Dress Watch?

E

ErikD

Joined
Dec 5, 2000
Messages
1,875
I recently bought myself a used Omega SMP automatic as a sort of graduation present for myself. Now having just graduated from college the next step is getting a job. That means job interviews, which means getting all dressed up in a suit and tie.

I really love the watch, and don't regret buying it one bit, I just don't want to be going out on interviews looking like a fool. Let them wait until I am on payroll to find out that. ;) My question is this, is the SMP (yes I did get the Bond version, 2531.80) a dressy enough watch to go with a suit? I mean I know Pierce Brosnan pulls it off, but can I? Would a simple watch with just a black leather band be more appropriate?

Of course the next step is that if something simpler and dressier is more appropriate, what would that be?

Thanks in advance.
 
Let's hope employers make decisions based on candidates' apparent skills, background and organizational fit, not watches. Contrary to the advertisement, "It's not your watch."

I've hired several hundred people in my career and I've always appreciated honesty and straightforwardness. Be yourself. Say what you mean and mean what you say. If someone doesn't hire you while you're being yourself, then they likely did you a favor. I try to judge not only if the candidate would fit with the organization but if the organization would fit with the candidate. If the candidate is not him or herself and pulls it off, then I'll make a mistake to the detriment of both the organization and the candidate. We're trying to fit people with needs and needs with people. Personalities, experiences, preferences are all important. Watches and most other inputs are irrelevant.

In my corporate days I rarely looked at resumes. I consider them fluff. I let subordinates pick candidates to interview based on the resumes and then made judgements based on my own gut feelings developed during that conversation. That conversation at the interview is the whole deal for me. The rest of it is unimportant. Wear whatever watch suits your fancy. The interviewer is not likely to notice.

Good luck.
 
I think you could wear a big Casio G-Shock and the interviewer wouldn't care. What if that person had just one watch. It would be unfair for the employer to expect you to buy a dress watch just for an interview. Plus most of it will be hidden underneath your sleeves anyway.

As long as you talk intelligently and as said above, be yourself that's all that matters.

I think for us to make a good decision you should post a picture of yourself complete with suit and tie and SMP. Make sure we can see your face to see if you can pull it off like James Bond.
 
The answer is yes, of course.
But I really believe that YOUR watch would look best on ME!!! :p :D

I am a headhunter and I can honestly say that any watch will do for an interview.

good luck on your quest!!!
 
Knife Outlet said:
Let's hope employers make decisions based on candidates' apparent skills, background and organizational fit, not watches. Contrary to the advertisement, "It's not your watch."

I've hired several hundred people in my career and I've always appreciated honesty and straightforwardness. Be yourself. Say what you mean and mean what you say. If someone doesn't hire you while you're being yourself, then they likely did you a favor. I try to judge not only if the candidate would fit with the organization but if the organization would fit with the candidate. If the candidate is not him or herself and pulls it off, then I'll make a mistake to the detriment of both the organization and the candidate. We're trying to fit people with needs and needs with people. Personalities, experiences, preferences are all important. Watches and most other inputs are irrelevant.

In my corporate days I rarely looked at resumes. I consider them fluff. I let subordinates pick candidates to interview based on the resumes and then made judgements based on my own gut feelings developed during that conversation. That conversation at the interview is the whole deal for me. The rest of it is unimportant. Wear whatever watch suits your fancy. The interviewer is not likely to notice.

Good luck.
Click to expand...


I would have to slightly disagree with knife oulet. I've done my fair share of hiring and he is absolutely correct that anyone that hires solely based on appearance is an idiot. That being said if someone came highly recommended and walked into an interview with me wearing a freaking high-visibility bright green watch I admit it would give me pause about hiring him, especially if his position would have any external visibility representing the company or organization.

Your current watch is more than fine.
 
An interviewer would be negligent to judge an applicant on ones choice of watch. The only time I feel a more elegant dress watch (than the SMP) with appropriate complementary clothing MIGHT be of slight benefit to an applicant would be jobs the are of high salary and that require significant amounts personal style. Several job types I could see that might fit this "requirement" be power-lawyers, corporate executives, high end jewelers/clothiers and maybe a few others. Since this applies to almost no one, it's basically a non-issue.

I own the Omega SMP and it certainly goes with any attire whatsoever. It seems to go best, in my opinion, with almost everything except the absolute most casual (a day at the beach or hiking) or the highest end (formal wear or expensive, high-end power suits).

The following is a quote (snippets of a larger portion) relating to this topic from a wonderful site called Chronocentric.com (this site is highly recommended for anyone unfamiliar with its existance...visiting the FAQ page alone is worth it):
The Seamaster is a diving watch, so why is the name also used on dress watches?

At the time the Seamaster was introduced in 1948...the Seamaster was created as a line of standard dress-style watches which were 'waterproof' (as they called them then) suitable for swimming and other light water activities....the Seamaster line of water resistant watches into both classic dressy and more rugged sporty styles.

That continues today, with the Seamaster Aqua Terra series being the direct descendant of the classic dressy Seamaster DeVille. Great for people who usually need a dressy watch, but still like to go for a swim. The Seamaster Professional is the sportier variation with additional features and deeper depth ratings needed by people involved with more serious underwater activities like diving--and those that are not diving professionals, but still enjoy the ruggest sporty styling.
Click to expand...
The Aqua Terra seems to be a more dressy version in the Seamaster line. But that is in the eye of the beholder. Certain sport watches have gained strength with "crossover" status. Hope this has helped.

I've attached a couple of pictures of my SMP "in action" with dress clothing (well, the driving gloves may not be considered "dress," but do nicely complement the watch).
 

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Give your Omega SMP to me and I'll see that you get hired.:D.:D.
 
I'd give to job to a guy wearing a Submariner. Seriously though, the SMP is a great watch and the Bond model is my favorite, though he is SUPPOSED to wear a SUB but I won't go there. I think your choice of watch is fine, I don't like any watch with a leather band or non-metal band at all. If you can swing it, you MAY want to buy a GOLD or gold-plated watch to dress up for work interviews and formalities: Rolex day-date, Omega Constellation or Deville, or Movado or Concord for instance. I personally usually wear a high-end gold plated Seiko Aviator watch with 4 sub-dials for dress up and get more complements on it than any other watch I own, even those that cost more. But like I've said you can't go wrong with a Seamaster.
 
I have to disagree with others here, but now that I see what the watch looks like, you are totally fine with it.

Obviously, I would not make a hiring choice because of a watch, but I gotta say someone wearing a rubber strap Timex Ironman to a dress interview is gonna have to be a superstar to make up for it. I mean, in a day where you can get a stainless watch at Walmart for $6.99, there's simply no excuse for wearing a plastic watch to an interview, or on the job for that matter.

Someone said gold is the way to go for dress. I disagree. SS is very common, and matches better with the white gold or platinum wedding bands that are popular. My "dress" watch is a Citizen Calibre Eco Drive, stainless with slight gold accents, to match my white & yellow gold wedding band.
 
I think way too much thought has went into this....

The bottom line is simple and cannot be disputed by anyone. When considering what to wear for an interview...take the job and it's requirements into consideration to select the correct attire, and yes a watch does count as part of your attire.

If someone were going in to get a pizza driver job (no disrespect intended) @ $9.50/hour you would not wear the same thing as you would for a consulting position @ 150k/year. If someone disagrees...well, that sums up whether he/she deserves the second of the two jobs :)

Again, your Omega is a great watch.
 
Thanks for all of the advice. I am just going to stick with the SMP, I like the watch and it looks good. Also I don't really have tons of money around to be spending on extra watches that I might wear a couple of times a year.
 
A wise decision there. :)
You can always pick up something else when finances allow.

Paul
 
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