Is Your Watch is Too Ostentatious?

[ratty]

Originally Posted by 2106

generally only fellow watch enthusiasts will notice or comment (in my experiences anyway). i think most rolexes go unnoticed unless your trying to make it noticeable with your behaviour.

I agree with this 100%.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by AK797

Clothes and cars are far more ostentatious and eye-catching than watches. By focussing on a watch habit you are already in the subtle category of expression so worrying over if your goldfish is too bright in the whale pond is all rather pointless.

Extremely well said, Neil.

[actionkwj]

How do you say that any better?

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Extremely well said, Neil.

[Tri-Tip]

Originally Posted by CoachRolexRyan

I think it all comes down to the individual and how they carry themselves. I wear my watch, my watch doesn't wear me.

I agree 100%.

I would never ask someone how much something costs.

The owner of the company I used to work for came back with a new watch every time he visited Europe. I never once asked how much it cost, just what kind it was, and then I ran back to my office and Googled it. In every case, it was a smaller percentage of his annual income or total wealth than my Sub-C was to mine.

One of my coworkers asked about my Sub once, and I told him what it costs. He was astonished. I asked him back how much he paid a year on the loans on his RV and Boat, and the total was about 1/2 the cost of my Sub. As someone said earlier, I can wear my sub daily, he uses his toys a few times a year.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by zama

When I feel that way about my Rolex I just put my Patek on.......

[Racerdj]

I think it is the way you act while wearing it. I have had very few comments.

[sturgeon123456]

These threads are hilarious.

You have to assume that people care what kind of watch you are wearing and also that you have something so different and out of the ordinary on your wrist. There are probably more rolexes in the USA than there are people in the entire country of Canada. Stop with these threads it really adds to the stigma or the Rolex wearer and its a mid level luxury watch at best that a ton of people have. Wear it if you like it, dont if you dont and who cares what other people think because they arent....

[Mystro]

At least in the USA there has been a small movement of people that focus on financial and social class equality. They are practically insane cult members focusing on what people have and don't have. These people might focus on your watch and I hope my watch is especially shinny and ostentatious if they choose to single me out.

[bigcarbs]

In.

[SenseiSeagalMMA]

I have only had my Rolex for a month but I have gotten a couple comments. I get way more comments on my clothing/sunglasses collections though.

However- for every gold Rolex, there are 1,000 plated Michael Kors watches that look way more 'ostentatious' imo.

[Headshrinker]

It's funny, I don't really care. It's not like I wear my gold lame pants every day of the week; that would be ostentatious!

[DJ TT 2002]

What could possibly be more " Under The Radar " than this?

[onefastman]

I'm not sure where you live or what your job is but for many it has to do with the secondary cost of wearing one. For me, I own a car dealer and it definitely hurts in negotiation to look too flashy.

Another friend who is a big collector (and independently wealthy) runs a charity and it would look very suspect to people who would be donors that don't know that his wealth is inherited if he wears watches of significant value.

Just a couple examples but often wearing watches is a very expensive proposition

[2106]

Originally Posted by SenseiSeagalMMA

However- for every gold Rolex, there are 1,000 plated Michael Kors watches that look way more 'ostentatious' imo.

Agree 100%. I tend to notice people with cheap gold plated and 'blinged' up watches more than people with rolexes (at first glance anyway)

[Apalachicola]

Originally Posted by onefastman

I'm not sure where you live or what your job is but for many it has to do with the secondary cost of wearing one. For me, I own a car dealer and it definitely hurts in negotiation to look too flashy.

Another friend who is a big collector (and independently wealthy) runs a charity and it would look very suspect to people who would be donors that don't know that his wealth is inherited if he wears watches of significant value.

Just a couple examples but often wearing watches is a very expensive proposition

And let's not, forget, we're talking about a 19 year old man here. The clear answer is yes: some watches are too ostentatious for him. However, taste is about the occasion, and there are lots of situations when a young man can and should wear an expensive, even flashy, watch. Not every day though.

[rkjjeep]

I've been wearing my 1655 every day for almost 40 years. Not a single person has asked me a question or made a comment about it.

[Apalachicola]

Originally Posted by rkjjeep

I've been wearing my 1655 every day for almost 40 years. Not a single person has asked me a question or made a comment about it.

Not an ostentatious watch. That's a perfectly appropriate watch for every day wear, even for a young man. However, Rolex makes MANY watches that WOULD be too ostentatious for him.

At the end of the day, wear what you want. Eat what you want. Drive what you want. Your own opinion is what matters. However, I'm not naive, and I know that others take note of my choices. Frankly put, I'm a rich young man in a rich vacation town with a decidedly informal character: Patagonia fleeces, yoga pants, sandals, Italian bikes and skis everywhere. A man wearing a gemmed watch to any event in this city, from BBQ with friends to a black tie charity fundraiser is ridiculous. The public display of wealth is not without risks, and a $30,000 watch speaks volumes, while a $30,000 car or a $30,000 vacation do not.

[Old Expat Beast]

Wearing a Rolex in Kong Kong is just a good way of blending in. Everybody wears one, even the guy who drives my building's shuttle bus.

[sturgeon123456]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Wearing a Rolex in Kong Kong is just a good way of blending in. Everybody wears one, even the guy who drives my building's shuttle bus.

Exactly what I was trying to say.....

This self absorbed thinking that there's something so special that everyone will notice your wrist is something I honestly think only some Rolex wearers suffer from.

Rolexomania I'll call it lol

I'm just playing around here but honestly no one cares what watch you wear and if they notice it or do care its probably because they have one themselves.

Also if anyone wants a great watch that flies under the radar but is still gold or plat etc pretty much any other brand doesn't have the same recognition as Rolex so there's options.

[Phil t 32]

What's the term 'balling' mean??


After 30 years in the waiting.......GMT IIc

[tomallen]

Things are ostentatious only if you flaunt them.

[motoikkyu]

I really don't know if anyone notices, no one has ever mentioned me Rolex. I do get comments on the 55mm B-Uhr I sometimes wear (because it resembles a wall clock), and on the 70s chronographs with the four-color dials (because they induce mild seizures) that I collect.

[polarinda]

They see but they never tell or ask.

[Jd Swiper]

Originally Posted by greggsiam

Anyone that used the word "balling" in a sentence would be someone I would quickly never talk to again.

In my old age I have learned not to try to explain or persuade people that haven't got a clue as it just wastes my time and never accomplishes anything.

Well said, words to live by!!

[regnant]

Nobody asks about my Rolex may be everyone around knows that's a Rolex and don't bother to ask what brand it is.
I have currently have non full gold watches,if I manage to obtain my grail which is SKY DWELLER 326938 with Roman numbers may be it could be considered too flashy
I have two Invictas and one is definitely getting attention, I think giant 63 MM size is contributing to it.It's been months since I last wore it because I love Rolex and it's feeling is a different than others

[rozyd]

Originally Posted by SenseiSeagalMMA

However- for every gold Rolex, there are 1,000 plated Michael Kors watches that look way more 'ostentatious' imo.

That is so true. The one time someone noticed my Daytona, they said "Nice watch, except it looks a little off. Is it a fake Michael Kors? Want to compare against mine?" I almost started laughing, but contained myself.

[Zoran]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Wearing a Rolex in Kong Kong is just a good way of blending in. Everybody wears one, even the guy who drives my building's shuttle bus.

Your building has it's own shuttle bus? Now that's ostentatious!!

[ap1]

Originally Posted by AK797

Clothes and cars are far more ostentatious and eye-catching than watches. By focussing on a watch habit you are already in the subtle category of expression so worrying over if your goldfish is too bright in the whale pond is all rather pointless.

Brilliant

I've used the word ballin before too.....

[AK797]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Extremely well said, Neil.

Originally Posted by actionkwj

How do you say that any better?

Originally Posted by ap1

Brilliant

I've used the word ballin before too.....

Cheers guys but is there even such a thing as a whale pond? Just felt right while I was writing.

[Eric Chan]

I could care less what people thought about my watches. I buy and wear them because I like them. This also goes for anything else like suits, shoes, etc. As the OP mentioned, life is too short.