Approval Rating

[FreeDive]

Thought this could be fun: What does your wife/girlfriend (or husband/boyfriend for some) think of your passion for watches? It's great to share with each other, but what about in the 'real world'? Is it a team effort, sharing in geekdom, giving each other reviews and tips, and skipping cuddling to take lume shots? Or is it 'to each his own', where there's an indifference in the air, and your collection goes unnoticed? Or do you flat out walk alone to the beat of ticking seconds hands, escaping laughter, ridicule and argument over "just a watch"?

I'll go. My wife owns 3 beautiful pieces, one of which I bought for her. I usually see her wear each one maybe twice a year. For her, it is simply something that tells the time, and even then, "There's clocks everywhere I look, what would I need to wear one for." I've lectured and demonstrated at length lessons of craftsmanship, design, asthetics, micro-precision, blah blah blah (that's what she hears), all to no avail. The rolled eyes continue. AND YET, just this past Valentine's Day, a quad winder found itself on my dresser, a gift from the lady herself.

So for me, it's a tolerance with occaisonal moments of appreciation largely masked by outward dismissal!

How 'bout you???

[FreeDive]

(Tried to post a poll with it, ran over 5 minutes. Any way to fix it?)

[Dell Deaton]

What a great, albeit complicated, question.

Before we were married, my wife and I actually had a huge argument over my watches. She threw one at me (luckily it hit me, because if it had missed, it might have struck the ceramic floor and damaged the sapphire crystal).

Yes, I've stayed up too late taking pictures. But that hasn't really been an issue.

She wears a moderately priced Seiko that I bought for her, to her specifications. She gets angry whenever I suggest "upgrading" it for her. It's a quartz, analogu; she love it.

Generally, she's leans disapproving of my habit, altho she respects it. Certainly she'll go out of her way to care for my pieces when out, or to suggest ways for me to (eg, watch case). She couldn't tell you the difference between my Dalton-Submariner Date and the Brosnan-Seamaster chronometer I wear on occasion; and I wouldn't even think of asking her to learn the difference between the first two Omega watches that launched the current James Bond relationship (although we all know it's as obvious as the nose on our faces!).

She says she'd prefer I not "talk in numbers" when referring to my watches.

But I take good care of her cat, so our relationship has a firm foundation set in quid pro quo.

[Steve]

My wife kinda' rolls her eyes at the whole thing.

She doesn't seem to mind if I spend a couple hundred bucks now and then, but it would cease to be happy-fun-time if I spent a lot of money on one without first discussing it with her...

[Time2watch]

Very simple resolution for all of you. Explain to your wives, that watches are like jewelry to them.

[triton]

My wife actually loves watches too,but she isn't a geek like I am.She does own some very nice ones and wears them daily.I quess I'm very fortunate that she is almost as excited as I am about them,especially when that new one arrives

[rm663]

My wife loves the watches. I have purchased two for her. One quartz and one auto plus a winder. I figured she wouldn't like the auto if she had to wind it constantly so I opted to provide a winder for it. She isn't that wrapped that she reads this forum though.

Dave

[banned]

My wife has a few that I bought her, but she does'nt wear em'. No watches, no jewelry. Shes a bit of a Tom-boy. As far as my love of watches, she tries to get involved by asking "what kind of watch is that" and things of that nature. She will not buy them for me though, as gifts. I'm on my own with that.

[scottw44]

My wife has a collection that I envy. Several vintage mechanicals, 2 Hermes, a Ball Trainmaster, a Limes Artemesia, a vintage Universal Geneve...

She now wears a watch to bed so she is as bad as we are

[marcw]

My wife herself is not into watches. She wears one on a daily basis, but it's more jewelery than a time piece. She doesn't mind my obsession, as long as the watch cases look good on the dresser. Last year, after I became completely obsessed with watches, and after about the 5th one arrived, within a couple of months, she looked at me and said "Are you affraid you are going to run out?". If she knew what I have spent in the last year, she probably would have a problem with it. That's why "ignorance is bliss"