At a backyard barbecue last weekend, I casually mentioned to the host that his vintage chronograph's pushers felt stiff, suggesting a possible service need. He had no idea what I was referring to, and his wife jumped in thinking I was criticizing their grill tools. My attempt to clarify with a quick lesson on watch functions just made everyone stare at their wrists uncomfortably. Now I'm second-guessing how to share horological insights without sounding like a manual. How do you handle when your trade knowledge creates awkward pauses in casual chat? Has anyone found a smooth way to bridge that gap?
Watching him work without loupes shifted my entire approach to precision adjustments. Anyone have stories about learning from craftsmen in different regions?