Let’s be real, I’ve been sucked into the black hole of Instagram watch accounts more times than I’d care to admit. You scroll, you drool (maybe even shed a little tear of envy), and then you start to wonder… HOW are these people affording all these grails? Like, a different Rolex every freaking day? Are they all secretly oil barons or something?
The truth? Probably not. I mean, sure, some of them are legit. Some of them are actually doing well. But let’s just say, the internet is a playground for illusions. And watches? Watches are prime real estate for those illusions.
Think about it. You can rent a fancy watch for a photoshoot. Seriously, you can. Google it. There are services specifically for this. Boom. Instant baller status for a day. Or, you know, a few hours of carefully curated Instagram posts.
And then there’s the… let’s call them “creative” acquisition strategies. Maybe they “borrow” a watch from a friend. Maybe they get a good deal (a REALLY good deal, almost suspiciously good, if you catch my drift) on a used one. Maybe… *cough*… they’re REALLY good at taking photos of other people’s watches at watch meetups. Hey, a wrist shot is a wrist shot, right? (Don’t @ me!)
Look, I’m not saying EVERYONE is faking it. But the pressure to project this image of wealth and success, especially online, is HUGE. It’s a constant battle of keeping up appearances. And let’s face it, watches are a pretty damn good shorthand for “I’ve made it.” It’s like a silent signal saying, “I have disposable income… and good taste!” (or at least, I THINK I have good taste).
The whole thing kinda makes me sad, tbh. Like, why can’t people just be happy with what they have? Why the need to constantly chase this external validation? I mean, I love watches. I REALLY love watches. But I’m also okay with rocking my trusty Seiko 5 most days. It tells time, it looks decent, and it didn’t require me to sell a kidney.
Maybe that’s the real flex, you know? Being comfortable and confident enough in yourself that you don’t need a flashy watch to prove anything to anyone. Just a thought.
