Summer Intern - Breitling Watch
I am interning this summer on the fixed income trading floor of a bulge bracket bank, and I was wondering what people thought about me wearing a Breitling watch to work. I was given the watch as a gift and I like wearing it, but I was wondering if it will send the wrong signal to other people on the floor. (i.e. "Who is this little shit intern wearing this nice ass watch).
Do you guys think wearing the watch will look bad, or should I not even give it a thought and throw it on? Thank you for any responses
it's a watch, dude, why would anyone care? It's not like I meet someone and say, "what a douche, he comes from a wealthy family." I wouldn't care if an intern/analyst had expensive things (or cheap things). In the end, you're all doing the same job and are on the same level in that respect.
Some people in BB do care about crap like this. Many juniours wont even have it. I would keep it off.
I would throw it on, and not think twice about it. Definitely don't flaunt it, but nothing wrong with wearing it. That being said, this is all under the assumption that it's not extremely flashy (gold or something).
lol wow................................
What type of Breitling do you have? Certain models are obnoxiously huge. I wouldn't wear the big models to work. You will get grief. Lets face it, I am glad you have wealthy parents that think a 5K+ watch is an appropriate gift, but if I was a trader I would give you endless shit for it.
If it has diamonds, don't wear it.
we have a few people that wear these and its nothing bad..... like the intern we had with a nice rolex... his folks gave it to him and he was quick to remind us that.... gave him shit but hey its a nice watch i would wear it too... if he acted like he paid for it himself or tried to show someone up then it would of been a different story...
If you have to ask, don't wear it.
i would not wear it. the general image u want to project is scrappy and determined not rich and spoiled.
I am immediately reminded of dollar sign suspenders in "Liars Poker", and the result on your trading floor will probably be similar to the book
this is pure idiocy... if anybody will judge you on this, they should not be working on the trading floor.,. the only judgment ppl can make is whether you are a hard worker/quick leanrer/etc.
be reasonable...if its gold and diamonds, then youre an idiot for asking. If its a standard Breitling, wear it and dont give a shit what anybody says..
This is a trading floor, they are going to break balls for anything. Just because it is retarded doesn't mean it wont happen. Wearing french cuffs should be your preference, but that doesn't mean it isn't a looked down on practice for junior people.
Listen, I rock Omega's all the time. Yes, I am a little older, but by and large the watches are pretty normal sized and reserved. Thing about Breitlings is they are HUGE. Especially the Chronomat , Navitimer, Bentley, etc. Go to Tourneu and take a look. I love the watches, plan on buying a Chronomat, but I am also not an UG interning.
Do yourself a HUGE favor. Don't even wear a watch the first couple of weeks. Get to know your team, build a relationship and then start rocking it out. First impressions are everything. Come in modest and feel them out. First day you start rocking a pound and a half watch they might think that this kid thinks he is Gordon Gecko or something.
ok if its "Panerai" huge, then fuck it. Be reasonable. It depends on culture too.
Please get real, you will get ripped on everything from the moment you step through the door. If you can not take your licking than tough shit, choose another firm/desk/career. Heck even major designer glasses which you use to "see" people will rip on you. It's like the mob, respect is earned not given.
PS, ofcourse you wont not get an offer for wearing a fancy watch. Or coming in one day with your shirt not toally ironed (which I did many times and got ripped). No one is that stupid...
But if you walk in rocking some fancy watch, and get ripped on and are not comfortable with it. Or try to show your hot shit before that respect is given. You bet your ass no one will be asking to return.
I work on a trading floor, have interns working for me, and I absolutely would negatively judge a 20 year old kid who came in wearing a Brietling watch. I wear a Panerai most days and its a big watch but I paid for it by making money in markets and when i was 20 I would never have worn something like that to work..its just not appropriate at all and its insulting to everyone there who worked there asses off to get things like it. Once u make enough money in the business then feel free to spend it on a huge watch or whatever else you want and nobody will say shit about it, until then leave the watch at home and pick it up after work and maybe it will still impress girls at the bar.
i can promise you that the douche who asked this question will not get a full time offer.... revisit this post in 10 weeks and let me know
Depending on the model a Breitling can be bigger than a Paneri haha
I think you shouldn't .....doesn't really fit to wear a pricey watch to just an internship. I interned at GS and wore brooks brothers and i still got some looks from some analysts lol
IMHO coming across as humble and determined is not about what you wear but about how you behave.
I would wear it if it's not too flashy.
Regretfully, the way you dress reflects quicker than your inner personality. Wearing a 5K+ watch that is as big as a cupcake is a real easy way to catch the shit from traders. Especially since trading is one of those fields where it isn't as much about an ivy education or coming from money that matter, but sheer performance.
Listen, I dont give a shit. Wear it, wear suspenders, wear french cuffs, wear silk pocket squares, wear bracelets and rings, whatever. Point it you are a college intern, you are coming to learn, to absorb knowledge. You are not coming to impress people, to act like the big dog, to act like you have made it. Walking in on day one, not knowing shit, not having working a real day in your life and rocking out hermes ties and VERY expensive watches is a good way for people to think you are a spoiled cock and don't know what it is like to grind it out.
These guys will make you get coffee and sandwiches. Going to look real funny wearing a Rolex or something getting McDonalds.
Listen, I have bracelets, rings, pocket scarves, all kinds of shit. I have worn all of the above to work. I am a loud, obnoxious asshole. You know what? I wear conservative gray suits and simple shit when I interview or start at a place. I feel out who I am around, how they will react. If I am around funny people who are open to stuff I bust out some of my flashy crap. If I am doing research and this place is stuffy I keep it super formal. Know your audience!
Completely agree. Some people won't care, but there are definitively others who will specifically be looking at what kind of watch you are wearing. Breitlings are particularly tough to pull off because of their size - think Navitimer - especially at work. I would argue that a Rolex (which can be interpreted as the ultimate symbol of distasteful wealth - not that I agree with that statement though, because some models are great, like the Submariner) would be easier to pull off than a Breitling. Anyway, that's more a watch discussion.
Bottom line is don't do it. There is very limited upside, and a lot of downside potential.
One of my IB friends used to take a particular pleasure as a VP in staffing interns on the toughest weekend projects if they wore flashy watches or flashy cuff links. I wouldn't even dare to imagine what would happen if someone wore suspenders :-)
I wouldn't. Pick something more understated - people on the trading floor are notorious gossips, and you don't want to be labeled the rich brat.
Omg... Just buy a timex and wear it.
Agreed with Anthony, I never got why other interns or friends bought or wore fancy stuff for internships. Ok I get it if your in banking and want some nice suits. Or even if your in sales because your boss is prolly decked out and take clients out to impress so you want to look the part.
But as a trading intern, even when I wore a semi-nice suit, shirt. To run across town to pickup suishi, it was a real waste. Seriously your treated like a gopher 30% of the time, gopher's dont need big fany watches.
why would you even wear a watch do you not have a cell phone ?
haha i agree... the only reason to wear a watch is because it makes you look like a baller... it no longer has any pragmatic purpose
its kind of like girls wearing high heels... they are ridiculously uncomfortable, but girls only wear them because it makes them look good, not for any practical purpose (fyi high heels were originally invented with a pragmatic purpose: they were originally for men to wear so that they could feel taller than other men, thus more dominant. men realized how ridiculous these shoes were so they were passed on to women)
An easy answer to all of this is just don't wear the watch. Yes, you weren't a douche who purposely got a nice watch to show off, and instead you got it as a gift. Do you really want to explain that everytime someone senior sees it on your wrist and asks? Why bother putting it on and having to worry about potentially being bagged on or mislabeled during your internship?
Seriously... just wear it on the weekends or something. Not wearing it for the summer won't kill you.
i wouldn't do it. i do agree that the vast majority of the people at your firm will probably not dislike you for wearing a breitling, but to me, if even if just one (senior) person is bothered by it, then it's not worth it. to me, the additional happiness that it provides you to wear your breitling during those 10 weeks is not worth the potential (albeit unlikely) downside. you're just much better off not risking it, at least in the beginning, until you get to know the people in your group and are more comfortable about what kind of people/culture are there.
on side note, i knew a 1st year who wore a JLC -- while nobody was vicious towards him, he got teased (not in a malicious way but just regular guys ribbing on a newbie) all the time for it. that's could happen to you to, so consider that if that's something that would bother you.
I wouldn't rock it. There's kind of a hiearchy of dress when it comes to major corporations. On one of my F500 internships which had a business casual dress code, I saw that every executive wore blazers/sport coats every day. It was a sign that you were at the top. If an intern would worn a sportcoat at that job he would have looked like a complete tool.
if thats your biggest issue, i dont feel sorry for you...
Bondarb and the rest of the people against wearing it,
This is quite possible one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. If you seriously judge someone on the watch they wear then you have some serious insecurities.
When I was 20 I owned a Breitling and I bought it myself. Now it was a more understated colt automatic, but still, I liked watches, I worked my butt off to buy this watch and I liked wearing it. If someone came to work for me wearing a fancy watch I would say, "wow nice watch", probably look at it for a bit since I love watches and move on with my life. You have no idea how a person bought the watch or what their circumstances are. I really cannot believe that professionals (or people who claim to be professionals) actually care this much.
I think the OP should listen to this guy. I mean everyone in the industry, people who have worked, people who are older have given sound advice, but this dissenter, he hits it on the head. We are all insecure babies who should appreciate a 20 year old wearing a watch that is huge and flashy on the first day. I think you should go even further. Only a pussy would hate on someone wearing a 5K suit, braces, bruno magli's and pocket squares all on the 1st day. We should all not assume you are a spoiled pussy dressing like an MD to fetch coffee, but rather a hard working soul who made his fortune selling lemonade.
Get the fuck real. I love how people rail against supposed unfair practices. You really think traders are insecure? They fucking haze people. Finance is like the largest frat in the world. These guys give people shit because of the school they go to. Traders are going to give you shit no matter what.
You want a receipt for disaster. Walk into work on the first day acting and dressing like you are better and have already made it. You can bitch about how unfair it is, how insecure people are, but guess what. Those traders wont give a flying shit as they are laughing your ass off the floor.
dude what do you trade? ill tell you one thing, nothing is set in stone. on my floor (EQD Derivs) the guys are a bunch of humble, cool bloakes (nerds i guess) who keep quiet and do their job, and make cash In that atmosphere its fine. Not every floor is the same. Bretling boy need to figure out where he stands first and then make the decision
hahahaha i wanna make this my screensaver or something
Maybe I am "wrong" or "judgmental" and maybe I have some deep-seated emotional issues that make me unable to appreciate a gaudy, $5-10k watch on a 20 year old kid who is making $12 an hour as an intern. Fine, I accept that. But as a young intern or analyst your job is to try to figure out the culture of the desk and fit in and then impress people with your work ethic and intelligence. When I was in college, I had long hair and I have grown it long again in the last few years..but when i graduated school i cut my hair shorter and wore it more conservatively. I wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to be labeled in any way based on my appearance because I was not sure what was appropriate where I was going to work. This is called respect. Until you have either become successful enough to help define the culture or you have spent enough time working someplace to figure out how the culture works you need to dress in a more neutral way. To do otherwise is absolutely, 100% disrespectful. Just wear a normal brooks brothers suit or some other boring shit...once you've had some success you can pull out the giant watch, croc shoes, skinny suit, or whatever floats your boat and people will say you are a "character".
That may sound boring but its the way the world works. It has nothing to do with wall st being "a big frat" or people "hazing you" its just reality.
I have a Tag a Breitling. While I was an intern I always wore my Tag (its simple and classy). Never got judged for having it.
AnthonyD,
It has nothing to do with dressing like you are better than someone else. Wearing an expensive watch does not say "I am better than you", it merely says I have a nice watch and I like it, big deal. And if people haze you they are going to haze you regardless, it has nothing to do with your watch, they will find something. And if you care about it, then you are too sensitive to be working there anyway.
Have you worked finance? I know I have, and me and my buddies made fun of each other all the time, but we did it to everyone, and I was never hurt by what people told me. Wearing a watch WILL NOT ruin your career, some people might make fun of you for it, but who cares, like I said before those people would have found anything wrong with you. If you want to walk around scared all day fine, be my guest, but I never had trouble with anything I wore.
I don't trade shit, nor have I ever said I did. Opinions have been given, let the guy find out on his own.
As usual Bondard has the best posts.
theATL. As I mentioned if you love watches and wuteva then do it, but know this you ARE going to get shit for it. Bottom line you don`t like it, as I said the door is over there. So if you can take the shit and move with your life as a intern and kickass fine. But if you require to come on a online forum and ask people ```will i look bad, if i wear this big fancy watch I got as a gift
orwill I not get an offer cuz I want to rock my $5k watch mom and dad bought me``...Then as mentioned you prolly can not rock the watch or take the shit. Also its diff as you said if you really like watches and rock them, you would tell people to stfu and say look I bought this myself homie.
I'm a freshman and 18 years old. I'm a huge fiend for wristwatches. I got a Panerai (PAM 005) for my 18th birthday last summer. No one really says anything (I work in RE). However, Panerai is much more subtle than Breitling. There's been a few exceptions where someone asks about it and it's kind of awkward and you feel bad for being given a $5k+ watch at a young age.... That aside... assuming that it isn't gaudy, just don't go out of your way to flaunt it.
Edit: Also, I really hope you have much bigger things to worry about. If you like your watch THAT MUCH wear it, if you don't feel comfortable don't. Just make sure you work your ass off and be a standout guy. That's what's really going to matter.
Breitling Super Avenger For Internship Interviews? (Originally Posted: 12/27/2012)
I've read other posts regarding interns and their decision to wear or not to wear really nice watches to interviews or to work. I have some interviews coming up, and usually wear my Breitling Super Avenger with 2 ct diamond bezel whenever I go out or look nice for anything. It's an extremely expensive watch that I bought myself. I used to make a lot of money as a professional poker player, and in trying to build my personal image and attempt to receive a sponsorship deal, I bought this watch. Should I buy a new low priced watch for my interviews or just wear it?
Upside from wearing watch = 0 Downside from wearing watch > 0
Alright Phil Ivey.
.
There's a diamond-studded Breitling at my local Costco that has sat unsold for over a year. There's a reason for that.
Depends on where you interview, I suppose.
But generally I vote 'no' too. Like others said- the downsides are much more likely than any upside.
And it's such a gaudy watch. I guess it makes sense for cultivating a celebrity poker persona - but outside of the entertainment industry- few successful people would praise it.
As said above, literally zero upside, and there is some downside. I would wait a couple months into an actual job before rocking out something like that, and only if at that point u have a rep for solid work.
No. Please don't wear that. I wasn't familiar with it and I immediately looked it up and although I believe 100% in dressing nice and feeling good about yourself that will not help your image at all. Especially interviews and even more so once your on the job. Leave that at home and pull it out on weekends, etc.
I'm not taking anything away from it as breitlings are very nice watches. If it were a more muted one with a leather strap or something I might err on the side of saying go for it. But not with the diamonds. All you need is one misplaced light and you might blind your interviewer with it.
Definitely NO. It doesn't exactly scream 'humble.' Agree with above that it might be OK if there were no diamonds AND if worn with leather strap. You don't want to be remembered as 'that guy with the diamond watch.'
Thanks for the comments. I was obviously torn as it is something that stands out considerably (which was perfect, as someone said, for building presence in the industry I was involved before). I used to own a basic Movado that I gave to my dad. Maybe i'll just ask him if I can have that back for my interviews and I'll wear that instead. It's the standard metal band, black face/sun dial looking one.
By the way, my resume definitely shows that I paid for the watch on my own, so it's not like any person interviewing me would question whether I bought it myself or not. Think that's still irrelevant though.
I think a Movado would be fine. Breitlings are a bit ostentatious in their own right. When bejeweled they become rapper worthy.
Any watch with diamonds should never be worn. Otherwise, wearing an expensive watch is fine. I wore my Tag Heuer in all my interviews, got some short comments about it, all positive. Granted the diamond bezel makes the price like 300% higher than without a diamond bezel and 300% higher than my Tag
Unless you're a chick, in which case it would be embarrassing to wear a watch without any diamonds.
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