(awkward) encounters with Rolex wearers

[mattmc1973]

Originally Posted by KeobNepo

There is this phenomenon almost each time I encounter a fellow Rolex wearer. The measure of the awkwardness that is caused depends on the duration of the encounter.
The most of us here notice another guy wearing a Rolex quite easily. Sometimes you have to look a little harder to determine the type/model of the watch. The thing is that for some reason you try to look without the other guy noticing it. The funny thing is that most of the time the other is doing exactly the same.

Especially during meetings, when the encounter is for a longer period of time, this becomes a 'thing'. You try to catch the other guy glance at your watch, while the other guy tries to catch you.
It's like you are winning if you catch the other guy looking at yours, and you lose when you are caught.

Also, when you establish the type/model of the other guy, there is this kind of silent competition going on about whose watch is more rare or expensive than the other's.

It's really exceptional, at least from my experience, that you just mention the watch and talk about it. It almost never happens.

I was just wondering if you guys have the same experience and if you deal with it differently.

Once I was in a meeting at work, and wearing my Omega. A guy sitting next to me at the conference room table kept glancing down at my watch the whole meeting. I hadn't met him before, he was from a different team. After the meeting he says "nice Aqua Terra". He was wearing an Explorer I, and we started chatting about watches. Ever since whenever I see him at work, or in the last year, via instant message, we chat about watches. He was just appreciating there was someone else in the room with an appreciation for automatic watches, and we've talked a lot about it since. So yeah, it's a thing.

[BlakeA]

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[TheVTCGuy]

It seems I see a lot of Rolex wearers in the airport and on planes. Once I sat next to a gentleman wearing an 116520, identical to mine. I said: “You have good taste in watches sir.”. When he saw mine he smiled and answered: “Right back at you.” We had an enjoyable WIS conversation the whole flight.

[Stoffel]

How odd, sounds akin to trying to get a glance at the urinals or something.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by Stoffel

How odd, sounds akin to trying to get a glance at the urinals or something.

I heard a comedy bit yesterday where a guy on a beach had a guy near him ask him to apply sun tan lotion on his back. Watch talk never gets that awkward!

[warren G.]

The only time I would comment on someone's Rolex = during a watch meet up/get together. It's super awkward most of the time otherwise.

[KeobNepo]

Great to hear your experiences. It’s a pitty I don’t meet other WIS at all. I would love to meet someone to talk with about our interest for watches. Glad I can fulfill that need with the forum


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[judson]

I have used the number of Rolexes in a meeting as an ice breaker before, but I have also had enough bad encounters that I am now careful who I talk to about their watch.

[Judge]

I have noticed when I say nice Rolex, they seem to be caught off guard and do not wish to talk about it. This has happened twice on business encounters with the contacts themselves.

But then again, both contacts were wearing the little dinky sub and my DeepSea must have intimidated them into embarrassment.

[IAN1]

Originally Posted by padi56

In the real world I would doubt if many notice or care to whatever watch is worn by anyone today except for perhaps a WIS type. Myself been wearing Rolex watch for over 50 years and travelled to many countries. Yet you could count of one hand the number of people that have made any comment on whatever watch I was wearing. But today Rolex watches are now little more than £££$$$€€€€ objects to brag and talk about by many.

I can say here in Ca (SF/LA) people make watch contact before eye contact. Must be a Cali thing. lol

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by KeobNepo

I was just wondering if you guys have the same experience and if you deal with it differently.

Not in my case. Usually, talk about watches only happens spontaneously in ADs and greys. It might be a British thing - more generally speaking, people who are comfortable to wear quality watches tend to be less comfortable taking openly about what they are wearing in public and in mixed company for a variety of reasons, some obvious.

I've only been called out on a Rolex in mixed company once by someone who saw my 116610LV and had to ask, too loudly, "HEY! Is that a ROLEX?". To which I replied, "it cost me £25 so it bloody ought to be".

On one other occasion a shoe shop salesperson grabbed my arm, squealing something like "That's amazing! What a beautiful watch". Uncalled for, but she was a rather extrovert sort. The watch in question was a Tag.

I can only recall two other brief conversations not in a dealer setting, both about a Tag I was wearing, with people who I knew professionally, who were into watches.

Maybe I don't go to the right sort of meetings? This comes as a relief.

[Roddypeepa]

I live in hampshire, southern England. I literally go months and months without seeing another Rolex on a man.

Over last two years I’ve seen a dj 41 126300 identical to mine but with black dial. Cracked glass. Bracelet looser than an African tribal bracelet. Watch clearly wasn’t telling accurate time any time soon. Irony was, I was viewing his house which he wanted north of £1 mil for. Wrote him off immediately. Absolute tool.

Seen far more lady DJs, a deepsea, a yacht master ii and a SD 4000. Last three in Cornwall last summer. So here, in the uk at least they’re rare. I think a lot of guys saying “everyone has a sub” and “the uniform of sub and deck shoes” type thing is coastal usa. I just don’t see it here in the uk. At all.


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[VegasMilgauss]

One must always keep their British reserve when it comes to such matters.
I find a raise of the eyebrow accompanying a knowing, agreeable glance - even dare I say followed by a slight head twist or nod should situation dictate does the trick nicely.

[KeobNepo]

I work in the law centre of Amsterdam, real estate and therefore have lots of meetings with investors and other attorneys. Come across wearers on a regular basis. Most of the time DJ’s and LN subs. Never had the pleasure to see a rare one unfortunately.


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[turkeysub93]

Originally Posted by BlakeA

Attachment 1219876


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No idea how this is relevant to this thread...but I am so glad this was posted. Thanks!

[Jiggy_W]

This happens when playing poker as you will follow how they looks at their cards and can’t help but notice. See a lot of Daytona’s and Subs. I don’t think you can make a read by their watch. Just follow the actions.

[Dirt]

Encounters can be a mixed bag.

Once I complimented a young fellow maning a display at some investment expo down at the stock exchange who was wearing what was then a current 5 digit Sub.
I simply said "Nice Sub. How long have you had it?"
There was a pause from him so I prompted him a little more by gesturing toward the watch on his wrist and saying "It suits you and looks lovely".
At that point, one could see the light go on in his head and he said indignantly "This is a Rolex".
In summary, I was all wrong about his watch and he let me know he was well and truly on his way to the top.
He probably didn't even know that the bulk of WISdom simply refer to it as a Sub.

Once I asked a casual acquaintance how long they had their Sub. And he said straight up it was a fake with a little touch of embarasment.
We finished it up with me saying something like gees it's passable as we were getting ready for an annual commemorative match with our association and we all had to get organised a bit better.

Yesterday, I had an interesting interaction with a Pommy cop who was very strategically positioned which covered a Stop sign and a generous down hill slope.
He was in the process of booking me when he asked out of the blue, "How long have you had your DSSD?".
I'll talk watches with anyone, so I went along with the flow of the conversation to see what comes out of it and in the best interests of being polite.
About 15 minutes later I worked out he was an outright watch snob. We spoke of a great many watch things, including what watches I have, his 5 digit Submariner, servicing and have i ever had any of them services, etc, etc and he said he was offered a D-blue from a grey watch dealer friend of his back in England which he passed up on due to financial priorities.
When I told him the list(including the D-blue wedding gift from my wife) whereby my lovely GS got a very special mention, he completely and promptly glossed past it as relevant to the topic of conversation and restricted it all to the Swiss watch component.
He even said with authority that Rolex aren't really known as being very accurate, blah, blah, blah.
It was about 20 odd minutes of my life I will never get back and I still got stung at the end of it. Fair enough
That aside, he was mostly only capable of being focused on Swiss watches in his world and a watch snob by extention.

[Mystro]

We WIS are a rare breed. It is nice every now and then when you do get to talk to another enthusiast in the wild. We just have to tread very lightly as most won’t have a clue and it can be creepy unless they are also a enthusiast.

[Beto737]

P

Originally Posted by Jake E

Unless I see something interesting (Panda, Pepsi, Hulk etc.) I pretty much mind my own business when I see a Rolex 'in the wild'.

I work in an industry where Subs are a dime a dozen, and I quickly learned that most wearers don't share my passion for watches.

I think my favorite encounter was with a guy wearing a 16600 'Dweller. I commented "Hey, that's a really nice Sea-Dweller" He responded, "A what?" I said, "you watch, it's a nice Sea-Dweller" I will never forget the look on his face. It was both confused and repulsed. He responded quite smugly, "My watch is a Rolex" to which I said, "yup, a Rolex Sea-Dweller... it's actually written on the dial". =) that's about when I stopped striking up conversations with other Rolex wearers!

very cool, and funny

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by KeobNepo

T

You try to catch the other guy glance at your watch, while the other guy tries to catch you. It's like you are winning if you catch the other guy looking at yours, and you lose when you are caught.

Also, when you establish the type/model of the other guy, there is this kind of silent competition going on about whose watch is more rare or expensive than the other's.

I have on occasion complemented a stranger on his or her watch. Never had a problem.

No offense intended OP, but the but the idea of repeatedly playing sneak a peak seems strange to me. And in today's world, if someone was repeatedly looking at me and then looking away, I would either ask them if they had a problem I could help them with or call security, depending on the venue.

And as to competing with others about the value of their watch... Seriously?

Stay safe.

[904VT]

Watch
Hey nice watch
-Thanks, it's a Rolex
I've always liked Rolex's dive watch models

If they're into watches I'm sure they'll talk with you if they have time. If they're not they'll have no idea what a dive watch is but appreciate your compliment.

On a Date
You look very nice tonight, I like your dress
-Thank you, it's new

It seems you're being a gentleman.



Now the wrong way

Watch
Hey nice Rolex, how much did you pay for that?
-(incoherent mumbling and anger)

Attractive woman across the Bar/Pub
Hey, you're hot you have a nice &%%#*&
-Inappropriate hand gesture



I recall reading Rolex forums 15 years ago and seeing tutorials on disassembly of a 3135. Now everyone is afraid to talk about the watches they own and the autos they drive. I feel like an old man

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by tpool

I wonder how many are fake?


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Most likely none. Most Hongkongers wouldn't be caught dead wearing a fake Rolex. Those are for tourists only, like fridge magnets and postcards.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by arnage

That's very true, re: HK watch wearing habits.. hope you've been well, Adam!
The GV keeps ticking...

That's great! I'm glad

Hope all is well with you my friend.

[Giangos]

Back when we could get on a plane, I took my seat on a Qatar fight leaving Doha.

A few minutes before departure, a hostess crouched down next to me and asked about my watch. I was wearing a WG Pepsi.

We chatted for a few minutes, she had a BLNR at home. The interesting part is that the flight attendants play a game where they are each allocated a section of business class. As they greet the passengers, they look for their watches. It’s a competition between them to see who ends up serving the passenger with the best watch on that flight.

Her and I won that day. And no, I did not get a special prize unfortunately


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[cvo]

Rolex people will sometime acknowledge and compliment and I will do the same - pleasant gestures are always nice. Some may comment more about different models and all which I will open up to discuss further.

[Danny83]

Once when I was on a flight from San Francisco to Dubai I almost commented on the guy next to me but I held it in. He had a LV watch roll with all Richard Mille watches. I had my gold sub on and he looked lol

[noshame]

Although it doesn't happen often, I understand what the OP is saying.

A few years back I was having a lovely dinner with my wife. The couple seated next to us, and fairly close, were American tourists who asked us some questions about Vancouver. The gent was a very charming fellow and I had to compliment him on his classic black dial Breitling Navitimer on leather strap. It was the first I had seen in the wild, and let me tell you, that thing is drop dead GORGEOUS!!! We conversed for probably 15 minutes, with maybe 3 of it about watches. Bottom line, I think he appreciated my compliment.

[CKizzy]

I am in different meetings than the OP...

[MRB11]

Brilliant OP. I remember buying a Black Bay burgundy and I was wearing it at my daughters christening. My partner's best friend introduced her new partner. He was wearing an 114060 the watch I thought the Black Bay would be able to stop me wanting. I saw his wrist and I was like Pat Bateman when that guy hands him the business card printed in gold or something like that. Honestly I thought I was going to melt like the wicked witch of the West. Funny at the time!

[dtwer]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Everyone and their dog wears a Rolex in Hong Kong...cab drivers, baristas, students, shop girls, the guy who drives my building's shuttle bus...never crosses my mind to talk watches with any of them, nor apparently them with me, I'm glad to say.

8 out of 10 probably replicas.