Round-UpConversation Starters From Omega, Bulgari, Jacob & Co, Louis Erard, And Corum

When it comes to selecting watches, personal preference is sacrosanct. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that some watches hold a larger mass-appeal than others, and some are outright conversation starters that elicit a “That’s a cool-looking watch!” Here, we take a look at some of the best conversation starters you can come across today. Before we start off with our picks, let’s be on the same page about the criteria for selection. You can’t just go around a party flashing your wrist at everyone, hoping for them to give in and ask, “Wow, what’s the story of your watch?” in the most unenthusiastic way they can.

We’re focusing on time-tellers that are likely to get someone to ask about the watch. The kind of watch that someone sees and goes, “That’s insane; tell me more!” with genuine excitement. What’s more, and perhaps most importantly, we’re also going to talk about watches that can help you keep the conversation going. For that, they need to have a bit of a story to them. You can’t just go with, “Thank you,” and then carry on with your merry day, can you? You need to be able to hold the conversation with the story of the watch. With that out of the way, let’s get into our conversation starters.

Louis Erard X Konstantin Chaykin ‘Time-Eater’

Conversation Starters Of The Monstrous Kind

Here’s something you don’t see very often on luxury watches—a dial that looks like a saw-mouthed cyclops. It has an hour sub-dial at 12 that acts as the eye of the monster, a running seconds sub-dial at six that acts as its mouth. The central minute hand has two very entertaining hand gestures at either end (one is kinder than the other, though). As the name suggests, the watch appears to be devouring the elapsed time. In a way, isn’t that a metaphor for how we’re all responsible for our own time? (Don’t use that in the conversation.)

The Louis Erard x Konstatine Chaykin "Time Eater" timepieces feature a unique saw-mouthed cyclops on the dial

The hours sub-dial at 12 acts as the eye of the monster, a running seconds sub-dial at six that acts as its mouth, and a central minute hand that has two very entertaining hand gestures at either end (one is kinder than the other, though)

As the name suggests, the watch appears to be devouring the elapsed time

Both watches are limited to 178 pieces, as all of Louis Erard’s collaboration timepieces are, since the number symbolises strength and unity in numerology

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For this timepiece, the Swiss watchmakers collaborated with eccentric Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin, who has gained quite a reputation for making watches with faces, especially characters that are looked upon as villains. His watches fall under the ‘Wristmons collection’, which literally translates to ‘wrist monsters’. Both watches are limited to 178 pieces, as all of Louis Erard’s collaboration timepieces are, since the number symbolises strength and unity in numerology. If that’s not enough, keep the conversation going by talking about the ‘Time Eater II’ watches, and how you’re already thinking of getting one of those too.

The Omega Speedmaster ‘Silver Snoopy Award’ 50th Anniversary Edition

Conversation Starters To The Moon And Back

Here’s a luxury timepiece from a brand that have been around since 1848, produced the first (and only, thus far) watch to have landed on the moon and are incredibly well-known for their innovative and reliable designs. Oh, and also, it has a cartoon dog on it. Oh, and the caseback is animated. Out of all the watches on this list, the Silver Snoopy Omega Speedmaster takes the cake for the best story. It pays homage to the Silver Snoopy Award that Omega received in the year 1970 from NASA, which was given to the Moonwatch after it played a pivotal role in helping save the astronauts of the doomed Apollo 13 mission.

The Snoopy you see on the nine o’clock dial is in the exact style of the silver pin that NASA astronauts present to award recipients. When you flip the watch, you see an animation of Snoopy the dog in his ship, emerging from behind the moon and tracing a line under the Snoopy award motto ‘Eyes on the stars’. The entire animation lasts 14 seconds, which was also the amount of time it took for the astronauts to course-correct their way back home.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Timepieces

The Ultimate Record-Breaker Conversation Starters

If anyone ever sees you wearing a Bulgari Octo Finissimo, here’s how it’s going to go down: if they don’t know about it, they’re going to say something like, “Wow, that’s a very thin watch. What is it?” If they know about the Finissimos, you’ll hear “The Octo! Nice. Which one?” That’s a win-win.

Launched in 2015, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo timepiece broke records right from its incredible debut. Not only was the first Octo Finissimo just 5mm thick, it also featured a tourbillon. Whether it’s the records you want to talk about that Bulgari broke with the Octo Finissimo—of which there are many—or just the way it brought forth a new way of appreciating watchmaking for the masses, there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to the Octo Finissimo timepieces.

Launched in 2014, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo timepiece broke records right from its incredible debut. Not only was the first Octo Finissimo just 5mm thick, it also featured a tourbillon

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Sure, it’s not the thinnest watch ever at this point, but not many watches can claim that they’re thinner than a CHF 5 coin, can they? Boast away!

Jacob & Co Gotham City Limited Edition

A Dark Knight Of A Conversation Starter

A 36-piece limited edition timepiece from prolific Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co is enough of a conversation starter in itself, but when it pays homage to one of the most famous superheroes of all time, things get better. Just like the Godfather watch—and maybe even the Billionaire watch—the Gotham City timepiece was created because Jacob Arabo, founder and CEO of Jacob & Co, has a deep admiration for the superhero. The watch itself is filled with Easter eggs, such as the crown that’s reminiscent of Batmobile tyres.

The Gotham City timepiece was created because Jacob Arabo, founder and CEO of Jacob & Co, has a deep admiration for the superhero

It boasts a layered structure—achieved through a comprehensive and advanced design process. On the caseback, you see a laser-etched figure of Batman

The watch is crafted in black DLC-treated titanium—an apt choice for developing this robust timekeeper sized at 45.5mm

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The watch is crafted in black DLC-treated titanium—an apt choice for developing this robust timekeeper sized at 45.5mm. It boasts a layered structure—achieved through a comprehensive and advanced design process. On the caseback, you see a laser-etched figure of Batman. You can learn more about the Gotham City watch here. Just make sure you don’t try to disappear like Batman in the middle of a conversation with someone.

Corum Bubble 47 Skull X-Ray

Conversation Starters Of The Eerie Kind

Corum’s ‘Bubble’ collection features some very interesting timepieces. In focus today is the Skull X-Ray timepiece, at a whopping 47mm size, with a prominent three-dimensional skull in the dial that lights up in an eerie green at night.

Launched by Severin Wunderman, the then-owner of Corum, in 2000, the skull timepieces apparently emerged from his fascination with life and death, which may have been kindled by his own journey as a Holocaust survivor. Severin Wunderman hid in a school for the blind during his childhood years, during the Nazi occupation of Poland. He then immigrated to the States at age 10.

Launched by Severin Wunderman, the then-owner of Corum, in 2000, the skull timepieces apparently emerged from his fascination with life and death, which may have been kindled by his own journey as a Holocaust survivor

This Bubble Skull X-Ray is the latest iteration of that timepiece, and it pays tribute to Severin Wunderman and his story. Of course, the timepiece is a limited edition of 666 pieces

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This Bubble Skull X-Ray is the latest iteration of that timepiece, and it pays tribute to Severin Wunderman and his story. Of course, the timepiece is a limited edition of 666 pieces.

Though the list is over, that’s not to say that these are the only watches worth conversing over. Every watch is a hoot in its own right, and conversations on watches can’t be limited to the stories they come with; rather, they should include the stories you made with them. Isn’t that what watches are all about?