is a watch a must?

Zentg said:

IS A WATCH A MUST?

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No.

Is a watch a must? Personally I'd say it is, but I can understand why people wouldn't want to wear one.
However, the reasons the OP gives for not wanting to wear a watch are kind of ridiculous:
- checking your phone is more natural than looking at your wrist? Maybe, since you don't wear a watch, you're more used to getting your phone our of your pocket first, then to activate your sleeping touchscreen to check the time, and finally putting it back again, but it certainly doesn't sound more natural or convenient to me...
- a watch is uncomfortable, a dead weight on your wrist? Really, a watch is too heavy for you? Are you sure you are strong enough to lift your phone then?
- whenever you wear a watch you hate it that everyone asks you for the time? Everyone? I always wear a watch and hardly ever get asked for the time, but if someone does I'll be happy to tell them. Why would you hate that? And if you really don't want to tell them, just say "sorry, no time..."

Watches no longer function as the only portable mechanism for telling time. So, no, you don't need a watch and, if you don't want one, don't wear one. Personally, I enjoy wearing a classically designed mechanical watch. So I wear one.

Secondarily, those that also care about watches will notice what you are or are not wearing. If one of those people (1) notices, (2) makes judgment about you based on that observations, and (3) has influence in your career or personal growth, there may be additional reasons for you to care about watches. But that isn't a common experience in 2015.

Patrick R said:

those that also care about watches will notice what you are or are not wearing. If one of those people (1) notices, (2) makes judgment about you based on that observations, and (3) has influence in your career or personal growth, there may be additional reasons for you to care about watches.

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If such people exist, I am guessing it would be horrible to work for them.



Caustic Man said:

If such people exist, I am guessing it would be horrible to work for them.

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Goodness - you know that those people not only exist but comprise a vast majority of the business/professional community, don't you? lawyers, doctors, bankers, engineers, government, etc... Every profession where you still have to wear a suit once in a while - they all wear watches and notice/make judgments about those in their field that do not. At least that has been my experience so far. Conversation about watches and recognition of brands and suitability is quite frequent in my professional field - not only among co-workers, but in the field in general.

I recognize, however, that in the age of Silicon Valley and Zappos-style management, formal dress, mechanical watches, and even quality pens become obsolete - but don't mistake or dilute yourself that of the fact that in the high-end professional sphere, these details are still important, still recognized and judged

And to anticipate further discussion, here is how the real world MAY operate (which I have seen personally)

1. You are a young first year associate at a major law firm. You do not own a watch because you are a hipster, damn it, and you have a iPhone. Your boss sees you reach for your phone during a meeting with clients. You are taken off all further client meetings and sit in your cubicle until you get a freaked watch and stop clowning around.

2. You are now an older associate wanting to become a partner. You secured a meeting with a big client. You meet the client at a good restaurant and you are wearing your regular beater watch that you picked up on eBay for a song - but it tells time. The client is a observant and assumes because you are an attorney, but do not have the requisite Rolex/ omega/bristling, etc., that you are not successful (or that you will accept less as your hourly rate - because you obviously never get your usual rate). conversely - if you wear a big diamond en rusted, gold Rolex, this may turn the client off as well.

These are just a few small examples that people with influence over your career and money may not be your actual bosses - but they will still make judgments about you (whether you like it or not)

Shpirt said:

Goodness - you know that those people not only exist but comprise a vast majority of the business/professional community, don't you?

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Not true. Not even remotely. Within those fields it is a vast minority that know anything about watches. Out of those that know anything, a very small percentage would be ridiculous enough to make judgments based on what you do or don't wear unless you are wearing something obnoxious that intentionally draws attention to your wrist. How do I know? I am the managing partner of a law firm and have spent most of my professional life surrounded by literally thousands of lawyers in Chicago, DC, San Fran, etc. I also own a medical device company and spend significant time working with doctors in that business. I also teach medical innovation in combination with NU's law school and med school - which exposes me to even more doctors. Engineers? That's what I was before going to law school. They might notice if you are wearing a Casio calculator watch.

I have friends in my professional sphere that are watch enthusiasts. We talk watches, often around other professionals. It is the vast minority that can make it two sentences into the conversation without getting to the depth of their knowledge. None, literally none, make judgments about others unless they are wearing some oversized fashion watch in an inappropriate setting.

Shpirt said:

Goodness - you know that those people not only exist but comprise a vast majority of the business/professional community, don't you?

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That can't possibly be true. Can't possibly...



g transistor said:

"If you really wanted to show you are a primetime businessman buy a live shark with that 20k. Take it to your meetings. Nothing shows the ability to close a deal like an apex predator

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Shpirt said:

And to anticipate further discussion, here is how the real world MAY operate (which I have seen personally)

1. You are a young first year associate at a major law firm. You do not own a watch because you are a hipster, damn it, and you have a iPhone. Your boss sees you reach for your phone during a meeting with clients. You are taken off all further client meetings and sit in your cubicle until you get a freaked watch and stop clowning around.

2. You are now an older associate wanting to become a partner. You secured a meeting with a big client. You meet the client at a good restaurant and you are wearing your regular beater watch that you picked up on eBay for a song - but it tells time. The client is a observant and assumes because you are an attorney, but do not have the requisite Rolex/ omega/bristling, etc., that you are not successful (or that you will accept less as your hourly rate - because you obviously never get your usual rate). conversely - if you wear a big diamond en rusted, gold Rolex, this may turn the client off as well.

These are just a few small examples that people with influence over your career and money may not be your actual bosses - but they will still make judgments about you (whether you like it or not)

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Absurd.

Caustic Man said:

Absurd.

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It's all a crazy fantasy.

Patrick R said:

It's all a crazy fantasy.

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Then again, what isn't?

Shpirt said:

And to anticipate further discussion, here is how the real world MAY operate (which I have seen personally)

1. You are a young first year associate at a major law firm. You do not own a watch because you are a hipster, damn it, and you have a iPhone. Your boss sees you reach for your phone during a meeting with clients. You are taken off all further client meetings and sit in your cubicle until you get a freaked watch and stop clowning around.

2. You are now an older associate wanting to become a partner. You secured a meeting with a big client. You meet the client at a good restaurant and you are wearing your regular beater watch that you picked up on eBay for a song - but it tells time. The client is a observant and assumes because you are an attorney, but do not have the requisite Rolex/ omega/bristling, etc., that you are not successful (or that you will accept less as your hourly rate - because you obviously never get your usual rate). conversely - if you wear a big diamond en rusted, gold Rolex, this may turn the client off as well.

These are just a few small examples that people with influence over your career and money may not be your actual bosses - but they will still make judgments about you (whether you like it or not)

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I'm a senior associate at a global law firm and things do not work this way, not here and not at any firm I've heard of. Not sure where you are getting this from.



SS 376 said:

I'm a senior associate at a global law firm and things do not work this way, not here and not at any firm I've heard of.  Not sure where you are getting this from.

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Shpirt stepped out of 1958 just to leave these posts.



Shpirt said:

a properly well dressed man must own at least 1 heritage type mechanical watch, with a price tags of over $1000 USD and sufficient pedigree.  

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Shpirt said:

Goodness - you know that those people not only exist but comprise a vast majority of the business/professional community, don't you? lawyers, doctors, bankers, engineers, government, etc...

I recognize, however, that in the age of Silicon Valley and Zappos-style management, formal dress, mechanical watches, and even quality pens become obsolete - but don't mistake or dilute yourself that of the fact that in the high-end professional sphere, these details are still important, still recognized and judged

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Area Man Closes Multi-Billion Dollar Deal with $1,000 Hamilton Watch

MOSCOW, IDAHO -- Sources confirmed Monday that Local Area Man Bill Shpirt closed a multi-billion dollar deal with Herbert Schreiber & Co. last week using little more than a $1,000 Hamilton watch. The agreement ends three-years worth of negotiations over who would provide medical engineering equipment to a federal governmental agency.

"It was an impressive closing," said Robert Smith, one of the lawyers for Hamilton Schreiber & Co. "The meeting last week had a unique mix of people -- lawyers, doctors, bankers, engineers, and governmental officials. Most of us are high-powered professionals, so we literally earn millions of dollars per year, but when we saw Shpirt's $1,000 heritage Hamilton watch peek out from the cuff of his made-to-measure Jantzen shirt, we knew we were dealing with someone who gets stuff done."

Head Surgeon Gary Stewart added that even Shpirt's Pilot rollerball pen made an impact. "I realize that in today's Silicon Valley and Zappos style management, things like mechanical watches and quality pens are obsolete. But for high-powered professionals such as us, these details make a difference. Pilots simply glide more smoothly than Bics, and we want to work with someone who appreciates that."

When asked what kind of suit Shpirt was wearing, however, neither man could comment. "Honestly, I can't tell the difference between a Tom Ford and something from JC Penny," Smith shrugged.