on watches

learning from observation:

There are two things any guy will notice about another guy: (1) his watch (2) his car. Both these items are like the big elephants in the room, no need to discuss, its pretty glaringly obvious. Since you don't always see a guy's car when you first meet them, I'll focus on watches.

Watches serve two purposes. The first, based on a purely utilitarian perspective, is that a watch is only worn to tell time. The second is a status indicator. Chances are, if a person's watch isn't necessarily flashy, large, crammed with diamonds, or a name brand, that person simply thinks a "watch is a watch," no more, no less.

Timex Camper: $35. Purely utilitarian, simple design, cheap, and made for camping. Chances are, a guy wearing this watch is not interested in impressing you.

Panerai Luminor Marina: upwards of $4,000-$6,000. Classic 1950s Italian watch given to members in the military. Now sells to businessmen and anyone who wants a big old watch with big numbers.
Casio G-Shock: seen in Tokyo for around $90. Yes, these bold retro and neon colored statements tell a lot about the wearer.


A large watch, prominently displayed, is a sure-fire status indicator and confidence builder. It's a clear, initial symbol that exudes either confidence, style, cockiness, or "I'm not messin' around" attitude. For those who don't know about watch brands, keep in mind that if you see a name brand like Rolex, Omega, or a Panerai, a person's probably paying at least $3-4,000 for it. The type of watch tends to resemble a guy's personality, so be especially wary of oversized, jewel-studded time pieces. You're dealing with a very confident individual. If you're not into competition or listening to these strong personas, steer clear. On the other hand, a seemingly simplistic and understated watch, such as a Movado or a vintage Rolex portrays a more nuanced "sense" of class, but be careful, looks can be still deceiving. I'm not denigrating watch wears, but its important to know what types of watches certain guys will wear. Don't be intimidated by a guy wearing a large or expensive brand name watch, but do be wary of how to approach and deal with watch-wearing guys.

Watches, nowadays, seem to be more of an accessory than an essential utilitarian time keeper. The presence of one says much more about a guy than the lack of one. With this in mind, be aware of the power of wearing a watch, and be prepared to deal with a more confident individual if a guy does wear a watch.

As for me, I wear a fake watch procured in Manila, Philippines for around $20. The real thing costs like $3,000, but who wants to pay that much anyway??