Could a Watch Be Your Ticket to a Second Date?

Some would argue that in the digital age of smartphones, wristwatches aren’t the essential accessories they once were. However, far from being obsolete, watches have found a new lease of life as an accessory that complements style and personality.

But do they make the wearer more attractive? The answer, of course, depends on your personal preferences, but to gauge the public’s opinion, WatchPilot has surveyed 1,000 people to find out the UK’s true perception of watch wearers.

When asked how much they agree with the statement “Wearing an expensive watch (e.g. Rolex) would make someone more attractive.", responses were split.

On one end, 10.3% "Agree completely" that an expensive watch would enhance someone's attractiveness, bolstered by 23.9% who "Somewhat agree." When considering a prospective partner or date, 42.4% found wearing an expensive watch attractive, which is a significant percentage.

Regarding noticing luxury watches or designer watches, 54.6% of the respondents would probably or definitely notice, suggesting that people still take note of luxury timepieces whether they find them attractive or not.

In addition, approximately 40.8% would consider a person 'successful' if they wore an expensive watch like a Rolex, but opinion is sharply divided, with 42.5% disagreeing with this assessment.

Interestingly, smartwatches don't carry the same weight as traditional luxury watches in signifying success. 59.7% would not consider someone wearing a smartwatch as 'successful.' Perhaps smartwatches are viewed more as utility items rather than status symbols.

As for integrating smartwatches into formal attire, most people (64.6%) would not be 'turned off' by this choice. Furthermore, when it came to the hypothetical scenario of wearing a smartwatch on their wedding day, a surprising 25.9% said they would, indicating a cultural shift towards the acceptability of technology in even the most traditional settings.

Men (12.2%) are slightly more likely than women (8.9%) to 'agree completely' that wearing an expensive watch makes someone more attractive.

Women are slightly more likely to find a partner/date attractive if they wear an expensive watch (45% women vs. 39.1% men). Smartwatches have almost equal standing in romantic scenarios for both genders, with 37.3% of women and 37.7% of men considering it an attractive feature.

Women are notably more likely to be 'turned off' if someone wore a smartwatch with formal attire, with 40.8% agreeing, compared to just 28.5% of men.

Men are likelier to notice a luxury watch than women, with 19.5% of males versus 15.4% of females saying they would 'definitely' notice such an accessory. Overall, the tendency to probably notice is higher among men at 40.2% compared to 35.4% among women.

Women (42.2%) are slightly more inclined than men (39.1%) to consider a person 'successful' if they wear an expensive watch like a Rolex.

“A watch isn’t just a tool for checking the time. In fact, it’s much more than that. It represents a person’s style and individuality and, believe it or not, could be the thing that lands you a second date. Your choice of watch can reflect your values to a potential partner, whether minimalist, extravagant, classic, or contemporary".

“Even the choice to wear a watch can be a statement in itself. In an age where smartphones allow us to tell the time instantly, a wristwatch can reflect an old-school charm. Alternatively, a smartwatch can show a contemporary flair and that you’re tech-savvy.

“Of course, attractiveness is subjective, but there’s no doubt that what you choose to wear on your wrist can have an impact.”