WatchUSeek Watch Forums banner

My first encounter with a watch snob jerk...

10K views 48 replies 31 participants last post by  Cobia  
#1 · (Edited)
I've read about them but I've never actually encountered a "watch snob". Honestly, I thought they are so outside my orbit that I never would. I'm a working class guy and the few times watch talk has come up at work it's been "normal". The one and only time a watch conversation ever came up with someone outside my economic orbit (with one of the nicest guys in the business, BTW) was regarding a $300.00 watch that he was genuinely enamoured of; he had turned another crew member on to it and thought I might like it as well. This is a guy who makes $20,000,000+ a year.

So I met this guy at work who, when discussing the cheap but fun watches people like to wear to work, felt the need to go to the effort of breaking out the smartphone mid-conversation to pull up the manufacturer's website (obviously tuning out the rest of what I was talking about in order to concentrate on how he was going to reply) and show me a picture of the watch he owns that he "would never wear to work". That would be an $8000.00 watch that starts with the letter "B". Seriously? He clearly missed the "fun watches people like to wear to work" part of the conversation. On purpose, apparently because...

Unfortunately, it didn't stop there.

He went on to make an impression by bringing up the subject of his custom ordered Jeep, his custom made patio furniture, and his former entrepreneurial prowess at his father's plumbing company.
 
#5 ·
Wow. Already? What is it about my posts? I know it's not me because you've never met me. So, what is it?
 
#6 ·
I understand your point, and his tone was definitely disrespectful, but who goes to such lengths to make such a comparison between cheap Japanese watches and top of the line Swiss ones other than a "watch snob"?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Piston Honda
#11 · (Edited)
Right on. You find that most snobs are the wanna be show off's that could be easily ..."snob'd" over. No offense, but bragging about a custom Jeep isn't really something you want to do in a "snob" context. I remember a guy in high school bragged about the cost of his new coat then went on to say ....."on sale". :-d

I've found that this is a classic trait found in most "union" workers.
 
#13 ·
My advice on such matters is simple, at least it has been for me. I'm the type of person who measures wealth based on depth of experiences, a wide range of general knowledge, and what I would call taste for lack of a better word at this time....... People like myself are a sort of elitist in that we are able to recognize our own limitations but manage to keep those same limitations private and to ourselves. Once you recognize that you are in fact elite and that being an elite person has nothing to do with the amount you are willing to pay for a watch there are very few things that will get under your skin.
 
#15 ·
  • Like
Reactions: Spirit of the Watch
#17 ·
If you let people like him aggravate you......they've won.
The world seems to be full of idiots sometimes, just ignore their unpleasantness. ;-)
You are a better man for it!
 
#47 ·
If you let people like him aggravate you......they've won.
The world seems to be full of idiots sometimes, just ignore their unpleasantness. ;-)
Hmm...
That... goes some way in explaining why people tend to ignore me... even as I pontificate tirelessly -- for my audience's own well-being, of course -- the benefits of following my advice... on everything, from sexual positions, to how to check the time on one's own watch in a high-end watch store, to many times one should shake the monster after peeing, before putting it away... with affectionate nonchalance.
 
#18 ·
He went on to make an impression by bringing up the subject of his custom ordered Jeep, his custom made patio furniture, and his former entrepreneurial prowess at his father's plumbing company.
Yes, but he has a small pen1s so I wouldn't worry about it...
 
#20 ·
The snobs exist in all circles apparently. I'm an avid bicyclist and we've got plenty of "bike snobs" too. You would not believe the things people have said about my bike (which is no POS,but not a $3000 bike either).
IMHO, the snobbery usually is a manifestation of insecurity and lack of self-worth. By deriding what others value, you increase your own (from your perspective). It's sad and pathetic, especially coming from a "mature" person.
When a snob is ranting, I typically pity them.
 
#22 · (Edited)
My first purchases would be a different set of letters and number, like a BMW M2 (because the Porsche doesn't come with a stick), and a Porsche 911 Turbo S (Just because I want/need to experience 2.6 seconds to 60mph, and a top speed over 200mph). Then maybe I'll buy another watch ;-)
 
#24 ·
The one and only time a watch conversation ever came up with someone outside my economic orbit (with one of the nicest guys in the business, BTW) was regarding a $300.00 watch that he was genuinely enamoured of; he had turned another crew member on to it and thought I might like it as well. This is a guy who makes $20,000,000+ a year.
It's always really cool when you run into people like this. I know one of the founders of the company that made the Guitar Hero video game and by looking at him and talking to him, you couldn't tell how much he was worth. He's the nicest guy, drives a Toyota Sienna minivan most of the time and complains about having to pay more than $20 for a haircut. It's not until you see the Ferrari and MacLaren in his garage and his house with the huge wine cellar that you realize how well off he is.

So if your coworker is trying to impress you with a Jeep or patio furniture, he's clearly trying to compensate for something...small. :)
 
#25 ·
If he spoke to me of his custom-ordered jeep, his custom patio furniture, and his entrepreneurial prowess, I might have responded with wide eyes, a dropped jaw, and a response like "...WOW! It must be a privilege just to KNOW you, huh??!" and then said "Excuse me. I have better things to do." :-d:-d

I have never personally run into watch snobs. But if you want to see them online, just read the comments after nearly ANY g-shock review by "A Blog to Watch." There are just about always a few who chime in with their incredible wisdom about g-shocks! ;-):-d:-d

I once knew a guy who was a nice guy in general, but a snob about......of all things.....BEER!! Can you believe it?? :-s

I am really against snobbish behavior. (the beer I could overlook - found it funny, actually) People who are general snobs about most things must really have low self-esteem and are trying to build themselves up. I won't associate with people like that.
 
#26 ·
There's a group of sad people who only interact w/ other people at work. He felt the need to measure up and got some attention. In all likelihood he probably thought about this for the rest of the day, reflecting on his momentary happiness.

You should pat yourself on the back, you made his day or dare I say week ;-)
 
#27 · (Edited)
What puzzles me is when someone is clearly affluent... I mean $20m per year? Heck, I'd expect someone who pulls in $1m per year to have a lot less need for "snobmanship." A made up word I use for those who pick a moment to just be a snob, flaunting their wealth, status, or taste in front of you for only self-gratification. They expect you to get all doe eyed on them, "Golly gee wow, I'm so jealous!"

So if someone is that wealthy and needs to display snobmanship, that just telegraphs an insecure person. My antidote? Don't show any awe whatsoever. "Oh, that's nice. I'll bet you enjoy it." Or some other kind of innocuous comment.

So don't sweat it. If there's any solace required, it's to know you're above that kind of behavior.


By the way, I'm curious -- what's his profession and what were the circumstances by which you had to deal with him?
 
#29 ·
What puzzles me is when someone is clearly affluent... I mean $20m per year? Heck, I'd expect someone who pulls in $1m per year to have a lot less need for "snobmanship." A made up word I use for those who pick a moment to just be a snob, flaunting their wealth, status, or taste in front of you for only self-gratification. They expect you to get all doe eyed on them, "Golly gee wow, I'm so jealous!"

So if someone is that wealthy and needs to display snobmanship, that just telegraphs an insecure person. My antidote? Don't show any awe whatsoever. "Oh, that's nice. I'll bet you enjoy it." Or some other kind of innocuous comment.

So don't sweat it. If there's any solace required, it's to know you're above that kind of behavior.

By the way, I'm curious -- what's his profession and what were the circumstances by which you had to deal with him?
The guy making 20M wasn't the one being a jerk.

The one being a jerk was a guy in my department, another working class tradesman. The guy making 20M is one of the nicest people I've ever met in the business. The conversation between he and I and another person was a bout a $300 watch he had bought for himself and thought I might be interested in as well. It was a really *****in' watch but it's been awhile now so I don't remember the exact watch. Anyway, the guy who can afford anything he likes was stoked about his $300 watch. The guy who's new in the business tried to impress me with who much he lives beyond his means, basically.

I'm not inclined to share info about the guy making 20M beyond we worked together for a couple of years and, again, he's one of the nicest people in the industry I work in.

I'm quite over it all. "Haters gonna hate." I have been lucky to be insulated from mouthbreathers, knuckledraggers, and lunkheads when on the job; for a long time now. Most don't even make it "through the door" so to speak. This one got his foot in the door and snuck through and, unfortunately, I found myself working with him. Honestly, people like him don't last long in my business so it's unlikely I'll ever run into him again.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Just a pretentious, stupid man. Plenty more where he came from, and his comments say a lot more about him than they do about you. Don't worry about it.

A true watch enthusiast knows how to read between the lines and appreciate value and quality for ones intended needs and preferences. This is true understated elegance, IMO.

I have owned many watches in my time and I have a white collar job. A G-Shock DW-5030C-1JR has currently seen more wrist time than my Rolex and made me sell my new Damasko DA34 after the date stopped working.



 
#33 ·
Don't stress it. The guy is compensating some how. It seems to be some what insecure. Take it as it is, the guy is trying to impress and failed to do so. Honestly, these kind of people turn me off to automatic and mechanical watch collecting. I'm a humble guy, a soldier, tech geek, and a graphic designer. Gshok meets my needs for durability, longevity, practicality, beauty, simplicity, and accuracy. They can keep the Rolex, omega, and Grand Seiko.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
#35 ·
.., a soldier...

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
Thank you for your service.

Gshok meets my needs for durability, longevity, practicality, beauty, simplicity, and accuracy.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
Yeah, since coming back to wearing watches I've determined the G-Shock is my watch of choice for for daily wear because of all those attributes. I've got some Timex watches; a family tradition, and a Seiko from the 90s, which was my first (and only, at the time) non-Timex adult watch, but that's it.

G-Shocks are fun, sometimes wacky looking, totally bomber, and always practical. The wacky ones are like Swatches for people who bash things about on a regular basis, in the cubicle, a corner office with a view, on the docks, in fighter jets on aircraft carriers, or on the side of a mountain.

Hmmm, maybe Casio should hire me to write their ad copy...
 
#34 ·
m1ckDelta:
Snob(s)? I thot sure you were referring to one of my local brick n mortar AD's.
If I don't wear the watches they sel (Rollie, Omega, Edox or Doxa) you are the
Great Unwashed! An E Indian Untouchable Thugee.
Took 4 of my F71's in for regulating and they showed me tha door.
I knew this wasn't gonna be pretty when I saw the notice "No one wearing a
hoodie allowed in store" + I had to push a button! It's been ages since I nicked
an AD.

X Traindriver Art
 
#39 · (Edited)
Snobs come in all types, there are watch snobs who look down on a Rolex or Omega because it isn’t one of the “holy trinity” but a guy who wants to show off an $8k watch clearly isn’t one of these, especially if his definition of high class is a custom ordered Jeep or custom made patio furniture. He’s just desperate to find some way to be the center of conversation. If you told him you owned a Corvette you didn’t “dare” take to work, the Jeep would have become a Ferrari. And why didn’t this jerk stick with his father’s great plumbing company. It’s because he’s a looser who probably couldn’t make it and the $8k watch that he wouldn’t wear to work so he has to get a picture of it from a manufacturers website (as opposed to a picture of it on his wrist) is probably a non-existent watch, he doesn’t own. He sounds like a guy I knew for years who would begin conversations with “My name’s Stanley, let me tell you about myself.”


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#40 ·
I agree ^^ people like this arent necessarily snobs... they are just narcissistic jerks who are trying to compensate for their own self hatred. They feed off others to try to make themselves feel good but will never succeed ... well because they are narcissistic, insecure, jerks. Easier said than done, but brush it off, spending any sort of emotion on it only gives him more power


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#42 ·
I agree ^^ people like this arent necessarily snobs... they are just narcissistic jerks who are trying to compensate for their own self hatred. They feed off others to try to make themselves feel good but will never succeed ... well because they are narcissistic, insecure, jerks. Easier said than done, but brush it off, spending any sort of emotion on it only gives him more power

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yep and I'll take it a step further. If he can't show you then it's all a lie. So his $8k watch probably doesn't exist. Next time you seem him ask him to bring it in because you'd love to see it. My guess is that he'll tell you that since he doesn't wear it much he decided to sell it and doesn't have it anymore.
 
#43 · (Edited)
I know a few yuppity rich folks who show off their Yachmasters and Pateks as if it were their 15 year old getting accepted to Harvard. I also know a few folks who are very well off that are content wearing whatever they picked up at Wal Mart as long as it tells time.

My wife is Serbian. A lot of the well-to-do Serbs are absolute Invicta fans. They know I'm into watches so they make it a point to show me whenever they acquire a new ungodly monstrosity. I just go with the flow and act like they presented me with a Marine Master 300.

Then, there's my buddy Fred. He's a retired math professor who made an absolute "GFY type" fortune day trading. He has a mansion on top of a mountain in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern PA (he also owns the mountain). If you'd encounter him in his daily travels you wouldn't think this guy could finance a trip to the zoo. He's got a massive unkempt beard, he drives a 30 year old POS Chevy S-10 that breaks down almost monthly, and his clothes are mostly all grease covered and full of holes. He wears an old Timex digital with duct tape holding the broken strap together. Sometimes I ride him about replacing it. He usually jokingly grumbles, "Heh, someday!"
 
#44 ·
I know a few yuppity rich folks who show off their Yachmasters and Pateks as if it were their 15 year old getting accepted to Harvard. I also know a few folks who are very well off that are content wearing whatever they picked up at Wal Mart as long as it tells time.

My wife is Serbian. A lot of the well-to-do Serbs are absolute Invicta fans. They know I'm into watches so they make it a point to show me whenever they acquire a new ungodly monstrosity. I just go with the flow and act like they presented me with a Marine Master 300.

Then, there's my buddy Fred. He's a retired math professor who made an absolute "GFY type" fortune day trading. He has a mansion on top of a mountain in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern PA (he also owns the mountain). If you'd encounter him in his daily travels you wouldn't think this guy could finance a trip to the zoo. He's got a massive unkempt beard, he drives a 30 year old POS Chevy S-10 that breaks down almost monthly, and his clothes are mostly all grease covered and full of holes. He wears an old Timex digital with duct tape holding the broken strap together. Sometimes I ride him about replacing it. He usually jokingly grumbles, "Heh, someday!"
Those are true to life scenarios. My In-laws are very well to do but neither of them wear a watch. My father in-law couldn't give a crap about a nice watch.

I got an Invicta for Christmas one year from my sister, I had to hold back the throw up in my mouth. Ugh.