Unwritten rules of wearing watches
Discussion
I recalled a random anecdote recently and I thought it would be interesting to see if there are any similar situations out there.
So a few years ago now at a Christmas party I got talking to someone who has worked in several large financial services/investment firms over the years and the conversation steered to watches. He mentioned that more junior staff were absolutely forbidden from wearing precious metal timepieces, even if they were family heirlooms and not bought with bonuses etc. If you wore anything it had to be stainless steel etc. until you reached a certain level of seniority.
I'm unsure if this particular gent was pulling my leg or not, given how hierarchal the financial services industry seems to an outsider like me it seems to be plausible. It's one of those anachronisms or faux pas similar to how wearing a sports watch to a black tie dinner was viewed in the 1960s etc.
So my question is- has anyone heard of similar unwritten rules of watch wearing?
So a few years ago now at a Christmas party I got talking to someone who has worked in several large financial services/investment firms over the years and the conversation steered to watches. He mentioned that more junior staff were absolutely forbidden from wearing precious metal timepieces, even if they were family heirlooms and not bought with bonuses etc. If you wore anything it had to be stainless steel etc. until you reached a certain level of seniority.
I'm unsure if this particular gent was pulling my leg or not, given how hierarchal the financial services industry seems to an outsider like me it seems to be plausible. It's one of those anachronisms or faux pas similar to how wearing a sports watch to a black tie dinner was viewed in the 1960s etc.
So my question is- has anyone heard of similar unwritten rules of watch wearing?
It would be good etiquette.
Maybe advice, not a ‘rule’.
It’s the same as trades, a builder who did work for me loves cars & has a mint E46 M3 in Phoenix Yellow.
He wouldn’t dream of going to a house to quote or collect payment in it. That’s what his pick up truck is for.
I only found out about it because we chatted & he found out I was a car guy. He brought it over & was obviously delighted to share it with someone who appreciated it.
People are strange & jealous creatures.
He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
Finance is a business that relies so much on a carefully crafted image of ‘doing well enough to be trustworthy but not so well you feel we are spending your money’ that I can imagine a junior member of staff wearing a £10k watch would set the wrong tone.
My wife is an accountant.
About 10 years ago my wife’s car needed to be in repair for a while & there was no loan car available.
I had an XJ-S at the time, she rented a car for the time she needed it as turning up to work in a ‘flash’ car is a definite No-No regardless of value.
It’s all about perception.
Maybe advice, not a ‘rule’.
It’s the same as trades, a builder who did work for me loves cars & has a mint E46 M3 in Phoenix Yellow.
He wouldn’t dream of going to a house to quote or collect payment in it. That’s what his pick up truck is for.
I only found out about it because we chatted & he found out I was a car guy. He brought it over & was obviously delighted to share it with someone who appreciated it.
People are strange & jealous creatures.
He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
Finance is a business that relies so much on a carefully crafted image of ‘doing well enough to be trustworthy but not so well you feel we are spending your money’ that I can imagine a junior member of staff wearing a £10k watch would set the wrong tone.
My wife is an accountant.
About 10 years ago my wife’s car needed to be in repair for a while & there was no loan car available.
I had an XJ-S at the time, she rented a car for the time she needed it as turning up to work in a ‘flash’ car is a definite No-No regardless of value.
It’s all about perception.
Stick Legs said:
It’s the same as trades, a builder who did work for me loves cars & has a mint E46 M3 in Phoenix Yellow.
He wouldn’t dream of going to a house to quote or collect payment in it. That’s what his pick up truck is for.
Was going to mention this. He wouldn’t dream of going to a house to quote or collect payment in it. That’s what his pick up truck is for.
Those who know the game have a "site car" and their fancy car and toys at home.
I was once given a brand new Jag XF (when they were brand new) as a hire to get to site. Had to park it out of sight [sic] a quarter of a mile away and walk on in my boots and hi vis.
dxg said:
Was going to mention this.
Those who know the game have a "site car" and their fancy car and toys at home.
I was once given a brand new Jag XF (when they were brand new) as a hire to get to site. Had to park it out of sight [sic] a quarter of a mile away and walk on in my boots and hi vis.
Strangest use of sic I’ve ever seen. Those who know the game have a "site car" and their fancy car and toys at home.
I was once given a brand new Jag XF (when they were brand new) as a hire to get to site. Had to park it out of sight [sic] a quarter of a mile away and walk on in my boots and hi vis.
nuyorican said:
I like the look of the Grand Seiko but no idea if they’re worth the price.
Grand Seiko is the ultimate solution to this problem.Muggles won’t care because as far as they are concerned Seiko cost £69 ‘out of Elizabeth Dukes’.
People who do know watches will appreciate that you have bought quality rather than brand hype.
It’s a win / win in my humble opinion.
Until about 8-10 years ago, Hermes ties were the standard uniform for front office staff (more Banking than Markets).
I remember "juniors" would get ribbed (by seniors) for wearing them, because apparently they were trying to appear more senior than they really were. And would be put down a notch or two.
Wouldn't be surprised if similar comments were given to younger staff wearing expensive watches.
The insecurity in IB was and still is something that beggars belief.
I am so happy I have left!
I remember "juniors" would get ribbed (by seniors) for wearing them, because apparently they were trying to appear more senior than they really were. And would be put down a notch or two.
Wouldn't be surprised if similar comments were given to younger staff wearing expensive watches.
The insecurity in IB was and still is something that beggars belief.
I am so happy I have left!
Stick Legs said:
nuyorican said:
I like the look of the Grand Seiko but no idea if they’re worth the price.
Grand Seiko is the ultimate solution to this problem.Muggles won’t care because as far as they are concerned Seiko cost £69 ‘out of Elizabeth Dukes’.
People who do know watches will appreciate that you have bought quality rather than brand hype.
It’s a win / win in my humble opinion.
Stick Legs said:
It would be good etiquette.
He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
Indeed. Eight years ago or so I had a client who lived fairly close to me and spotted my Cayman outside the house. He never stopped going on about it and how much he was paying for our work because of the car that I chose.He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
The stupidity of this being that he was driving a leased, pimped out Hyundai Santa Fe that probably cost more than my used Cayman.
People, eh.
k
nuyorican said:
Haven’t worn a watch for many years so not sure it’s an unwritten rule as opposed to just a rule. But wearing it on your left wrist? Thinking about it though, you wouldn’t be able to wind if it were on the right… doh!
On a related topic, the last watch I owned was a Seiko which was given to me. I liked it very much but managed to lose it on holiday. Been mulling with the idea of getting another. Are they considered good watches? I like the look of the Grand Seiko but no idea if they’re worth the price.
Only found recently one manufacture does make watches for wearing them on the right wrist with the winder at 9’oclock instead of 3.On a related topic, the last watch I owned was a Seiko which was given to me. I liked it very much but managed to lose it on holiday. Been mulling with the idea of getting another. Are they considered good watches? I like the look of the Grand Seiko but no idea if they’re worth the price.
https://www.instash.com/best-left-handed-watches-f...
But how many watches do you have to wind up?
Edited by Vipers on Sunday 24th December 07:22
klootzak said:
Stick Legs said:
It would be good etiquette.
He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
Indeed. Eight years ago or so I had a client who lived fairly close to me and spotted my Cayman outside the house. He never stopped going on about it and how much he was paying for our work because of the car that I chose.He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
The stupidity of this being that he was driving a leased, pimped out Hyundai Santa Fe that probably cost more than my used Cayman.
People, eh.
k
We won a large contract, and the CEO said part of the reason was we arrived to a pitch in an Audi, and the competitor arrived in a 911.
There's three of us in the office I work in that are into watches but none of us wear a "nice" watch to work, I'm sat in my office now working witha g-shock on, I also have another g-shock in my drawer for when I forget to put one on before leaving the house, guy who sits opposite me always wears a Garmin, the other wears a Timex explorer style watch on a nato strap.
I know the other two guys both have nice watches at home because we have met socially before when they do wear them and have chatted about watches.
I know the other two guys both have nice watches at home because we have met socially before when they do wear them and have chatted about watches.
CardinalBlue said:
klootzak said:
Stick Legs said:
It would be good etiquette.
He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
Indeed. Eight years ago or so I had a client who lived fairly close to me and spotted my Cayman outside the house. He never stopped going on about it and how much he was paying for our work because of the car that I chose.He’s spent more on buying a 3 year old Hilux every 3 years than the M3 cost but one rubs folk up the wrong way & the other doesn’t.
The stupidity of this being that he was driving a leased, pimped out Hyundai Santa Fe that probably cost more than my used Cayman.
People, eh.
k
We won a large contract, and the CEO said part of the reason was we arrived to a pitch in an Audi, and the competitor arrived in a 911.
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