But there clearly is one. I see them advertised constantly, people use them as a status symbol, and boy do I ever get a lot of spam for them.
They demand big time floorspace in retail outlets, and even favorite online retailers of mine occasionally just decide to sell a bunch of watches.
So…what’s the big deal? Do we all just have somewhere to be that urgently? I do understand the need to keep track of time, though there are clocks EVERYWHERE now. On TV, hooked up to the TV, on a cell phone, all over the public space. I don’t think people even wear watches to tell time now, I think they wear them to as fashion statements. Yes, it’s great that a Rolex winds itself by your motion, but would anyone care if another brand did the same and wasn’t called Rolex? Would you buy a Fauxlex if it was exactly as high quality, even the same materials, but a lesser price?
Most people wouldn’t. They’ll pay $2,000 for a watch that doesn’t particularly outperform others, it just looks relatively nice. Yes, relatively. Let’s face it, watches still look like watches, no matter how special they are. Or they’ll pay $500 for a replica that doesn’t work at all, but boy does it look just like the real thing.
Now don’t get me wrong. I appreciate craftsmanship. I appreciate all that goes into a watch. I just don’t think any watch should cost over $500 or you’re just trying to prove you’ve got the biggest balls. I can understand a stand-up clock of some sort being that much, even, a grandfather clock or a really artistic piece. But the most artistic watches are just $250 anyway.
You want to see a cool watch? Check these out. Unique, functional, and definitely eye-catching. But nothing is over $250. They’re still mostly jewelry, like any watch over $15, but at least they’re unique and a relative reasonable price.
But that’s exactly why you’ll never see them. They’re unique, they’re underpriced. Damn it, we like our status symbols to be easily recognized by brand, overpriced, and not that impressive the more you think about it.
You know, now that I say that, I’m a little surprised I don’t get “$tarbuck5 R3pl1c@ <up” spam.
5 comments ↓
I use watches in my job for counting heartrate and respiration. However, I buy the 10 dollar Target watches because good watches just aren’t worth having, they don’t live that long.
As I can’t be bothered with a mobile phone, I find my watch handy when I’m out and about in town. Then again, you generally don’t see clocks in a supermarket either…
A cheap digital watch always does me just fine. Just have to make sure that I get one with a metal strap as the cheap plastic ones don’t last very long…
Now for that it makes sense, especially a $5 sports watch with a stopwatch built in. But most people don’t really need them. They just have them to show off with at this point.
As I can't be bothered with a mobile phone, I find my watch handy when I'm out and about in town. Then avain, you generally don't see clocis in a supermarket either…
A cheap digital watch always does me just fine. Just hqve to make sure that I get one with a metal strap as the cheap plastic ones don't last very long…;
hahahaha, I had the same thought recently. Living in Milano, Italy, I have also seen 3000 Euro (that’s ~4500 dollar) hand-bags. With only one pocket. They sure were shiny! But I’m pretty sure the main selling point is whatever particular style detail reminds the purchasers’ friends of the name “Gucci” or “Versace.” The other major price-kicker is that these “designer” items are not mass-produced in a factory like Timex watches are.
While I normally eschew designer items (ok, “cant afford” is more accurate), I have recently begun to really enjoy a couple stores here in Milano that split the difference. You pay 10 bucks more for a toaster, maybe, but it looks really smooth and sleek and works really well. My favorite item from there was a gift – a plastic (Nylon?) notebook sleeve with a zipper-pouch for pencils and things, and a few other slots for papers. 300% more satisfying than a Moleskine or generic equivalent, and it didn’t cost hundreds of euros.
Anyhow, cheers, and thanks for the blog! Maybe sometime I’ll make mine into something pleasant to read, like this…
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