Gearheads vs Watch Guys: How to Tell the Luxury World’s Nerdiest Collectors Apart

One likes his machines big and loud, the other prefers them small and mostly silent. But otherwise, this Venn diagram is closer to a perfect circle: Both Watch Guys and Car Guys are infatuated with outmoded 19th-century technology, both like to say “in the metal,” and both are existentially triggered by batteries. In the contest between the luxury world’s nerdiest collector communities, the ultimate question isn’t which reigns supreme, but how to tell one from the other.

THINKS HE LOOKS LIKE

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Steve McQueen

THINKS HE LOOKS LIKE

Paul Newman

ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

Steve Coogan

- Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

Randy Newman

- Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage

George Pimentel/WireImage

FAVORITE NUMBERS

911, 16.4, 250, 300, quattro, 935/78, 12, 5.0

FAVORITE NUMBERS

6241, 1518, 311.30.42.30.01.005, 20, 5711, 222, 6236, 1/1

HOPES YOU NOTICE HIS

Vintage Coco Mats ball cap

- Credit: Supplied

Supplied

HOPES YOU NOTICE HIS

Vintage Gay Frères bracelet

- Credit: Eric Wind

Eric Wind

IS SURE YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT

Tesla, patina, continuation cars, how you’re pronouncing “Porsche”

- Credit: Michael Cole/Corbis via Getty Images

Michael Cole/Corbis via Getty Images

IS SURE YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT

Rolex, fauxtina, date windows, how you’re pronouncing “Jaeger”

- Credit: Rolex/Cédric Widmer

Rolex/Cédric Widmer

DOES HE LIKE A FLAT FOUR

In a WRX STI, Alfasud, or old 356 for sure, but in the 718? ARE YOU F#&%!NG SERIOUS?

DOES HE LIKE A FLAT FOUR

Bro, on that Kermit Submariner? Siiiick.

- Credit: Josh Harrison/Alamy Stock Photo

Josh Harrison/Alamy Stock Photo

HOW OFTEN HE THINKS ABOUT LUGS

Only during tech inspection.

- Credit: Rolling Stock/Alamy Stock Photo

Rolling Stock/Alamy Stock Photo

HOW OFTEN HE THINKS ABOUT LUGS

Constantly

PRETENDS TO LIKE / IS ASHAMED HE ACTUALLY LIKE

Double-clutching / Self-driving technology

- Credit: Fairfax Media/Getty Images/Michael Ventura/Alamy

Fairfax Media/Getty Images/Michael Ventura/Alamy

PRETENDS TO LIKE / IS ASHAMED HE ACTUALLY LIKE

Seiko Credor / Seiko milsub mods

- Credit: Supplied

Supplied

OTHER HOBBIES HE’S ANNOYING ABOUT

Watches

OTHER HOBBIES HE’S ANNOYING ABOUT

Cars

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