Media Hype watches
Hi Crunchers,
Since getting my Aqua Terra, I have noticed that it's a media darling. I liked it before all the hype (at least before I found out about it), so I do feel the love is mainly justified.
However, I got a Hamilton Khaki Field Auto a year ago and ended up sending it back. I find it's a great watch, however imo, not up to the extreme hype it gets on social media. (Mainly due to the lack of AR coating)
I do also have this feeling with some Tissot watches, as they are also being heavily promoted and spoken about very often, but when I try them on, I'm underwhelmed.
Do you have any social media hype watches you think are actually worth the hype, and do you have any that are overhyped in your opinion? Any guilty pleasures?
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Whoa whoa whoa. I have the Hamilton and it is great! As I do not and have never used any social media (aside from this) I have been shielded from any hype. Great three gander though. Use quick change straps and it is a different watch every time!
Whoa whoa whoa. I have the Hamilton and it is great! As I do not and have never used any social media (aside from this) I have been shielded from any hype. Great three gander though. Use quick change straps and it is a different watch every time!
Yeah, I think it's great too. I think my issue was that social media overpromised and that's always dangerous 🙈 but I am wanting to get back into Hamilton again, what would you recommend?
For me the hype over the prx was a bit much. The watch is fine but people were acting like it’s the absolute best watch at it’s price point, personally I prefer the Gentleman.
For me the hype over the prx was a bit much. The watch is fine but people were acting like it’s the absolute best watch at it’s price point, personally I prefer the Gentleman.
Agreed! I've had a look at it in person a couple of times and it just doesn't do it for me. I think it was propagated as the perfect all-round watch, but I feel the style is very specific to lovers of integrated bracelets and the 70s
When I started out buying watches I was very influenced by online hype.
The first mechanical watch I bought, for $120, was a Calvin Klein Infinite which I'd read about online as a "secret deal" because it contained a Swiss mechanical movement with a seconds hand as smooth as a Rolex - the ETA 2824-2. It was a 42mm GADA watch.
That started the obsession and, reading online, I thought I had to have a diver and a field watch too. So I went and bought the recommended/most hyped ones - an SKX and a Seiko 5 Snk809.
I then learned about the next hyped thing, watch modding, so spent a while modding Invicta Pro Divers (thank goodness I didn't mod the SKX) and assembling wristwatches out of cases off Ali Express and 6497/8 movements out of old pocket watches. That was fun for a while until the modded Invictas didn't look so great to me any more.
The watch that changed it all was a Glycine Combat 6 moonphase. Again a purchase driven by specs - $220 for a Swiss mechanical moonphase. The difference was that it wasn't that popular online - moonphases aren't "in" and it was more dressy than fieldy. I began to realise that I liked dress watches and old school complications.
And from then on my watches have got dressier, smaller, older and golder.
I don't begrudge the online hype - I still own the SKX and the SNK - and the journey was probably an inevitable part of working out what I personally like.
For me this is the PRX. When I see it on social media, it looks very cool and interesting but when I see it in real life, this is a huge deception and it do not look interesting anymore. Let's be honest, for 300€ or 700€, I can find better watches that are really more interesting to me. On the pros sidew you have the powermatic 80, which is an awesome movement but that's to me the only thing that makes this watch interesting, otherwise I'll pass or find it maybe for cheaper 🤷🏻♂️
When I started out buying watches I was very influenced by online hype.
The first mechanical watch I bought, for $120, was a Calvin Klein Infinite which I'd read about online as a "secret deal" because it contained a Swiss mechanical movement with a seconds hand as smooth as a Rolex - the ETA 2824-2. It was a 42mm GADA watch.
That started the obsession and, reading online, I thought I had to have a diver and a field watch too. So I went and bought the recommended/most hyped ones - an SKX and a Seiko 5 Snk809.
I then learned about the next hyped thing, watch modding, so spent a while modding Invicta Pro Divers (thank goodness I didn't mod the SKX) and assembling wristwatches out of cases off Ali Express and 6497/8 movements out of old pocket watches. That was fun for a while until the modded Invictas didn't look so great to me any more.
The watch that changed it all was a Glycine Combat 6 moonphase. Again a purchase driven by specs - $220 for a Swiss mechanical moonphase. The difference was that it wasn't that popular online - moonphases aren't "in" and it was more dressy than fieldy. I began to realise that I liked dress watches and old school complications.
And from then on my watches have got dressier, smaller, older and golder.
I don't begrudge the online hype - I still own the SKX and the SNK - and the journey was probably an inevitable part of working out what I personally like.
The glicine and j.w benson are beautiful, congratulations 🙌
The Omega Aqua Terra (41mm, green dial) lives up to and exceeds the inside baseball influencer hype out there. Now for mainstream/wide spread hype, the Black Bay 54 is every but as good as it's hype. Of course this is subjective and just my opinion and experience.
As to not living up to hype - Tissot PRX 40mm. While I was enamored and still would praise it's awesome bracelet - it's case lies super flat and the effective case width & lug to lug makes it wear very large. If 35mm has been available I would have went that route - and maybe quartz too; the Powermatic80 movement is very meh with is weird best rate.
The Omega Aqua Terra (41mm, green dial) lives up to and exceeds the inside baseball influencer hype out there. Now for mainstream/wide spread hype, the Black Bay 54 is every but as good as it's hype. Of course this is subjective and just my opinion and experience.
As to not living up to hype - Tissot PRX 40mm. While I was enamored and still would praise it's awesome bracelet - it's case lies super flat and the effective case width & lug to lug makes it wear very large. If 35mm has been available I would have went that route - and maybe quartz too; the Powermatic80 movement is very meh with is weird best rate.
Agreed! The AT is awesome. I'd like to have seen the BB54, but because of the hype, it's been sold out here where I live for months 😂
Also agree with the PRX, was expecting much more. Been looking at the 35mm version form time to time, but then remember, that I just didn't really enjoy the dial 😬
Firstly the Khaki Field, then the Below Zero (I have one and it is one of my forever watches). Maybe a Pan Europ, or any of their aviation models.
Yeah, I think it's great too. I think my issue was that social media overpromised and that's always dangerous 🙈 but I am wanting to get back into Hamilton again, what would you recommend?
Maybe you’d fancy the Hamilton Cooper, worn by Matthew Mccounaghy in the movie Interstellar. Not the Murph one. B type modern flieger watch, very well built with surprisingly very comfortable bracelet.
For me this is the PRX. When I see it on social media, it looks very cool and interesting but when I see it in real life, this is a huge deception and it do not look interesting anymore. Let's be honest, for 300€ or 700€, I can find better watches that are really more interesting to me. On the pros sidew you have the powermatic 80, which is an awesome movement but that's to me the only thing that makes this watch interesting, otherwise I'll pass or find it maybe for cheaper 🤷🏻♂️
Spot on. The PRX looks very different in real life than photos. I thought I was going to love the textured tapisserie dial, but I hated it. Whereas I loved the 70s cheesiness of the green sunburst quartz and bought it.
The Omega Aqua Terra (41mm, green dial) lives up to and exceeds the inside baseball influencer hype out there. Now for mainstream/wide spread hype, the Black Bay 54 is every but as good as it's hype. Of course this is subjective and just my opinion and experience.
As to not living up to hype - Tissot PRX 40mm. While I was enamored and still would praise it's awesome bracelet - it's case lies super flat and the effective case width & lug to lug makes it wear very large. If 35mm has been available I would have went that route - and maybe quartz too; the Powermatic80 movement is very meh with is weird best rate.
I had a similar experience with the 40mm PRX when I tried it on in person though for me the dial was as much of an issue than the bracelet. Many months later I am still very keen on the green sunburst 35mm quartz PRX that I bought instead.
Underwhelmed: Actually totally disappointed from the Tissot PRX Chronograph. The shape was actually very bad. Especiall due to the very high case vack it sit like an UFO and very uncomfortable.
Hype approfed: Any Rolex with a fluted bezel. It looks so artractive and hypnotic. It sparkles so beautiful.
For me this is the PRX. When I see it on social media, it looks very cool and interesting but when I see it in real life, this is a huge deception and it do not look interesting anymore. Let's be honest, for 300€ or 700€, I can find better watches that are really more interesting to me. On the pros sidew you have the powermatic 80, which is an awesome movement but that's to me the only thing that makes this watch interesting, otherwise I'll pass or find it maybe for cheaper 🤷🏻♂️
Lol. The PRX is the same for me. I keep trying it on, and keep WANTING to love it. But I cannot seem to buy it. The wife hates it, thinks it's ugly. Even though I love it, but I guess not enough to buy. 🤣. I'm sure my watch store hates me coming in to try on but not buy. Oh well, maybe one day.
I love my PRX and Tsuyosa. They're both really nice watches for the price. I have a larger wrist so the size is fine for me.
I keep looking at that ice blue prx and fell like I want it. Maybe if becomes a bit cheaper in the future
I purchased the 12 from Christopher Ward in titanium. I ended up giving it back because it wasn’t very ‘me’ and the blue was very bright and a bit too loud for me. That said it was a fantastic watch for the price. Incredibly well finished comfortable and regulated
Don't get me wrong, by no means an I saying the prx isn't a really good watch! But all the "best watch for under 1k" , "and best budget luxury watch" etc makes it sound like it's miles better than other watches, but I kind of don't see the prx being completely out of this world 🤔
Yeah, I hear ya. Saying it's the "best watch under 1k" is a bit hyperbolic. However, will say I prefer it to watches costing quite a bit more (hence why I bought it, haha). Taste is totally subjective, so there's really no one right answer here.
I purchased the 12 from Christopher Ward in titanium. I ended up giving it back because it wasn’t very ‘me’ and the blue was very bright and a bit too loud for me. That said it was a fantastic watch for the price. Incredibly well finished comfortable and regulated
That's my issue with CW (besides the name 😂😂), you have to order it to try it on and then you'll see if you like it or not. But I guess that's true for all online only watch companies....
The social media hype for watches is easily explained. A poplar watch guy makes a statement about a new watch being great in his opinion, then 500 others have to have the same video. You can watch the trends. Remember "the 3 rules to wearing a watch"? I'd see 6 different people a day so the exact same thing.
I think it's the new social media that shows everything, but just the people we follow. Now we get 100 different people trying to make a name for themselves parroting the same thing over and over.
Just my opinion of course.
Dangerous comment alert: I saw the Speedy in person because I am a space nerd on top of a watch nerd and...I was underwhelmed! 😭
For me, the PRX (quartz) was 100% worth the hype and is still one of my top 3 watches in my collection. Same with the Bulova Lunar Pilot - way too big for most people, but if you have a wrist big enough to pull off such a watch, it's close to perfection. Last but not least, the Seiko Presage line. I was a tiny bit underwhelmed when I received my Cocktail Time Blue Moon. The hardlex crystal and the hollow end links are a big letdown for the price. However, the dial totally makes up for all that. I've yet to see a more vivid dial on any watch below $400. In conclusion, following a hype train is not a bad thing per se. If you're not sure about certain pieces, order them from sources like Amazon where returns are simple and straightforward!
Hype watches are just that. Hype. In a complete vaccum where we are all still watch collectors but neither social media, not horological news existed, and we all just went to each watch website and made our choices, the landscape of the top ten most popular watches sold would be very very different.
The social media hype for watches is easily explained. A poplar watch guy makes a statement about a new watch being great in his opinion, then 500 others have to have the same video. You can watch the trends. Remember "the 3 rules to wearing a watch"? I'd see 6 different people a day so the exact same thing.
I think it's the new social media that shows everything, but just the people we follow. Now we get 100 different people trying to make a name for themselves parroting the same thing over and over.
Just my opinion of course.
yeah, social media is a strange beast, but that seems to be the world we live in now.
You have any watches that confirmed the hype, or you didn't like at all?
I got to try on a Platona recently- that thing is worth every iota of hype it has received. I had an SPB143 a while back also, that thing surpassed my high expectations. I can’t remember why I sold it and I’m going to buy another.
Watches that do not meet the hype? The watches I’ve tried from microbrands have all disappointed me, although that was mainly due to my own expectations. I’ve found the few I’ve had light and tinny, I was expecting a level of quality that may be unreasonable for the price paid
Can't get more hyped than this bad boy right here.
Spot on. The PRX looks very different in real life than photos. I thought I was going to love the textured tapisserie dial, but I hated it. Whereas I loved the 70s cheesiness of the green sunburst quartz and bought it.
Absolutely agree! I don't why they put this textured dial. It looks awful to me to be fair, I wish sometimes to buy both versions and swap dials 😂
Lol. The PRX is the same for me. I keep trying it on, and keep WANTING to love it. But I cannot seem to buy it. The wife hates it, thinks it's ugly. Even though I love it, but I guess not enough to buy. 🤣. I'm sure my watch store hates me coming in to try on but not buy. Oh well, maybe one day.
This is really relatable 😂🙏🏼 every time I'm passing I'm giving it a look but no, it's not for me. Prices are too high for what it is to me. I prefer to wait and buy myself and Tudor rather than buy one of these to be fair, badly priced in my opinion because it isn't worth that much. If the automatic was around 500€ it would be an awesome watch for the price range but for 800€... Too much imo
The new AT? I like that one better with the data at 6pm. I think Tissot does a lot of marketing as does Rolex. Rolex probably and the Submariner get a lot of media attention.
The Citizen Tsuyosa is also hyped as **** but I think the watch is worth every penny. Also the different colour options are great!