Viewing watch etiquette

[anglin_az]

The other day while on vacation I stopped by a jeweler that had a couple of used Rolexes in his window display. In the market for a Sub, I popped in to take a look. It was a 1990's for around $4900. I glanced it over and found it in good condition. The time and date was off and not wound up so started to unscrew the crown. He kind of freaked and said confrontationaly, "why are you unscrewing it?". I replied so that I can see it function. He grabbed it out of my hand and wound it himself and gave it back to me.

I gave it back to him, thanked him and left. I started thinking about my other visits to AD's and remembered that some will set the time before handing me the watch while others will simply wind it. Normally, i check to see how smooth the crown goes in the date function and time function without being questioned. Is there some etiquette about viewing a watch that I don't know about?

[ecsub44]

I don't think you did anything wrong.

[MonBK]

I would have asked first.

[Sherwooddavid]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I would have asked first.

[GradyPhilpott]

The jeweler was rude.

Perhaps, you should have asked. It was after all his watch.

However, the jeweler should have simply asked you to let him wind the watch without being confrontational.

[adzman808]

this

Originally Posted by MonBK

I would have asked first.

and this

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

The jeweler was rude.

but the jeweller did wrong, he handled you very badly, never be rude to a customer

I also would of left the shop (sorry store)

if i'd asked first, and he said no, i'd have left the store

[psv]

Rude and wrong move by the jeweler, take your business elsewhere.

[Jannal]

Originally Posted by psv

Rude and wrong move by the jeweler, take your business elsewhere.

Agree.

[swils8610]

Jeweler was rude.


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[winrestpossoftware]

It's just a watch, not someones first born. If he's in the business of selling watches, allowing a customer handle it and perform it's basic functions isn't out of the ordinary.

That's like buying a car that the dealers refuses to let you test drive. The funny thing is that I bought my 2008 BMW M3 without test driving it, they wouldn't let me. Go figure!

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by winrestpossoftware

It's just a watch, not someones first born. If he's in the business of selling watches, allowing a customer handle it and perform it's basic functions isn't out of the ordinary.

That's like buying a car that the dealers refuses to let you test drive. The funny thing is that I bought my 2008 BMW M3 without test driving it, they wouldn't let me. Go figure!

If I can test drive an R8, I think it's ok to test drive an M3.
I'm not buying any car I can't take for a spin.

[Watchdog]

It would make me uncomfortable, and I would have left.

[watchmaniac]

Just curious where the AD is located...

[anglin_az]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

Just curious where the AD is located...

Santa Monica CA, down by the Promenade.

[wohlfecc]

I had a sales woman freak out when I unscrewed the helium release on a Planet Ocean. She even followed up with a scolding: "don't ever open that one!"

[cop414]

Originally Posted by wohlfecc

I had a sales woman freak out when I unscrewed the helium release on a Planet Ocean. She even followed up with a scolding: "don't ever open that one!"

You CAN'T open that one because you'll let all of the helium out and it will need immediate service, don't you know that!!??

[cop414]

I always ask first, then I get worried that if I do it I might cross thread the crown and then I just hand it back and have them do it for me. Was kinda rude though.

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by wohlfecc

I had a sales woman freak out when I unscrewed the helium release on a Planet Ocean. She even followed up with a scolding: "don't ever open that one!"

http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachm...egatypehrv.jpg

[francis]

Originally Posted by wohlfecc

I had a sales woman freak out when I unscrewed the helium release on a Planet Ocean. She even followed up with a scolding: "don't ever open that one!"

hahahaha!

There was a sales woman standing out in front of a high end jewelry/watch shop in a mall recently that tried to get me to come in as I was passing by. I said do you carry Rolex? She said "sorry but Rolex is not sold in the U.S anymore. If you do find any, it will be old stock.
I was so awestruck that I literally said nothing and walked away...

[Rashid.bk]

Some jewelers are uppity and think people don't know how to handle a nice watch like a Rolex.
They may also have a lot of traffic just coming to look, still that was rude of him and I'd be less inclined to buy. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask in the future.

[watchmaniac]

Once the jeweler totally freaked out and threatened to call the police when I walked out with the watch on my wrist without paying.......Just joking!!! LOL!!!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

Once the jeweler totally freaked out and threatened to call the police when I walked out with the watch on my wrist without paying.......Just joking!!! LOL!!!

[FeelingTheBlues]

I'll have to agree with quite a few members in this thread, the jeweler seemed rather rude indeed but I would have preferred to ask before doing such a thing myself. I don't think you have to feel guilty about it but I would probably remember this story next time I want to see how smooth a crown turns.

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

Once the jeweler totally freaked out and threatened to call the police when I walked out with the watch on my wrist without paying.......Just joking!!! LOL!!!

Some people freak out over such small details...

[Sous]

The guy sounds like an idiot. If he's like that just because you were putting the watch through it's paces, how will he be if you have any issues with the watch? You probably dodged a bullet there.

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by Sous

The guy sounds like an idiot. If he's like that just because you were putting the watch through it's paces, how will he be if you have any issues with the watch? You probably dodged a bullet there.

X2 on this one.

[Lucky777]

I would have asked first. For all he knew you didn't know what you were doing. Not saying he couldn't have handled it better, but I'm sure he deals with all types

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Lucky777

I would have asked first. For all he knew you didn't know what you were doing. Not saying he couldn't have handled it better, but I'm sure he deals with all types

Exactly what I meant.

[tattooedfagin]

Originally Posted by Lucky777

I would have asked first. For all he knew you didn't know what you were doing. Not saying he couldn't have handled it better, but I'm sure he deals with all types

Originally Posted by MonBK

Exactly what I meant.

too true, there are many tyre kickers around & not all are able to wind a watch correctly, simple as it may be to many of us a novice could easily damage the crown etc....as rude as the dealer may have seemed I think it was more out of panic, probably never expected the OP to start winding it...winding a watch ??? how absurd

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by Lucky777

I would have asked first. For all he knew you didn't know what you were doing. Not saying he couldn't have handled it better, but I'm sure he deals with all types

This, plus the fact that the watch is going to be sold to someone. So he is just looking out for it. AD's don't discount floor samples like furniture stores do, so he's just trying to take care of the timepiece.

But the situation could have been handled better.

[balboa73]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

This, plus the fact that the watch is going to be sold to someone. So he is just looking out for it. AD's don't discount floor samples like furniture stores do, so he's just trying to take care of the timepiece.

But the situation could have been handled better.

It wasnt an AD it was a jeweller selling preowned rolex