Peter Henlein, a locksmith from Nuremberg, Germany, is believed to have made the first portable timepiece in 1505.
Henlein called his invention the Nuremberg Egg. It was bulky, spring-powered, and not particularly accurate, as it did not have a minute hand. The Egg was more of a status symbol than a reliable watch.
Precisely 520 years later, a watch can still tell a great deal about its owner’s social status to those who can read its subtle messages.
Can you guess your date’s occupation just by looking at their watch?
Celebrities have long preferred certain watch brands. NBA superstar LeBron James, for instance, is a lifetime fan of luxurious watchmakers like Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex.
While it is impossible to pinpoint your date’s profession just by looking at their watch, the watch’s price can hint at their annual income.
For example, the starting price of a Vacheron Constantin watch is $25,000 for timepieces from their Patrimony or Overseas collections.
By contrast, the Vacheron Constantin Reference 57260, the most complicated watch ever made, costs over $30 million.
So, if you notice a watch by one of the above makers on your date’s left wrist, you can assume with some certainty that you are dating a lawyer, a banker, or a sports star.
Luxury watches’ place in modern dating
Judging by their use of dating apps and websites, in 2025, adults aged 18-29 will make up 56% of the US dating scene, leaving 47% to 30-49-year-olds.
Although Gen Z representatives accounted for just over 11% of the US workforce in 2024, they are particularly interested in acquiring luxurious accessories to reassure themselves of their social status and self-worth.
Gen Z’s appetite for quiet luxury
Young adults aged 18 to 29 wear luxury watches as a discreet sign of generational wealth. In 2024, 58% of the Americans in this age group bought their first luxury watch, and 20% said they had purchased more than one expensive timepiece.
Young and wealthy consumers use luxury watches not only to send silent status signals, but also to shield their savings from inflation.
On average, Gen Z representatives buy luxury watches of up to $11,000 – the price of the so-called “wearable” timepieces.
The boom of the pre-owned watches market
The less affluent Zoomers, who still want to send a status signal to their potential dates, opt for pre-owned watches with ownership certificates from established makers like Rolex.
Pre-owned luxury watches have become especially popular among young people since the end of the pandemic in 2022. The secondary luxury watch market hit $27 billion in 2024, Financial Times reports.
Millennials’ attitude to luxury watches
While Generation Z representatives use luxury watches to signal their aspirations and ambitions to their potential romantic partners, millennials use watches to signal the status they have already achieved.
Most millennials on the US dating scene grew up with the James Bond films, hence their distinct preference for Omega watches.
For instance, the Omega Seamaster 300M “James Bond” Limited Edition that Daniel Craig wears in Casino Royale (2006) now costs between $4,500 and $8,000. However, the price of this highly collectable item is bound to increase in the future.
What does a luxury watch reveal about its wearer’s dating preferences?
First and foremost, if someone’s dating app profile picture shows them sporting a luxury watch, it sends a strong signal of self-confidence and sophisticated taste.
The brand is also essential. Timepieces by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, or Vacheron Constantin speak of generational wealth, and suggest that their wearer is looking for a partner of similar social status.
Last but not least, a watch may silently suggest its wearer’s hobbies. For example, if your date wears an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver, an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, or a Rolex Submariner, they most likely have a very active, even adventurous lifestyle.
