Oh man have you found your community, assuming this settles into a continuation of the original subreddit. Obscure interests lavishly produce "inject this directly into my veins" drama.
I remember reading the original post! I knew nothing of him beyond my family’s annual holiday watch of Christmas vacation, so this was an eye-opening read. Thanks for reposting it.
Thanks for the detailed write-up! I was vaguely aware of how disliked Chase had become, which always made me a little sad, because I really liked him when I was younger, when his movies were doing well. Now I’m glad he is being treated exactly as he appears to deserve, based on his behaviour.
I’m also a comedy fan and and I love the roasts, so it was interesting to read about the history there. (The James Franco roast, particularly Hader’s bit, was one of the funniest I have ever seen.)
I’ve never liked communities based around buying certain products. So much gatekeeping and drama… and for what, to spend money? It’s a marketer’s wet dream.
I don’t see any value in celebrating the fact that someone went out and spent money to get something, or stood in line to get something.
The community is based around the objects… For enthusiasts, watches are neat. It’s an interesting thing because they are functional jewelry, and you can’t actually own that many cause they are expensive, and you can use even fewer at a time cause you only have two wrists (and even watch people will make fun of you if you wear two watches at once).
So the real community is talking about new things, what’s coming up, what you like and dislike, surprising history, a lot of stuff. In my group, we absolutely celebrate when someone gets a new watch, but not cause they’ve passed some kind of gate, but because they now have something they can enjoy and build memories with.
The truth is, marketers will take advantage of any hobby
Also, watches are frequently a guy hobby. It’s better than it used to be but men don’t have as many jewelry choices or ways to accessorize their style especially when dressed up or for work.
My experience has been the complete opposite over on the watch subreddit. I never saw any gatekeeping and if you posted a picture of your new $10 watch there absolutely were plenty of comments on how awesome it is and how happy everyone is for you to get something you like. Also a lot of talk about the history and inner workings of watches not just circlejerking over brand names. Overall a pretty positive and encouraging group in my experience.
Consumerism at it’s finest. We get so worked up for things that should never get much emotions out of us. Watches, cars, console wars, fashion brands, mobile OS 🤮🤮🤮 We should make the effort not to care so much about brands, and just buy less. No one needs a watch
Not buying a watch is not going to solve consumerism. As someone who owns a (non luxury) watch I think that they’re really useful, and that more people should give them a chance
My comment was mostly about brand loyalty and the madness that ensues. As for the usefulness of watches, i realized they were redundant when i broke mine over 10 years ago and never bought another one again. We can all tell time from a phone, a computer, a train, car, microwave etc… Spend a week without one and see. Fine if you prefer to have one, but it isn’t a necessity or even a tool anymore, more of a fashion accessory.
TIL there are people that take the collecting of expensive, single-purpose watches more seriously than any hardcore gamer takes their favorite game. Now I want to see somebody to bombard their community with ads for the cheapest shit-tier kids’ wristwatches and Chinese knockoff brands available.
Go to reddit.com/r/watchescirclejerk for the people who realize how ridiculous it is to take collecting jewelry so seriously. They’re watch enthusiasts who realize how stupid it is to be a serious watch enthusiast.
It’s hilarious. Because watch culture is filled with some of the most pretentious and self-aggrandizing people you’ll ever meet.
I own basically the cheapest mechanical chronograph watch in existence and I love it. For 250 bucks you can get a "Seagull 1963" watch from China on Amazon.
It's actually a really nice looking watch with a glass case back so you can see all the gears in the movement. It was designed by the Swiss company Venus a long time ago and they sold it to a Chinese company at some point where it got copied by a bunch of other Chinese companies.
You might find it under a different brand name. Mine is the "Seakoss" variant. They come in a bunch of different styles and sizes so pick whichever you prefer.
Sure maybe it's not great to be supporting China but so much stuff we buy comes from China anyway so I don't think about it too much.
I wanted a mechanical watch so I could admire the gears but I wasn't about to drop many thousands of dollars on one so this thing fits the bill.
That's just how it is with luxury brands. Either someone just knows all the specifics, from type of leather used, to specific types of metals, from being in the industry or being brought up with it, or someone doesn't care and can just afford it. You could do the same not just with watches, but plates, or wallpaper.
The whole premise is a miss for me. The idea that $260 is cheap (because Omega’s cost $2500) is, frankly, stupid.
A watch should primarily display the time (in a permanently visible face) and possibly add the option for some audible reminders.
Changing batteries is a big problem, and so Solar (or Kinetic IDK) is an essential concept.
Casio with bold analog face, I can see the time without my glasses, and without even directly looking at the watch face (peripheral vision when riding my bike).
It has a digital inset with options for hourly chime, automatic day/date, and enough accuracy so I only adjust it once every 6 months or more…
It cost 1500 THB (maybe $25) and never needs a battery change…
7 years later it is always there for me to see the time.
So it is much more reliable than any smartwatch, and more functional then the majority of watches on sale.
I’m not a dumbwatch guy, but i was aware of the plastic omega Nd wanted one because the colors etc. The real speedmaster doesn’t draw me in as much. I don’t want to wear something expensive thst i have to baby around. My current smartwatch was 600 bucks. Not cheap, but not exactly devastating if scratch it up
Bro welcome to the club that’s how it all starts. Pretty soon you’ve got two cases full of watches and you never stop eyeing that countertop in Zales or whatever jewelry store
You know… I don’t agree with it, but I totally get it. For people outside of the community, many people have INTENSE relationships with their watches. I think they tie part of their identity with certain milestones, and when a watch is also so tightly bound to said milestone - certain jobs, certain incomes, certain life events - any perceived cheapening is seen as a direct assault to their identify.
It’s like… your dad handed down his Speedy when you got married. You bought your first Speedy when you made partner at your law firm. Whatever it is, now there’s this perceived slight that some 15 year old now owns a bastardised version of something you achieved and they didn’t.
All of it’s made up. It’s jewellery. I’m sure the Hayeks are sitting in Biel/Bienne laughing their asses off. But still… my dream watch is the VC 222, and when they did the rerelease, I was kinda like - wtf, guys. Even though I have zero affiliation with the original 222 and will never own one, I tricked myself into an emotional attachment with it.
I see shit like this in EVERY community. Cars. Dogs. Guitars. Coffee. PC Parts. Booze. If there’s any thing where the core components of the hobby have variable pricing and scarcity of the “best” stuff, the most dedicated to that hobby will find a way to invent hierarchy. Humanity is beautiful and gross.
Interesting read, not really into collecting watches but I appreciate beautiful timepieces - and this drama around the MoonSwatch actually piqued my interest in acquiring this watch. I’m liking some of the colorways they’re offering. I dabble more with smartwatch watchfaces, but this looks special.
Also understand the drama as people do get too involved in some of their hobbies. I just hope all this has died down and will allow me to look for a Mercury Mission MoonSwatch that’s not scalper-priced.
I’m not an every day wearer. In fact I never wore a watch as a adult. But I got one from my local store as you know what? It’s a good looking watch at a great price point. Wear it seldom, switched the strap for a nato, like seeing it wind some people it
So this was super interesting and I went to check out the watches… why why why why why is every watch a variation of the color of the associated planet and goddamn Venus is pink?! Because clearly they needed a lady watch and us ladies always want pink? Grrrrr pointlessly gendered. Sorry I got carried away, anyway nice writeup.
Nice writeup- thanks for the details on different watch types! As someone completely outside of the hobby, I can see why these sell out so fast. They look nice (to my untrained eye, anyways.) It’s a shame it’s such a limited run.
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