Ask A Woman: Is a man’s watch seen by women as a status symbol?
If you’ve got a question that needs the female treatment, chances are you’re not the only one who wants to ask it. Beth is our source for the answers. From opinions on men’s style to decoding the sometimes mysterious ways of women, she’ll take on a different question every Thursday. And don’t worry, your identity will be protected too. Click here to get to know Beth, then get in touch with her by sending your question to: askawoman@dappered.com
Hi Beth:
Dappered seems to be extremely fond of watches. Me, on the other hand, not so much. I’m a young guy in college. I have had a phone all my life and have never really needed a watch. I’ve tried wearing watches and they are just not for me. I know that a Rolex or an expensive watch on a guy was a sign of status (much like a car), but is it still? Should I invest in a fairly nice watch for the ladies?
– Sean
Hi Sean,
Thanks for your email. What I’m going to do, see, is not really talk about watches at all, but use something you said to launch a column on a different subject. Do you feel used and abused? You do? Well, I heard you like that sort of thing. Boom-shak-a-lak
Some months ago I wrote about the watch being more of an accessory these days, like a belt or ring, rather than a way to simply keep time. So check it out for ideas if you want a watch, but as far as buying a watch strictly for status? Boo! Boo!
I don’t subscribe to buying anything simply for the status symbol. I mean, if the point of style for you–or anyone–is to impress other people, I can’t really help you out. Because my advice is based on style being an incredible form of self-expression, first and foremost. And second, being something that flatters the body and boosts confidence. Wearable art that makes you look like a sexy beast. When you begin to worry about labels simply for the name, it takes the fun out of it. It’s like people who only wear trends. You know who I’m talking about, right? They have no taste, no calling card of personal style. They buy whatever is in the windows of Express and American Apparel, or what they see someone on MTV wearing, instead of carefully cultivating a personal aesthetic.
And no one could figure out why Rolex revenue jumped 1000%
Of course, if you are buying a label because you know and trust the brand for their quality, that’s different. But you should like whatever it is you’re buying. Good quality is not so good if you don’t care for (or are indifferent towards) the item itself. There are consumers out there who would appreciate the specific beauty and quality of a Rolex, and so for them, it’s a purchase that makes sense.
Sean, I’d say no, don’t buy a watch since it’s not your bag. Assuming you don’t often find yourself in the company of society ladies, I don’t think many women have Rolex-radar. And if a woman does, as I’ve said many times before, that’s a woman you want to steer clear of anyway. Unless she pinches you just the way you like
Did things just get weird in here?
-Beth
Got a question for Beth? Send them to: askawoman@dappered.com
Don’t buy a watch if you don’t want to, but wearing a watch rather then pulling out your phone whenever you need to know the time is the equivalent of trading in your hoodie, cargo shorts, flip-flops and backwards baseball cap for a blazer, collared shirt, nice jeans, and brogue boots. It demonstrates that you have graduated to adulthood.
New watch alert: Hublot’s.
I’m in the same position. I just don’t really like watches. When I wear one I feel awkward. I’m sure at some point in the next 5 years I’ll buy one, but now I’d rather spend that money on other things and look at my phone for the time.
My girlfriend just bought me watch two weeks ago for my birthday. I’ve never been a watch kind of guy (the last watch I wore was a Casio calculator watch in junior high). However, wearing a nice quality watch and especially one that my girlfriend helped me pick out is something that I love putting on in the morning. And yes, it is so much easier to check the time while I’m teaching rather than pulling out my phone or checking my iPod.
Does this mean no “Rolie’s” that don’t “tick-tok”? That’s gorillas!
Or the big-faced Rolie’s – I got 2 of those.
Aren’t we on the verge of winter? It’s awfully warm in here, Beth…
I think it’s that last hyperlink that really got me Beth. To quote one of the reviews: “If you are looking for best screenplay candidates, this probably isn’t it. If you are looking for hot, soft core sex with attractive actresses, this is probably more up your alley”. I’m imagining you relaxing with a glass of red and watching that movie (naturally, you’re wearing a men’s button down “dress” with the ol’ “tie as a belt” trick). This could be love Beth, just sayin 😉
Get a slim leather strap watch like a timex in brown and black and match with belt/shoes. I assume if you’re on this site you want to dress well and it makes a big difference to me. Everyone’s got a cell phone these days, but the watch always helps when you need to be discreet about checking the time or when you’re really busy/have your hands full.
If you’re buying some item of clothing for the sole purpose of impressing a woman, she’d better be your wife, your fiancee, or your mother.
Just sayin’.
Pretty sure any discussion of watches deserves some Watch the Throne references.
Oh lord. That picture of the Jonas is truly hideous, what is that blazer’s trim made from? It looks like dried skin. ugh.
Lots of people feel wierd and awkward when they wear a watch for the first time. I’ve known plenty of people who were in the ‘my phone is fine’ camp. Trust me, you get yourself a nice watch that you think looks great, and a few weeks down the road you’ll be asking yourself “why didn’t I do this sooner?”. And it’s also money well spent because watches last for many years and don’t go out of style.
Well, except for fads like huge watches and colorful watches. People will be seriously regretting those in a few years…
Well played sir
Photo shoot fresh, lookin’ like wealth.
Watches are no longer the necessity they once were. Still, they have their purpose. Whereas it used to be 1) Tell time and 2) Fashion/Vanity, it’s now 1) Fashion/Vanity and 2) Tell time. It used to be the only way you would know the time when you were out and about was via a watch. That’s not true anymore and as such, that part of it’s intrinsic value has been greatly diminished. There’s a clock in the car, on your phone, on your computer, on your cable box, on your news program… So it’s become more of a fashion statement/vanity item. Sure you’ll use it from time to time, but you’re just hoping it looks good and maybe people notice. If you’re vain you’ll hope they think you spent a lot on your watch. If you’re really vain you’ll spend a lot on your watch so you know they’ll know you spent a lot on it.
So it doesn’t really come down to “Am I a watch guy?” or not… It comes down to “Do I like having things on my wrist?”. If you’re wearing leather bands or Livestrong bands or jelly bracelets, you could easily upgrade your look by sporting a nice watch. And by nice I don’t mean an asshole expensive watch (especially if you’re a college student). I spent $100 on this Orient automatic (http://www.ofwatch.com/bimg/orient-cet05001w-multi-eyes-white-automatic.jpg) because I liked how it looked with what I wear to work. Instant upgrade over my Livestrong band.
You CAN’T buy a watch as a status symbol unless you can go top of the line. Anything short of an ultimate Rolex is going to peg you as…well….lower status. The way to win that game is avoid status symbols altogether. I say either go for a strictly utilitarian watch that CAN’T have been purchased to impress, or something different and artful that says something other than status.
I don’t agree with this at all. This argument assumes that you are 1) perpetually attached to electronic gadgets while you are stationary, and 2) perpetually attached to your cell phone while mobile. Neither of these things are true for me, or for most people, I would wager.
The primary use for my watch is still to tell the time. The fact that it happens to look nice is just a bonus. This is true for me, my dad, my brother, and all my friends who wear watches.
I’ve gone through a couple watch phases. My dad has always worn them (and collected them for that matter), so as a child, you can imagine I wanted to wear one too. There was a time i remember that I’d feel weird if i didn’t have one on. Then around high school I stopped wearing them on a day-to-day basis. It actually got to the point that I’d feel weird if I DID have one on. That kind of continued through college (especially with the prominence of cell phones).
But then, a few months ago I stumbled across this wonderful site, and it has renewed my interest. I found my old Fossil chrono that I’m getting used to wearing every day again. I’m now planning on starting a little collection of my own (although I don’t imagine I’ll be working in any Omega, Tag, or Rolex anytime soon).
But I digress. Like everyone else has said, don’t purchase a watch as a status symbol. Purchase one if you truly enjoy them. And, for the record, it does look a lot better to look at a watch than pull out a cell phone when asked the time.
May not be true for you, but from my experience and noting what people do (allegorical evidence, of course, not empirical), a vast majority of people are perpetually attached to their cell phone while mobile. More so, even, for those in younger age groups.
Further note, most people in my city have and carry at least one smartphone (maybe two, if work requires it).
“Got no watch on, I’m going for a timless look” – Rob Kelly, Dropkicked (Irish Rapper, name of song)
“blazer, collared shirt, nice jeans, and brogue boots” – could arguably fall under “people who only wear trends”
I think it’s important to remember that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a watch for it to be eye-catching. I have an Omega Speedmaster I got as a graduation gift from my folks, but ordinarily, it’s my Seiko SKX007, SKX779, or SRP043 that get mentioned by girls (especially when I put them on a Bond or International Orange Maratac band). Hell, when the SKX007 is on a bracelet, people confuse it for a Rollie pretty regularly.
Buying a watch is a unique experience. It must reflect your personal style and be something YOU will want to put on everyday. I work in a correctional setting that prohibits cell phones while also requiring I keep track of time to log cell checks and other daily activities. Henceforth not having watch is not an option. The world of the internet is a great tool to explore when looking at purchasing a watch. IMHO Rolex is sooo over rated and over recognized that only those desperate for attention would purchase one. There are plenty of obscure brands out there that will perform as well and look just as good. Buy a brand nobody has heard of, then nobody knows how much you spent on it. I recently purchased a BIANCI watch, it looks super expensive and classy but still functional and simplistic and I definitely didn’t spend as much as its quality conveys I did and with nobody ever hearing of BIANCI they can’t tell what I spent. If you want a watch simply to say “look i have soo much money i can waste large chunks of it on items that i could have purchased much cheaper” then buy a rolex. If you want a watch that says “I take pride in wearing a quality timepiece and paying attention to details” then buy something you like for $100-$300 dollars (victornox, casio edifice, citizen, Tissot, i have to plug Bianci again, and many others). Find something you like and you want to wear rather the how you think people will perceive it.
It’s cray, actually.
Brogue boots and the ‘nice’ jeans, I agree, but otherwise I’m not sure trend means what you think it means.
Watches serve as status symbols to other men, not to women. Much like women can’t tell the difference between John Lobbs and Steve Maddens or Paul Smith and Jos. A Bank, they sure as hell don’t know the difference between Audemars and Fossil. As long as the designs are clean and well-fitted, you’ll do okay.
Think about everything used to express “status,” and you’ll see that most of it is done to boost your perceived status among guys (cars, excessive lifting, fancy purchases, etc.) — not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Use the money to buy yourself a good education or support her sick relatives or to do some good in the world. You don’t need a Rolex to make a statement with a watch, just a Flavor Flav-like attitude.
You would be better off buying a used BMW than a Rolex for status with the ladies. There may be women out there who can spot the difference between a Orient and a Patek Philippe, but I have yet to meet one. When I was younger, I used to get asked the “what car do you drive?” question, but as you get older they stop asking.
I buy watches because I love the complications, craftsmanship and design that goes into them. But, I usually wear a Citizen for my everyday watch because I won’t flinch every time I bang my wrist on a wall or hard surface. As already mentioned Rolex are kind of crap if you love watches for their beauty. Not only that unless you are old enough to be retired, a lot of people will form automatic opinions about you when they see one of those monstrosities on your wrist.
If you’re constantly pulling your phone out while talking to someone, they have no way of knowing if you’re checking to see if you have an email or text, or if you’re checking to see what time it is. It’s incredibly rude and it will give people the impression that you don’t care enough to cary on a real conversation with them. If you don’t care about possibly giving off that vibe, then by all means keep using your phone as a watch, but I don’t ever want to be that guy.
I stopped wearing a watch for about 5 years in favor of the cell phone. Then one night about two years ago we were out with some friends and I pulled my phone out to check the time. My wife told me I looked like a dork doing that. I asked everyone at the table, who wears a watch anymore? Everyone raised their arm to show me their watch. I was the only one not wearing one. I’ve been wearing a watch ever since.
So, I guess the moral of the story isn’t to buy a watch to impress the ladies, but to buy a watch to maybe look more intelligent and sophisticated, and that in turn may make you appear more attractive to them.
And, you don’t have to spent a lot of money to get a Rolex or Omega. There are very nice watches under $200, heck $100. As someone else mentioned, even a simple $30 Timex Easy Reader on a brown or leather strap will do.
I agree people will regret colorful or odd shaped watches in a few years as those are fads. It depends on how you define huge but I think larger watches (mens 40mm – 44mm) are here to stay. Anything over 45mm can be considered over-sized and could run into looking out of place in a few years. Large watches (under 44mm) have actually been around for decades but are just becoming more mainstream. Panerai was classically a 44mm watch dating back decades. Omega & Breitling also had large watches in their collections for decades. Rolex has typically capped their sizes below 40mm until the past 7 years.
Just because people are buying more large watches and they are offered by more watch companies doesn’t mean its a fad that has to go away or be regretted at a later date. It means many watch companies have caught on to what the luxury watch companies have been offering for a very long time.
That said, the thinner, smaller watch will always be in style. Today most people wear those watches when dressed up because they fit under the cuff. I think any man who enjoys wearing a watch will likely have at least two watches. One for everyday and one for special occasions. True watch lovers may have a watch for every occasion.
You are right to buy a watch because you want to wear it and not how others perceive it. I believe there are many less expensive watches that are just as good as Rolex. On the flip side Rolex isn’t any less of a watch because it gets more attention and is copied more. Its a very well made watch.
Its just that attention that also makes Rolex one of the few watch brands where their original pieces have a chance of maintaining or increasing in value. Even Breitling and Omegas have a harder time maintaining their value over time. For that reason alone Rolex is worth considering if you are going to buy an expensive watch. Like it or not all that Rolex marketing keeps the watch in demand and maintains the value. Embrace their advertising for what it can do for you – dont hate it for making the brand seem overrated. How many things can you say you bought, used for 5 years then were able to sell it for close to what you paid for it? Every Rolex I have owned has been that way.
That’s not to put down any less expensive watch that is just as good as a Rolex. But its something to consider if anyone is going to drop thousands on a watch. Do you like it and will you be able to sell/trade-in for close to what you paid for it? With many Rolex’s this is the case.
My favorite watch was a Breitling until the day I traded it in & got a fraction of what I paid for it. My love affair with that watch ended there. I dont care what people think about what I wear on my wrist but I do care what I can sell it for when I’m done with it. Like a car, resale value matters unless you are going to keep it for a lifetime.
To me a watch is one of the few pieces of jewelry a man can wear and still look like a man in all settings – from the boardroom to the opera to the sports bar to the beach. Whether you are changing oil on a car or being chauffeured in a car a watch is universal. That cant be said for earrings, necklaces, bracelets or rings – other than wedding. Wear all that jewelry and you’ll look like you belong on the Jersey Shore.
I have to say that you bring about a good point there that I had never even considered. As someone who just wore a $60 walmart Armitron daily for the last 6 years I never even considered that watches would have resale value. I always have just bought a watch and wore it till it broke and then I bought another one. I still don’t think I personally would ever spend 4 digits on a watch, I am a lifetime guy, my car will be 17 years old next year , but I can see and understand how this would appeal to others more with this information.
I’m 27, married, and live in a cool city- listen. Watches show a sense of responsibility and can express a sense of style. Phones show a short attention span and disposable income.
Stop pulling your phone out all the time. Stop depending on other people to tell you what time it is. Get a watch. It can be subtle, inexpensive, and the right one can work for 90% of the occasions you’ll deal with.
Also, not wearing a watch is a signal that you are one of the following: 1. So young you’ve had a cell phone since you could walk. 2. So irresponsible or unimportant that you have no appointments. or 3. That bum always asking what time it is.
Be a man. Know what time it is. Women will notice.
Wtf did a piece of inanimate do to you? I wear a simple wristwatch to tell time. You bet I want it to look nice and not like a piece of crap. Can I tell time with my cell? Yes. Can I tell time when I’m at my computer? Yes. Do I want to whip out my cell every time I’m waiting at the bus/train stop? No. How about when I’m riding my bike during the summer? Heck no. Therefore a watch is the perfect solution.
” Sure you’ll use it from time to time, but you’re just hoping it looks good and maybe people notice. If you’re vain you’ll hope they think you spent a lot on your watch.”
Bud, we’re all vain to an extent. That’s why we’re on this site. Don’t be a douchebag.
No wonder the younger group has such a short attention span.
And with that fellas, I think I’ll ask us all to move on.
It seems to me that the new trend (as seen in all the recent catalogs) is some sort of slim pant/jean, some “vintage” overpriced remodel of a traditional work boot (or the “boat shoe chukka”), paired with a plaid collared shirt, skinny/knit tie, and blazer/cardigan.
granted, I don’t like knit ties or cardigans, and I’ve actually seen someone in public with the “jeans stuffed into untied boots” look which just looks like you’re trying too hard imo. My wife is fairly fashion-forward and agrees, so I assume I’m somewhere along the right track…