What makes a watch become an icon and when does this happen??

Second try to post this post. What makes a watch an icon? And when does this happen? The person wearing the watch, the innovation, the functionality? I have no one single answer and would love to hear your takes.

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When even watch snobs nod their head and go "yeh, respect"!

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I'd argue it takes a bunch of influencers flogging it for a couple of years... 

If watch influencers decided the Invicta Prodiver was an icon, or "God tier", new people coming into the hobby would consider it so, and others would jump on the bandwagon to claim they were always huge fans of it. 

That's pretty much how anything becomes "iconic" in the age of mass media/social media. 

I'm not trying to put down influencers, but simply pointing out that group think is mostly what drives these sorts of things. 

Consider this, why was the SKX chosen to be "iconic", when the Citizen NY0040 diver was comparable spec wise, and served with the Italian military? 

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when the specific model gaining some "cult" like follower. few models that i know invicta pro diver, of course the skx, vostoc amphibia, etc 🍺

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KristianG

I'd argue it takes a bunch of influencers flogging it for a couple of years... 

If watch influencers decided the Invicta Prodiver was an icon, or "God tier", new people coming into the hobby would consider it so, and others would jump on the bandwagon to claim they were always huge fans of it. 

That's pretty much how anything becomes "iconic" in the age of mass media/social media. 

I'm not trying to put down influencers, but simply pointing out that group think is mostly what drives these sorts of things. 

Consider this, why was the SKX chosen to be "iconic", when the Citizen NY0040 diver was comparable spec wise, and served with the Italian military? 

Some watches, also, went iconic before the social media craze. So there might be other factors. I think that watches appearing in movies being worn by, iconic themselves, actors or characters, might add to it. Like the "All is Lost" movie by the iconic Robert Redford wearing the SKX.

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marioap

Some watches, also, went iconic before the social media craze. So there might be other factors. I think that watches appearing in movies being worn by, iconic themselves, actors or characters, might add to it. Like the "All is Lost" movie by the iconic Robert Redford wearing the SKX.

Definitely, which is why I included mass media in the ways things become iconic. The "Arnie", the SMP, and the Sub are all obvious movie choices that pre-date social media. 

In the time before social media created "influencers", we had celebrities that filled the same roll. 

I'm not saying any of it is nefarious, or even wrong, but people should be aware of it, and how it might be influencing their choices.