The watch DISCUSSION thread

[smittycl]

The other tricky thing is that, with a few notable exceptions (Nomos, Tudor, maybe Oris), I think the watches in the $1-$5k range are kind of boring. I feel like it's a huge dead zone and personally I would look to watches like Seiko, Hamilton, Tissot, etc. before I bought something in this zone.

Lots of great German watches in that category. Muhle Glashutte, Sinn, Archimede, Stowa, Nomos, Meistersinger.

I’ve been looking that way and considering my Sub as “job well done” and calling it a day for luxury stuff.

 

[pasadena man]

Seems like a lot may depend on the model and if you could get it at retail. 1k-10k seems like a relatively reasonable range to accomplish the idea of something like a mid-range bucket - Don’t get me wrong, 10 isn’t a cheap watch, but it’s relatively attainable IF it’s your thing and you’re saving up to grab one piece. That range would catch everything from say OP, DJ, Sub (if you can find it or 2nd hand) but could also drop down into say Tag/Oris/Sinn which sounds about right to me.

To inform the discussion, this link is to the most recent sales, and average retail price, per brand. I am interested in this market, but, as always, there are a lot of surprises when looking at the actual data, versus the perceptions I get from reading about the brands on boards.

Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020 Market Share - Editorial

Polarization, diverging trends, successes and failures, 2020 is only reinforces an ongoing tendency. An in-depth analysis of the Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020

monochrome-watches.com

 

[9thsymph]

That they aren't making them (or any of their watches, actually) as good looking as they used to.

All IMHO, if that isn't obvious.

I'm not usually a "this is just wrong" type of guy, but this is just wrong. (Haha...). I get you - with the maxicases on subs and gmts, but since 2019(?) the DJ shape reverted to its former, svelter self, so...c'mon

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

To inform the discussion, this link is to the most recent sales, and average retail price, per brand. I am interested in this market, but, as always, there are a lot of surprises when looking at the actual data, versus the perceptions I get from reading about the brands on boards.

Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020 Market Share - Editorial

Polarization, diverging trends, successes and failures, 2020 is only reinforces an ongoing tendency. An in-depth analysis of the Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020

monochrome-watches.com

The most shocking information is that Richard Mille is #7. Overpriced monstrosities whose primary purpose is to signal that you're really, really rich to other really, really rich people.

 

[Kaplan]

I'm not usually a "this is just wrong" type of guy, but this is just wrong. (Haha...). I get you - with the maxicases on subs and gmts, but since 2019(?) the DJ shape reverted to its former, svelter self, so...c'mon

Granted, the 126234 is rather nice. There are just details that I prefer on earlier models and at the prices these command now, I don't feel like compromising on aesthetics. I mean, I paid $1615 for my sub when it was new, with no compromise in sight ;-)

 

[venessian]

I agree, this range is good for microbrands if you like them. I have an Oak and Oscar and the new Aquastar Deepstar re-issue, both of which were just under $3K.

What is it that you find compelling about those particular watches, at $3K, which is significant money if one includes also excellent used/mint watches?

I do not know enough about them but have generally never really understood what a "microbrand" actually is and wants to be. "Small" brands, like many @smiitycl listed above, OK, very clear; but "microbrands" I see seem often pretty generic but wanting to dress themselves in some kind of extra marketing cachet that I do not understand or see that much interest or value in 99% of the time. But, again, I have not followed that segment much and may be really not "getting it".

 

[Phileas Fogg]

The most shocking information is that Richard Mille is #7. Overpriced monstrosities whose primary purpose is to signal that you're really, really rich to other really, really rich people.

people get rich to the point where they start to run out of things on which to spend their money.

That’s when Banksy, NFT’s, Bijan and Richard Mille come in.

 

[smittycl]

Granted, the 126234 is rather nice. There are just details that I prefer on earlier models and at the prices these command now, I don't feel like compromising on aesthetics. I mean, I paid $1615 for my sub when it was new, with no compromise in sight ;-)

I could first afford a Sub in 1989 when they were $1300 retail but I had to pay damn tuition and rent. Then I graduated and got married, kids followed, and watch was postponed. Thankfully was stationed in Germany in 2000 and found one in Europe for around $3k. Wifey allowed me to purchase and I got her a similarly-priced diamond ring as a 10th Anniversary present. There is such balance in Nature.

 

[mhip]

And holy hell, what was AP thinking here...
I can't see how this does anything but crap on their brand.

 

[smittycl]

And holy hell, what was AP thinking here...
I can't see how this does anything but crap on their brand.
View attachment 1604768

Nah, this won't harm them. Rich folks will buy it for their kids' Bali trips.

 

[Kaplan]

I could first afford a Sub in 1989 when they were $1300 retail but I had to pay damn tuition and rent. Then I graduated and got married, kids followed, and watch was postponed. Thankfully was stationed in Germany in 2000 and found one in Europe for around $3k. Wifey allowed me to purchase and I got her a similarly-priced diamond ring as a 10th Anniversary present. There is such balance in Nature.

Even with no other obligations apart from rent, It did take some months of saving to get to mine in '91. The 5% discount from the AD helped a bit.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

And holy hell, what was AP thinking here...
I can't see how this does anything but crap on their brand.
View attachment 1604768

the movement is 100% vibranium.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Even with no other obligations apart from rent, It did take some months of saving to get to mine in '91. The 5% discount from the AD helped a bit.

inctedible to think there was a time you could get a discount on that watch.

 

[mhip]

the movement is 100% vibranium.

They have some nervium.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

people get rich to the point where they start to run out of things on which to spend their money.

That’s when Banksy, NFT’s, Bijan and Richard Mille come in.

I'm an art collector and have been reading a lot about NFTs. I still don't understand them. A good part of the value of art lies in its exclusivity: it's in my house and I can view it at any time and you can't. Why do I want art that anybody can view?