How conspicuous is it to wear an expensive watch?

[Capt Crunch]

I've had my eye on a Panerai (Laminar 1950 GMT Ceramica) watch for a little while, but I'm honestly wondering how it would be perceived wearing it daily.

I don't get a ton of nice things, but when I do, I get them to use them. My M3 is a daily driver and, personally, I derive most of the pleasure of ownership from the fact that I can treat it like a normal car.

It would be the same with the watch. Frankly, I don't want it if I'm only going to wear it once a month, but there is something ostentatious about wearing a nearly $10K watch to work that's even greater than rolling around in a $70K car. I know I could ignore all the haters, etc, but negative perception can make things harder than they need to be.

I'm down for spending significantly less, but I just haven't found a watch that has the style like the Panerai. I don't like spending money on something I like 75%, especially since I've got this far by checking my phone for the time.

Thoughts?

[The Wind Breezes]

Depends who you hang out with and how flashy the watch is. Around your average Joe, it's super fucking conspicuous.

If you hang out with people who also wear expensive jewelry (an expensive watch is 100% jewelry, regardless of what you may have been lead to believe) it won't be an issue unless you have bad taste in watches! haha

You also increase your risk of getting robbed, this may sound like fantasy but it definitely happens.

Now, the watch mentioned in the OP isn't really conspicuous, so ignore all my advice because people who don't know what it is will think it's worth $30.

[consolidated]

^^^ Agree, for example if it's a rose gold Daytona with a diamond dial or a vintage Patek, the latter worth a ton more and with gravitas but 99.9% won't see anything but a standard wristwatch.

The lower brands all have watches styled like Rolexes, Panerais, IWCs, etc. now anyways. People just see watches, not what's authentic like an enthusiast. I sat across from someone in a meeting today who was wearing a Panerai for a hour, it wasn't until we shook hands that I saw that it was a Fossil.

One of my clients has an 7 figure watch collection and bangs around in PP Grand Complications, Langes and a $650K Greubel Forsey platinum tourbillon and tells me he would get more attention if he wore a stainless Rolex, and he likes it that way and it's why he won't wear them, Panerais or AP ROs. People can't comprehend what some pay for the most esoteric or exclusive pieces, so buy away it's all relative.

[jtodd_fl]

^^^ This. Definitely depends on all those things. Most people I interact with would never look twice at anything white (stainless, white gold, or platinum) unless it were a Rolex (stupidly). A "cheap" gold watch stands out more than a great white metal watch. I don't think anyone would do a double tank on a white metal Panerai, personally. I have three watches more expensive than that and VERY few people noticed - in fact, only people who wore or owned even more expensive ones. I have a buddy who wears an $80,000 Patek to client meetings because he doesn't want them reacting to his $10,000 Rolex. Haha.

[1MOREMOD]

Most won't know what it is, go ahead. If you get mad they don't notice you can always start telling people about it.

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Most won't know what it is, go ahead. If you get mad they don't notice you can always start telling people about it.

Or beat them with it. A Panerai should be plenty heavy!

[STOOF]

DO IT!

I switch off between my PAM111 and Breitling Avenger daily. Love my PAM. Most ppl dont even know what it is, but the ones who know, know.

[metrickid]

People that can recognize a Panerai and knows what it's worth like watches and will probably just appreciate it instead of judging you.

[Blksnowflake]

It's hard for a Pam to go unnoticed. But most people in the world really won't know what it is except that it's a peculiar and unique looking watch.
I've owned a Pam and it got a lot of looks, everywhere I went it drew eyes like a magnet but hardly anyone knew of it's price. I now have only Rolexes, people hardly notice, but when they do, they immediately know what it is.
It's mostly in your head, the general public isn't into five figure watches, so one tends to be self conscious about nothing. A coworker complimented me on my watch at lunch and a couple of others surprisingly said "oh that's a Rolex", after having seen me wear it for about a year now, lol.

Either way, I have no issues wearing any sport stainless steel watch anywhere. However, I don't go around flashing it about and when I travel, I try to use my non watch hand to do eye level things.....like when I visit my family in the Bronx, I grab subway handles and the over head bar with my non watch hand....

In the big picture, I don't hang around violent crime infested areas, I'm grown folk now, not a kid anymore, if it isn't safe to wear my watch for whatever reason then hell, it isn't safe for me.

As for perception and haters, etc., I don't give a damn. I'm here for me and my happiness. Life is way too fragile and too short. One day your 25 and then you blink and your 52 years old....Think I give an eff about instagram or what some douche at work thinks, I work very hard for what I earn, work hard play hard.

[Shazz]

Who cares? Those who judge you by your watch probably already judge you by your car wear what you want... It could always be a Bangkok special.

[vsix]

Ever heard about Lehmann watches?
Was THE ETA supplier for Rolex...

[Mywifes335]

Panerai Luminor? Super noticeable.

Had a Daylight. Can't fit anything over it except for French cuffs.

[RABAUKE]

I wear a Rolex Sea Dweller and an Omega Speed Master professional, I had paint all over the rolex because it's my daily and I beat the thing. Wear what you like, just don't be a dick about it. Most people don't notice the Rolex other than the odd watch guy/girl.

[MKSixer]

Get it but do realize people will notice it. If it makes you happy and the attention isn't negative, it should be a great experience.

I had a Pan for about 8 months and received compliments on it all of the time. A buddy of mine actually used them as give-aways to key clients and industry thought leaders.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

Panerai Luminor? Super noticeable.

Had a Daylight. Can't fit anything over it except for French cuffs.

1st world problems. I winge to the guy who does my shirts about this all of the time. I bring in the watches for him to measure and compare and it seems like it is only done correctly about 50% of the time.

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Get it but do realize people will notice it. If it makes you happy and the attention isn't negative, it should be a great experience.

I had a Pan for about 8 months and received compliments on it all of the time. A buddy of mine actually used them as give-aways to key clients and industry thought leaders.

Interesting. I am surprised people notice, tbh. Maybe I just interact with a) plebes, or b) people who are "beyond" that. Sure they weren't just sucking up to the bossman?

[marrk]

I wear my pam everyday. And i only get attention from fellow watch enthusiasts. So if you don't want too much attention, a Pam is a nice choice. I find my Rolex gets the most attention.

[Capt Crunch]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

Panerai Luminor? Super noticeable.

Had a Daylight. Can't fit anything over it except for French cuffs.

Ooh. I never even thought of that. Is getting a shirt to fit over a watch a big thing? What do you even do? I get my shirts tailored but I had no idea you could adjust the cuff because of the hole. Can you even do that?

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by Capt Crunch

Ooh. I never even thought of that. Is getting a shirt to fit over a watch a big thing? What do you even do? I get my shirts tailored but I had no idea you could adjust the cuff because of the hole. Can you even do that?

I get my shirts with two sets of holes. Some come that way off the rack. Use the tight holes for the right wrist and the loose holes for the left wrist (unless I am wearing one of the dress watches that fits under the tight mode cuff).

[Mywifes335]

Originally Posted by Capt Crunch

Ooh. I never even thought of that. Is getting a shirt to fit over a watch a big thing? What do you even do? I get my shirts tailored but I had no idea you could adjust the cuff because of the hole. Can you even do that?

If you run a barrel cuff, you can have 2 buttons to adjust the diameter. However, the PAMs run so tall and wide, it'll still be tough to get over the watch. I always wore T shirts (casual) or french cuffs (work) when I wear my bigger watches.

I have a few custom shirts but usually Thomas Pink slim fit fits me fine.

[E92LNGCGY]

Most people won't have a clue about the watch you wear unless they are in the know. I have a Panny as well but people don't know what I am wearing. The Rolly on the other hand, well everyone know what a Rolly is. The funny thing is I have a number of watches that cost quite a bit more and yet no one says anything about it. I actually like that it is low key but deep down you know what they are. I just picked up a Rolly Daytona 116515LN this past weekend for a great price. Now waiting for the new SS Daytona with Cerachrome and white dial.

Get what you like and make you happy. You should not need to worry what others think.

[Capt Crunch]

Originally Posted by Mywifes335

If you run a barrel cuff, you can have 2 buttons to adjust the diameter. However, the PAMs run so tall and wide, it'll still be tough to get over the watch. I always wore T shirts (casual) or french cuffs (work) when I wear my bigger watches.

I have a few custom shirts but usually Thomas Pink slim fit fits me fine.

Blarg. I only have one french cuff shirt. While the total cost is significantly less than the watch, I don't really feel like replacing everything just to fit a watch. I'm glad you brought it up.