ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

s_haverford · 21 June 2019, 03:55 AM

A friend and I were discussing the culture around watches here in LA and the US in general. That got us thinking, what country has the best watch culture.

I feel that the obvious answer would be Switzerland but I have also heard that Italy and Spain have amazing communities around watches.

I wanted to pose this question to the community and get everyone's input on what country you think has the best watch culture.

Thoughts?

Blansky · 21 June 2019, 03:56 AM

I think you have to explain what you mean by culture.

Mr.Rolex1 · 21 June 2019, 06:32 AM

If you are talking about having collector conversations with fellow purists then Italy is definitely the best place

DeeTee · 21 June 2019, 06:40 AM

Italy/Japan

Rolex addict · 21 June 2019, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeTee

Italy/Japan

Italians definitely have style in wardrobe and fashion.

Old Expat Beast · 21 June 2019, 08:23 AM

Hong Kong and Japan.

Star Ferry · 21 June 2019, 08:30 AM

having traveled far and wide... USA #1 Hoo Rah!

42itus · 21 June 2019, 08:52 AM

I haven't traveled the world enough to give a qualified opinion but Japan is pretty amazing.

Dr. Robert · 21 June 2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Hong Kong and Japan.

I concur

s_haverford · 21 June 2019, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blansky

I think you have to explain what you mean by culture.

When I say culture, I mean a community to interact with other collectors and enthusiasts. Being able to meet others who share the passion and interact with them on a regular/semi-regular basis.

GreatHarry · 21 June 2019, 11:17 AM

Japan, without a shadow of doubt.

synequano · 23 June 2019, 08:10 AM

Japan if you can speak their language,otherwise there won’t be much conversation going (I met a Japanese paneristi who speaks very limited English before...)

If you’re limited to english language,I’d say HK or Singapore

I met some italians watch enthusiasts but most of them parlano solo italano... I do speak Italian but my vocabulary is still limited and I find it a bit difficult to discuss watches in depth...

wantonebad · 23 June 2019, 09:02 AM

Ahem... Switzerland!

Etschell · 23 June 2019, 09:26 AM

Hodinkee. That is a country right?

GB-man · 23 June 2019, 12:47 PM

El Salvador

subtona · 23 June 2019, 12:52 PM

interesting to contemplate, i suppose it would come down to the collectors... what if they all move ?

Watch Rob · 23 June 2019, 01:02 PM

Hong Kong, from my travels.

Star Ferry · 23 June 2019, 01:43 PM

I personally liked the vast number of watches in HK but don't think it has a good watch culture. the focus is on attaining a Rolex, or an AP/PP. As proof of success and self worth. Many secondhand dealers will sneer at anything else. But they sneer at a lot of things over there so who knows.

Burlington · 23 June 2019, 09:46 PM

Around Europe - it’s probably most visible in Italy.

zama · 23 June 2019, 10:39 PM

Hong Kong based on sales

brandrea · 23 June 2019, 10:49 PM

As others have stated, HK seems to where you see the most Rolex wearers.

Having just got back from another trip to Italy, IMO no one knows fashion better than Italians and they appear to love their Rolex watches. I saw them frequently in our travels on the wrists of servers, baristas, airport staff, business people, even the gardener at the villa we stayed in

r_afficionado · 24 June 2019, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB-man

El Salvador

For sure! Whenever I am there my watch gets a lot of attention...

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Art 1 · 24 June 2019, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

having traveled far and wide... USA #1 Hoo Rah!

I would have to agree with you. We have had some amazing GTG's in Florida and NYC, people showing up from around the world. James Dowling, Jeff Hess, many others. Have handled some amazing watches. And met many very nice people.

Also, where I am in Canada there are some very nice collectors with amazing collections, in the last several months I have been to 3 watch events that were first class all the way. As good as I have ever been to.

Mark020 · 24 June 2019, 11:10 PM

Hong Kong, Italy and Japan...

timedate · 25 June 2019, 02:16 AM

switzerland

21 June 2019, 08:23 AM	#6
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Hong Kong Watch: SEIKO Posts: 28,362	Hong Kong and Japan. __________________ _______________________

23 June 2019, 09:02 AM	#13
wantonebad 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Watch: 126600, 116500LN Posts: 12,834	Ahem... Switzerland! __________________ "I'm kind of a big deal... on a fairly irrelevant social media site that falsely inflates my fragile ego"

23 June 2019, 09:26 AM	#14
Etschell "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: FL Watch: platinum sub Posts: 15,884	Hodinkee. That is a country right? __________________ If you wind it, they will run. 25 or 6 to 4.

23 June 2019, 12:47 PM	#15
GB-man 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Watch: addiction issues Posts: 36,864	El Salvador __________________

23 June 2019, 12:52 PM	#16
subtona "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: gus Location: East Coast Watch: APK & sometimes Y Posts: 25,996	interesting to contemplate, i suppose it would come down to the collectors... what if they all move ? __________________

21 June 2019, 03:55 AM	#1
s_haverford "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Los Angeles, CA Watch: BLRO,OP-36 White Posts: 313	What country has the best watch culture A friend and I were discussing the culture around watches here in LA and the US in general. That got us thinking, what country has the best watch culture. I feel that the obvious answer would be Switzerland but I have also heard that Italy and Spain have amazing communities around watches. I wanted to pose this question to the community and get everyone's input on what country you think has the best watch culture. Thoughts?

21 June 2019, 03:56 AM	#2
Blansky 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: swmnpoolsmovie* Posts: 9,094	I think you have to explain what you mean by culture.

21 June 2019, 06:32 AM	#3
Mr.Rolex1 Banned Join Date: Apr 2019 Real Name: Mike Location: San Diego, CA Watch: Submariner Posts: 1,197	If you are talking about having collector conversations with fellow purists then Italy is definitely the best place

21 June 2019, 06:40 AM	#4
DeeTee "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Los Angeles Watch: Netflix Posts: 3,977	Italy/Japan

21 June 2019, 08:30 AM	#7
Star Ferry Banned Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: down by the river Posts: 4,926	having traveled far and wide... USA #1 Hoo Rah!

21 June 2019, 08:52 AM	#8
42itus "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Real Name: Tom Location: Honolulu Watch: 116519LN Posts: 3,828	I haven't traveled the world enough to give a qualified opinion but Japan is pretty amazing.

21 June 2019, 11:17 AM	#11
GreatHarry "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Real Name: Cliffy Location: Korea Watch: CHNR Posts: 282	Japan, without a shadow of doubt.

23 June 2019, 08:10 AM	#12
synequano Banned Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 413	Japan if you can speak their language,otherwise there won’t be much conversation going (I met a Japanese paneristi who speaks very limited English before...) If you’re limited to english language,I’d say HK or Singapore I met some italians watch enthusiasts but most of them parlano solo italano... I do speak Italian but my vocabulary is still limited and I find it a bit difficult to discuss watches in depth...

23 June 2019, 01:02 PM	#17
Watch Rob "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Chicago Watch: 114200 Posts: 1,265	Hong Kong, from my travels.

23 June 2019, 01:43 PM	#18
Star Ferry Banned Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: down by the river Posts: 4,926	I personally liked the vast number of watches in HK but don't think it has a good watch culture. the focus is on attaining a Rolex, or an AP/PP. As proof of success and self worth. Many secondhand dealers will sneer at anything else. But they sneer at a lot of things over there so who knows.

23 June 2019, 09:46 PM	#19
Burlington "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Europe Posts: 5,635	Around Europe - it’s probably most visible in Italy. __________________ “My tastes are simple; I am easily satisfied with the best.” ― Winston S. Churchill

23 June 2019, 10:39 PM	#20
zama "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Real Name: Craig Location: Sydney Watch: 4 Broken glass Posts: 5,806	Hong Kong based on sales __________________ Day Date 118206, Daytona 116509 & 116505, AP 25859ST Gone but not forgotten and genuinely missed..... Root Beer GMT, Sub, TT Daytona, YG DD Bark, Datejust(2 his & hers), AP RO, PP Aquanaut, Lange 1, Heuer Monza, Piaget Altiplano, GP Chrono, Seamaster, Tudor Sub, Tudor Chrono, Tudor Black Bay Bronze

23 June 2019, 10:49 PM	#21
brandrea 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 73,696	As others have stated, HK seems to where you see the most Rolex wearers. Having just got back from another trip to Italy, IMO no one knows fashion better than Italians and they appear to love their Rolex watches. I saw them frequently in our travels on the wrists of servers, baristas, airport staff, business people, even the gardener at the villa we stayed in

24 June 2019, 11:10 PM	#24
Mark020 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,091	Hong Kong, Italy and Japan...

25 June 2019, 02:16 AM	#25
timedate - Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: uk Posts: 1,001	switzerland

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)