One thing you can't stand on a watch?
I hope it's not too much of a "negative" topic...
Is there one thing you just can't stand on a watch, no matter how expensive, sophisticated or downright cheap the watch is?
For example, for me that would be roman numerals. Just can't stand it.
My son ist completely different: His current grail watch is the Cartier Santos! 😂 While I can appreciate the history and design language of that watch I could never wear it. Funny enough, I do love Art Deco design... I am complicated, yes.
So, what about you guys (and gals!)?
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Martin
100% swiss and working in the most "swiss" industry you can imagine! And it's not chocolate! :-) I'm a vintage guy at heart and have deep connections to Japan.
Basel, Switzerland
Member since
Last active: 1 year ago
For me it's Roman numerals too!
For me, it is the cyclops over a date window. It always looks off to me, and it has kept me from a few purchases.
Cyclops for me every time. I hate those on a watch, see no point in them and am bewildered as to why manufacturers think they are doing anything but spoiling the look of a multitude of watches.
Bad font choices. Ugh.
I personally get hives when someone hands me a watch with a fake alligator skin strap. The other thing that turns me off is a Mercedes hour hand.
When the numbers 3, 9 (6 sometimes) are left on chronos but are getting 'crushed' by the sub-dials.
Hardlex crystal, I've had so many watches fuck@d because of the seemingly OK Hardex getting scratched. I'd never get a hardlex again !
Tourbillon open case over skeletonized mega complications watches. I respect how difficult it is to make this type of watch but... they all look like the background in a Tim Burton movie. All the over glitzed moving parts just isn't appealing to me. I over open back watches. I love complications - not everything tossed into one watch
The limited choice of smaller watches (aka ladies' watches) with mechanical (either hand-wound or automatic) movements. It's getting better but still very limited compared to 38mm+ sized watches.
For me, it is the cyclops over a date window. It always looks off to me, and it has kept me from a few purchases.
Agreed!
I personally get hives when someone hands me a watch with a fake alligator skin strap. The other thing that turns me off is a Mercedes hour hand.
With you on the fake gator but guilty of a few Rolex with the Mercedes gig
Snowflake hands & Roman numerals.
Those are my only non-negotiables.
Small date window
Fake things, like a diving bezel that doesn't turn or a tachymeter scale on a chrono that uses the small seconds, etc...
Things that I will never tolerate, no exceptions
This is more of a disappointment than a deal breaker, but short hands on a watch and in particular when the seconds hand is short, really spoils a dial for me.
A battery that has to be replaced every couple of years.
Integrated/non-standard bracelets and straps.
Cyclops, mercedes hands, and mineral crystal are my show stoppers.
The only exception being mineral crystal on digital watches.
A non-ratcheting compass or timer bezel. I know these are only found on cheap watches; but, there are a lot of inexpensive watches that still incorporate functional bezels. When I'm in the foothills of Mount Shasta looking for Sasquatch, I want to be wearing a cheap watch I can trash and still know if I'm heading due North. And what if I find Bigfoot and he gets mad and clamps down on my watch with his big yellow fangs? Right?
My God exactly!!!! Like seeing a back spoiler on a 2002 stock Chevy Impala WTF???? All that faux functionality = dumb
Oh yeah, well what about the sweet bolted wing on that 1999 White Honda Civic DX? That's bitching ain't it?
Not comfortable enough bands or straps. No matter the price tier.
Cheap mechanical movements in a watch rather than a good quartz one, just so the marketing material can pander to people looking for an automatic watch.
My vote is Roman numerals, I won't and flat out refuse to buy any watch with Roman numerals on the dial.
Those ridiculous watches where the clock dial is shrunken and slid off center to some subset of the available dial space. The A. Lange & Sohne1 is perhaps the most egregious example of this offense, but there are other awful watches that commit this hideous travesty for less money.
My main gripe is not with watches itself, but with watch marketing. Some of it is just so over the top, to the point of it being ridiculous or outright creepy. (like the red/blue TAG Heuer ads with Ryan Gosling)
Lucky me, I can't stand a Mercedes Hour Hand in a modern, glossy watch:
Let’s see: