've worn it hundreds of times without any comment, then twice in one week): "Woah, sir, is that a Roley?" Of course I explained that a teacher couldn't afford a Rolex. I've noticed that watches are making a bit of a comeback with teenage boys (in my bit of southern England at least), with a good 10% wearing them now. This may just be a trend with one year group, or it could be more widely spread. When asked, most of the boys don't have a huge amount to say about their watch but they tend to like that it has been noticed and it is clearly a bit of kit they are proud to display.
That's a beautiful thing to hear. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story of encouragement for the youth.
The other day I was playing basketball and someone noticed my Jordan bag. Someone said it looks like a LV design and eventually the topic swung to fake designer items.and watches and I think I blurted out that I'd rather have a Tudor than a fake Rolex which drew out the watch nerd and next thing you know me and him were showing our watches on our phones for 2 hours and talking micro brands and such.
Pretty cool and first time I ran into a nerd. Told him about Watch Crunch which I'm surprised he didn't know about.