I read an article talking about “watches you wear for yourself” and “watches you wear for others.”

My initial gut reaction was that it was awful to wear a “watch for others” but I realized that’s no different than wearing a suit to a business meeting, etc.

I have a Milgauss as my “professional” watch. It ties in fairly well to what I do.

There would be better choices if I was a conventional lawyer, but it works for my mix of blue collar/technical/creative.

I think if there’s a watch strongly tied to your profession, it makes sense to have one. (Navitimer/Speedmaster/GMT master for pilots, one of the Doctors Without Borders/Sinn pulsometer if in medicine, etc)

Seiko tends to have Seiko labeled kind of funky watches, with grand Seiko movements, which I like, personally, but I think I’m going to sell those, and buy some SEL instrument watches, because I like the idea of wearing a watch made by a very small team, in the U.S.- and I think a U.S. made watch is a good image, when I have my “manufacturer” hat on.

I know I mentioned rather expensive watches - but Casio/Citizen/Seiko/Hamilton/Ball/Oris/MR Jones/AnOrdain all make interesting watches, with varying messages, at a variety of price points.

I love my watches and I have to admit I am flattered when another watch nut notices. I don't care about anything non-watch people think about them. But it's mostly for me. I once ran into a guy at Wegman's wearing a Sinn U2 and I was wearing mine. You cannot have that watch and not be a watch nut. We had a good chat. I was at Scottsdale Gun Club, waiting in line to pay for an SP2022 and a guy complimented me on my Rolex Batman. He was buying an SKS and worked at a local watch store. We also had a good chat. If I saw a guy wearing a Milgauss, we'd be friends.

I had a guy at my local gun store strike up a conversation with me over my Speedmaster just the other day. He spotted it while we were chatting with the counter guy and knew what it was. Led to a great conversation on watches that branched off into all kinds of other topics.

I’ve never bought a watch to impress someone else, but I tend to notice what other people are wearing. If it’s something cool I might ask them about it. Figure everyone likes to be complimented on their taste every once in awhile. Met some pretty cool people from all walks of life that way.

If you are interested in American watches, be sure to check out Monta. They have some really nice offerings at not (too) crazy prices.

I don’t buy watches to impress others, I buy watches because I enjoy masterfully made time pieces that are powered by my movement.

That said it never bothers me if my Tudor Pelagos gets noticed and a compliment from an employee at the gun shop or if my vintage reissue 1968 Seiko gets noticed by a customer while I’m at work.

The problem with fine mechanical automatic timepieces is that they are easily as addictive as collecting firearms.

And yes I agree with you that many brands do make interesting and unique to their brand watches. My favorite brands in no particular order are: Tudor, Ball, Omega, Doxa, Helm, Tissot, Mido, Seiko, Grand Seiko, Hamilton, Zelos, Oris, Sinn, Zenith, Tag Heuer, IWC, Glycine, Casio, and of course Citizen for starting me on my watch addiction journey.


I don’t really get too hung up on watches being “American made” because they are not really going to be 100% made here. It is not possible to make a watch here completely without pricing yourself out of the market.

One American brand that has caught my eye is Resco. Link to Resco watches
I first noticed them when a Resco BlackFrog Gen2 diver watch made an appearance on US Navy SEAL James Reece’s (Chis Pratt’s) wrist in the series The Terminal list.

I've had compliments on my Omega, Ball and Helm. I appreciate that and it does spark up a conversation.

I can't say I'm a watch guy, but I do find it interesting as there are so many different manufacturers with so many variations.

I do believe the common denominator in this thread is really the owners choice in what appeals to them. For example I wear a G-Shock most of the time because it suits my budget, environment, and the model I find non-offensive. When I want to go out a bit more dressed up I'll grab my Phoibos as I enjoy it. If I get a complement on it then that is enjoyable, but it's what I like first.

Everyone has different tastes and that's what keeps us individual. I also don't give watches without a 4 o'clock crown a second glance now

Cheers~

Wearing an expensive watch makes me feel good. When I was in my 20's spent $250 on an expensive Citizen. It was a big purchase then, made me feel good wearing it, still have it. Now I get the same feeling wearing my Submariner, Hamilton and Vaer.
Buy them for me and not to impress other people.

Watches.... well I notice when someone's wearing one simply because it's a rarity anymore, I know it's me but I'm just not impressed with watches and see them more as jewelry. I also wouldn't recognize one from the other, other than maybe traditional looking Rolex's, or their look-a-likes. I have one wrist watch given by my father that might be worn once a year, because it was his.

There is a watch company in London that makes high-end mechanical timepieces. and they have a military division that creates very limited aviation-themed watches'

Bremont military division focuses primarily on British aircrews and planes, but has done a few US aircraft as well, e.g. F-16, KC-135, and B-2, to name a few.

These military watches must be purchased from the factory, and there is a strict vetting committee which verifies that the buyer has actually been an aircrew member and requires documentation to support the claim.

A year and a half ago, my son, a good friend, and another pal (ex-F-16 driver) started the process on my behalf as I had served as an AWACS NORAD Airborne Battle Staff member for a few years, and flew regularly out of Tinker AFB on Oklahoma City.

It took a long time--after my bona fides were approved, it then took nine months to build the watch. That my son and friends would do this for me was deeply appreciated and quite emotional on Christmas morning!!

Here it is:


Tim

I used to have a really nice gold Seiko wristwatch for dress wear.

I say "used to have" because I just went looking for it and it's not where it should be nor is it anywhere else I can think of.

Cannot imagine, for the life of me, where it might be. I also had a fairly ugly wristwatch given to me by my employer for some reason or another. That's nowhere to be seen, either.

I choose my watches because I like them...I don't imagine that I will run across anyone else that cares. (Currently wearing a plain, Waltham automatic that was made in the 1950's just because...)

If that’s a Waltham branded Blancpain, very cool.

I get wearing them for yourself, most of the time. I just didn’t equate wearing them for others with professional dress, before.

I did used to, regularly, mentor young lawyers that GQ et al is wrong, and there is no such thing as a “dressy” dive watch, or dive watch to wear with a suit.

(Yes, some special exceptions for athletes being paid to wear a certain watch/maybe sports agents/execs in the diving business etc.

@slyguy - I think every watch nerd has G shocks.

I am paring myself down, considerably

(I have to fight OCD, and trying to pair the “exact” right watch with the activity and color of shirt and type of dress is a perilous idea, for me-fortunately, it’s just a stress thing, and I will be eliminating a lot of that soon.)

@stickguy, check out SEL. At least according to their marketing, they make almost the whole watch in house, in AZ, except the movement.

BlackAg, that Bremont is mighty nice. Had to reread as I initially thought it was a 747 on the face, before I noticed the dish midship.

I've only ever gotten a compliment on my Monster, and it was a kid in a drive-thru window.
I wear what I like & recently it's just been the semi-smart CZ for the smart features as I've been in a lot of meetings & like just a quick glance at the wrist & not having to check my phone for a message.

I've come across the notion of certain watches for certain professions. Couldn't afford the one for mine!
I also think watches have gone into the "jewelry" category these days, as opposed to utilitarian.
Even so, I enjoy wearing watches, like the occasional compliment I've received over the years, and enjoy the way wearing a fine one makes me feel.
Te lling the time is a nice addition, too!!

I have high blood pressure and bought an Omron watch with a BP cuff. After using it, I found it was bulky and uncomfortable. The readings were way off the readings I got with a wrist cuff and/or a medical arm cuff. When I wanted to return the watch, I was told it was out of the return window.....

DO NOT buy a watch from Omron. I'm out about $400.

When I was buying watches, I bought them to wear for myself and display to others. I bought a couple of diving watches so I can use the bezel for timing stuff. I got a couple of GMT watches because I like the idea of tracking other time zones as I dealt with people in England, Ireland, and Asia. I bought a cheap GMT for travel in sketchy countries. I bought a couple of nice dress watches. I wanted a black motif watch for casual wear. Etc. etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
I love my watches and I have to admit I am flattered when another watch nut notices. I don't care about anything non-watch people think about them. But it's mostly for me. I once ran into a guy at Wegman's wearing a Sinn U2 and I was wearing mine. You cannot have that watch and not be a watch nut. We had a good chat. I was at Scottsdale Gun Club, waiting in line to pay for an SP2022 and a guy complimented me on my Rolex Batman. He was buying an SKS and worked at a local watch store. We also had a good chat. If I saw a guy wearing a Milgauss, we'd be friends.

Have never seen another U2 out in the wild. Mine means so much to me because I spent a major part of my life working in and around North German shipyards. Only a true watch nerd knows what it is and I have met a few people who recognized it.

Hang around the nice parts of Frankfurt for a few days and you'll run into Sinns in the wild. Maybe not a U2, but that's their natural habitat.