Echi
[Photo Forum Moderator]
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Just as "serious" watches are chosen by us, I'd like to think that to a certain inexplicable extent, these same watches choose us. Perhaps not all, but at least those that chose to stay..
Such is the case when I bought my first real watch, a boyhood dream of mine nurtured by my dad's newsweek and time mag subscriptions. I'd salivate everytime I came across a Rolex or Patek ad. In this particular case, it had always been the Rolex Exp2 Polar ad that made me stare for just a wee bit longer than the hobnail Calatrava.
In 2004, I decided to make that boyhood dream come true. I was an exec at a news and broadcast firm having just transferred from its holding company. I sold my old car and used the proceeds to buy my Explorer II. I'm not sure I cared what other people thought about what watch was on my wrist. All I knew was that I was entering a fine period in my life and I wasn't going to bask in it without a proper watch 
Sure I've had other brands since then, other Rolexes, JLCs, etc but somehow that purchase back in '04 was THE purchase for me. It was going to be THE watch even if I don't wear it as much these days, even if my preferences have shifted to darker dials, the watch that won't ever leave the box. I don't have that strong an attachment to my other pieces even if they happened to call out at me at the time when I got them. It is that watch that I feel if I part with, that I'm not sure i'd ever be able to enjoy horology the way I enjoy it now.
A Cultural Curiosity...
I have worked for myself my entire adult life, I invest my own funds and therefore do not even have clients or employees save one (I haven’t fired myself yet but I’ve come close a few times) so I can wear almost any watch in my home office without fear o...
When i graduated ...
from a top tier law school back in 2001 and joined a prestigious law firm in 2002 (i was about 25 years old but i didnt have an MBA), my watches were Sandoz, Fossil, Swatch and Kenneth Cole. I got my first Rolex (a two tone datejust) when i was 30 years o...
I had my share of conundrums
The most polarizing occasion was when I wore my RO while managing a 6 star hotel reception. The amount of work was tremendous and I always had to get my hands busy - be it covering the bell desk or rooming a guest. I think the guests liked it and I had a ...
I got my first "good" watch at the age of 39.
It was a Rolex DateJust when I joined the ranks of "higher" management in my company.
Omega and IWC
Got my son an Omega Speedmaster when he graduated college and an IWC Portigieser when he landed his first serious job
I was about 35 (half a lifetime ago)
Promoted vice president of the company, traveling around the US and Europe, so I bought myself a Breitling Aerospace.
I entered into my profession in 1981--advertising. Being the beginning of what was considered at the time 'the decade of conspicuous waste', your suit, shoes, car, and watch were important.
This was especially so among advertising agencies. It was a showy business back then. And, taking the word 'conspicuous' literally, Rolex was the most obvious choice since everyone, even non-watch enthusiasts, recognized the name. It's also the only high-...
Interesting
My father was at DDB in the sixties...he was in many ways Don Draper...Stans job but Dons past and persona...he became a still life photographer in NYC and was very successful in that sixties way...he once told me I could afford a Ferrari but I wouldn’t w...
Yes, the '80s ended up being the last decade that the general population believed advertising was so glamours, your father was deep in the thick of it during the '60s...
...Just think about how many TV shows and movies back then who's main characters were ad men. I once made my wife watch a few episodes of Mad Men with me to give her an idea of what I used to do for a living. I had Don Draper's job, creative director, and...
Not at all...I believe ad creative is a true talent
..either you have it or you don’t. The Don Draper character was truly my father. Some of the details were eerily similar. There was a scene where Sally wakes up in the upper east side apartment...that was an out of body experience for me. It was like havi...
I think depends on firm and partners.
I started in law after over 15 years of finance and fintech systems at a firm that lost its core of IP attorneys, I handled all the IP for our Philly Office so the partners didn’t care what I wore, which was usually a very expensive timepiece, but that I ...
Know sb working as a jurist for an agricultural insurance company
Wearing Daytona and golden Rolexes, drives Porsche. Puh, I think he is in the wrong business.
Well said! [nt]
No message body Many a time Ive looked down at my wrist and thought why do I keep this guy at the firm!?!😂
Believe it or not, I heard that joke from a doctor . . .
. . . who was telling it to another doctor as they were both preparing me for surgery. 😐
Bought my first watch (a Rolex 16234) in 2005 with my very first salary, and have mostly been wearing Rolex and Patek at work ever since, without even noticing it.
But in a work environment like mine, where they look at you as a fashion icon if you wear a clean shirt, ironically a good watch is the least of the concerns even for a lower-level employee (which I was up until 10 years or so ago, first as a postdoc then...
apple watch
youll see alot of apple watches at skadden and cravath. alot of guys wear an apple watch or no watch. I know a fifth year associate who bought himself an MB&F which is super noticeable because of the bubble crystal. a couple of years back panerai was ...
Well said and interesting...
I personally detest the Apple Watch even though I own other Apple products and love (some of) them...to me the Apple Watch is a wrist computer with a timekeeper on it...not a “watch” but I can understand why people wear them in those environments...I wond...
The Apple Watch lets you easily ignore or, even better, block your mother when you want to, Mike!
Of course you needn’t customize it to that extent, but it’s nice to have the option. Ano “My ex’s calls get the jalopy ‘ah-oooo-gah’ alert tone. Fair warning.” Nuevo
Ah yes, but what I meant was "the Apple Watch IS the mother"
Always telling you what to do and reminding you of this and that. Don't need it. Don't want it. Had it & tossed it. Your reminder needs may vary. Cheers
Very interesting topic!
I bought my first really serious watch 11 years ago, when I was 35, it was a golden Daniel Roth Datomax. I remembered well how a judge stared at me when he saw my watch... I think man must grow up for a golden watch like Lange, Jaeger, Breguet etc., but s...
I became a lawyer at 50.
I think I was still wearing an old Omega Genève that I bought when I was 19. It was perfect for the firm, as the partners discouraged overt displays of wealth. There were no BMW, Mercedes or similar in the car park, and I think the most expensive watch I ...
😂😂😂I'm sure...
It’s funny about where the line is in different lines of work and levels therein ...why is it that sometimes flash is what gets you clients and sometimes it’s what loses them...VERY interesting...
I can only speak of advertising in the '80s-'90s, but our clients wanted to believe you were successful enough to not need their business, thinking if you're working for them when you don't need to, you must really believe in what you're doing.
I'm sure things are very different in the field today. But I think a lot of them also just liked having similar interests to talk about when traveling together. I considered many of my clients friends. Although I did have one client who was very professio...
A friend who is a successful dentist in Vienna wears extreme watches instead of driving flashy cars
He says his customers all know what's in the parking lot, but they can't see what's on his wrist, or if they do they don't know what it is. He has one of those huge safes with about 20 winders built into it. Cazalea
Just as "serious" watches are chosen by us, I'd like to think that to a certain inexplicable extent, these same watches choose us. Perhaps not all, but at least those that chose to stay..
Such is the case when I bought my first real watch, a boyhood dream of mine nurtured by my dad's newsweek and time mag subscriptions. I'd salivate everytime I came across a Rolex or Patek ad. In this particular case, it had always been the Rolex Exp2 Pola...
It’s my favorite Rolex too...
I was a two time ICMAC world champion kickboxer (martial arts are my secret life) and when I finally made the decision to retire from competition I bought my Seamaster PO Chrono as gift to myself for giving everything I had to it. It will always be the sp...
I defeated the National Champion from China..
Here he is warming me up for a subsequent fight.. ...
Rolex GMT than AP RO
I have been interested in mechanical watches since my teenage years Graduated as Electronic Engineer when I was 23 Master of organisation and leadership when I was 28 MBA in technology Management when I was 36 Bought my first watch above a few thousand ju...