GMT/Sub with a suit? Is chivalry comatose?

[gofore59]

Style is evolving and heavily influenced by cultural icons. Actors, politicians and celebrities (be it fashion designers, socialites or gasp - reality stars) are the greatest influencers of style and set the new standards. A lady may recognize the formal individual, but 10 to 1 she will be visualizing James Bond in his tux and Sub when she orgasims.

James Bond may have been uncouth in the 60s, but now he represents the epitomy of style and class. Bottom line - some rules are meant to be broken and once accepted they become the new standard. Imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower (it was abhorred by the Parisians when first constructed).

REMEMBER - "Only those who attempt the absurd will acheive the impossible" - Albert Einstein

The real scary subject we should be discussing is plastic surgery - every woman wants Angelina Jolie's lips - talk about some ridiculous looks...

[rpryan55]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Real sport watches today are digital. Our Rolex and Omega sport models are holdovers from a different time. The thing is, and I tried to make this point in my "Men's Suits" tread, style is not static. I'm not talking about fashion, but style.

In 1925 it would have been unusual to wear a wristwatch with a suit or tuxedo. Those were strictly pocket watch days. Wristwatches had just become popular due to the war, but they were still seen as sporting and rugged.

In the 1930's smaller men's watches were still popular. Your Patek would have been considered a jumbo, and completely inappropriate for formal wear.

In the 1950's/60's, scuba diving became popular, people became less tied to agriculture and had more disposable income for vacations, etc. Guys began wearing their sport watches and their suntans to their banking jobs.

I'm afraid that sport watches and suits are firmly entrenched in our dress code now, and the only people who know the difference are hardcore fops. I don't mind the change. As long as they fit under the cuff, it shouldn't cause a crisis. I think we have bigger problems. We have a generation of men who don't know how to tie a tie, and if they do, they only know one knot.

This is well said. I've often been a participant in these discussions with the view that sport watches are not appropriate with a suit. I hereby rescind previous statements - Ed has convinced me. If you want to wear your sub with a suit, enjoy.

[watchteacher]

If I'm in a business meeting I don't see anyone wearing a sport watch with a suit. Because it looks ridiculous. That's why they're called 'dress' and 'sport' watches. If people don't get it, or choose to ignore it, they should be prepared to be thought ill-dressed. Of course the ones that don't get it are clueless anyway, and the ones that ignore it don't care so it's all good!

[spuds]

Originally Posted by watchteacher

If I'm in a business meeting I don't see anyone wearing a sport watch with a suit. Because it looks ridiculous. That's why they're called 'dress' and 'sport' watches. If people don't get it, or choose to ignore it, they should be prepared to be thought ill-dressed. Of course the ones that don't get it are clueless anyway, and the ones that ignore it don't care so it's all good!

oooohhhhh FFS.....

[JBat]

Originally Posted by paverman

Seems like alot of emotions stirred up over one mans opinion of dress style, IMO. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer here, but I don't think bashing the OP for his opinion is proper either. From what I've experienced, this forum is always open to others ideas and opinions without the worry of getting too slammed. Let's keep it friendly.
PS
The PP is a great dress watch.

The OP is stating that there is a right and wrong, and wearing a sport watch with a suit is wrong, in his opinion. And I've seen no bashing to this point. It seems to me you are trying to moderate peoples opinion on this topic.

[JBat]

Originally Posted by spuds

Well that's simply one of the most patronising (& bordering on the offensive seeing as my wife couldn't care less which watch I wear) posts I've ever read on the internet!!

Does it never occur to you that one may well be aware of the etiquette but chooses rather to ignore it: favouring personal taste & preference over conforming to an outdated (IMO) 'norm'?

Well said Dan.

[JBat]

Originally Posted by watchteacher

Etiquette insists that you don't wear a timepiece with a tuxedo, it's considered rude to your host that you're concerned with time.

Etiquette can insist all it wants, but I find that to be patently ridiculous.

[ral]

Asian viewpoint... I think many of you will notice that plenty of dressy Citizen's and Seiko's have steel bracelets. It Asia, because of the heat and moisture, wearing a fine leather strap with our business attire is often not feasible from a durability standpoint.

[Zed Homme]

I personally don't wear a sport watch with a suit. However, the chivalry remark is foolish, as fashion and chivalry are unrelated. Fashions do change and what is acceptable in LA may not fly in NYC, etc etc. Beyond that, it think it is much more ridiculous to wear a dress watch with flip flops than a sub with a suit. Some purists I've encountered claim that any complication (even a second hand) is inappropriate for a dress watch. On that note I disagree and realize the whole discussion is subjective anyway. However, if I want to know if someone is a gentleman, I'll wait for him to open his mouth...

Collecting dress watches is fun, but if there ever was a single watch that does all well, it's the Datejust. My DJ seems to match a much broader range of clothes than any other watch I own...

[nowzen]

Originally Posted by JBat

Yeah, whatever.

x2

[nowzen]

In answer to your question ‘Is chivalry comatose’ – the short answer is it has experienced a well-deserved death. Also, if I understand the word, it also references courage and code of integrity and honour, not easily swayed by ‘fashionable’ court etiquette. It is very clear from this type of thread that there is a quite a mix of Rolex fans with dramatically different tastes.

I am a long time fan of Subs because:
a/ I like a rugged, well constructed watch that will last for decades and offer reliable accurate timekeeping. I no longer dive, but I like the confidence of knowing that whatever the weather, and wherever I am, dodging a wildebeest stampede in Africa or simply taking a walk along the seashore at night in a winter gale, I can glance at my watch and easily see the correct time.
b/ As a designer, I favour clean, un-adorned austere design that performs the product’s ultimate purpose… in this case, clearly conveying what time it is. Therefore the high-contrast, black & white, easy-to glance, no-nonsense sub is for me. When someone says Rolex to me the last thing I think of is some gaudy gold and diamond encrusted jewelry that some favour.
c/ I do not like glitzy ‘dress watches’, nor do like the type of events where it is apparently just absolutely mandatory that I wear one, or for that matter, most of the elitist, foo-foo twits I meet at them. Nor do I want a fleet of watches to match every type of social event or activity.
d/ I do not wear my Sub because some guy named Roger F. can bounce a fuzzy yellow ball well and endorses it. Nor do I allow some New York fashion-marketing jerk dictate to me what is good (or bad) fashion and how I should dress.
e/ I do admit I’m intrigued by the history of the company, it’s culture and a design philosophy that recognizes that really good design is timeless and only incorporates a new technology after it has proven itself in use.

I think if you feel that a stainless-steel sub looks clunky and out-of-place and these fashion ‘rules’ are important to you… well vive la difference! Life would certainly be boring if just everybody wore a sub. However, don’t assume that you’ll get too much sympathy in these forums by suggesting a sub & a suit is a fashion faux-pas.

And to ‘Art 1’ who suggests I’m embarrassing myself and just don’t know it, - not at all, in fact I’d love to attend your office in my suit & sub… just for your personal amusement.

[Andad]

Hi Nowzen,

Archie was banned again for this troll thread so don't wind youself up too much mate.

Welcome to the Forum.

[nowzen]

Haaa Haaaa
thanx for the heads up... wound up for nothing!
I guess it was a theraputic vent.
And thanx for the welcome.