The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Ok guys, maybe I am being to paraniod......perhaps this has happened to you......it has happened to me a couple of times in the past few months. My wife and I are eating and then a server looks down at my watch and says, "nice watch!"..now that is not what bothers me, not even the fact that he notices its a Breitling and feels he needs to ask me if it is in fact a Breitling, its when he asks me pretty loudly, "how much did you pay for that?" that gets me......both times at different places these same exact questions were asked. Both times I just simply looked around while I answered them and said, "I would rather not say how much in a public place out loud." They just looked at me with this look like I was to good to answer them, I hope I wasnt being rude as that was not the intention, has this ever happened to any of you guys?

It happened to me once at the gym, one of the trainers commented on my Blacksteel. But it wasn't tacky, and he did not ask me how much I paid. So I just took it as a compliment to my good taste
I have had servers glance at my watches, and rings, from time to time, but without comment.
Maybe I am old school, but I do agree that it's very tacky to ask someone how much they paid for their watch. If they really want to know, they could ask the brand and model, and do some research on their own. Times seem to be changing, though, and a lot of things I consider tacky seem to surprise a lot of people. I also don't go for the "loud" voice, which seems to be another thing that is getting very prevelent in society today. I just consider it boorish. There is a time and place for everything, and I find that most people really do not have a sense of occasion these days.
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

That particular situation has never happened to me, but you're sitting down at a meal and you shouldn't have to deal with that.

Nice watch is a fair enough comment but I wouldn't worry about being rude to someone who is being rude to you. Plus, anyone can look up the price of these watches, it's not a state secret, when he or she gets home they can surf the internet and satisfy their curiosity. I tell people it was a gift when I'm in a similar situation.

Had similar experiences.

A Bartender in Jamaica commented on my Chronomat, the smallest of all my watches, and just simply said "Man, dat watch, 'im shout style." I just said thanks and left feeling extremely pleased with myself!!! (Yes, of course I left a decent tip.....)

In Vermont, literally 4 day's after buying my 1st Breitling, a B1 for my 40th Birthday, I was sat at the bar with my wife, and I heard the guy next too us comment to his friend...I'll never forget it...(Hey, that guy is wearing a Thirty Five Hundred Dollar Watch....." I was flippin amazed he'd noticed AND knew the approximate value.

But when people ask how much I paid for any of the watches I am wearing, I simply say "Probably more than I ought to have." I leave it at that.

Davey

That's happened to me a number of times -- with my Breitlings
and my Rolexes. The few times I told the interested party
the actual price of the watch I was wearing, he looked at me
as if I was lying -- or crazy. Made me feel very uncomfortable.
Now, whenever anybody asks me the price of the piece I'm wearing,
I will lie! I'll say, "Oh, a couple hundred, I think. I can't really remember."
I'll never reveal the true price of a watch, even if the person asking
seems to know watches. The only exception, of course, is if I'm
at a watch show or a get together with other watch lovers.

Steve

I think its a very dangerous thing to releal the price to a complete strnger how do you know he will not tell someone who will then mug you I have heard old ladys get beaten up for $1 so what would some crackhead desperate for a fix do for a $2k watch

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If someone notices your watch and comments about it, its one thing but if they begin asking about prices, worth etc..thats another. Its outright rude and not worth the recognition of an anwser. I would just ignore it.
pete

Next time tell him you didn't pay for it, that you just beat up a rude person and took it as a prize.

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I like that response. I really shouldn't but I do.

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Rolex 42mm Explorer
IWC Ingenieur

A few others too.

I never thought of that, Mario. I may try it the next
time somebody asks me about my watch. Problem is,
I'm not very intimidating -- something of a pussy cat....
Oh well....

Steve

Don't worry about how you look. Just keep a good poker face and act like you are reaching for something inside your coat or at your waste band

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Ive been asked about my watch many times, but none asked the price as far as I can remember. If they did id just tell that that id rather not say, or respond with "not too much.." Unless its a friend...ill tell them.

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-RJ

My experience with this is that the way in which the "is that a real [brand name]?" type conversation developes depends very much on which attitude you reply with.
I try to respond with a little enthusiasm like explaining which model it is and perhaps a little something about the features. Let them know you are genuinely interested. That will make people less likely to think you are showing off.

As for the question "How much did you pay for it", use the same approach. Tell them that oooh, no-no-no you never ask a guy about the price of his timepiece and say that it would be kind of like asking a woman if her boobs are real.


If you are inclined to use brush-off type replies or aren't particularly interested in making a conversation of it, here are some suggestions when someone asks if it's real:

The conversation stopper:
"Well, my dad didn't say anything about it being a fake when he gave it to me on his deathbed..."

The Letterman evasion:
"The question you should be asking is: Will it float?"

The secret service presidential whack retort:
"I could tell you, but I'd have to shoot you."

The cheezy pick-up line answer:
"I could tell you, but I'd have to nail you."

The "D'oh!" response:
"You know... I forgot to ask."

...and of course, for those of you who really know where your towel is:
"42"

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"Either this man is dead or my watch has stopped!"
- Groucho Marx

I had a similar conversation with a server a couple of months ago - slightly more subtle I guess - "Bet that was expensive". I didn't respond and he took the hint.

Groucho, I fear Douglas Adams would have been wasted on him, although the death bed one is tempting......