dress watches aging out?

[sambb]

ive been looking for a nice dress watch (PP, Lange, VC). I just went to dinner with a younger couple in their late 20s, and showed them some of the watches im looking at. They subtley led me to believe that the perception of these wathces (calatrava, saxonia, patrimony, and even DD) are more "old people" watches. Im sure these things are cyclical, but are the demographics of the dress watch aging out? We discussed lots of other things - casual wear at work, suit sales are down 30-40%, a more informal culture, etc. Is this a permanent shift? (seems that men are wearing fewer ties to work, and the women are also dressing more casually, even at work events)

[locutus49]

I think it is a permanent shift. Look back to TV shows in the fifties where people wore coat and tie to dine in their own homes. There will probably always be people who wear coat and ties and who wear dress watches, but the tide is turning toward a more casual lifestyle.

[Fat_ninja]

I started my career suit and tie... I now wear shorts and sandals to work.


I’m going to say dress watches are never coming back...

[supersam80]

Geez I'm under 40 and dont think I've worn a tie to work in 18 years. Haven't worn a suit for at least 2 years (chino and sports jacket is enough)

And yeah, a sports watch on a bracelet covers the formal situations easily enough nowadays imo

[BigAppleBill]

dress watches aging out?

Please make this true so I can pick up a 5170 cheap.

[dbfagan]

I honestly think it’s more of a bracelet vs strap argument. I have wanted to be a strap guy for years but can’t seem to make the transition. If you think about a PP 5711 or an AP 15202, they are far from a “sports” watch. They are way more dressy than a Rolex or Omega. Just my opinion, no science to back it up:)

[_speedmaster_]

There is a definite move toward more casual work attire; this shift seems to have staying power. This is even evident in the financial sector in NYC.

That said, you can still wear a dress watch with more casual attire. I'm relatively young (early 30s) and I regularly wear a Lange 1 to work without a suit or tie.

Buy what you love; don't pay attention to what others say or do. You can easily make dressier watches work with casual attire. Besides, this environment is perfect to get great deals on dress pieces.

[jtli202]

This discussion has been beaten to death already.

Also no. Look at how well those Daniel Wellington and MVMT watches do. Of course they are crap, but lots of people love how they look and they're basically designed like a dress watch.

[jenniferjanef]

Calatrava, yes. Saxonia, yes. Patrimony, yes.

DD? No.

[jenniferjanef]

Originally Posted by jtli202

This discussion has been beaten to death already.

Also no. Look at how well those Daniel Wellington and MVMT watches do. Of course they are crap, but lots of people love how they look and they're basically designed like a dress watch.

Maybe ppl just don’t want expensive traditional dress watches calatrava, saxonia, patrimony that you can’t wear daily (Low power reserve) and no function ie wasting money.

[Frits1980]

I live in a tropical climate so bracelets are simply more practical. However, with a suit i only wear watches on leather. Dont like the (formal) suite/bracelet look even with semi-dress/semi-sports like a royal oak or dd. Wg Patek on black and a rg Lange on brown covers all my suit needs.

[GoingPlaces]

The movement is certainly towards sports. Dress watches are in the minority however for people who become WIS there is a natural migration to dress watches. The perfect balance is a sports watch on strap.

[Brew]

I don't have much in common with 20 year olds, especially where style is concerned. I'm ok with that, fyi.

[0315]

I much rather prefer a dress watch over a 44mm Hublot or ROO. If I go for a (business) dinner and my opposite has something like that most likely I don't judge him to be serious in whatever he does. Other than selling me a Ferrari or porn.

[uscmatt99]

I think the idea of pairing watches of a certain style with wardrobes of a certain style has been aging out for awhile. You can look back years on this forum where there is discussion of how well a Submariner dresses up. On the flipside, you'll find a ton of posts where people wear leather strap 3-handers with casual weekend attire.

I personally almost never wear anything more formal than a polo shirt and casual pants to work, but I switch up my watches all the time. Today I have my Omega POC, tomorrow I may have my Journe CS. The only time I favor a Rolex or Omega is when I expect to get wet at the beach or rainy weather. Honestly, beyond recognition of Apple Watch vs. other, nobody other than other watch owners care.

[glamorama]

Originally Posted by jtli202

This discussion has been beaten to death already.

Also no. Look at how well those Daniel Wellington and MVMT watches do. Of course they are crap, but lots of people love how they look and they're basically designed like a dress watch.

Exactly. Imagine when the DW-generation grows up and want 'real' watches

[Fat_ninja]

And this week... no watches. Working in my pajamas all week at home. No reason to wear a dress watch in the PJ’s. I could but that be awkward....

[Yk101]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

And this week... no watches. Working in my pajamas all week at home. No reason to wear a dress watch in the PJ’s. I could but that be awkward....

Hmm... and I thought ninjas supposed to wear shinobi shozoku instead of PJ’s.

[subtona]

Love my watches on a leather strap and find my self preferring them over my Rolex most days.

Being able to wear a sports watch in all conditions is my favorite part about them but the purity of a watch on a leather strap really brings me the most joy lately.

[benlee]

One doesn't need a full suit and tie in order to wear a dress watch. A long sleeve shirt works just as well.

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by Yk101

Hmm... and I thought ninjas supposed to wear shinobi shozoku instead of PJ’s.

Or I could go with the sumo thong I think

[BisonHead]

Wear what you want i think OP. Who cares what others think.

[Yk101]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

Or I could go with the sumo thong I think

[synequano]

Dress watch often considered as an old men’s watch because it’s usually more thin and delicate. Younger people are considered more active and more likely to have to work physically,hence the thoughts

[steeevvvooo]

I'm not a fan of sports watches with suits especially if you are wearing a tie. Something on leather or a datejust, if we must do Rolex, are much better IMO. I don't have a formal dress watch but have a couple of things that to me get 90% of the way there with a smart suit but can be also worn with a t shirt.

https://i.imgur.com/zRlW6Bs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ey1veEV.jpg

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[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

I started my career suit and tie... I now wear shorts and sandals to work.


I’m going to say dress watches are never coming back...

Do you think it's relevant that you started out selling high yield bonds and now you sell skateboards?

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

Do you think it's relevant that you started out selling high yield bonds and now you sell skateboards?

Lol. Bonds that’s funny...I like to say... I make day traders look slow ;)

[kunlun]

As stated above, dress watches look fantastic dressed down.

[MoosicPa]

I offer this thought. When I was younger I loved the chronograph watches with the subdials to time my commute to work and such. I turned 50 this past year, and now have trouble seeing the subdials.... too small. I now love a classic, time only dress watch. As we get older, we will come to appreciate the dress watch more.

[SearChart]

Aging out or not, I'm rocking them anyway.

25yo, bald and tattooed.