How do you tell a good quality tie from a great quality tie?

[FidelCashflow]

Maybe my tastes aren't refined enough in this arena yet, but I find that while there is a night and day difference between the quality of $30 chinese ties and $100 italian ties, I think italian ties are pretty much all created equal. They all knot nicely, and everything else is entirely based on personal preferences like thickness, width, fabric, etc.

I've never owned a 7-fold, and am eagerly awaiting my first 6-fold from Charles Alexander. But the skeptic in me wonders if it will really be any of my other ties in terms of quality.

 

[Sam Hober]

Originally Posted by FidelCashflow

Maybe my tastes aren't refined enough in this arena yet, but I find that while there is a night and day difference between the quality of $30 chinese ties and $100 italian ties, I think italian ties are pretty much all created equal. They all knot nicely, and everything else is entirely based on personal preferences like thickness, width, fabric, etc. I've never owned a 7-fold, and am eagerly awaiting my first 6-fold from Charles Alexander. But the skeptic in me wonders if it will really be any of my other ties in terms of quality.
FidelCashFlow, All the luxury tie makers will make a very nice tie typically with wonderful silk. The interlining should be of wool but will not always be, and this is one difference between some Italian and English makers - in the same price range. Whoever is selling you an expensive tie should be able to tell you about the silk and interlining composition and weight. As I mentioned above the silk will usually be good - sometimes corners are cut with the interlinings. There are small differences in construction some that you can notice such as matching the patterns/stripes where the silk is joined together others are in the way the wool interlining is cut and sewn. The small details in the fit and finish are time consuming and will make an overall difference in the balance/drape of the tie. When you hold a good tie in your hand or wear it their will be something intangible about how it feels. Ties that are made in factories or under contract typically will not have the same care in the small details as a bespoke tie. When ties are made under contract it is difficult for the tie maker (as in the brand) to always know and supervise the details of the tie construction. So this means that the Italian and English tie makers who make their own ties will tend to have better overall quality over time. Bespoke ties are nice in that you get exactly what you want in terms of shape, length, width etc but the care that goes into the small construction details of a bespoke tie is what makes it special. I would prefer a bespoke 3-fold over a ready made 6-fold or 7-fold. With all that said if the small details are not important than I would not buy expensive ties instead follow my friend John who buys many ties but only based on patterns and colors, and he is very happy.