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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →You can care deeply about watches without deciding that only certain tastes count. In a July 13, 2023 Fratello essay, Thomas Van Straaten argues that watch enthusiasm works best when strong opinions leave room for curiosity—and when disagreement about a watch does not become contempt for the person wearing it.
What does it mean to be a watch purist?
Van Straaten describes purism as a judgmental mindset: drawing a hard boundary between watches considered acceptable and those dismissed as bad, then treating that boundary as part of what makes someone a knowledgeable enthusiast. In his account, a newcomer may begin curious and aware of how much they have to learn; with familiarity, they can develop firm standards and start policing other people’s taste.
That is the essay’s use of “purism,” not a label for expertise itself. Knowing a great deal, caring about design, or having strong preferences does not automatically make someone a purist. The issue is whether those preferences become rules for what other people are allowed to enjoy.
How can you criticize a watch without insulting its owner?
Keep the judgment focused on the object. You can say that a watch’s size, design, or value does not work for you without claiming that someone is foolish for liking or wearing it. The distinction is between discussing what you think of a watch and condemning the person whose taste differs from yours.
Van Straaten’s practical alternative to dismissal is to ask what the other person appreciates about the watch. “Instead of bashing others for wearing watches you dislike, try to find out what they love about them,” he writes. A question can reveal a detail, association, or design choice you had overlooked; an insult is more likely to turn the exchange into an effort to win.
Can you have strong preferences and still be open-minded?
Yes. Being open-minded does not require liking every watch or pretending that all designs appeal to you equally. It means recognizing that your preferences are yours, rather than universal standards everyone else must follow.
Van Straaten points to disagreements over small and large watches, and over enthusiasm for Rolex, Omega, Tudor, or Hublot. These are examples of different tastes, not rankings of the brands or evidence that one preference is objectively superior. The same applies to broader divides such as mainstream versus less mainstream choices, or traditional versus innovative design: the essay does not declare winners.
How do you keep the hobby enjoyable?
Notice when a conversation has shifted from sharing enthusiasm to defending your status or proving someone wrong. Van Straaten’s essay warns that online arguments can crowd out the pleasure that brought people to watches in the first place. His proposed priority is simple: “The key, I think, is to strive for joy over anything else — especially over being right.”
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- Book - a man and his watch: iconic watches and stories from the men who wore them
- Language: english
- Binding: hardcover
That approach does not require avoiding disagreement. It asks you to make room for it without making another person’s taste a personal affront. As Van Straaten puts it, “A watch is a form of self-expression.” Asking, “Hey, are you wearing the…?” can open a conversation about that expression instead of starting a contest over whose standards prevail.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the essay does—and does not—claim
Van Straaten’s piece is an opinion essay about participating in a hobby, not a product review, brand comparison, or empirical study. It offers a way to think about taste and conversation; it does not establish which watches are better, recommend a purchase, or require enthusiasts to suspend criticism.
Read the full essay: “Reaching Enlightenment In The Watch Hobby — Be A Watch Aficionado Without Being A Purist,” Fratello Watches, by Thomas Van Straaten.
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