Vampire Weekend frontman (and recent GQ subject) Ezra Koenig tweeted a faux-deep question in 2013 that I still think about a lot: “would u rather find out that ur dad is ur real dad but his Rolex is fake OR that he is not ur real dad but his Rolex is real?? CHOOSE WISELY.”
He’s joking, it’s funny! But Koenig still manages to seriously nod at two of the biggest reasons men are willing to spend a sizable fortune on timepieces: their stature as a status symbol and one-day heirloom. The more complicated and expensive they are, the better—rappers dedicate entire songs to Patek Philippe watches, and Richard Mille watches are sometimes referred to as a billionaire’s handshake. Even better is that these high-ticket items can survive for generations, a sort of treasure we acquire that will live on long after us. It’s a stupid lizard brain sort of rationale, but if you’re able to pass down a magnificent watch, then maybe that's a shiny, polished, beautiful reflection on the life you lived.
By the way, Koenig’s answer to his question: “Correct answer: obviously 'FAKE DAD, REAL ROLEX' - so mysterious, so intriguing...” Obviously.
—Cam Wolf, style features writer
