The Worst Things About Watches 

What’s the thing YOU hate most about watches? Vent here:

Well, THIS was a much-needed blast of honesty. Especially the bits about false “innovation” and “tool” watches never actually being the best tools for the tasks they’re sold for. Bravo for keeping the hobby honest.

Biggest hate: Casio G-Shocks, specifically the GA-2100-1AER. Why? Because I own one, and I love it. Problem is, so does everyone else. I’ve spent thousands, literally, over the years buying and selling watches. Today marks a year so I bought my blue BB58, a watch I’d waited and saved and yearned for, for many months. I remember excitedly putting it on for the first time, and guess what…not a single molecule of f**k was given, by anyone. Even a year on, perhaps five people have commented on it. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t wear it for others to enjoy, I wear it because I love it. But it’d be nice if more people would be as excited about it as I am - but they’re not. My bloody G-Shock, however, which I picked up in a sale, for £75, always gets comments. “Oooh, that’s a nice one”, they say. “What this?”, says I, “This is my beater…the one I had on yesterday has an in-house movement, and seventy hours of power reserve!”. Then people move away from me, usually after I scream. Damn you, Casio, and your affordable levels of genius. Damn you!

The thing I hate most is not being able to go to an AD and buy the Rolex I was going to give myself to celebrate being 72 . I've been on a "list" for almost a year already.

I am often puzzled when people say that 'watches are getting too expensive'. There are so many incredible watches out there for just a couple of hundred dollars. What that means is the mainstream watches are getting more expensive, but that's inflation. I understand that those watches we wanted a few years ago are now further out of reach, and that can be frustrating, but it's a side effect of..... living. Perhaps my biggest 'hate' are people in 'the watch world ' who trash talk other collectors choices or collections. There is just no need for it.

I hate being told I'm not worthy to buy a watch I can afford by dealers and manufacturers. Even high street jewellers now use this as part of their 'marketing strategy'. Listen out for "is it a gift?"🤬

My pet peeve is when hands dont reach to their relevant markers. Short seconds and minute hands in particular atb, Kev

The term ‘one watch collection’. I guess I have a one car collection. A one house collection. Somebody look up ‘collection’!

Somewhere there is someone important at Rolex who has to approve all of Tudor’s designs, and it’s their job to fook them up just a bit. I just know it! Make the case a bit too thick, and we can start production. Oh, and add fake rivets to the bracelet, yeah?

The reference numbers. A long number that's difficult to remember. Seiko uses letters that make no sense. Omega uses reference numbers that might as well be coordinates in the Andromeda nebula, and Rolex uses zip codes that somehow still encompass different dial colours and layouts. At least Seiko got that part right...

Recently, I came just seconds from pulling the trigger on a $2000 preowned watch I found online, when I decided to check the listing one last time. It was then I noticed that the bracelet was sized for a 6 inch wrist and they didn't have the box, which means they probably lost the links. I have a 7.5 inch wrist and this watch would have looked ridiculous on an aftermarket bracelet. It was like a brush with death, I can't trust myself anymore. Full marks to the seller for posting the bracelet size though, most wouldn't have mentioned it.

Finding a Watch World talking-head espousing the unique and stupendous attributes of a watch only to find out it's a limited release that's already sold out or has a multi-year waiting list. And metal bracelets that don't come with half-links or some type of micro adjustment.

White date wheel regardless of the color of the dial. I definitely think this is something companies do to distinguish their entry level watches from their higher end ones.

Nailed it with the last one especially. Pet peeve! And plenty of alignment across that list. Number 11: too many people taking this too seriously. We do it for fun, for goodness' sake! They are (often, very) cool anachronisms, that's it, get used to it.

Logo snobbery is my #1 grievance with the community, always easy to spot in the comments when someone says “I’d never pay that much for a _______” or “You could get a Rolex for that price!” Watch prices can often be bonkers but it seems that we give luxury brands a pass to charge whatever they want and when a brand like Seiko or Oris (or even an indie) wades into the higher-end, no matter what the specs of the watch, it’s immediately clear who cares more about people knowing how much they spent on the watch versus who cares more about how much watch they’re getting for their money.

I've got one for you: calling simple consumerism a 'hobby'. There are probably some people who can legitimately call watch collecting a hobby. Maybe they spend their days scouring thrift shops for early Swatches, or restoring soviet-era military watches. But walking into a high street jewellers and buying an Omega, then walking back into the same shop six months later and buying a Tudor is not a bloody hobby.

Your dislike of "Watch World" is like my dislike of people calling themselves this or that professionals, like "retail professional" and "medical professional" instead of salesperson and nurse. And your comment about the 500 disorganized options is spot on. I'm looking at you, Glycine. WTF?

"Don't clap at rich kid for spending his money" Nice.

I think the price increases will really come back to bite the watch industry in the butt. Personally as someone in my mid to late 20’s who started collecting in high school I remember paying $230 for my orange monster and thinking that was sooo much money. Now I have a good job and earn more than most of my piers but watch prices have gone up so much it doesn’t really change my buying power that much. Like back then, the Monster was a weeks salary for me. Now if I wanted to go out and get an entry level seiko it would still be a weeks salary despite earning 5x as much. It’s really sort of driven me out of the hobby because I just don’t get how spending huge amounts of money on a watch and then worrying about resale while you wear it is fun. The only people supporting these higher prices are speculators and people with more money than sense wanting to flex on people by showing off how they paid 15k for a watch that used to be 2-3k like 10 years ago.

I like watches a lot, but the thing I don’t like is the pretentiousness.

Seeking approval/validation on the internet for a purchase. Or 'Should I pull the trigger on this?'. Or 'What should I buy next?'. Or 'Does this fit my wrist?'. My gears are grinding just writing this.

My pet hate is that, of all the things to be interested in, I had to pick wristwatches. Why couldn’t I enjoy something like needlework or scale modelling, where I can actually afford to buy the equipment required?

I always assumed that I thought luxury watches were stupid because I didn’t have the means of acquiring them. Years go by, after some good decisions and some luck here and there, and now i DO have the means to acquire these watches. Do you know what’s changed? Nothing lol, I am absolutely fascinated by these things, but I can’t bring myself to pay anything over $1000 for a time telling bracelet. I have some special and expensive watches that were gifted to me and I will cherish them forever. But the crown jewel in my collection is the full set of Casio Duro’s (I wear all 6 frequently), and i’m now experimenting with replacing the crystals with domed sapphire. I don’t spend much on my watches but I love the hobby as much as ever.

I hate that the everything revolves around Rolex. I F’ing hate that brand!

The last rant was very thought provoking

How about a bracelet with two micro adjustments and no half links. Or we’ve used acrylic for it’s rich vintage warmth when you know it’s simply a cost cutting measure. Of course there’s always the classic 49 mm lug to lug with male end links to ensure 75% of the population can’t wear it. That’s a brilliant sales strategy. And everyones favourite odd lug width’s ie. 19mm. Oh don’t get me started I could on for hours.

The journalism part on watches is sorely understated… it’s always nice pictures with car steering wheels. I admire the way you comprehensively present your content with a good balance of grace, class and humour.

Water resistence. No one goes diving, and if did, you still wouldnt wear it. You are spot on, the culture of sheep fawning over the flexers, its weird!

Nice to see a low-key troll on “Talking watches” with #10 there. Well deserved. Although I could add an 11th to be that troll to you… “RU-vidrs overusing hyperbole and clickbaity HATE and DESTROY titles just to build their channel.” 😉😗

My dude that's why we love your take on things. This type of honesty is needed in these times where it seems money is the most important aspect of an anachronistic conglomerate of cogs and springs

I have a similar hate to tech platforms. They carefully manage leaving holes for special services and tech experts to be able to obtain all the data with ease - all after creating a tool that billions would use daily, but never in many years they care about specific details in UX that make the simplest things very uneasy to do by the users when the solution is a minute task and it's obvious, they simply wouldn't do it. Instead, "let's make our app consume double the resource"! All while adding one stupid feature no one would ever use.

I'm tired of the new generation of watch "collectors" or "connoisseur" that really doesn't know a damn thing about their watch, horologically at least... They can barely explain how a automatic movement works, much less get into the other complications, finish work, and the history of brands ... they hear AP or PP, Rolex.. they're like Thumbs up! They hear Lange &. Sohne or Vacheron Constantin and their eyes glaze over.... that tells you everything right there.

Love your channel. The topics are on point and your canning love of the truth, is vital in this age of fake and pretence! Thank you.

Being between holes on a watch strap is a true travesty in life. Many brilliant watches were sadly returned because of it. Thank you for your 100% spot on description of that phenomenon.

I can't argue with any of those👍, the strap fit one is a real bugbear, how come I always seem to need a hole between the holes? I've even gone to the trouble of making some adaptors that extend the buckle half a hole to get around it 😂

One of the most recently upsetting things on my YT feed is that I went entirely too long without unfiltered Andrew Morgan content! Awesome stuff!

Couldn't agree more. I think there are more reasons why watch prices go up, one being that a watch is nowadays considered a jewelry item by many. Let's be honest: any 100€ can make most things better than a 20000€ mechanical one… . Add the hype around these items plus the speculation aspect (which imho is likely to crumble sooner than later…). One point I'd like to add: watch enthusiasts who get upset when random friends, family etc. who are absolutely, but I mean absolutely not into watches and therefore can't understand neither care why or what 10000€ timepiece you are wearing.

6:52 OMEGA

I HATE misalignment! And it's getting more common every day!

I’m still waiting for Andrew to pull off an innovative move, bucking the trends in the watch world, and get himself a vintage fluted Datejust 😊

"Sears my sausage"... Hahahahahaha! I am so stealing that.

Simple thing: Why don’t watchmakers always put a cap on the second hand? I cannot stand looking at the hole where the second hand affixes over the other hands. Thank you, Andrew. Happy New Year!

Fun episode! And annoyingly you’re pretty much spot on with all your points. Although a deep dial 😢? I don’t hate that too much.

the Brolex Dial Bible. hate it with a passion

Your last one got me. It's not a hobby if all that matters is wallet size. And the veneration of people with large amounts of watches is, as you say, weird...who congratulates people on spending money?!

I think in general, people dislike stupid games and a-holes. To me, I don’t like the term “watch collection”. But this hobby, has a lot of snobbery and pettiness in it. Buy what you like, what you can afford, and don’t hate on other’s preferences- simple. Just this weekend, I complimented this stranger’s (he was helping me at a store) Orient and it sparked a conversation about the hobby. Even though we fancied different brands, we have a great conversation about watches. IMO, that’s how it needs to be. But humans suck lol…the snobbery/hate exists with beer/whiskey/wine/clothes/automotive/phones/ear buds (almost every where) industries as well. I think it’s just a reflection on how sad a person is that they feel they need to lash out or try to make themselves be part of the pack…be at peace with oneself and the rest will fall into place.

Think you covered it. Excellents points. Clap, clap, clap, clap..

"Watches that look superb. Almost. Almost." So, you mean almost every Omega.

ugh "new strap" is the one i know all too well. get a new strap and then laugh(i mean cry) because the nice strap i got doesnt fit my 5.5 inch wrist :( happened with the vintage strap i got for my Orient Bambino 38. cant even punch extra holes because it has cutouts.

Awesome. On point. You are truly an innovation in the Watch World............ 🙂

A few of my hates. People who think a $5K watch is vital for a given task when it's pretty clear a G-shock will do it better for $100, and as said people who think collecting watches is clever or indeed skillful. People who look down on others for not owning an expensive watch. People who buy a watch because it's expensive so they can flex perceived wealth, not because they actually need it or like it. People who complain about getting robbed flexing said wealth in stupid places.

Excellent video, especially the last point. Not sure about the deep dials, I used to dislike dive watches like Seiko Turtles and anything with tachymeters, but they’re growing on me despite being pointless in life. I should add, I have scuba dived, I used a Casio.

How are you the most knowledgeable person about watches? Did you attend Watch Making School? Did you read a lot? You are the most AWESOME watch SAVANT on this planet. Thank you for all your videos!!!

Not a hate particularly but I'm amazed that as Rolex (and a few others) price madness subsides the grey dealers are trying to tell us they weren't part of the problem. Even more amazing some people believe them?? 🤣😂🤣

I think some of the big brands need to focus less on having 7 different versions of the same watch with different complications and 15x different dial colors for a line that really only needs 3. For example, what’s the point of a seamaster chrono with a black dial when the moonwatch exists. What’s the point of the rail master when the seamaster 300 exists. Here’s another, what’s the point of the explorer II when the GMT exists. Who thought the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono in orange/black on a nylon strap was something people needed in their lives?

I absolutely hate the „as a real collector you have to own this watch“-people. like the speedy for example. or any rollie. you have to own a rollie. but it’s my damn collection and my taste. I don’t have to own anything.

2:55 Vianney Halter classic 👀

Watches with 21mm or 19mm lug widths.

Andrew. In 2006, in Hatton Garden, you could bought 100 Omega Speedmaster Manual Moonwatches for £1000, without box and papers, now it is £4200, that makes no sense?

wonderful video. My hate is when homage companies try to copy the original 1:1 even if it means copying the flows too, they don't even try to improve, even if there is a lot that could be done better.

The way you said happy and "sane" ... 😂😂😂 8:14 yeah, i think they do it on purpose.

Silver hands on a silver dial. Can't see them. (Seiko.) Winding crown at 3 O clock so it digs into the back of your hand. (Every wristwatch ever made, except some Accutron models.) Sharp winding crowns. (Vintage Tissot.) Nylon straps that get scratchy.

Cannot agree more about the "watch world" one...I am pretty sure that I never use that duo and the word industry is what I adopt instead, but I will certainly pay more attention now on :)

+1 the almost perfect watch. i think all iwc mark pilots fall into this category. i don't know why i still want one, they drive me crazy. actually that's probably exactly why i want one.

I understand it’s your job, Andrew, but you’re taking the whole thing too seriously. Yes, talking about the « watch world » seems unnecessarily grandiose but since nobody outside watch aficionados (ie 99.5% of the population) cares, why bother ? I do agree that the sheer maze brand websites have become is irritating (finding the crowd favorite black dial BlackBay 58 on Tudor’s website is not straightforward) which is why I love the Sinn Spezial Uhren page so much. Zero nonsense, no gimmicky « lifestyle » thing, just an honest list of watches sorted by category. Well done, Frankfurt !

I like your video very much Andy and would like to add that in our time admiring a mechanical watch ,although i do admire them , is something you make your self do . Let alone the technology used to create the watch witch is admirable but outdated . Normally and if i had an expensive watch wich i don't, i wont flip it and watch the movement with a magnifying glass to admire the craftsmanship ( maybe a couple of times, yes but not daily or consistently) . I think and this is a very personal opinion, and 'll say it one more time : i do admire mechanical watches. But i think that i admire the high level of craftsmanship that i was able to afford for no practical reason, just for the fun of it. Cheers.

One annoying thing about reviewers how how much they paid seems to change their view point on it not mentioning names but a few channels do some more than other just because some thing cost more doesn’t Necessarily make it a better value or quality

Did not see the 'deep dials' coming. Ouch. Guys at Marathon probably didn't make it through this whole post after that one.

My least favourite combination of of words is lifestyle. Usually ia good indication the user has neither,.

As a scuba diver I’ve long thought dive watches were stupid, it’s only recently that I’ve started to appreciate the aesthetics. Ugly logos or logos for bad brand names irks me. I don’t like the Citizen logo and I think Formex is a stupid name for a watch. I think content creators online can be responsible for driving up prices so this channel might unfortunately be part of the problem.

Oh that website comment is so true. Here's 150 watches you don't want with no ability to narrow it down by size, color, or complication

Good points!

I agree with everything on this topic.

1. Price 2. When I travel outside Croatia, not wearing my watch not to get robbed (I bought Sector and Armani just for travel). 3. Sizes that are getting stupid big 4. Explaining to people why my Sub costs as much as my BMW and why was I stupid enough to buy it. I liked it better when people didn't care except the one that liked watches for what they are... 5. Snobs that think price is all it counts

People pay for Brand name for Rolex unfortunately. Total cost per Steel Submariner is probably $1000 per piece at best.

Well said sir.

I guess I’ll bin my online watch shop idea called ‘Watch World Innovate’ then! We were gonna sell watch straps that don’t fit and everything! Thanks Andrew!

Watch collectors are fascinating 🖖-albeit illogical!

That website criticism wasn’t veiled, even thinly, at all. And I think most agree that Omega needs a better organization system for its site. But for what it’s worth, I like my Skyfall much better than the newer 38mm AT with the 6 o clock date window. 😅

"Applauding a rich kid for spending it's money..." Well said! For me, time is the most important commodity I'm borrowing and I refuse to have my wrist vibrate with a coupon from some website or a text titled "call me". I'm lucky to be in a position to afford a nice watch but I cap it at 10k. Anything over and someone else can have it! Till this day I haven't fallen in love with watch even close to 10k.

Kickstarter watches “disrupting the Swiss watch industry” by commissioning a generic case with a generic movement inside, and giving it an entirely derivative and unremarkable design.

So, I'm with you; But, one thing I've contemplated for a while is that, perhaps the best thing the uber-wealthy do is keep and maintain classic watches, cars; etc. Ones that couldn't be given the attention they need to survive and look stunning without significant funding/hiring. I'm not saying they lose money doing that every time, but more often than not, you can't really account for certain obscurities and little known pieces gaining profits. I suppose this probably more heavily applies to classic motors, but I there are parallels in terms of watch collecting. I realize you mentioned specifically common watches that people horde and get revered for. That doesn't make me very enthusiastic either. But, for whatever reason that I can't quite place, I do get stoked on a collection of e-types, or healeys, or corvettes; etc. Impressive redundancy, maybe?🤷‍♂

Thanks Andrew for the video but just some constructive criticism. If you are doing a list video, please can you list them, with text in the video, or time stamp? Thanks.

Long lugs are my biggest gripe. Looking at you Nomos and Bell & Ross. I just don't get it. Why make a 39-41 mm watch and then extend the lugs so that only a person with an 180 mm + wrist can wear it?

Henceforth, a deep dial shall be nicknamed “a Morgan” because, just like their namesake, they strike the perfect balance between whimsical substance & substantial whimsy. Or to put it another way, Morgans are the shit.

Are Tudor really trying to tell us that the Marine Nationale are paying retail for pelagos fxd watches, and that navy divers are routinely using them in their day to day diving work? Hmmm...I think not. Heavily subsidised and worn at the mess? Much more likely.

In my humble opinion, the term "grail watch" is much, much, much worse than "watch world." People apply the term "grail" to things other than watches, as in "grail ballpoint pen" and "What is you personal grail poutine, Antoine?" We're rapidly approaching the point of sentences like "My personal grail for the day," if we're not already past it. I'm not religious. Also, I happen to know that Chretien de Troyes invented the Grail in the 12th century. It's not as if I'm one of those rubes traveling the globe actually LOOKING for the one and only Holy Grail, nor am I one of rubes writing horrible books about such quests. Thing is, it was a nice story, once, about a concerted attempt to rescue the entire world, and the Grail was a key part of that story, and there was only one Grail. One for the entire world. And so it is somewhat difficult for to refrain from shouting "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP YOU UNEDUCATED TWIT, SHUT UP!" and so forth when someone misuses the term in the above indicated manner.

Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed... If I'm being honest, there number of things I hate about watches is dwarfed by the behavior I hate from "watch collectors". Ego stroking, snobbery, smugness, and those GD wrist roll videos that take an eternity...🤬 ...I need a hug...

That Rolex has created an image of themselves that leads so many people to believe Rolex makes the best watches. Strangely, I believe that Hans Wilsdorf would fully approve.

Sat down for my dinner and stuck this on while I ate. The line "and it can stay there" nearly caused me to spit my fish fingers everywhere 🤣

"Don't clap some rich kids spending his money" Well said

Spot on...love your channel!

I'm finding myself so *totally* agreeing with this content it's eerie.

My pet hates... 1. "Colourways". Every time I hear that word part of my soul dies. 2. Watch reviewers who spend the whole review holding the watch and never once putting it on wrist. I just don't get it.

I like some dial depth. It makes the view interesting but not at the expense of a significant increase in thickness or reduction is readability.

I dislike small watches, dislike even more that youtubers and manufacturers are lovin it.

the worst is the "game" Rolex, AP, PP are playing: w... l... ;)

Great video! All of my major watch hobby gripes stem from a single core complaint about people in the watch community who expect every watch from their favorite watch brand(s) to be for them-constantly grousing about rising prices, design, features, and release schedule, assuming they have figured out all the reasons a private multi-million dollar company makes its business decisions to which they are not privy, nor should they be. Yes, I am a Seiko collector.

Damn, did he just call out 'Producer Michael' at the end? 😂😂😂

Pedantic..... Tu? 😱 We'll be calling you pretentious next🤣