The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Quick question for you guys.

How do you deal with people that are rather... immature/insulting about expensive watches (or anything luxurious for that matter)? I know i am young (23 this week), and yes I have 'nice' things. So what? Why do some people need to be insulting/immature about it? Jealousy??

Thanks.

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Panerai PAM212 | Panerai Diver Strap
Panerai PAM111 | Black Croc Strap
Omega Planet Ocean | SS Bracelet
Rolex Submariner | SS Bracelet (Sold, Awaiting Funds)
Breitling Navitimer Olympus | Brown Croc Strap (Arriving)

In what way have people been immature about it towards you? A bit of jealousy, yes, but I've not personally come across anything I'd say was immature behaviour.

To be honest I'm pretty low key about my watches out there in the world. I almost always have them hidden away under my sleeve, so they don't tend to be massively on display. And that's not a conscious decision because I'm embarrassed or anything - far from it in fact! It's just how I am..... oh and it helps keep the dreaded scratches down too! . At the end of the day I buy my watches for me, and me alone, so the only time I make any kind of big deal about them is in the company of like-minded people.

But if anyone did happen to say anything about them, it'd just be water off a duck's back as far as I'm concerned. I fully appreciate the fact that not everyone "gets" the whole watch thing, and I'm absolutely fine with that.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Driver, nicely summed up! I totally agree with your logic and way of thinking.

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Breitlingfanatic30



Montbrillant Legende (Silver Dial)
Super Avenger (Black Dial with Baton Markers)
Bentley 6.75 (Silver Storm Dial)

People will always choose to be judgmental - if you have nice things or wear nice clothes then you must be 'rich' and if you are rich then you are inevitably a stuck up snob - blame TV stereotyping.

As Driver8 said, and as has been said before I wear my watches for me, and if people don't get it then that's OK. If people are 'bothered' by it then I would suggest that it says more about them than me.

Sometimes people are more interested in my collection and I'm happy to speak about pieces, what makes them unique, etc, although I choose not to answer some questions - how many do you have, how much did that cost, etc.

I don't think that I have ever come across immaturity, but then I suspect that you and I have different social circles as I am most definitely not 23

I'd agree that at the end of the day, the watch is for me and me alone. If you keep that mindset, I can almost guarentee there won't ever be a negative reaction. It's when you are somewhat of a braggard, tossing out how much you spent on a particular piece and how many you have, etc... that it becomes garish, IMO. The folks who do that kind of thing might be asking for trouble, and might even revel in the attention.

A small, slightly evil, part of us all enjoys the attention we garner for our good taste and certainly use them as "status" symbols. Some Breitlings are IMPOSSIBLE to not notice and have been designed with the "LOOK AT ME" mindset (SA). It's being able to find the balance between this secret pleasure and a sense of humbleness that is very tricky.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

Good answers all -- though I do NOT cover my watch with my sleeves...

In my experience most people I meet r not into watches enough to know about brands or their costs to comment. Rolex (at least here in Asia), sure. But not any of the other WIS brands above say, a Tag.

Wear, buy, do what you want in life. As long as you're not hurting or upsetting anyone then no problem. No-one likes a show-off though, or someone who insists upon themselves and their things. Just remember how what you are wearing or the image you're portraying may be seen by different people in different situations and dress/act accordingly.

Could very well be jealousy but then again it could also just be a snap judgement which we are all prone to nowadays as a result of our conditioning in this world.

Do your best to ignore it as you may never know why people do the things they do. There's a saying I like a lot:

"What people say about me is none of my business" which seems to fit in your situation. I haven't experienced directly what you're referring to but then there is a lot of ignorance regarding watch brands. Ultimately it doesn't matter what other people think. I wish you the best of luck getting through this.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

I get upset (I try no to) at people who don't get watches and nag you as to why you would even think about spending more than a couple hundred dollars on a watch. You just can't explain it to someone with that mindset.

To be honest, you're better off not even trying to explain it to "non-WIS" types! It's one of those things that people either "get" or they don't. Very few people ever really change their opinions over this kind of thing.

And just thinking about it, I actually sometimes have trouble explaining how I managed to spend the amount I have over the years TO MYSELF! (I've given up trying to explain it to myself too! )

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Driver8

Site Moderator

The lifetime total thing is a mug's game. I know that I say that from a position of having spent a lot, but it doesn't make sense on any aspect of life. How much have you spent on alcohol, fancy restaurants, heck even greetings cards. All things that aren't necessary but go towards enhancing the way that we (and / or others) feel about life.

Life's too damn short to worry about the price of what makes you happy!

That is SO going on my wife's desk!!!!!!
Now about the next watch to make me happy dear.....

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

Those are the people i am talking about.

AFAIK it's my money, i do as i please with it (as long no one gets hurt i always say). But some people... urgh...



Love it!

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Panerai PAM212 | Panerai Diver Strap
Panerai PAM111 | Black Croc Strap
Omega Planet Ocean | SS Bracelet
Rolex Submariner | SS Bracelet (Sold, Awaiting Funds)
Breitling Navitimer Olympus | Brown Croc Strap (Arriving)

I find that wearing a SA it does wear rather large on my wrist, that's no problem for me but it seems to bother other people........if they express interest in wanting to know what it is, if they ask without being silly i just tell them its a Breitling...i have had the same trouble with my car i now tell them the watch was bought because its the same colour as my car.......99% dont even know what you are on about.
So the odd 1% who do,.. does it matter anyway........it took me a long time to finally get my SA from being a young man to when i retired......so i look after it with sleeves down with a coat on but short sleeves with a shirt.........it does attract attention though.. ..

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SUPER AVENGER 563
BLUE DIAL
SILVER SUBS
PRO 2 BRACELET
]

Saddly both my cars are black and my watch is more polished/brushed than black

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Panerai PAM212 | Panerai Diver Strap
Panerai PAM111 | Black Croc Strap
Omega Planet Ocean | SS Bracelet
Rolex Submariner | SS Bracelet (Sold, Awaiting Funds)
Breitling Navitimer Olympus | Brown Croc Strap (Arriving)