Tie at the bench or no?

Working on a luxury timepiece doesn't just happen at the bench.

Labcoat required in your shop or not? Tie at the bench or no?

Here's my take after years inside a Rolex boutique with a service window facing the sales floor.

The labcoat isn't about looking the part. It's functional.

→ Smooth fabric lets parts slide off instead of clinging to fibers
→ When something does stick, a light color makes it easy to spot
→ Anyone who's lost a cap jewel to a wool sweater knows the pain

But the dress code conversation is bigger than function.

Presentation is everything in a luxury environment. The customer walking into that boutique is about to spend serious money. They want to feel like the people handling their watch belong in that room.

A watchmaker in a clean shirt and tie behind glass tells a different story than one in a graphic tee. Same hands, same skill, completely different perception.

I wore a tie every day in the boutique. The window meant clients could see me working. That visibility is a sales tool whether you like it or not, and it makes justifying the price of your service almost effortless.

The watch on the bench costs more than my car. Dressing like I respect that fact is the minimum.

Curious where everyone lands on this. Tie or no tie? Labcoat mandatory in your shop?

— FZ