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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 19:22
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this is an offshoot from some comments in another thread, but is anyone else looking to buy a new watch before starting b-school? do any current students feel this is even a necessity (provided that you don't show up to an interview wearing a $10 calculator watch)?

i currently own a pretty simple but somewhat dressy citizen watch w/stainless steel band and a silver-toned face. not really sure if i should be looking at similar watches, or ones with different straps (leather?), or if i'm just overthinking it and should just get something i like but that doesn't scream cheesy / flavor-flav.

:?:
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 21:18
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Don't think it's a necessity, unless your watch looks...like a toy? :wink:

I sport a simple Bulova watch on campus (and also to networking events, interviews and etc) I purchased 4-5 years ago when I graduated from college. I bought it with one of my first paycheck. It's nothing special . It's silver and looks very simple.

However, I did get a nice Tag Heuer watch last year before my fiancee quit her LVMH job and went to bschool. Using her "Friends & Family" discount, I got a $1,400 watch for mere $399. (Solaris1 knows all about my fiancee's LVMH discount.....I got him few pairs of dress shoes last year for price that he couldn't believe until he received the shoes) It did come in handy during my interviews but my fellow classmates also wore Swiss Army watch to interviews and landed some nice internships. Therefore, you don't really need a nice watch. I mean, save the dough for alcohol... :-D

If you must get something, get a simple dress watch like my Bulova. I don't think I spent more than $350 on it.....
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 22:10
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If you had posted a photo of your watch you it would be more better to think about it.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 22:39
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Simple? No more than $350? Damn you guys are stylish over there at YSOM.

nink
get a simple dress watch like my Bulova. I don't think I spent more than $350 on it.....
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Now that my 9-year old (electric blue colored, naturally) Fossil watch has started losing time, I've decided to "invest" in a $80 Citizen Eco-Drive. Perfectly acceptable, functional, and environmentally friendly.

Don't feel like you NEED to buy a nice watch simply because you're in business school. Do it because YOU want to spend that cash on a haute fashion accessory. No one really cares about such things in business school. Spend the $350 on going to a couple of extra conferences instead, maybe. You'll get more out of it. But to each his own.

Not even recruiters. Okay, maybe they care if you wear a shocking pink Hello Kitty! limited edition Swatch to your second-round investment banking interview, but not otherwise.

And yes, those shoes were indeed an awesome deal, ninky. I hope you thanked your fiancee enough on my behalf.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 22:55
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Totally unnecessary to have a nice watch for B-School, IMO. Unless it was something you would have purchased in your previous life pre-MBA, it's just not worth it.

i.e. If you worked at a hedge fund or investment bank and it fits in with the rest of your wardrobe and the rest of your lifestyle, then that's fair. If you're taking out a six-figure loan for school and decide to splurge on an Omega or Cartier... it won't exactly seem like the smartest of decisions.

Recruiters truly won't care. Just make sure your suit fits well and your shoes are shined. Go with a simple watch in the $100-300 range -- Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, etc. will do.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 23:28
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Re: watches at business school:

Don't:
- be both a watch and calculator
- have your favorite cartoon character pointing to the digits on its face
- play Lady Gaga every hour on the hour

Seriously, it's really not worth it to buy a fancy watch just for school. As long as your watch doesn't look totally ridiculous with a suit you're fine. As solaris1 said, you can find an appropriate looking watch in the $100 range. Will you have classmates that roll up with a $2,000+ Breitling or Rolex? Yeah, probably. Will it in any way affect their social standing, success or job prospects? Not at all.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 23:44
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just to clarify, i never intended to buy a $2000 tag heuer or anything like that...i don't have that much money to blow (yet).

based on some of the comments, i'll probably just keep the watch i have unless a good deal for bing cashback comes up again - i think macys.com had 20% cashback a few weeks ago.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 08 Mar 2010, 23:52
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shadowsjc
just to clarify, i never intended to buy a $2000 tag heuer or anything like that...i don't have that much money to blow (yet).
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Oh okay. Go nuts then :) Buy something nice and simple.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 09 Mar 2010, 14:09
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There are some good sites online for nice watches, for cheap, if you buy it at the right time.

www.thewatchery.com
www.ashford.com
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buying a nice watch for b-school 09 Mar 2010, 22:35
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shadowsjc
just to clarify, i never intended to buy a $2000 tag heuer or anything like that...i don't have that much money to blow (yet).

based on some of the comments, i'll probably just keep the watch i have unless a good deal for bing cashback comes up again - i think macys.com had 20% cashback a few weeks ago.
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I highly appreciate the link to the video. Thought I was one of the few to catch that reference ...

But ... trying to get out of that mentality before I give up my salary to eat ramen every night.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 10 Mar 2010, 09:23
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Canal Street fake? I got a really nice Tag Heuer fake that cost me about 40 and I don't think I have met anyone that didn't know it wasn't real.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 10 Mar 2010, 11:53
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run4run
Canal Street fake? I got a really nice Tag Heuer fake that cost me about 40 and I don't think I have met anyone that didn't know it wasn't real.
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haha, i'm glad to see there are other fake it til you make it people on here. i will be heading to canal street to get a "nice" shoulder/laptop bag for school
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buying a nice watch for b-school 15 Mar 2010, 22:44
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I love watches and bought myself a TAG after winning a poker tournament. I'm actually very partial to Citizen though. I still have one of the first eco-drive models from 8 years ago+ and it still works great. Citizen start at a few hundred dollars, but they have some that hit 4-figures.

Definitely don't think a 4-figure watch is a necessity for B-school. Just seems silly to spend money on stuff like that unless watches are really your thing.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 24 Mar 2010, 07:37
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LetsGoMets
I love watches and bought myself a TAG after winning a poker tournament. I'm actually very partial to Citizen though. I still have one of the first eco-drive models from 8 years ago+ and it still works great. Citizen start at a few hundred dollars, but they have some that hit 4-figures.

Definitely don't think a 4-figure watch is a necessity for B-school. Just seems silly to spend money on stuff like that unless watches are really your thing.
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I agree with you. I love the idea of having a new watch, but it's definitely not a necessity. I would rather spend that money towards my books, tuition, or my laptop.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 24 Mar 2010, 08:02
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I'm a partial to Festina watches since they used to sponsor cycling teams while I was a young lad.

I own one as a prize from my racing days. However, I've yet to wear it. My cellphone is my watch these days.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 24 Mar 2010, 13:27
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damn. i'm ashamed i'm the only one here with like 4 watches (3 real ones in the 500-1k range, 1 perfect fake that no one can tell that's in the 4k range).

i'm guessing expensive dress shoes, suits, jackets, jeans, etc. are also not common in bschool?

i work in advertising, where $300 jeans, $500 shoes, and a raggedy (but expensive) t-shirt are like the norm. guess i better change it up a bit for school lol.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 24 Mar 2010, 14:56
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DrSatisfaction
damn. i'm ashamed i'm the only one here with like 4 watches (3 real ones in the 500-1k range, 1 perfect fake that no one can tell that's in the 4k range).

i'm guessing expensive dress shoes, suits, jackets, jeans, etc. are also not common in bschool?

i work in advertising, where $300 jeans, $500 shoes, and a raggedy (but expensive) t-shirt are like the norm. guess i better change it up a bit for school lol.
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Don't be ashamed. I have a Tag on my wrist now, and another $1,500 watch sitting in a drawer that sometimes makes the rotation, and a great fake patek that some gentleman with an amex black card complimented on while I volunteered at the US Open. I have my eyes on a daytona in stainless, but b-school tuition is going to get in the way of that one.

I wrote above that spending money on watches is silly unless it's your thing... I love watches.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 25 Mar 2010, 10:01
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A friend who is semi-unreliable on any kind of fashion told me that a boss told him that someone in business should have nice shoes, a nice watch, and a nice umbrella.

First two make sense, not sure about the third one, though I do know I need to stop plowing a 5 foot wide path down the sidewalk with my golf umbrella.

Will probably look for some nice shoes and a decent watch before school. Definitely want to keep the watch price below $500 because I'd rather just wait and buy a very nice one after school once I have the money.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 25 Mar 2010, 21:55
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PBateman
A friend who is semi-unreliable on any kind of fashion told me that a boss told him that someone in business should have nice shoes, a nice watch, and a nice umbrella.

First two make sense, not sure about the third one, though I do know I need to stop plowing a 5 foot wide path down the sidewalk with my golf umbrella.

Will probably look for some nice shoes and a decent watch before school. Definitely want to keep the watch price below $500 because I'd rather just wait and buy a very nice one after school once I have the money.
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I think the nice umbrella is to keep your nice shoes and your nice suit dry. Don't feel bad about your golf umbrella ... I have a collapsible one that serves me well.
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buying a nice watch for b-school 26 Mar 2010, 06:09
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DrSatisfaction
damn. i'm ashamed i'm the only one here with like 4 watches (3 real ones in the 500-1k range, 1 perfect fake that no one can tell that's in the 4k range).

i'm guessing expensive dress shoes, suits, jackets, jeans, etc. are also not common in bschool?

i work in advertising, where $300 jeans, $500 shoes, and a raggedy (but expensive) t-shirt are like the norm. guess i better change it up a bit for school lol.
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No way, I say don't change a bit and keep your identity. You shouldn't feel obligated to change your style because of other students. I would love to buy a nice watch before school starts, just don't have the funding. :)
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