Step out of your watch comfort zone

[Bill Adler]

Try something different.

That’s something that everyone should do with movies, desserts, beers, vacation spots, teas, book genres, games, and restaurants.

Nobody’s life has been enriched by just reading the same kind of book, a mystery novel for instance, and only that kind of book. Nobody has fully explored their sense of taste by sticking to pasta at every meal. Nobody has become enlightened by vacationing in the same place over and over again.

Trying something different is important with watches, as well. But way too often you hear watch collectors say things like, “I wear only dress watches,” “Diver watches are the only kind of watches that I like,” or “All of my watches are Breitlings.” Those are limiting thoughts.

It’s fine to like a particular brand or genre of watch. It’s great to have a favorite. It’s fun to specialize, to know all that there is to know about Seikos, Rolexes, Omegas, or some other brand. But just because you wear a wool suit to work every day, doesn’t mean that you have to own or wear only dress watches.

Let’s take the wool-suit-to-work thought for a moment and digest that a little more. Watch collectors often say that 1) they don’t care if anyone else notices their watch and 2) nobody notices their watch, anyway. If that’s true—if that’s even 5 percent true—then why in the world would you feel that you must wear a slim, gold dress watch under your shirt sleeve every day? Who’s going to notice? Who’s going to care, other than you?

And what if you did wear a Seiko Monster or Mr Jones Sun and Moon watch instead of a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control or Piaget Altiplano? What do you have to worry about? Would you lose your job? Lose a client? Somebody might think less of you? Not a chance.

Even James Bond didn’t wear the same watch all the time. On Bond’s wrist you’ll see a Rolex Submariner in Dr. No., a Breitling Top Time in Thunderball, an Omega Seamaster Professional Co-axial in the 2006 version of Casino Royale, a Seiko memory calendar watch in Moonraker, and a Seiko H357 analog watch with digital display in For Your Eyes Only. If different watches are good enough for James Bond, then they’re good enough for you.

Of course, owning a watch that breaks from your regular pattern doesn’t mean that you have to wear that watch in places where you don’t think it’s appropriate. I was just explaining that unlike drinking with friends until 2 AM and going to work the following morning, wearing a watch that you think isn’t right for work is actually fine for work.

Buy something different and wear it when you want.

Never mind the fact that you’ll learn about different watches when you buy something different. Never mind that you’ll appreciate watches in general more when you wear something different. Never mind that you’ll like your favorite watch kind more by wearing something different. The main reasons to step out of your watch comfort zone is that a different watch will enlighten you, enchant you, and entertain you. Simply put, wearing a watch that breaks your rather rigid mold is fun.

How do you do this? There are so many different kinds of watches that you can wear, so how do you choose something that’s completely different, especially because there’s going to be this natural tendency to gravitate back to the watch style or brand you like?

Go vintage. If your watches are mostly modern, find a watch that was made over a quarter-century ago.

Choose a watch with a different color. If your watches are mostly white-faced with gold hands, then think green, orange, or blue.

Make a short list of companies that make watches different from yours and buy your next watch from that list.

Think country. Do you have only Swiss watches? Then look at Japan, the US, or England.

Buy a watch in a very different price range. If your watches usually cost $1,000, buy a watch for $200. If you’re a $10,000 watch person, then also buy a watch for $200. By restricting the price, you’re going to have to buy something different.

Don’t limit yourself to mechanical watches. Sure, watch movements are important—they’re everything—but if you’re willing to take a chance with quartz, you will find all sorts of new watch vistas open up in front of you.

Think museum. What museum would that different watch fit into? A classical art museum? A museum of modern art? A museum that specializes in things surreal?

Look at watches around you. The next time you’re anywhere, put away your phone and see what other people are wearing, especially people who are dressed entirely differently from you.

Surprise yourself with a new watch that’s just not the same old stuff. Just like that first time you ate a hot dog with mustard instead of ketchup, went camping, read a scary novel while all alone, or ended up on a television channel you’d never spent more than a passing second on before, you might actually like what you get.

(This is a preview of an article that I'll be posting on A Better Wrist later. I try to abide by these words, as well.)

Bill Adler



Mr Jones Sun and Moon watch: This could be your "different" watch to wear.

[skywatch]

That's never been a problem for me, but I agree.

[Chase]

I continually and intentionally do or purchase things, and not just watches, that take me out of my comfort zone. Keeps me healthy.

[Der Amf]

Spending hundreds of pounds on a watch that I don't like just on the offchance that it might appeal would to me feel like bored decadence. My watches have a relatively narrow range of styles because I've thought carefully about what I want, and have looked closely at what the market offers: the whole process is one of sharpening definitions and understanding appeal, of enjoying tastes coming into focus.

A common theme on IWL is that you should wear what appeals to you. The other side of that coin is: don't expect anyone to like what you like.

Similarly: choose a breadth of range that's right for you. And the other side of *that* coin is: don't expect what's right for you to be right for anyone else.

Personally I would rather lose my senses than have my aesthetic choices informed by what is worn by a fictional character, but I'm aware I'm in the minority. Those in the majority would do well to remember that minority choices are not merely in need of being tolerated, but are equally valid.

[tempocalypse]

I'm more in agreement with DA myself. I don't see the appeal in buying watches I wouldn't normally consider in the hope I might find them appealing somehow especially when I have a great long list of watches I want anyway

Of course there's nothing wrong with your approach but neither is there anything wrong with a highly focussed collection of only one style, brand or even model if that's what appeals to you.

[scottjc]

I did a similar thing recently, albeit in a limited way.
I used to only collect scratchproof Rados but one day I decided to try one of the stainless steel Alpine series, and that really opened things up for me.

[is that my watch]

That's never been a problem for me, but I agree.

yes been thinking about getting one of the mother Russian T*** but the price seem to high but one day

[tribe125]

Superb post, Bill.

Mind or taste broadening can be done mentally, though. It's just a matter of loosening those little screws that keep our perceptions fixed in one plane.

[geoffbot]

A nice read, Bill - your prose flowed well. Even if I disagree in that simply if I like a watch I like it, and vice - versa, I do think people should try on more watches and do not discount them *necessarily* by pictures. I mean obviously some absolute rotters aren't likely improve in the metal, but my nomos for example I was ambivalent about until I tried it on then wow.

I did a similar thing recently, albeit in a limited way.
I used to only collect scratchproof Rados but one day I decided to try one of the stainless steel Alpine series, and that really opened things up for me.

I can't tell if you're being ironic or not!

[scottjc]

I can't tell if you're being ironic or not!

Not at all mate, the styling of the Alpines differs substantially from the Diastars and Balboas and has added a nice variety to my collection.