hendrixelixir Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 So I was sitting in my econ class, and I spotted what seems to be a sub on my professor's wrist. Thought it was gen, after all, he was a professor. When he started lecture, he took off his watch and placed it on the desk--lo and behold, a display back! I guess they don't pay the professors that well at Berkeley, or he's got a taste for reps! Browsing these forums really gives you a sharper eye for gens/reps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris5264 Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 I'm impressed it was an automatic (probably an invicta),,,,I've met literally 100s of college professors over the years and of course the first thing I check out is the watch they are wearing, and so far the vast majority are cheap quartz, some are top selling authors who could easily afford a huge collection of nice automatic gens. My guess is that most professors do not want to look materialistic (this also explains most of their clothing). It might go back to this idea that their brain is too busy with "important" things to worry about the material world. I mean, if my socks don't match, perhaps I'm too busy unifying the four fundamental forces in physics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 So funny Chris you were the one that came to my mind when I read the topic title. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkerouac Posted September 6, 2007 Report Share Posted September 6, 2007 In the scale of things I don't think profs -- at least the majority -- are overpaid. Sure, there are star academics who rake in big bucks, particularly if they do consulting or have written a bestseller or two. But for most it is a comfortable, though not spectacular, living. And as Chris mentioned, the academic look is definitely closer to casual than "materialistic." So it wouldn't surprise me if a prof sported a rep, at least on those who are smart enough to have a sense of design and style, as well as value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victoria Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 I'm impressed it was an automatic (probably an invicta),,,,I've met literally 100s of college professors over the years and of course the first thing I check out is the watch they are wearing, and so far the vast majority are cheap quartz, some are top selling authors who could easily afford a huge collection of nice automatic gens. My guess is that most professors do not want to look materialistic (this also explains most of their clothing). It might go back to this idea that their brain is too busy with "important" things to worry about the material world. I mean, if my socks don't match, perhaps I'm too busy unifying the four fundamental forces in physics... My experiences in academia are identical, Chris. Most professors, whether in the US or elsewhere are slovenly and nerdy, traipsing around in Chuck Taylor hightops and ill-fitting short-sleeved shirts from Sears. Their watches of choice seem to be Casios with little calculators on them, bought that time when J Byron's had a sale in 1982. Having been around more Universities than I care to list, due to my dad's profession and my own academic-centred life, I am always staggered to find one prof who stands out sartorially or horologically. It's a lost cause. Just once I came upon one of the nattiest academics I've ever met. Joachim Fest, one of the foremost professors of German history of our time (he died last year). He wore the most beautiful, discrete watch, yet one with complications. I never screwed up the courage to ask the marque. From head to toe, he was impeccable. As was his writing...RIP. (And since I'm flinging RIPs around, RIP Luciano Pavarotti) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chillininla Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 I've had a similar experience, I always thought that one of my professors made a lot of money because he would have a different expensive swiss watch every day of the week. But after I learned about reps. and the differences between reps and gens, I realized all his watches were cheap asian reps. His breitling didn't have any AR and all his chrono watches had the large hand always ticking (cheap quarts movements) I can't believe I was ever fooled by them knowing what I know now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ximenes Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 I've had a similar experience, I always thought that one of my professors made a lot of money because he would have a different expensive swiss watch every day of the week. But after I learned about reps. and the differences between reps and gens, I realized all his watches were cheap asian reps. His breitling didn't have any AR and all his chrono watches had the large hand always ticking (cheap quarts movements) I can't believe I was ever fooled by them knowing what I know now. ahahaahaaaahhahaa.! Funny story... Yeah, even most professors who have authored several books are not generating significant royalties from them. It's a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Yeah, even most professors who have authored several books are not generating significant royalties from them. It's a shame. I think two old lecturers of mine would happily disagree.... Richard Dawkins and Maurice Wilkins (latter another RIP) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sssurfer Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Richard Dawkins the sharpest mind of this (and last) century! If he is making big money, I am nothing but glad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 the sharpest mind of this (and last) century! If he is making big money, I am nothing but glad.Actually I was more impressed by Wilkins, a Nobel Laureate, and a legend - I remember even the stairwells of the lecture theatre were packed and rightly so. It was like breathing in history. Dawkins was more of a star performer granted, even back then, but really it's only in the last few years he's really taken off (and with it, yes his bank balance) and become renowned outside academia. A couple of years back, I actually met him one-on-one as part of a symposium on gene therapy in which he was providing a light-hearted evolutionary angle. Considering he was the star turn, he was still the same very down-to-earth guy, minimal ego. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sssurfer Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Actually I was more impressed by Wilkins, a Nobel Laureate, and a legend - I remember even the stairwells of the lecture theatre were packed and rightly so. It was like breathing in history. Dawkins was more of a star performer granted, even back then, but really it's only in the last few years he's really taken off (and with it, yes his bank balance) and become renowned outside academia. A couple of years back, I actually met him one-on-one as part of a symposium on gene therapy in which he was providing a light-hearted evolutionary angle. Considering he was the star turn, he was still the same very down-to-earth guy, minimal ego. Quite easy to be popular (among specialists at least) when one is a genius in disciplines like physics or molecular byology / biochemistry. Much harder to become popular with common people after telling some very uneasy truths like the selfish gene and the extended phenotype. It's not by chance that Dawkins made the anti-darwinist lobbies much more furious than Wilkins, and that he is currently spending almost all his time now (that is a real shame) rejecting their critics. As you encountered him, to you too. Personally, I would give an eye to have a talk with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corgi Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 My professor, I remember, wore a 1960s Rolex Datejust in stainless steel... very nice watch. He wore it as a daily beater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolexsandwich Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 the sharpest mind of this (and last) century! If he is making big money, I am nothing but glad. Dawkins?? ..... Richard Dawkins the guy from this episode? Dont look if easily offended: http://allsp.com/l.php?id=e151 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris5264 Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 So funny Chris you were the one that came to my mind when I read the topic title. Ken Most professors, whether in the US or elsewhere are slovenly and nerdy, traipsing around in Chuck Taylor hightops and ill-fitting short-sleeved shirts from Sears. Their watches of choice seem to be Casios with little calculators on them, bought that time when J Byron's had a sale in 1982. I wish this wasn't true,,,,why, why, why do you want to wear a calculator on your wrist? One of my favorite academics and writers , Douglas Hofstadter actually has a picture of himself in his new book that really looks to be one of these casio calculator watches. Wouldn't a computer geek want people to think they could do these calculations in their head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corgi Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Everyone had to own a calculator watch at some point in time. It was the thing to own. There was also the television remote control watch... a little less popular this one... but moreso with the "obese" community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronus Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Everyone had to own a calculator watch at some point in time. It was the thing to own. There was also the television remote control watch... a little less popular this one... but moreso with the "obese" community. I never got those, though other kids at school had those watches... I seem to remember getting the "game" watches... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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