I don't think I'm going to comment on anyone else's watch in the wild anymore

[Harry-57]

In a showroom or some sort of watch/jewellery event I would be uninhibited. Last time I was at my AD my Hulk ended up on a lady's wrist while I admired her PM DD. Out in the wild it's different. If I spot a nice watch, and if the owner has spotted mine it may end there. Or we might smile and nod. We know. And that's enough. The last car we bought was sold to us by a lady with a DJ with diamonds. We didn't have to tell her what a wonderful watch it was. She knew that we knew, because we were also wearing nice watches and we all clocked each other's. If someone in a street/shop/queue points at my watch and starts enthusing I find it a bit vulgar, and I make a point of stepping back and looking around in case it's the beginning of a stunt of some kind.

[dxbtousa]

There is a time and a place for everything; perhaps for him it was neither.

Either way a smile and acknowledgement should be enough.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by Investr

Wife ? YES (if shes hot) she will be in awe of Me and the Platona. Kids? no!! they might try to get close to the Platona and that aint happenin'

I think she is, but i am worried she won't be up to your standards! Anyhow, we'll see you there. Kids will fend for themselves at home.

[Mr.Rolex1]

Originally Posted by Uggi

True. I'm English and I wouldn't like someone in a Starbucks queue commenting on my watch or anything else I was wearing. Not one bit.
Rude, invasive, presumptuous and downright weird is how it would come across to me. I would have reacted similarly.

[Juan Luis]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

In a showroom or some sort of watch/jewellery event I would be uninhibited. Last time I was at my AD my Hulk ended up on a lady's wrist while I admired her PM DD. Out in the wild it's different. If I spot a nice watch, and if the owner has spotted mine it may end there. Or we might smile and nod. We know. And that's enough. The last car we bought was sold to us by a lady with a DJ with diamonds. We didn't have to tell her what a wonderful watch it was. She knew that we knew, because we were also wearing nice watches and we all clocked each other's. If someone in a street/shop/queue points at my watch and starts enthusing I find it a bit vulgar, and I make a point of stepping back and looking around in case it's the beginning of a stunt of some kind.

A fellow in Spain at an AD admired my "Pepsi" watch, we had a good conversation with him (I offered), trying it on. I wished him luck in getting his order in soon. But, at another public place I politely smile and say thanks.

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by rolexryan329

So yesterday, while waiting for my drink at starbucks, I saw somebody wearing a platona. It was my first time ever seeing one in the wild and since I was wearing my sub, I figured we could talk about watches a bit. We were essentially side by side waiting for our drinks so I said a simple "hey man, nice watch". He didn't turn around for a few seconds and when he finally did, he gave me a quick grin and that was it. I felt like maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all. Maybe he thought I was blowing up his spot but I wasn't loud or obnoxious about it. I think from here out, I'll keep to myself as much as I'd rather give a compliment

What do you do when you see a grail watch in the wild?

Maybe he’s just socially awkward

[DPE]

Just a nod and to say nice watch is good enough. You may or they may not want to have a big conversation. Everyone is different. Go with the flow at the time.

[Clinton Ave]

The guy sounds like a prick. He was probably all juiced you said something to him too. Probably told his wife about it later. Jackass.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Clinton Ave

The guy sounds like a prick. He was probably all juiced you said something to him too. Probably told his wife about it later. Jackass.

I don’t know about all that. Actually , the person that wants to draw attention to his Rolex in public is probably not a watch guy, but rather a “Rolex Guy.” You know the type of guy I mean.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Clinton Ave

The guy sounds like a prick.

What should he have done? In order to not be a prick?

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

The Rules.

1) If you are member of TRF, then there is no reason to talk to strangers hoping they are WIS...Plenty of those conversations to be had here...as in depth as you could possibly want.

2) 99% of the general public that wear a Rolex know little to nothing about it expect for it's a ROLEX and it's the Best and that subsequently makes them BEST. That attitude will make itself apparent rather quickly.

3) The conversation will more than likely be disappointing and awkward. That will lead to you needing to tell TRF members about, when if you had followed rule #1, then you wouldn't have to cope with the gnarly encounter and debrief.

My only exception to the rule is if I'm at an AD and another shopper has something interesting on, but that really depend on the situation and the vibes that are being off gassed.

The Fleet Lord generally speaks truth, but I am going to have to go high and right on this one.

On rule #1 - I will keep talking to Rolex strangers, as I've had lots of great convos and had many great responses. In comparison, I'v had few awkward interactions.

On rule #2 - I've not found this to the true at all. Far more than half the Rolex owners I have approached are knowledgable and interested in talking about their watches.

On rule #3 - That just hasn't been my experience. Either I've been lucky, or I'm a really awesome conversationalist, or Rolex wearers are more interested in interfacing than the dark lord...ergh, Fleet Lord....thinks.

[TswaneNguni]

I always comment,if I feel it appropriate in the situation .
Very much positive response ,if negative ..too bad.

[Dpop24]

I stopped commenting on people’s luxury watches a long time ago because it turns out too many are oblivious as to what is even on their wrist. I assume that it’s because they really aren’t WIS or maybe they don’t want to acknowledge to a stranger that they’ve got enough cash on their wrist to buy a nice car.

Fast forward to two days ago and the TSA agent at the airport had on the exact same Seiko that my Mom gave me for getting my MBA 15 years ago. As she has now passed, it’s by far my most important material possession, let alone my most important watch.

Feeling emboldened from seeing that Seiko in the wild for the first time ever, I say “Nice watch, I have the exact same one and I love it.” He says thanks, asks what watch I have on and I say “oh, it’s a Rolex” and flash my Explorer 2 at him. He tells me “no offense, but this watch looks way nicer than your Rolex”. Sigh..... back to keeping my mouth shut.

[marcellomatt5]

Earlier this year I had a nice conversation with a very nice gentleman that I met on a flight. He was wearing an omega speedmaster mark II and in some moment I saw him pulling another speedmaster "soccer" out of his waistcoat pocket, in that moment I realized that he was someone who like watches. The next time he did, I asked, "it's a speedmaster soccer?" He immediately grinned and began to tell me his whole life story. He were a watchmaker and worked in Omega for 30 years, in Switzerland, knew how to appreciate watches, very wise, we talk about rolex market, and the vintage pieces market, that he likes a lot. I also showed him my black dial daytona. It was a good meetup, but I believe that it doesn't actually happen every day, in this specific case was the right guy, in the right place.

[omx5o]

Originally Posted by Clinton Ave

The guy sounds like a prick. He was probably all juiced you said something to him too. Probably told his wife about it later. Jackass.

Thanks for that.

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by rolexryan329

So yesterday, while waiting for my drink at starbucks, I saw somebody wearing a platona. It was my first time ever seeing one in the wild and since I was wearing my sub, I figured we could talk about watches a bit. We were essentially side by side waiting for our drinks so I said a simple "hey man, nice watch". He didn't turn around for a few seconds and when he finally did, he gave me a quick grin and that was it. I felt like maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all. Maybe he thought I was blowing up his spot but I wasn't loud or obnoxious about it. I think from here out, I'll keep to myself as much as I'd rather give a compliment

What do you do when you see a grail watch in the wild?

I’m like the guy that u grinned to... other than in a watch store or event... I don’t want people coming up to me. Use the strip club analogy. U can look but no touching... also the important point here is you shouldn’t be having convos with strippers

[Jamie1111]

Originally Posted by Investr

All these comments are making me feel like a jerk! Meet me at the coffee shop Thursday at 1:15 (dont be late)! Ill let you stand no closer than 3 feet from me and look at my watch. I’m doing this bc I’m the best, my watch is the best, and i like to give back from time to time to the less fortunate. Address me as THE Man when you see me. You’re welcome!

C U Next Tuesday. Get it....


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[delboylee]

Depends on the situation but it’s a bit awkward if it’s a total stranger. Friends of friends or acquaintances, then that’s different

[CptCanuck]

This has been a very interesting thread! Lots of different opinions on both sides, which is great. I have tried to strike up conversations before when I deemed it appropriate, like if there was already a collegial interaction, such as a friendly conversation on a plane ride.

I have had some great conversations and some awkward ones. Typically you can tell by the person's mannerisms and appearance whether or not it would be smart to bring up watches. It would be interesting to know the average Rolex owner age and whether or not that has an impact. Older folks (baby boomers and up) may be surprised and not in a good way. They prefer privacy, and grew up in a different time where strangers commenting on such things would be considered weird... younger millenials rocking hulks or other watches and who look like they are John Mayer wannabes will probably love to talk watches.

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[thehunter]

Originally Posted by Rad22

I had a very nice conversation with someone at Starbucks while waiting for our coffees. He saw my green sub and said “hey nice watch, I have the same one”. He wasn’t wearing a watch, but quickly gave me a list of awesome watches he owns (black Daytona, Pepsi, hulk). Made the wait for my coffee go by much faster .


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I would be skeptical about his alleged long list of watches if he wasn’t wearing one! ;-) I know personally I don’t feel dressed without a watch on.


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[RolyMoly]

Originally Posted by DTap

Any chance you’re 6’8” 250 lbs and really mean looking?


When I was a kid, “nice sneakers” meant you were about to walk home barefoot if your next move was wrong.

Lol.

[amh]

I've commented on other people's watches and I've received comments on mine. Most of the time there has been nothing awkward about it, totally depends on the situation.

What's totally silly is the comments you get when visiting retail stores. It's obvious the sales associates are trying to butter you up

[iliketime]

For some folks, its just a watch, its a mixed bag out there.

[EDL7]

Nice camera...nice sneakers...nice bicycle..nice ring..nice leather jacket you have there..
Nice watch..
All can be construed as a bit creepy...from a total stranger..
As a kid in NYC..the nice bike comment..got me beat up..and losing 2 bikes on 2 separate occasions in Central Park....
A very rich and well known friend of mine in the apparel industry..got his sneakers and leather jacket stolen the same way as a kid..on the subway..
"Nice" anything comment...in NYC..
Was always the..you are gonna get robbed bud...

[StackLexus17]

Tried commenting nice sub the other day to a guy. Had no idea what I was talking about.

There are people out there that don’t have the same (dare I say it) tick.

But yeah usually depends on the person and setting of where the comment is made.

Subway = This guy wants to steal my watch
Fancy restaurant/bar = This guy is safe


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[VacherObsessive]

A platona is a seriously expensive piece of kit, the only place one should comment on that is in the airport or on a yacht or somewhere ‘secure’, in public like a Starbucks in town or on the subway it’s a flag that someone has noticed your £50,000 piece... if I was the wearer I’d be cautious.

In airports, on planes and safe areas like in my office where there is practically zero chance of anything happening, people let their guard down and are generally happy to talk watches and 9 times out of 10 I comment and 9 times out of 10 it’s a positive experience and leads to a brief exchange at a minimum

However not if someone is wearing super super high end, then I probably wouldn’t mention it still as I’d guess those people are very rich and in their own bubble and wouldn’t want to talk to a pleb like me with a simple SS GMT !

PM Rolex and SS Patek is about it. Any higher than that and they’re multi millionaires ..

[Mohawkman450]

Yah I guess if u were a bit loud it would blow it up ! Me I would have pointed to it an thumbs up ! Give it props yet suttle an under radar ! But don’t feel bad at least he smiled at ya !

[Jakey]

As a private person I don't tend to engage or want to engage with strangers particularly when commenting on items of value.