The Collector’s Crossroads: The need to defend my watch choices online
Ricardo SimeI’m going to start this article with a story I want to share with you all. For those who didn’t know, in mid October, I put a deposit down on my first Grand Seiko, the SBGM247. It’s a watch from one of my favourite brands that has everything I ever wanted in a GMT. Interesting dial. Long power reserve. Steel bezel. Sporty case. To say I was on cloud nine after leaving the Authorised Dealer would be a huge understatement.
Then came a story on Instagram from a popular content creator. In that small, five second little blob on my phone screen, he states that the watch would have been perfect if not for the position of the date wheel. On reading it, my blood boiled and the fury of a thousand armies could be seen in my eyes. I felt this strong need to defend my watch. However, a second later, I was back on cloud nine.
That rollercoaster of emotion may seem a bit crazy for some, but if you like watches and frequent social media, it shouldn’t be surprising. As a collector or just anyone into watches, social media is both a blessing and a curse. Blessing in the ability to share your passion with others. Curse because at the end of the day, you’ll confront the fact that some people don’t share your thoughts when it comes to the watches in your collection.
What makes this unbearable at times is how differences in opinion are framed by many of the people we interact with online. Rarely does someone make a statement as a direct reflection of their subjective opinion. Instead, it tends to be framed as a generalisation. “That’s a dumb place to put the date”, “The watch is too big”, “They should have used ceramic instead of an aluminum insert”. Never mind that these complaints are made when almost no one has had the opportunity to hold the watch in their own hands. It’s the fact that these commenters are inferring that their opinion is the be all and end all. It’s an old malady of watch collecting that has got worse with the expanded reach of social media. But these worthless critiques often ignite a spark in me where I have this need to defend my watch.
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Now, let’s be clear. I’m not trying to outlaw a difference in opinion. That’s not where this need to defend my watch comes from. What I’m trying to say to those commenters online is that baring a technical issue, counterfeiting or outright deception from a brand, your opinion is just that; your opinion. So a better way of framing your opinions would be as follows: “That watch is a bit too big for me. I would love to see it in a smaller size” ” I’d like to see that same design with a 3 or 6 o’clock date” ” I wish they made that reference with a ceramic bezel”.
If I could go back to that content creator for moment. I ended up messaging him as to that range of emotions I felt. How that snap back to cloud nine came because I realised he had stated his comment as his opinion so I really had no quarrels with him. Once that was cleared, we shared our experiences in getting defensive about our watch choices and sometimes the brands we fall in love with. For him, though the brand he loves is quite popular, he still has to deal with the generalisations placed on those who own that brand.
Overall, what I would like to see in the community is a movement away from the generalizations. Every watch is not made for every person so if you’re not a fan, that’s ok. But only speak for yourself. Do I hope my words bring about this type of change? Sure. Will they? Probably not. Therefore, I’ll end with these final words for those of us who get defensive. Don’t waste your time responding. Sit back. Relax. And enjoy your watch.