cadre

I've been working at a motorcycle dealership for a bit now and basically, I'm "in charge" of apparel, which include sunglasses and watches.

I can't help but notice how many men go out of their way to buy sunglasses and watches that they can't afford, but more so with watches. We deal Nixon watches that can easily be more than $300 dollars. And they sell!

Men, do you buy watches like this? If so, why? Is it to show off your money or just to have something nice to wear? Or is it something else completely.

Women, how do you feel about men wearing expensive watches? Do you take that as a sign of wealth or do you not care?



To answer my own questions, it seems to me like it's a money/power thing for men. But I'm not a man so I guess I can't say really. I do know though that when I see a man with a nice watch in a business or a romantic setting it gives the hint that they are well off and like nice things.

Also, is there something that women wear which serves the same purpose as a man's watch?


Edit: I didn't realize there was a whole thread about men's style otherwise I may have posted there but oh well, too late now. I'd like to see some discussion anyways.

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itlain

I'm probably guilty of buying a watch beyond my means. But for my job, I'm expected to look nice, and look successful (I'm a recruiter). So I have a nice Movado watch.

Personally I think a good watch accents someone quite well, and it is not something I regret buying. However, I don't enjoy paying for it that much. I think it ran around 1400$ or so.

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Cynthetiq

you can't walk into a meeting or restaurant and put your keys on the table to show you're driving a BMW, but you can glance at your watch and show you've got a rare, collectable, or expensive timepiece on your wrist.

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inBOIL

My watches always get damaged, lost, or broken well before their time, so I don't want to spend any more than necessary. As for the reason behind wearing an expensive watch, I think it's the same as wearing a nice new outfit--it feels good to know you have something new that makes you look good.

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allaboutmusic

Hate to break it to you, but $300 isn't exactly expensive when it comes to watches.

My three most expensive watches each retail for around 10 times your "$300" (new), and that's considered mid-high end in the world of watch enthusiasts. Of course, street prices are usually considerably lower than retail, and I did buy two of them in mint used condition which helped a lot.

For me personally, I've always really liked watches. I loved my Casio watches when I was a kid, and geeked out over fancy calculator ones and solar-powered watches. When I started working, I spent a year looking around for a nice watch, eventually spending around $200 on one, and wore it every day for three years.

Handbags, shoes. I'd say jewellery, but jewellery isn't necessarily functional in the same way.

cadre

Yeah, you're right but as I'm not in the watch business I don't know these things. Also, I'm a starving college student so 300 dollars for anything is a lot.

And I hate to break it to you but most shoes women spend good on money are not functional either. I guess it'd have to be handbags, but I definitely can't justify spending a lot of money on those.


Do all of you wear watches you spend all this money on or are they just collectibles? Do you have a nice one that you wear for special occasions and other ones that you wear all the time or do you always wear the nicest you have?

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Cynthetiq

I stopped wearing a daily watch when my best friend got married. It was a good time to get rid of the watch tan and that was almost 10 years ago.

I now just have a dress watch which I wear only for occassions. Otherwise, I have my cellphone, PDA, iPod to tell me the time.

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clavus

I have a cool-ass stainless steel Hamilton watch. $300. It is not an expensive time piece, but I like how it looks and I like that my wife gave it to me. Everybody I know who has a job like mine wears a Rolex. Most of them bought it because they were led to believe that is what a "successful" person wears.

They don't know what a really good watch is. They wouldn't know a Patek Philippe if it bit them on the wrist.

My watch is different. I like that.

If I see someone wearing a WWII vintage Rolex, or a funky Omega from the 50's or 60's, THAT impresses me.

But the bottom line is that a man's watch doesn't tell you anything about the man, unless you know the story behind the watch. Was it his Grandfather's retirement watch, or did he pick it up in a yard sale? Does he use the actually keep track of the tides an phase of the moon, or does he just like the way the dial looks?

What's the story behind the watch?

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Willravel

It's man-jewelry. Most women will notice shoes and watches on a man immediately; you're making an impression. A Timex $100 watch makes an impression. A Dior $2300 watch makes a slightly different impression.

match000

Here's a question, then. How do you distinguish between the women who like you for your $ and the women who like you for you? Or are they necessarily related in some way?

I don't mean gold diggers, either. I just mean your average, well educated attractive woman.

This is related to this thread b/c if you are single, would you want to wear a nice watch if you just get a bunch of interest in you due to your $?

Borla

$300 isn't considered an expensive watch by a large portion of the population. I have a pretty good job, though I am not rich by any means, but just talked myself out of a watch that was a couple grand and bought one that was several hundred instead. Lots of people that I know or work with have at least a watch or two that cost $1500+.

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Willravel

I can understand a woman being interested in someone who's responsible enough to earn a decent wage. I can usually weed out women who are with me just for a physical relationship or for handouts pretty quick. The idea is that a decent watch doesn't just communicate *money money money*, it also can communicate *he cares enough about himself to dress well; he can make enough money to support a family; oh my god he has huge hands*. Ultimately, it's about standing out in the herd.

FoolThemAll

Waste of money. I'd never spend more than $30. For the most part, same goes for clothing as well. I care enough about myself not to waste money on things I don't need or want.

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Jinn

I hate watches. I stopped wearing them when I was 12, and I will never wear one again. Antiquated and useless, in my book.

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match000

Gotcha. On a side note, it woudl be pretty cool to have more women interested in me for a solely physical relationship. i suppose that would be what many men would call the holy grail. lol

Datalyss

Nope. The man makes the man. Society puts too much emphasis on image..IMO.

Tirian

Mine is chosen for function only. Swiss Millitary - basic model. I love it, mostly because I never have to take it off, and it truly handles the abuse. I've scraped it's face across the walls of the raquetball court more than once, broken the pins many times, wear it for all kinds of abusive work like welding, car reairs etc. Swimming, climbing, sailing - good in water. I've actually saved a lot of money (yes this is a pretty cheap watch @ approx $100), but it's lasted 10X any other watch I've had. Of course my most expensive previous watch was a seiko.

I just like not having to worry about abusing it, I'm impressed, and I think it look OK too. (bought my wife the matching ladies model - she likes it too.)

spindles

Mine is a sieko divers watch I found by the side of the road almost 20 years ago. It is a nice watch and retails about the value of the OP. It tells time and seems pretty hard wearing. Do I need anything else?

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Daniel_

I have several watches - most chosen because they're unusual. Right now I'm wearing a Fossil Aut-O-matic which retails new at £100 ($200) but I bought from a business contact for £20.

I like Fossil watches, but my main dress watch is a Raymond Weil that was an 18th Birthday present from my father.

My father has an Omega that he was given by his mum for his 21st Birthday - in due course (assuming my Brother doesn't get there first) it may come down to me - it is heirloom quality after all...

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mandy

Well, if you're like Healer, you'll probably feel that your fiancé should buy you an engagement watch that is both beyond the means of both of you

hahahahahaha...he wants a Tag Heuer but not just any Tag, a Kimmy Raikkonen Tag!!! which costs something between 30k and 40k, but he strongly believes that cos he bought me a ring, i should get him that watch...

he's quite nuts...maybe one day when i win the lotto

but yeah, he is currently wearing his dads watch which is plain and simple...it tells time, and has the date...and it is pretty hard wearing...what more can you ask for in a watch? i offered to have that one nicely restrapped for him for his birthday thats coming up, but he wont hear anything of it...he wants his Tag (or this other one thats name starts with a B, i forget)

but wait, here's a pic of the watch

Attached Images

kimmy - TAG.jpg (15.6 KB, 150 views)

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dlish

the watch maketh the man indeed

but accessories dont maketh the woman. dont ask me why.. it just does.

when u see a man with a nice watch and a cool suit, u think he likes looking after himself..

if you see a woman who is carrying a gucci bag and minolkas you think 'vanity'.

anyone agree?

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allaboutmusic

mandy, that's a Tag Heuer Carrera and I have that same model, in fact I purchased it about two weeks ago. Not sure what currency you are referring to but it doesn't cost anywhere near $30k... closer to US$2k. I got mine used for even less than that.

They're functional in that they protect your feet from the road when you're out and about (in the same way that watches tell time). All shoes do the same basic thing, in the same was that all watches do the same basic thing... some have more additional features than others though.

Of course I wear my nice watches. However the watch I wear for a wedding might not be the same one I wear when I'm fixing the sink. I have a couple of "dressy" watches which I save for special occasions, and several everyday watches which are still nice but are suited to a different situation. Again, a bit like shoes.

Daniel_

From Mandy's profile: Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

From Google: 30 000 South African rands = 3 960.93 U.S. dollars

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╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗
Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air,
And deep beneath the rolling waves,
In labyrinths of Coral Caves,
The Echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand;
And everthing is Green and Submarine
╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

Ilow

I would like to get a nice watch, such as a Rolex when I absolutely don't have to think twice about spending the money. There is something about many nicer watches that feels good. I know it's the weight to some extent, but something else? I think to answer the OP, guys look at watches because they are an acceptable way to accessorize or be a bit different. Many men do not wear much, if any, jewelery, so this fills the gap.

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healer

South African Rand, or ZAR, is around R7.69 to the US$.

That said, I'm quite jealous.

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allaboutmusic

I figured that might be it, USD$4k is still very expensive for that watch... even here in England it's typically around $2.5k new. Maybe it's a lot more in SA.

I know, this was a watch I dreamed about for many years and I am absolutely stoked to finally have one.



I think I'm going to have to go put it on now... have been wearing my Link today.

PlanG

With watches, unless you're going to an interview, I tend not to bother, and either use my phone, or a £5 casio job(gets odd looks, which make me laugh )

Cheap but effective.


They are purely fashion devices. A £3000 watch with a movement will be less accurate than a cheap quartz job.

Having said that, I'd quite like a quartz analogue watch with white face, stainless steel bezel, Roman numbers and a brown leather strap.

Doesn't have to cost much.

ShaniFaye

Wrist watches on a man dont do a thing for me at all, I dont even notice them, now give me a guy wearing a pocket watch and for some reason I swoon!!!

Dave rarely wears a watch, he doesnt like the "watch tan" and he carries his cell all the time so he uses that if he needs to know the time.

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snowy

A pocket watch would be hot.

I never notice whether a man is wearing a watch or not. My SO doesn't wear a watch. He spends most of his day at a computer for work, or in a classroom with a clock, so there isn't really a need. He does have a cell phone, but he forgets it as often as not.

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cadre

I agree with this, though I'm sure there are many people that would argue vanity for men's watches as well.


I think that's true. I know that if I see a man with a nice watch it tells me something about him, granted it's not always true but it's a start. I like to see that a man knows how to take care of himself and is motivated to have money like I am, otherwise things just won't work. Kind of like how I broke up with my ex because he was never motivated to work hard and have nice things. A nice watch tells me this guy has some sense.


Though, when I see someone with a 2k watch who clearly owns nothing else of that value it screams vanity or spoiled. Again, not always the case but I've noticed it a lot around Phoenix.

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genuinegirly

Would you spent $400 on an ideal black pearl?
How about $1,000 or more on a wedding band?

I view timepieces as any adornment.

Personally? I prefer something that looks dainty yet takes a beating. But I'm a woman, you're asking about men's watches. When I see good taste, I appreciate it.

It rubs me wrong that the OP assumed men can't afford something they choose to purchase.

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cadre

This is a college town, and I happen to know that most of the college students here don't make money. I didn't say none of my customers can afford expensive watches.

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genuinegirly

You continue to senselessly pass judgment. That's not a clerk's right.
I certainly hope that you do not treat a customer any differently because you assume they cannot afford what they intend to purchase.

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Baraka_Guru

I think vanity either way. A nice watch and a cool suit is "too much" just as is a Gucci bag and minolkas (what ever they are). But many of us have our moments of vanity.

(Wears a pocket watch.)

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Jinn

What about a guy smart enough to save his money, rather than pissing it away on an ancient timepiece?

I have clocks all over the place, I have a PDA, I have an iPod, and I have enough computers to educate a small country, so I'm never really wondering what time it is. Consequently, I have no use for a wristwatch.

The idea of spending $4000 or even $400 on a watch just makes me go . That's like 15 nights of "entertainment".. movies, plays, dinner.. things which bring me much more joy than bling on my wrist. I'd never look at it anyway, pulling out my cell/PDA for time is habitual.

I think I view guys with $4000 watches like I view women who HAVE to have only Gucci/Prada; they're either spoiled, stupid, or in massive debt living a "fab" life.

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Willravel

It gets old really fast. Please trust me.

It screams stupid more than anything else. If you're having trouble affording food (or if your mom is buying it for you) you have no business buying expensive toys. It's about denial.

allaboutmusic

It's a case of different values - I personally would rather spend the money on a watch that will give me years of enjoyment rather than on 15 evenings of one-time entertainment. I'm not saying that's wrong, just my preference. I cook at home (and am good at it), and can therefore indulge my particular watch fetish responsibly.

You don't think it's possible that they work hard, have saved up and just like having a nice watch?

Lasereth

I would never spend more than $30 on a watch but I definitely don't look down upon others who do. I look at my computers over the past 5 years and see that some of the components in it cost $500 alone so it's basically down to what you value. I have a $500 watch and never wear it because I can't stand having anything on my wrists/hands. I played with it to the point where the band broke and cost $100 to be replaced. Fidget fidget fidget.

I also can't tell the difference between a $100 watch and a $1000 watch so that doesn't help. I suppose people buy expensive watches for the same reason they buy $40k+ cars.

And yes, the general impression you get from a man could be heavily influenced on whether you believe he can leisurely afford a $3k watch.

Willravel

Have you ever driven a Corvette?

StanT

God, I hope not; I wear a women's watch.

I destroy watches. A $400 watch would be a waste, a $30 watch would have a 2 week life-span. I currently wear a black swiss army watch that is waterproof to 100m, with a hardened crystal, and a leather band. It is 3/4 (women's) size, since I hate large watches.

I crunched it's predecessor when a wrench slipped. I lost the one before that in a violent fall on skis. The one before that turned opaque from scratches on the crystal. The $100-150 price range seems to give me a tougher watch, while minimizing the pain when I inevitably trash it.