yep
I have always loved buying watches but all my life i have gone with less expensive brands (quartz) I would just like to know what I am buying when I buy a more expensive brand such as omega, rolex, etc. The specs are sometimes identical. why would someone spend so much money?
Answer
Captain Obvious is correct about a few things, but not all.
For the most part, there isn't much of a difference (functionally) between a $50 quartz watch and a $2,000 quartz watch. Quite obviously, there will be a better quality product -- both in terms of aesthetics and finish as well as in terms of reliability and quality of timekeeping. Otherwise, both tell time fairly well.
However, the differences start showing when you are looking at mechanical watches that do not use Quartz, such as Automatics. These watches are mechanical marvels that can do some pretty darn interesting and complicated things. The advantage of an Automatic over a Quartz, of course, is that the good ones are built to last and you can pass it on to your next generation.
In that regard, a lot of the watches may seem the same (i.e. they tell time - duh). However, remember that with luxury watches, you are paying for it as a piece of expensive jewelry and art. The fact that it tells time is secondary.
Therefore, the difference therefore comes in *how* a watch tells time -- i.e. what mechanism (or movement) does it use, how well does it work, what else can it do, how well was it made, who made it, where was it made, what materials were used etc. In that regard, there is a world of difference in the tiers.
You've beginner luxury brands -- Raymond Weil, Longines, Stowa etc. Great watches, very reliable and use standard "movements" with excellent quality construction -- but nothing special. Not particularly expensive (less than $2,000 usually).
Then you have the mid tier brands. Within the mid tier brands, you've the lower mid tier and the higher mid tier brands.
In the lower mid tier, you have Omega, Rolex, Breitling, IWC etc -- around $2,000 - $10,000. About the same as the beginner (mostly), but slightly better quality and finish, and better brand name. In the higher mid tier brands, you get brands like Girard Perregaux, Breguet, and even IWC. Much better quality -- and you start getting into "custom" movements and "complications" that do some really amazing and cool mechanical things, and they are usually between $10,000 - $50,000. Their finish and quality tends to be rather outstanding, and they are not as commonly found.
Both the beginner and mid-tier brands are pretty reliable, and adhere to COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) standards of timekeeping accuracy, even when they don't have to. More than likely, a cheap $50 watch -- or even some of the "branded" $1,000 watch (think Armani or Guess watches) -- will fail at these standards.
Finally, then you get into the truly higher end brands -- Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemar Piguet, A. Lange & Söhne, etc. These guys make mechanical marvels, and they maintain the market by producing only a handful of truly outstanding pieces that pretty much take several top notch master watchmakers years to make their timepieces. These can go into the millions. And remember -- in this category, it's less about it being a watch and more about prestige, art, and the fact that you own one of a kind mechanical marvel.
At the end of the day, you must remember that once you leave the functional realm, watches become status symbols, and ergo Veblen goods (i.e. people buy them *because* they are expensive and elitist). You end up with "snob effect", where people want to use exclusive products, and price becomes associated with quality. Unfortunately, the side effect is the "bandwagon effect", where everyone wants to use exclusive products, and the demand for high-priced goods goes up. Consequently, the price of the already high-priced goods goes up.
If it helps, you should check out manufacturers like Parnis [1] or Sea Gull [2] -- Chinese watchmakers that make rather excellent watches comparable to lower end Swiss watch makers at a much lower price point.
Either way, watches are rather interesting, and you'd be amazed at just what's out there. Enjoy!
And here are some examples of "grand complications" --
Patek Philippe -
http://www.patek.com/patek-philippe.html?pageId=44674
Vacheron Constantin -
http://www.vacheron-constantin.com/en2/our-watches/#screen=PRODUCT;productRef=47070-000J-9085
Audemar Piguet -
http://www.audemarspiguet.com/collections/men/jules-audemars-47/equation-of-time-72/jules-audemars-skeleton-equation-of-time-1383/
A. Lange & Söhne -
http://www.alange-soehne.com/cms/en/timepieces/unforgettable-masterpieces/grand-lange-1-luna-mundi/index.html
Captain Obvious is correct about a few things, but not all.
For the most part, there isn't much of a difference (functionally) between a $50 quartz watch and a $2,000 quartz watch. Quite obviously, there will be a better quality product -- both in terms of aesthetics and finish as well as in terms of reliability and quality of timekeeping. Otherwise, both tell time fairly well.
However, the differences start showing when you are looking at mechanical watches that do not use Quartz, such as Automatics. These watches are mechanical marvels that can do some pretty darn interesting and complicated things. The advantage of an Automatic over a Quartz, of course, is that the good ones are built to last and you can pass it on to your next generation.
In that regard, a lot of the watches may seem the same (i.e. they tell time - duh). However, remember that with luxury watches, you are paying for it as a piece of expensive jewelry and art. The fact that it tells time is secondary.
Therefore, the difference therefore comes in *how* a watch tells time -- i.e. what mechanism (or movement) does it use, how well does it work, what else can it do, how well was it made, who made it, where was it made, what materials were used etc. In that regard, there is a world of difference in the tiers.
You've beginner luxury brands -- Raymond Weil, Longines, Stowa etc. Great watches, very reliable and use standard "movements" with excellent quality construction -- but nothing special. Not particularly expensive (less than $2,000 usually).
Then you have the mid tier brands. Within the mid tier brands, you've the lower mid tier and the higher mid tier brands.
In the lower mid tier, you have Omega, Rolex, Breitling, IWC etc -- around $2,000 - $10,000. About the same as the beginner (mostly), but slightly better quality and finish, and better brand name. In the higher mid tier brands, you get brands like Girard Perregaux, Breguet, and even IWC. Much better quality -- and you start getting into "custom" movements and "complications" that do some really amazing and cool mechanical things, and they are usually between $10,000 - $50,000. Their finish and quality tends to be rather outstanding, and they are not as commonly found.
Both the beginner and mid-tier brands are pretty reliable, and adhere to COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) standards of timekeeping accuracy, even when they don't have to. More than likely, a cheap $50 watch -- or even some of the "branded" $1,000 watch (think Armani or Guess watches) -- will fail at these standards.
Finally, then you get into the truly higher end brands -- Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemar Piguet, A. Lange & Söhne, etc. These guys make mechanical marvels, and they maintain the market by producing only a handful of truly outstanding pieces that pretty much take several top notch master watchmakers years to make their timepieces. These can go into the millions. And remember -- in this category, it's less about it being a watch and more about prestige, art, and the fact that you own one of a kind mechanical marvel.
At the end of the day, you must remember that once you leave the functional realm, watches become status symbols, and ergo Veblen goods (i.e. people buy them *because* they are expensive and elitist). You end up with "snob effect", where people want to use exclusive products, and price becomes associated with quality. Unfortunately, the side effect is the "bandwagon effect", where everyone wants to use exclusive products, and the demand for high-priced goods goes up. Consequently, the price of the already high-priced goods goes up.
If it helps, you should check out manufacturers like Parnis [1] or Sea Gull [2] -- Chinese watchmakers that make rather excellent watches comparable to lower end Swiss watch makers at a much lower price point.
Either way, watches are rather interesting, and you'd be amazed at just what's out there. Enjoy!
And here are some examples of "grand complications" --
Patek Philippe -
http://www.patek.com/patek-philippe.html?pageId=44674
Vacheron Constantin -
http://www.vacheron-constantin.com/en2/our-watches/#screen=PRODUCT;productRef=47070-000J-9085
Audemar Piguet -
http://www.audemarspiguet.com/collections/men/jules-audemars-47/equation-of-time-72/jules-audemars-skeleton-equation-of-time-1383/
A. Lange & Söhne -
http://www.alange-soehne.com/cms/en/timepieces/unforgettable-masterpieces/grand-lange-1-luna-mundi/index.html
teen start a collection of watches?
lawliet411
Im a little new in the world of watches and im was wondering how can a teen start his own watch collection.my father say to star small and then passing the year have great watches like rolex and omegas and other kinds.
its this a way to start
Answer
I own over 50 watches now that were made 1893 to recently. You need to study watches, so you know the brands and thus can recognize good deals when you encounter them. I look at "International Watch", "Chronos", "Watch Time", etc. magazines at newsstands and often buy them. I also have some watch almanacs, e.g. "Wristwatch Annual", 1999 to 2011. There are some books you should add to your collection, if you're serious about collecting watches. Look at libraries and bookstores to see what is available in your location. I buy some Japanese, French and German watch mags, for I speak several languages. Look at pawn shops, flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, auctions, etc. as I do all over the country. I've written five basic books about watches with several updated editions of each book. Now, I'm working on the fifth edition of "THE COSTLIEST WATCH BRANDS" for 2012. I finished earlier editions in 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2007. In the third edition, the costliest brands were 1. Breguet, 2. Patek Philippe, 3. Vacheron Constantin. Rolex has placed 18th, 24th, 41at and now 48th for 2012. Omega is a bit cheaper than Rolex. Both brands are what I call lower level luxury brands. Today I'm wearing a Vacheron Constantin "Les Historiques, Ellipse" that cost $10,290 in 1994. In 2011, it would cost $29,300 if it was still made. A couple of years ago, a comparable Rolex "Cellini" cost $8200. Thus, my VC is about 3.5 times costlier than a Rolex of the same type. Yesterday, I wore a Cartier "Santos Dumont" that costs $14,450 in 2011 or about 1.8 times more than a similar Rolex. Rolex is over-rated. It spends $47 million a year on advertising in the USA, so everyone had heard of it. There are much better brands. My book tells about that.
At a little hole in the wall store in the wino area of San Francisco (on Market between 6th and 7th Sts.), I saw a Jaeger-LeCoultre 1950s "Memovox". I had just looked at some on Sutter St. that cost $2500-$3000. It was in better shape. I asked the price and almost drooled when the man told me $200. I tried to make it seem he was besting me. I bought it and took it to Shapur the JLC dealer in SF to order a leather strap with buckle that cost $250 in 1996- more than the watch. Now, a new watch like it costs $9600, and I have $450 in it. You should study as I have, so that you can recognize such great deals as this one. I can tell about others too.
I own over 50 watches now that were made 1893 to recently. You need to study watches, so you know the brands and thus can recognize good deals when you encounter them. I look at "International Watch", "Chronos", "Watch Time", etc. magazines at newsstands and often buy them. I also have some watch almanacs, e.g. "Wristwatch Annual", 1999 to 2011. There are some books you should add to your collection, if you're serious about collecting watches. Look at libraries and bookstores to see what is available in your location. I buy some Japanese, French and German watch mags, for I speak several languages. Look at pawn shops, flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, auctions, etc. as I do all over the country. I've written five basic books about watches with several updated editions of each book. Now, I'm working on the fifth edition of "THE COSTLIEST WATCH BRANDS" for 2012. I finished earlier editions in 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2007. In the third edition, the costliest brands were 1. Breguet, 2. Patek Philippe, 3. Vacheron Constantin. Rolex has placed 18th, 24th, 41at and now 48th for 2012. Omega is a bit cheaper than Rolex. Both brands are what I call lower level luxury brands. Today I'm wearing a Vacheron Constantin "Les Historiques, Ellipse" that cost $10,290 in 1994. In 2011, it would cost $29,300 if it was still made. A couple of years ago, a comparable Rolex "Cellini" cost $8200. Thus, my VC is about 3.5 times costlier than a Rolex of the same type. Yesterday, I wore a Cartier "Santos Dumont" that costs $14,450 in 2011 or about 1.8 times more than a similar Rolex. Rolex is over-rated. It spends $47 million a year on advertising in the USA, so everyone had heard of it. There are much better brands. My book tells about that.
At a little hole in the wall store in the wino area of San Francisco (on Market between 6th and 7th Sts.), I saw a Jaeger-LeCoultre 1950s "Memovox". I had just looked at some on Sutter St. that cost $2500-$3000. It was in better shape. I asked the price and almost drooled when the man told me $200. I tried to make it seem he was besting me. I bought it and took it to Shapur the JLC dealer in SF to order a leather strap with buckle that cost $250 in 1996- more than the watch. Now, a new watch like it costs $9600, and I have $450 in it. You should study as I have, so that you can recognize such great deals as this one. I can tell about others too.
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Title Post: whats the difference between a cheap watch and an expensive brand ie rolex, omega etc.?
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Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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