Watches... Functional or just jewelry for men?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:15 am

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Oh make no mistake, watches are obsolete for their intended purpose. Sure, those who have formed habits will still wear them, but we'll die off of that. The only thing that will be left will be those who choose to wear them as jewelry.

Donnie,

Your post prompted me to do an experiment. My son (senior in college, graduating in Dec) long ago gave up using a watch with the justification of "what do you need it for?" At which point he can yank out the iPhone and real-time track an atomic clock someplace probably. Anyway, I'd been thinking of his comment about watches, how much "in the way" a watch has been for me in my daily life, so after your post I decided to ditch my watch as a self-test.

It's been almost a week now, and I've *almost* gotten used to not looking at my wrist for time. I mean it's been, what, at least 40 years since I started wearing one everyday. :shock:

Hence, old habits die hard. However, every single day the first thing I'd do sitting down in my office is take the stupid thing off. Working on the car, take it off. Going to bed, take it off. Etc...

With a cell phone, I've got time with me. Hence my son's comment of "what do you need it for?" rings true for a part of me for sure.

For the most part I've always bought cheap Casio watches since LCD watches arrived (I actually had two different "LED" watches way back when you would have to tap a button to see the time...) since my primary desire in a watch was extremely light weight coupled with the smallest possible profile. I do have a Maurice Lacroix thing my wife bought me years ago for one of the biggie anniversaries, but I've not worn it much. It's an awesome analog watch with a small profile, but I'm really not into having such hanging off my arm. Hence the Casio $15 watch/stopwatch/etc job, replaced as needed.

Anyway, a week into the experiment, and I think I'm done with a watch for the most part.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

I wear an automatic that's capable of keeping -2 sec/day. It's not as accurate as my kids $9 Thomas battery powered desk clock but I enjoy having a mechanical item that is 99.999% accurate using a technology essentially developed in the late 1800's.

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:44 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

Wow! My cell phone has a clock. Works just fine and came with the phone. Who'd a thunk it...

Buying a Rolex is like buying a Hummer. Hey, look at me !!! :lol:

Spoken from a man driving a Corvette! For the most part, only people who know watches knows or cares what you are wearing so I feel the watch is more about self satisfaction than impressing others. I did get a nice comment in a bar one time but that's another story.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:52 pm

If anything, I think it's great to hear how many of us are using a mechanical watch (usually an automatic) just for the pure love of the technology. It has been probably 30+ years since I last used a non-mechanical watch on a regular basis.

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:57 pm

What's the big deal with having a watch that is uber-accurate? I have yet need to be somewhere that .001 of a second made a difference in being on time or getting my head cut off.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:16 pm

Kevin Harvey wrote:

What's the big deal with having a watch that is uber-accurate? I have yet need to be somewhere that .001 of a second made a difference in being on time or getting my head cut off.

I agree. My $35 Timex does a fine job and nobody wants to steal it. I also agree buying a Rolex is like buying a Hummer. Nobody needs a Hummer or a Rolex and if both were on the cheap end of the price scale (by 'cheap' I mean price, not quality) neither would be desirable. People like to flash expensive stuff, not cheap stuff. To each his own though.

Back on topic, I drove my wife's 1998 Cavalier to CMP this past weekend and got 37MPG. Not bad for an 11 year old car with 228,000 miles.

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:45 pm

back off topic.

A Rolex (Tag / Omega/ whatever) is not like a Hummer. Sure there are plenty of "that guy's" that buy them because they want to impress stupid chicks in crappy bars but more people buy for other reasons. It harkens back to simplier time when one received a watch for a special occasion, graduation, coming back from war, business accomplishment. etc., maybe even farther back when only a few people had a pocket watch (still have my Grandads Hamilton from the railroad that works to this day) It also is a beautifully designed piece of machinary that one admires for the craftsmanship. Does a new Timex keep better time? Well, Grassroots tested a Honda Odyssey against a Porsche 356 a couple of years back. Honda was better, which one do you want? Which one is going to still be desirable in 10 years? Which one holds it's value and even appreciates?

I hope to be like Tom's dad and my grandad and be able to pass on something that will be used and enjoyed by future generations.

I think the Rolex is more akin to Sonya's Cavalier. If it is taken excellent care of it will provide value for way longer than most people ever would think.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:58 pm

clinehall wrote:

A Rolex (Tag / Omega/ whatever) is not like a Hummer. Sure there are plenty of "that guy's" that buy them because they want to impress stupid chicks in crappy bars but more people buy for other reasons. It harkens back to simplier time when one received a watch for a special occasion, graduation, coming back from war, business accomplishment. etc.,

I'd still like to know (for the majority of Rolex owners) if they were affordable enough to be sold at Wal-mart would you still want one? It's more likely the 'exclusive' part is the big draw for most of the Rolex crowd. If the Hummer was the same price as a Kia less people would want one.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

clinehall wrote:

I hope to be like Tom's dad and my grandad and be able to pass on something that will be used and enjoyed by future generations.

I have bought my wive expensive jewelry that will be handed down to my daughter. The continuity is important to us. The watch that I'm wearing now will be my son's one day. He asks to see the train engraving on the back at least once every two weeks. When I put him to bed every night he makes a game out of extending his awake time by watching the sweeping second hand pass the 12 o'clock position at least once. The watch has tritium tubes so he knows that he'll be looking at the same glow, a little less brite, when I hand the watch to him. Hopefully he'll be discussing the same attributes with his children one day.

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:32 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

clinehall wrote:

A Rolex (Tag / Omega/ whatever) is not like a Hummer. Sure there are plenty of "that guy's" that buy them because they want to impress stupid chicks in crappy bars but more people buy for other reasons. It harkens back to simplier time when one received a watch for a special occasion, graduation, coming back from war, business accomplishment. etc.,

I'd still like to know (for the majority of Rolex owners) if they were affordable enough to be sold at Wal-mart would you still want one? It's more likely the 'exclusive' part is the big draw for most of the Rolex crowd. If the Hummer was the same price as a Kia less people would want one.

Quality and Affordability bang up against one another here. I don't think wal mart sells much of anything that most would call high quality. I want craftsman or snap on wrenches, not at wal-mart does not mean I don't buy anything there just wal mart does not sell the quality i desire in tools. I found a jewelry store going out of business last christmas, idiot behind the counter told me he would give me a great deal on a "white gold that's better than stainless steel" ladies stainless steel movada. Was I happy paying $200 for a $900 watch, heck yes. Don't care where it came from bought it/stole it for the quaility. Yes quality can be exclusive, but it goes back to your definition of quality. If I define a quality watch as a 35 timex that will last 5 years then I can buy that at walmart.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:58 pm

a hummer for the price of a Kia? that is an expensive hummer IMO :twisted:

of course a Kia and a Rolex are about the same price so which would ya'll rather have? or give that is. :lol:

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:41 pm

steve remchak wrote:

a hummer for the price of a Kia? that is an expensive hummer IMO :twisted:

of course a Kia and a Rolex are about the same price so which would ya'll rather have? or give that is. :lol:

that's my roomy!

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:48 pm

I'm like you guys on the "handing down" thing. One kid will get the Tag, one the Rolex. Dunno what I'll do with the Citizen.

--Donnie

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:08 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

I'd still like to know (for the majority of Rolex owners) if they were affordable enough to be sold at Wal-mart would you still want one? It's more likely the 'exclusive' part is the big draw for most of the Rolex crowd. If the Hummer was the same price as a Kia less people would want one.

Comparing a Kia or a Hummer, which are not the top dog in any car category, to a Rolex isn't a good comparison. A Rolex is like the Ferrari or Lamborghini of watches. Sure they are exclusive and expensive, but it's not just about looks, it's about performance. While I didn't pay for this one, I wouldn't hesitate laying down $5k+ on another. I would bet that the one I wear daily will continue to run long after I'm gone and it's inherited by my child or family member. - AB

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

clinehall wrote:

back off topic.

A Rolex (Tag / Omega/ whatever) is not like a Hummer. Sure there are plenty of "that guy's" that buy them because they want to impress stupid chicks in crappy bars but more people buy for other reasons. It harkens back to simplier time when one received a watch for a special occasion, graduation, coming back from war, business accomplishment. etc., maybe even farther back when only a few people had a pocket watch (still have my Grandads Hamilton from the railroad that works to this day) It also is a beautifully designed piece of machinary that one admires for the craftsmanship.

And the bell goes ding.

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Watches... Functional or just jewelry for men?

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