5 ms·

>It's a watch. It tells you what time it is. I'm not a fancy watch buyer but I'll try to explain some of the thinking. To luxury buyers, it's not a "watch".

by jasode 8y ago

>It's a watch. It tells you what time it is. I'm not a fancy watch buyer but I'll try to explain some of the thinking. To luxury buyers, it's not a "watch". Instead, it's "jewelry for the wrist that just happens to tell time." Therefore, explaining the technical superiority of the quartz crystal accuracy of a $10 Casio watch compared to the mechanical springs of a Rolex watch is an ineffective critique. It's not even relevant that the Rolex keeps time less accurately.

zeth___ 8y ago
It's a status symbol. To them the Rolex is like a code base written in idiomatic Haskell, the Casio is a code base for a pet shop written in php sprinkled across a dozen html files.
- jacobevelyn 8y ago
  For what it's worth, my $9 bright pink Casio has netted me more compliments over the past six years (and it's still using the original battery!) than probably every other accessory/item of clothing I've worn over that time combined.
  - TheOtherHobbes 8y ago
    That's a different kind of signalling, for a different demographic with different values.
Sohcahtoa82 8y ago
> To luxury buyers, it's not a "watch". Instead, it's "jewelry for the wrist that just happens to tell time." That's probably the best description I've seen for appreciation of expensive watches. FWIW though, if you were to wear a knock-off of a luxury brand with your fancy suit at some event, would anyone even notice without taking a close look to specifically examine your watch?
- dagw 8y ago
  Depends a lot on the knock off. Some are terrible. I have a colleague that wears an "Omega" that is laughably bad. Some of the better ones though are much harder to spot.
  - girvo 8y ago
    I have a Rolex knock off, purchased in the mid 2000’s in HK for $200AUD that is so good that two watch repair places I’ve taken it to have declared it one of the best fakes they’ve ever seen. Which is quite amusing because I got it mostly as a joke! It’s quite a lovely mechanical watch on its own, even without all the “Rolex” bits.
    - saalweachter 8y ago
      My favorite fake Rolex anecdote comes from my days in comparison shopping. There are three ways to get paid on the internet, for impressions, for clicks and for actions (eg, "actually buying something"). The latter typically pays a revenue share, which varies based on the item. Electronics have a tiny profit margin and usually pay something like 1%. Clothing has a giant profit margin and frequently paid 10-30%. The highest revenue share I saw was for a fake Rolex watch (which was marketed as a fake!), which had a 50% revenue share.
- trhway 8y ago
  >would anyone even notice without taking a close look to specifically examine your watch? usually it is noticeable by taking a [even not so close] look at the wearer :) For example, looking at that guy in his "fancy suit" an idea of knock-off would never ever cross your mind : https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-watch-vanishes-up-orthodox-leaders-sleeve.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-...
flubert 8y ago
The Last Psychiatrist has an intersting take on luxury watchery: https://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2011/11/luxury_branding_the_future_lea.html https://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2011/11/luxury_branding_the_...

by jasode 8y ago

zeth___ 8y ago

It's a status symbol. To them the Rolex is like a code base written in idiomatic Haskell, the Casio is a code base for a pet shop written in php sprinkled across a dozen html files.

jacobevelyn 8y ago
For what it's worth, my $9 bright pink Casio has netted me more compliments over the past six years (and it's still using the original battery!) than probably every other accessory/item of clothing I've worn over that time combined.
- TheOtherHobbes 8y ago
  That's a different kind of signalling, for a different demographic with different values.

Sohcahtoa82 8y ago

> To luxury buyers, it's not a "watch". Instead, it's "jewelry for the wrist that just happens to tell time." That's probably the best description I've seen for appreciation of expensive watches. FWIW though, if you were to wear a knock-off of a luxury brand with your fancy suit at some event, would anyone even notice without taking a close look to specifically examine your watch?

dagw 8y ago
Depends a lot on the knock off. Some are terrible. I have a colleague that wears an "Omega" that is laughably bad. Some of the better ones though are much harder to spot.
- girvo 8y ago
  I have a Rolex knock off, purchased in the mid 2000’s in HK for $200AUD that is so good that two watch repair places I’ve taken it to have declared it one of the best fakes they’ve ever seen. Which is quite amusing because I got it mostly as a joke! It’s quite a lovely mechanical watch on its own, even without all the “Rolex” bits.
  - saalweachter 8y ago
    My favorite fake Rolex anecdote comes from my days in comparison shopping. There are three ways to get paid on the internet, for impressions, for clicks and for actions (eg, "actually buying something"). The latter typically pays a revenue share, which varies based on the item. Electronics have a tiny profit margin and usually pay something like 1%. Clothing has a giant profit margin and frequently paid 10-30%. The highest revenue share I saw was for a fake Rolex watch (which was marketed as a fake!), which had a 50% revenue share.
trhway 8y ago
>would anyone even notice without taking a close look to specifically examine your watch? usually it is noticeable by taking a [even not so close] look at the wearer :) For example, looking at that guy in his "fancy suit" an idea of knock-off would never ever cross your mind : https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-watch-vanishes-up-orthodox-leaders-sleeve.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-...

flubert 8y ago

The Last Psychiatrist has an intersting take on luxury watchery: https://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2011/11/luxury_branding_the_future_lea.html https://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2011/11/luxury_branding_the_...