The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So, once over I found myself in "the" situation in which I could not possibly have been surrounded by more Submariners and/or Portugieser chronographs. This is, of course, to say that once over, I have taken part in a typical Zurichean afterwork venue, where end-twens who made a little money come to impress their fellow junior associates and act all cool and relaxed. It is uncanny just how much appeal the aforementioned pieces seem to have among this crowd... to the point that a Hublot would actually pass as unusual and "special" in the midst of them.

And that gets me thinking about my own watch buying/owning/wearing habit. I mean, seeing this in quite such a theatrical manner always gets me laughing about the pathetic effort to be part of some, universally recognized character that some perform.

But the real question is: ain't I the same?

Every morning, in my undies with my toothbrush (just in case you were going to imagine that in detail, I thought I'd mention I've been working out recently), I walk past the tailor mades in my cupboard just to wonder wether I should go with chinos or jeans with the polo I'm inevitably going to wear. I then go on to spending my day in an office in which success is measured by children born, fed and educated per decade and where the only other Rolex is on my bosse's bosse's bosse's wrist... And that's only because we have a light hierarchy. Well, you get the picture. I have come to love this world, I think it's refreshing, I think it's true, I think it's honest, unpretentious, valuable...

In other words, I live in a world in which people wear Aquaterras and Superoceans and honestly I sort of want to identify with that.

In the end its once again, just an image. Like the Subs and IWCs of this world, Omegas and Breitlings have their "type of customer". Only because he's nicer than your average wannabe Gordon Gecko, doesn't mean it doesn't hold true.

And one can't help but to wonder. Aren't we all just chasing an/that "image" through our watches? Aren't we all expressing who we want to be through what we have on the wrist?

What do you think?

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Cheers from Switzerland,

Fred

I don't know that I've ever thought that much about it in detail. At the end of the day I wear or buy a watch that is visually appealing to me. I'm the one shelling out the coin for it there for my opinion is the only relevant one. I know a few people that are influanced buy what others wear. If anything I try to stay away from the kinds of watches that come with those lables. For instance I appreciate the quality that rolex watches bring to the table and though I'm not the biggest fan of their design I wouldn't mind wearing a sub. It's a pretty well rounded watch, but I won't ever buy one because everyone and their brother has one. That's one of the thinks I like about breitling they are not near as common.

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NAVITIMER WORLD (SILVER)
PATEK PHILIPPE 5980 (BLACK)

A couple years ago, I would have agreed. But the last couple years, it just hasn't held true for me. In fact, I'm "this close" to selling all but one or two of my nicer watches and keeping the "lesser" ones I am growing so fond of. Heresy! Unadulterated heresy. But true.

Then again, ask me tomorrow.


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SHARKMAN

This topic comes up every now and then and my answer is always the same - I really don't care what people think my watch says about me. My watches make me happy - they connect me to a person, event, time in my life, whatever and that's more than enough for me. If others choose to label me because of it then that's their loss.

I run my own business in an industry where my reputation defines my success so I cannot completely ignore the 'image' element, but if a potential customer lets my watch define their decision on whether to work with me then it likely wouldn't work anyway.

Much like Roff (and as I've said on here a few times before) I buy watches for me and my own enjoyment alone. The vast majority of the time I tend to wear long sleeves anyway - this is the freezing UK after all! - so my watches are usually hidden away under them. I'm not remotely ostentacious about showing my watches off for the sake of it, or bragging about them, so what people think of them (or label me as as a result) doesn't remotely bother me at all. To be honest, apart from a few friends who are also heavily into watches, this is the only place I really talk about them.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

One of the things i like about watches is that to most people they say absolutely nothing about you. We're the only people who even notice them! Your average punter doesn't even see what's on our wrist. My watches... say nothing about me to anyone but me.

How come I get the feeling you're talking about me....

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

case in point I work in a place where I run into millions of people per year and I look at every wrist that comes thru the doors. At least I think I do. I ran into a guy wearing a navi world the other day and I pointed it out and complemented him on it. He said thanks and told me he liked my SA. Watch freaks seek out watch freaks. And that is the only way I want it. I dont care what others think. I buy the pieces I buy for me and my enjoyment. In the end I am the one wearing them, staring at them, polishing them, taking care of them....

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White Dial Super Avenger with Batons
Grey Dial Breitling Bentley 6.75

Past:
Black Dial Super Avenger with Numerals
Countless "high priced" cheapos

I also, buy the watches I like and could care less if someone does not like it or thinks its to big or has to many diamonds, I enjoy my 8 Breitlings and enjoy deciding which one should I wear today. Being an owner of a jewelry store my customers don't think it's out of the ordinary for me to wear an all diamond watch and always compliment them.

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5 Super Avengers
1 Super Avenger 2
1 Super Avenger limited edition
1 Super avenger night mission
1 Limited edition chronomat Boston Celtics
Navitimer GMT
Transocean Chronograph Unitime
2 Omega planet ocean chronographs
1 Tag heuer Monaco

i have to say that 90% of the time my watch is under my sleeve. and till date no one has ever given any of my watches a second look.

as for what it says about me...thats a tough one. I guess if you were to see me I am not the typical or cliche watch connoisseur. so i have no idea how other folks view me and my watches. I can say though that my close friends who know me think that I am nuts to spend more than couple hundred dollars on a watch.

Following your thoughts on chasing an image, I guess I could see that happening. To suggest that I wear my watches because of the rich history or this or that would not entirely be true. Certainly I tend to gravitate to one brand over another. and i do like some of the associations certain brands have with certain sporting events. but most my decisions these days are based on resale value

My watches say, "I know what time it is"!!!!
But really though, I only wear my watches for me because I have an affinity for luxury time pieces, and I don't give a you know what others wear, although I can appreciate anyone's taste.
That being said before I could afford a nice piece, I always wanted a tattoo of a rolex with the time at 4:20

I'm glad I never did that though.

I bet you are. When I was younger I wanted to get a tattoo of a Vicodin pill as a cartoon character scratching its face... Lol

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NAVITIMER WORLD (SILVER)
PATEK PHILIPPE 5980 (BLACK)

Oh, "the code."



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SHARKMAN

Lmao

Great Question.

A watch, like all other accoutrements we obtain over our lifetime, does say something about us. It would be churlish to say otherwise. There are two parts to this question though, and you have to separate them to answer your question.

On the one hand we choose what we like, desire or we feel can fulfil a need in our life. On the other, it’s a personality trait as to whether it makes any difference to you what others think about you, by wearing a certain watch. The two parts are linked, but can be seen separately. There is an element to the second part that does reside in all of us, whether we choose to admit it or not, as we do care to a certain extent what others think and what it says about you. As for the first part, we proudly wear our choices and can argue (more or less) the need for such instruments in our daily life, even if others can’t see it. Even if it’s only to make us happy!

It’s the fact we have to defend our choices at all that is the most interesting aspect of this question and one that fascinates me.

For some it’s only minor what people think, and for others its writ large. Like many here, I don’t really care what others may think of my choices, but I do recognise it’s disingenuous to suggest that it does not exist at all. No one could reasonably argue a total lack of care on the reaction of others to your choice of watch, particularly if it’s negative. We are only human after all!

Many watches out there are of a ‘novelty value’ only, and with some it being mandatory to reach for a vomit bag. This is different for each of us, and we will never agree totally with each other on what watch is a candidate for ridicule (praise for a choice is different). That’s personal taste but it is remarkably telling how many people (if put to the test) would be personally affronted by any negativity commentary from others over a choice in a particular watch, whilst maintaining that it has no effect on them at all.

A good number will be upset at the suggestion that they may have made a bad or an unreasoned choice, if you were to suggest it. Some souls are so sensitive to this issue, the mere scintilla of anything negative will bring down on you a ‘total work over’ that you probably would wish you had said nothing in the first place. Insecurity, fear of ridicule and egotism are all human traits, and they are at work when we don one of our favourites on our wrist.

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Jim

"You have Control".