The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[mossrockss]

Anybody else have the same issue as me: I feel like I appreciate watches on two levels, and those levels sometimes feel like they compete with each other.

Level 1 - Looking at a watch as an object.
Level 2 - Actually wearing a watch.

At level 1 is where copious Instagram and Youtube imagery of watches makes me really lust and yearn for a watch. On level 1 is where I love NATO straps.
At level 2 is obviously where the fit and comfort of a watch comes into play on your own wrist, and how it fits into your life and the emotional connection you make with it over time. Level 2 is where NATO straps kinda suck (because of how they wear).

I love the watches I own and have unceremoniously sold ones I've purchased that I don't. But I also kinda feel that none of them give me quite the level of satisfaction at level 2 that they do at level 1. In other words, the visual satisfaction of admiring a super well designed watch—and admiring its finishing, its use of materials and how it catches the light—can be a 10/10 on the "visual satisfaction score"; while the feeling of wearing it and having it on-wrist might only be a 7/10 on the "personal satisfaction and enjoyment of actually wearing the watch score."

It's as if the wearing of the watch—no matter how great—can ever be as good as the idea of a watch and its design as an object.

Or am I just weird

 

[New Shoes1]

So, I got my Everest strap changing tool for the Tudor Pelagos. Holy hell. It took my thirty minutes to get the bracelet off. Rolex tolerances are absurdly tight. I put a Nato on, and then the rubber strap on (have to be careful with this word combo), before realizing that I never should have taken it off the bracelet. It is now back on the bracelet, but with a bunch of scratches near the lugs. Lesson learned.

Be careful with a rubber strap on and tight tolerances 😖

It gets easier the more you do it and, at the end of the day, are you really that worried about a few minor scratches on the underside of the lugs?

I'll also add that you might be surprised by how easily minor scratches disappear with titanium. I've had them simply disappear with wear, but I know some people swear by pencil erasers for removing minor scratches from titanium.

 

[Idesofmarch17]

Wife and I are finishing up a vacation. Walked past a Swatch store literally without paying attention and saw the whole collection of moonswatches in a window and walked in. They had most models, but not the mission to moon, earth, or a few others, but had a majority in stock. They instituted a one watch per person per week policy, so I was thinking about picking up a second for travel but the wife wanted her own (she got Venus). So with literal no forethought or planning, here we are!

 

[mak1277]

Anybody else have the same issue as me: I feel like I appreciate watches on two levels, and those levels sometimes feel like they compete with each other.

Level 1 - Looking at a watch as an object.
Level 2 - Actually wearing a watch.

At level 1 is where copious Instagram and Youtube imagery of watches makes me really lust and yearn for a watch. On level 1 is where I love NATO straps.
At level 2 is obviously where the fit and comfort of a watch comes into play on your own wrist, and how it fits into your life and the emotional connection you make with it over time. Level 2 is where NATO straps kinda suck (because of how they wear).

I love the watches I own and have unceremoniously sold ones I've purchased that I don't. But I also kinda feel that none of them give me quite the level of satisfaction at level 2 that they do at level 1. In other words, the visual satisfaction of admiring a super well designed watch—and admiring its finishing, its use of materials and how it catches the light—can be a 10/10 on the "visual satisfaction score"; while the feeling of wearing it and having it on-wrist might only be a 7/10 on the "personal satisfaction and enjoyment of actually wearing the watch score."

It's as if the wearing of the watch—no matter how great—can ever be as good as the idea of a watch and its design as an object.

Or am I just weird

Yes and no, perhaps?

I agree with you re: NATOs, and I’d go so far to say they look best when photographed just laying on a desk, rather than being on someone’s wrist. And I’ve definitely been disappointed with watches that don’t measure up to expectations derived from words and pictures (see: Nomos Club, the old green dialed Seiko Alpinist, and every oyster perpetual I’ve ever handled).

But the opposite is true of my Sub, just as a counter example. I never wanted a Sub until I tried one on. I’d tried other Rolex before, and passed on them. Then I put a Sub on my wrist and had to buy it. I’ve worn it 90+% of the time since then. For me it’s far superior in reality vs. photos and expectations.

 

[smittycl]

"But the Élysée Palace told French media the president was wearing a Bell & Ross BR V1-92 model, which is personalised with a coat of arms."

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Anybody else have the same issue as me: I feel like I appreciate watches on two levels, and those levels sometimes feel like they compete with each other.

Level 1 - Looking at a watch as an object.
Level 2 - Actually wearing a watch.

At level 1 is where copious Instagram and Youtube imagery of watches makes me really lust and yearn for a watch. On level 1 is where I love NATO straps.
At level 2 is obviously where the fit and comfort of a watch comes into play on your own wrist, and how it fits into your life and the emotional connection you make with it over time. Level 2 is where NATO straps kinda suck (because of how they wear).

I love the watches I own and have unceremoniously sold ones I've purchased that I don't. But I also kinda feel that none of them give me quite the level of satisfaction at level 2 that they do at level 1. In other words, the visual satisfaction of admiring a super well designed watch—and admiring its finishing, its use of materials and how it catches the light—can be a 10/10 on the "visual satisfaction score"; while the feeling of wearing it and having it on-wrist might only be a 7/10 on the "personal satisfaction and enjoyment of actually wearing the watch score."

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo fits this description for me. I admire the technological achievement it is and like @Newcomer's photos, but have never warmed up to it after trying it on several times. Maybe it's because it wears large and the bracelet doesn't taper. It looks and feels like a wristband to me.

 

[mak1277]

Anybody else have the same issue as me: I feel like I appreciate watches on two levels, and those levels sometimes feel like they compete with each other.

Level 1 - Looking at a watch as an object.
Level 2 - Actually wearing a watch.

At level 1 is where copious Instagram and Youtube imagery of watches makes me really lust and yearn for a watch. On level 1 is where I love NATO straps.
At level 2 is obviously where the fit and comfort of a watch comes into play on your own wrist, and how it fits into your life and the emotional connection you make with it over time. Level 2 is where NATO straps kinda suck (because of how they wear).

I love the watches I own and have unceremoniously sold ones I've purchased that I don't. But I also kinda feel that none of them give me quite the level of satisfaction at level 2 that they do at level 1. In other words, the visual satisfaction of admiring a super well designed watch—and admiring its finishing, its use of materials and how it catches the light—can be a 10/10 on the "visual satisfaction score"; while the feeling of wearing it and having it on-wrist might only be a 7/10 on the "personal satisfaction and enjoyment of actually wearing the watch score."

It's as if the wearing of the watch—no matter how great—can ever be as good as the idea of a watch and its design as an object.

Or am I just weird

Ok I’ve thought a little more about this. I like all of my watches at least as much (if not more) in person than in photos. And I think I’m comfortable saying that I wouldn’t buy a watch that fell short of that expectation

 

[Clouseau]

Wife and I are finishing up a vacation. Walked past a Swatch store literally without paying attention and saw the whole collection of moonswatches in a window and walked in. They had most models, but not the mission to moon, earth, or a few others, but had a majority in stock. They instituted a one watch per person per week policy, so I was thinking about picking up a second for travel but the wife wanted her own (she got Venus). So with literal no forethought or planning, here we are!

View attachment 1925783 View attachment 1925785

Welcome to the club, we are just over a million now.

 

[9thsymph]

 

[Idesofmarch17]

Welcome to the club, we are just over a million now.
View attachment 1925801

Where’d you get the rubber strap?

 

[mossrockss]

Ok I’ve thought a little more about this. I like all of my watches at least as much (if not more) in person than in photos. And I think I’m comfortable saying that I wouldn’t buy a watch that fell short of that expectation

Yeah so I think what’s the hang up for me is that before becoming engaged in watches, I just loved the watch I wore all the time (Bond Seamaster), because it rules, is super comfortable, is very handsome, and has many emotionally happy memories associated with it.
Now I’m like too neurotic about it.

 

[mak1277]

Yeah so I think what’s the hang up for me is that before becoming engaged in watches, I just loved the watch I wore all the time (Bond Seamaster), because it rules, is super comfortable, is very handsome, and has many emotionally happy memories associated with it.
Now I’m like too neurotic about it.

I also have the benefit of not being on Instagram and never watching YouTube videos about watches. Aside from hodinkee and a couple other websites, and forums, I am not bombarded with images.

If I try on something that I don’t immediately love, I pass (or return it). If there’s not an immediate bond then it’s over for me.

 

[9thsymph]

Yeah so I think what’s the hang up for me is that before becoming engaged in watches, I just loved the watch I wore all the time (Bond Seamaster), because it rules, is super comfortable, is very handsome, and has many emotionally happy memories associated with it.
Now I’m like too neurotic about it.

Ignorance is bliss much?

 

[9thsymph]

I also have the benefit of not being on Instagram and never watching YouTube videos about watches. Aside from hodinkee and a couple other websites, and forums, I am not bombarded with images.

If I try on something that I don’t immediately love, I pass (or return it). If there’s not an immediate bond then it’s over for me.

We are not all blessed with the powers of deep circumspection and the patience to acquire taste! ;-)

 

[Omega Male]

We are not all blessed with the powers of deep circumspection

What does one's foreskin or lack thereof have to do with discernment in the matter of wrist candy?