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It seems like a lot of geeks – including Bill Gates to Ellen De Generes – are flaunting wristwatches. The reason? We can think of two. First, watches are highly technical devices, and are therefore very fascinating to us geeks. Unlike the regular jock with the $2,000-dollar wristwatch who probably can’t spell ‘chronograph,’ we geeks have the ability to understand and truly appreciate what goes into a watch, how it works, and why it’s worth keeping. Second, wristwatches – if used properly – can make even our geekiest outfit look good. Wear a shirt that says I’M A SUPER PROGRAMMER with a nice wristwatch and you can go from ‘plain geek’ to “interesting geek,’ ‘geek with money,’ or maybe even ‘sexy geek.’ Before you ditch your $30 Casio, for something How much should a geek spend for a wristwatch? If you are the typical successful geek with a regular job, you probably earn around $90,000 a year (or around £46,000+ if you’re in UK). How much of that should you spend on a watch? That depends on what kind of ‘statement’ you want to project. 'I’m young and geeky – I will inherit the world.’
Budget: $500 to $800 For roughly the price of a new gaming console, you can buy a decent wristwatch that you can wear for work and play (and maybe even to a date). One of the more popular entry-level luxury wristwatches is Tag Heuer. Fork over around $600 to get the very hip Tag Heuer Formula 1 watch, which is ‘rugged’ enough to go with your usual geeky outfit.
When you pay for a Tag Heuer, you’re not just paying for the prestige that comes with it. You are getting a triple link bracelet that will last forever, three subdials, and titanium unidirectional rotating bezels among other nifty features. 'I’m an up-and-coming successful geek with a six-digit salary.’
Budget: $1,000 to $3,000 If you want an understated watch that can still increase your ‘market value’ (read: sex appeal), go for lesser known brands like Oris. Prepare to part with $2,800 to get your hands on the limited Oris Williams F1 Team Chronograph. This is actually my watch – I bought it to reward myself for being geeky all my life and finally making decent money.
Aside from the obvious superior mechanical technology, there is one more very cool thing about this watch. The strap is made from the actual rubber they use on F1 tires (it even smells like candy). You can switch to a more formal stainless steel strap for about $500. There are cheaper non-chronograph Oris watches below $1,000. Check those out if two grand seems a bit much. ‘My geekness has paid dividends. I can afford not to work.’
Budget: $5,000 and up Rolex is the obvious high-end choice for most people who hit their first million, but if you want to separate yourself from the yuppies, then you should go for a brand that only the discerning appreciate and understand. My pick: Panerai.
If you can afford to pay $6,000 for a timepiece, then the Panerai Luminor Marina (model P32858X) is for you. This unique automatic watch tells the world that (a) you’re rich, and that (b) you know what you want. Officine Panerai has been making watches for decades and continues to be the top choice of many geek moguls. They even make watches for lefties. (contributed by Adam Andrews)
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