How has your eyesight affected your watch purchasing?
Discussion
I recently turned 50, and just like that, boom! My eyesight started to get crappy.
So I got my first pair of glasses, just for reading. Everywhere else my vision is fine. But I have noticed that I just can't see small details on things anymore without glasses. For some things I can just hold them further away and I can see just fine, for watch dials sometimes that doesn't help as they are small already.
AND (slightly off-topic but relevant) have you noticed that once you have looked at lots of close up pictures of a watch you intend to buy, it always seems much smaller in real life?
Anyway my mate just got a new watch, was excited to show me. We met up for breakfast and he took it off his wrist. Now I've seen many shots of this watch and the dial detail is really nice. It was me that put him onto the brand and he bought one straight away, I was erring on buying one too. But as I looked at it (I don't take my glasses anywhere with me) I realised I couldn't make out the dial detail at all, no matter where I held it.
So now when looking at new watches I want to buy, I am 100% in favour of really legible dials. I doubt I'll buy another chrono after I sell one that I have, as I just can't see the subdials without glasses. Does your eyesight affect your watch choices too?
So I got my first pair of glasses, just for reading. Everywhere else my vision is fine. But I have noticed that I just can't see small details on things anymore without glasses. For some things I can just hold them further away and I can see just fine, for watch dials sometimes that doesn't help as they are small already.
AND (slightly off-topic but relevant) have you noticed that once you have looked at lots of close up pictures of a watch you intend to buy, it always seems much smaller in real life?
Anyway my mate just got a new watch, was excited to show me. We met up for breakfast and he took it off his wrist. Now I've seen many shots of this watch and the dial detail is really nice. It was me that put him onto the brand and he bought one straight away, I was erring on buying one too. But as I looked at it (I don't take my glasses anywhere with me) I realised I couldn't make out the dial detail at all, no matter where I held it.
So now when looking at new watches I want to buy, I am 100% in favour of really legible dials. I doubt I'll buy another chrono after I sell one that I have, as I just can't see the subdials without glasses. Does your eyesight affect your watch choices too?
This one hit home! 
I'm frequently disappointed when I view a watch in person and realise I'm struggling to see the sunburst brushing effect, or the concentric rings in the subdials. Now I have to tilt the silver hands on white dial watch so I can see the light glinting off it to guess the time...
My daily go-to has become an enormous Pelagos with matt black dial and white hands for maximum contrast. Great watch, mind. I just wish I could truly appreciate the snowflakes on a Grand Seiko dial.
In't middle age brilliant...
I'm frequently disappointed when I view a watch in person and realise I'm struggling to see the sunburst brushing effect, or the concentric rings in the subdials. Now I have to tilt the silver hands on white dial watch so I can see the light glinting off it to guess the time...
My daily go-to has become an enormous Pelagos with matt black dial and white hands for maximum contrast. Great watch, mind. I just wish I could truly appreciate the snowflakes on a Grand Seiko dial.
In't middle age brilliant...
I hear you. Well, sort of, my ears are going the same way as my eyes. I'm early 50's and in the last year, my eyesight has gone from occasionally needing glasses to round off edges in the distance to now, where I have to wear them to watch TV or play Call of Duty. From great eyesight to not being able to drive a car without them in less than 3 years.
I bought a Farer Banzare GMT Limited Edition a while back. It's a lovely looking watch with a nice red textured dial and wearable sizing in line with my changing tastes. Only 150 pieces made so ticks the exclusivity box. Trouble is, I'm thinking of selling it as I very rarely wear it. The date window is too small and hard to read and the dark blue GMT markers don't contrast against the dial very well. The time is legible but just not the complications.
I bought a Farer Banzare GMT Limited Edition a while back. It's a lovely looking watch with a nice red textured dial and wearable sizing in line with my changing tastes. Only 150 pieces made so ticks the exclusivity box. Trouble is, I'm thinking of selling it as I very rarely wear it. The date window is too small and hard to read and the dark blue GMT markers don't contrast against the dial very well. The time is legible but just not the complications.
I'm only 42 and I've started to rely on reading glasses...
I used to have excellent up-close vision, but since hitting my 40s, I find my minimum focus distance is now around 6 inches from my face and growing further.
Hasn't yet started to affect enjoyment of my watch collection, but I've little doubt that my chronographs will be the first to become tricky. I see contrasty dive watches in my future!
I used to have excellent up-close vision, but since hitting my 40s, I find my minimum focus distance is now around 6 inches from my face and growing further.
Hasn't yet started to affect enjoyment of my watch collection, but I've little doubt that my chronographs will be the first to become tricky. I see contrasty dive watches in my future!
It is certainly starting to yes, there is no way I can read any non-magnified date window now without glasses, and it does put you off overly busy or detailed dials that you can't properly appreciate without your reading specs. No Seiko Flightmaster for me now 
I had really great eyesight prior to 50, but each year since it degrades. 42mm divers with massive blob indices seem increasingly appealling.
I had really great eyesight prior to 50, but each year since it degrades. 42mm divers with massive blob indices seem increasingly appealling.
Bob_Defly said:
I recently turned 50, and just like that, boom! My eyesight started to get crappy.
So I got my first pair of glasses, just for reading. Everywhere else my vision is fine. But I have noticed that I just can't see small details on things anymore without glasses. For some things I can just hold them further away and I can see just fine, for watch dials sometimes that doesn't help as they are small already.
AND (slightly off-topic but relevant) have you noticed that once you have looked at lots of close up pictures of a watch you intend to buy, it always seems much smaller in real life?
Anyway my mate just got a new watch, was excited to show me. We met up for breakfast and he took it off his wrist. Now I've seen many shots of this watch and the dial detail is really nice. It was me that put him onto the brand and he bought one straight away, I was erring on buying one too. But as I looked at it (I don't take my glasses anywhere with me) I realised I couldn't make out the dial detail at all, no matter where I held it.
So now when looking at new watches I want to buy, I am 100% in favour of really legible dials. I doubt I'll buy another chrono after I sell one that I have, as I just can't see the subdials without glasses. Does your eyesight affect your watch choices too?
I had my eyes fixed and carried on using the same watches.So I got my first pair of glasses, just for reading. Everywhere else my vision is fine. But I have noticed that I just can't see small details on things anymore without glasses. For some things I can just hold them further away and I can see just fine, for watch dials sometimes that doesn't help as they are small already.
AND (slightly off-topic but relevant) have you noticed that once you have looked at lots of close up pictures of a watch you intend to buy, it always seems much smaller in real life?
Anyway my mate just got a new watch, was excited to show me. We met up for breakfast and he took it off his wrist. Now I've seen many shots of this watch and the dial detail is really nice. It was me that put him onto the brand and he bought one straight away, I was erring on buying one too. But as I looked at it (I don't take my glasses anywhere with me) I realised I couldn't make out the dial detail at all, no matter where I held it.
So now when looking at new watches I want to buy, I am 100% in favour of really legible dials. I doubt I'll buy another chrono after I sell one that I have, as I just can't see the subdials without glasses. Does your eyesight affect your watch choices too?
LOL, good to know I'm in good company!
All the above is the same for me. No champagne or silver dials, I hate cyclops so no date, no subdials, easy to read at a glance. These are my main two in rotation and fit the bill perfectly. I also plan on picking up a pilot's watch this year too.
All the above is the same for me. No champagne or silver dials, I hate cyclops so no date, no subdials, easy to read at a glance. These are my main two in rotation and fit the bill perfectly. I also plan on picking up a pilot's watch this year too.
It s all that time spent staring at phone/laptop/pc screens that does it! What used to hit us oldies in our 50/60 s due to natural ageing seems to have moved down a generation. Don’t struggle on with eye strain longer than necessary…get tested/wear correction glasses and enjoy a new lease of watch-admiration life!
Edited by quarryman111 on Monday 9th February 18:45
Olivera said:
Yes, seeing small complications (e.g. date window) is more challenging. Maybe the oft griped about Rolex date cyclops actually helps here?
I hate the cyclops lens with a passion and don't/wouldn't have any watches with one.That said, the date on my Wife's (small) Rolex would be very difficult for me to read in anything other than perfect lighting conditions if it didn't have one.
I'm also pretty certain she can't read it (even with the cyclops) because it never bothers her if it's wrong due to short month or not wearing it for a while.
Been on reading glasses for over 10years now. Luckily I can still read the time without glasses but the small date is a struggle. So all the recent additions to my collection have been without date if they make one with no date.
I never use the watch to check the date anyway so it's a non-issue for me.
The cyclops magnifyer is such a tell tale that even if its not a Rolex, thieves can spot it a mile away and pay more attention to see if it is 'really' a Rolex. Rather just not deal with the attention the cyclops can bring with it.
I never use the watch to check the date anyway so it's a non-issue for me.
The cyclops magnifyer is such a tell tale that even if its not a Rolex, thieves can spot it a mile away and pay more attention to see if it is 'really' a Rolex. Rather just not deal with the attention the cyclops can bring with it.
Cybertronian said:
I'm only 42 and I've started to rely on reading glasses...
I used to have excellent up-close vision, but since hitting my 40s, I find my minimum focus distance is now around 6 inches from my face and growing further.
Hasn't yet started to affect enjoyment of my watch collection, but I've little doubt that my chronographs will be the first to become tricky. I see contrasty dive watches in my future!
My trigger was (aged 46) my arms became too short to read my phone with comfort. reading glasses were cheaper than arm extensions…I used to have excellent up-close vision, but since hitting my 40s, I find my minimum focus distance is now around 6 inches from my face and growing further.
Hasn't yet started to affect enjoyment of my watch collection, but I've little doubt that my chronographs will be the first to become tricky. I see contrasty dive watches in my future!
The_Nugget said:
Cybertronian said:
I'm only 42 and I've started to rely on reading glasses...
I used to have excellent up-close vision, but since hitting my 40s, I find my minimum focus distance is now around 6 inches from my face and growing further.
Hasn't yet started to affect enjoyment of my watch collection, but I've little doubt that my chronographs will be the first to become tricky. I see contrasty dive watches in my future!
My trigger was (aged 46) my arms became too short to read my phone with comfort. reading glasses were cheaper than arm extensions I used to have excellent up-close vision, but since hitting my 40s, I find my minimum focus distance is now around 6 inches from my face and growing further.
Hasn't yet started to affect enjoyment of my watch collection, but I've little doubt that my chronographs will be the first to become tricky. I see contrasty dive watches in my future!
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