Welcome to Fratello Talks. Should you wear a watch when playing sports or exercising? It’s a question we get asked a lot. What risks could there be to your beloved mechanical watch? Or is there nothing to worry about at all? In today’s episode, Nacho, RJ and Lex explore these questions and speak from personal experience. We also look at sports professionals to find out their approach and whether they should be role models in the first place. So, if you’re someone who lives a dangerous life, wears a mechanical watch for everything you do, or plays it safe and pulls out your G-Shock when the going gets tough, tune in to hear their opinions on the subject. But before we tee off, let’s take a look at what they’re wearing on their wrists today.
Wrist Check
Let’s start with RJ. He doesn’t wear the sportiest watches in his collection, but that doesn’t mean he’s afraid to wear one when playing golf or hitting the gym. His go-to? You might not be surprised to learn it’s his trusty Speedmaster. If it’s good enough for a NASA astronaut, it’s sure to stand up to some serious driving too.
Rex holds onto a track stand while he waits for the light to turn green, just like the face of a freshly serviced Oris x Momotaro Divers 65. This is not the watch he uses for cycling. Not at all. His usual cycling companion is an Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission on Earth on a rubber strap. However, he has recently done some serious mileage on a Tudor FXD, which you can read about here.
Today, Nacho is wearing a new (for him) Scurfa Diver One. Founded by British commercial diver Paul Scurfield, the brand has been focused on providing affordable yet high-quality tool watches for just over a decade. The Diver One is the brand’s flagship product. It features a 40mm titanium case that is water resistant to 500m, a helium escape valve, and a 120-click unidirectional bezel. It’s also powered by a reliable Swiss-made quartz movement. For more information, visit the Scurfa website.
Noah Lyles of the United States team finishes second in the men’s 100m semifinals at the Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics — Image: Sam Burns/Sportfile via Getty Images
Fratello Talks: Should you wear a watch when playing sports or exercising?
It’s a legitimate question. Many watch owners would love to wear their watch 24/7, but may be unsure whether they should, especially those who participate in sports or activities that could put the watch or the mechanical parts inside it at risk. Unlike brand ambassadors, who are often loaned or given watches, we trade our hard-earned money for these timekeeping tools. So it makes sense that we don’t want to put our watches at risk. However, watches are often more durable than you think. Ultimately, it comes down to a subjective approach to risk-taking scenarios. If keeping your watch clean is important to you, you’re risk-averse. But if you’re someone who wears your watch worry-free and doesn’t mind dents, scratches, and scuffs, you probably won’t think twice about it.
Any subjective topic is full of conflicting information and nuance, but today I want to clear the fog and offer some concrete advice. Watch this episode to find out more. As always, please leave your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. Tune in next week for a new episode of Fratello Talks!
